Sounds of Inspiration

The awards continue as gospel greats head out to Los Angeles for the 50th annual Grammy Awards.

Looking back in history, Edwin Hawkins was one of the first recipients of a Grammy Award in 1969 for the cross over song Oh Happy Day. However until recently, gospel artists who won this most prestigious award barely saw their names flashed on the screen coming out of a commercial break.

"This came about based our on going efforts to build gospel membership and voice inside the academy," said Donald Lawrence, who sits on the board of govenors for the Chicago chapter.

"I also serve as a national trustee for the academy and I'm also on their diversity committee and the musical director for the Grammys Salute to Gospel."

Obviously Lawrence, along with others, has worked diligently to bring gospel front and center during the Grammy Awards. He feels confident that "the bigger the voice, the more visible" gospel music will be.

Thankfully, his efforts have paid off because this year platinum gospel recording artists Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar and Bebe and Cece Winans have all teamed up along with Fantasia, Herbie Hancock and Anthony Hamilton to pay homage to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

"I love Aretha as a singer. She's influenced some of my favorite singers," shared Lawrence.

Franklin's legendary career was birthed in Ebenezer Baptist Church where her dad, the late Rev. C. L. Franklin, pastured in Detroit. In fact, this year Franklin went back to her roots and recorded with Bishop Paul Morton in honor of Hurricane Katrina as well as with Grammy Award-winning artist Mary J. Blige.

The song Never Gonna Break My Faith with Blige featuring The Harlem Boys Choir was nominated in the category of Best Gospel Performance. The song was also featured on the original motion picture soundtrack for Bobby.

Part of the celebration is for the 2008 MusiCares Person Of The Year tribute to Aretha Franklin. Also involved with MusiCares, Lawrence explained that the "proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need."

"They put them in programs. Bought instruments that were lost in the storms so musicians could get back to work, etc" said Lawrence, who is also the CEO of Quiet Water Entertainment and nominated in the same category with the Clark Sisters, for whom he has produced.

"I'm a HUGE Clark Sisters fan and I hope they bring a statue home. Either way, I win," smiled Lawrence. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com.

On the home front, EMI Grammy winner, Pastor Smokie Norfiil headlines the 2008 McDonald's Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour.

The tour lands in Chicago Saturday at Christ Universal Temple.

Four-time Stellar Award winner Myron Butier and Levi are featured along with Norful on the eight city tour. During the gospel celebration, another Chicagoan, Kim Stratton, will showcase songs from her latest CD I Almost Forgot to Worship on Jehovah and Kingdom Records.

"I'm excited to be a part of the tour and oh my God, to share the stage with Smokie is an awesome blessing. I've watched him for a while now, he's truly a blessing" said Stratton.

Kudos to Angela Spivey whose new CD Eyes on The Prize dropped on Jordan Entertainment Group this week.

"I believe that God gave me the gift of tradition; to keep it alive, to teach young people how it was and to keep the legacy alive. You would really be surprised with how many young people love traditional gospel music," said Spivey.

"Effie, you know I am so excited because it's the Lord's doing. And we were trying to do it on our own and go independent. But you know God didn't will it to be so at that time. It just wasn't the right time and thank God. Willie Mae McGiver heard it through Willie McClendon and said you need to let Jazzy hear this, and he heard it and he wanted it. Now it's history.

The way the Lord is moving with the single, if s amazing. You can expect some church, some good praise and worship if you like quartet. We got some of that for you and all of it is Sunday morning. I really do believe that God has ordained this one to be so," Spivey continued.

Her CD release service will be at Rock of Ages, 1309 Madison in Maywood on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

On Monday, Inspiration WGRBAM/1390 and Central City Productions will honor this year's nominees in Chicago during the Stellar Award Red Carpet Preview Gala.

On hand to celebrate will be Darius Brooks and the Tommies Reunion, Joshua's Troop, Smokie Norful, Donald Lawrence, Dewayne Woods, Lemmie Battles and Percy Bady.

The country's No. 2 gospel station will also take time to honor past Stellar Award winners. The event will take place at the Harold Washington Cultural Center.

"Remember you are blessed by the Best!"

[Author Affiliation]

Effie Rolfe is a radio personality and the religion entertainment columnist for the Chicago Defender.