D.C. MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY DECLARES AUGUST 25 HENRIETTA VINSON DAVIS DAY Monday, 25 August 2008
The Henrietta Vinton Davis Memorial Foundation announced today that DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has proclaimed August 25, 2008 "Henrietta Vinton Davis Day." The designation provides new focus on efforts to place a marker at Miss Davis' grave in National... Read More
WOW Gospel 2008!!Monday, 07 April 2008
Like other peridic, multi-label compilations, the WoW franchise has never been essential. But it's otherwise necessary to bring casual listeners up to speed to the latest goings-on in dfferent... Read More
Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, andMatt Thiessen (Relient K) Among the Many Music Celebrities and High-Profile Music Industry Executives To Choose 2008 ISC Winners
Renowned music artists Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, and Matt Thiessen (Relient K) have all signed up as judges for this year's International Songwriting Competition (ISC). These artists are just some of the prestigious judges who will participate in ISC this year. Add in Tom Waits, Chaka Khan, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Jon Secada, T-Pain, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ricky Martin and many more, and you have the most impressive panel of judges in any songwriting competition. An equally impressive group of top-level music industry executives rounds out the panel. Consistent in its tradition of having such esteemed judges, ISC continues to raise the bar for songwriting competitions.
Candace Avery, Founder and Director, states, "The caliber of judges for the Gospel/Christian category is particularly high this year, and we are really honored that these judges want to participate and listen to the songs of our entrants."
The opportunity to have these judges hear your songs is only part of the reason to enter ISC. Recognition, exposure, kudos, and prizes (more than $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among the 62 winners - including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash and $20,000 in prizes) are other equally enticing reasons for entering ISC.
ISC accepts original songs from musicians, artists, groups, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. ISC's Gospel/Christian category includes all genres of traditional and contemporary Gospel and Christian music. Songwriters entering this category may also enter any other categories.
Recording Artists Michael W. Smith; Jeremy Camp; Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Natalie Grant; Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20); Chaka Khan; Tom Waits; KT Tunstall; Robert Smith (The Cure); Ricky Martin; Loretta Lynn; Neil Finn (Crowded House); Buckcherry; T-Pain; James Cotton; Jerry Lee Lewis; Craig Morgan; Ray Davies (The Kinks); McCoy Tyner; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Mario; Black Francis (The Pixies); Youssou N'Dour; John Mayall; DJ Tiësto; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Angelique Kidjo; Paul Van Dyk; Jon Secada; Sandra Bernhard; Pittbull; and David Brenner
Music Industry Executives Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Nick Burgess (Head of A&R, Virgin Records UK); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP of A&R, Latin America Sony BMG and President, Discos 605); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Amy Doyle (Sr. VP of Music and Talent, MTV); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, Lost Highway); Jon Pikus (Director of A&R, MySpace Records); Mitchell Cohen (VP of A&R, Verve Music Group); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Peter Strickland (Senior VP, Jack Records/Warner Bros.); Steve Lillywhite (Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Morrissey, Peter Gabriel, and more); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami); Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music for Little People); Dr. Demento (Radio Host of The Dr. Demento Show); Rene Bell (Executive VP A&R, Song BMG Nashville); John Echevarria (President, Universal Music Latino); and Rick Krim (Executive VP Talent and Programming, VH1)
In addition to the Gospel/Christian category, ISC offers 19 other categories, including: Pop/Top 40, AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Rock, Country, Americana, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Latin Music, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, Comedy/Novelty, World Music, Children's Music, Lyrics Only, Teen, Performance, and Music Video.
ISC 2008 sponsors include Luna Guitars, Berklee College of Music, Shure, D'Addario, M-Audio, Griffin Technology, Hear Technologies, PoBoy Drums, Thayers, Disc Makers, ASCAP, Phase One Studios, Stuph Merch, Sonicbids, Sam Ash, Alphabet Arm Design, Shari's Berries, Cakewalk, Taxi, George Stein, Esq., The Music Business Registry, and Onlinegigs.
Fortune achieved notoriety on his last release which birthed the ASCAP award-winning “You Survived.”
Move over Marvin Sapp! “Never Would Have Made It” is one of those songs that speak to everybody. Because of its versatility, it enjoyed a record 46 weeks at the top of play charts nation-wide. While seated in the command position, Blacksmoke Worldwide Music artist James Fortune was continually climbing the charts. This week, after 26 weeks on the charts, Fortune edged Pastor Sapp to the number two position as his “I Trust You” moved into the number one slot as most played song nation-wide.
James Fortune is no stranger to the industry thanks to his successful, self-penned super hit of the decade, “You Survived” The song crossed-over playlists and commanded a space on charts to include urban ac and pop, as well as gospel.
Working under the watchful eye of industry veteran Kerry Douglas, his wife Sharon and daughter Amber, a plan was devised that now has proved its worth. Douglas, no stranger to the industry, is CEO of Gospel Truth Magazine and the newly branded Gospel Truth News. Also the force behind Jimmy Hicks and formerly Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, and Damon Little, Douglas has managed to mirror an achievement that was formerly exclusive to larger labels. Armed with a great song, a strong passion, and a limited staff, the fruits of his labors are now evident.
On last week, James Fortune & Fiya ministered on numerous platforms during the Gospel Music Workshop of America, held in Nashville, Tennessee. All of Fiya’s performances completely captured the audience. It was this group and this wonderful song that started the annual “Tribute To The King” concert, ushering praise into the room at the beginning of this mega-artist event.
“I Trust You” is a simple song that brings solace to the confused state of the world in which we live. When asked how he came up with the message, Fortune replied, “With the escalating economy we are in, we must depend on our faith and let God know that through it all “Lord- I Trust You” I know He is the one to see us thru!”
Kerry Douglas States “We are so proud here at Black Smoke Worldwide Music.” I devised a campaign to move this great song! With the help of my small staff, which includes my wife and my daughter, I was able to take yet one more Worldwide artist to a prominent position on the charts. Moving to number one means that my hard work has paid off and man am I thankful! Very, very thankful.”
“I would like to thank everyone for your love and support of this song. You don't know how much your prayers, calls, support and messages have blessed me. I am so moved to see the lives that God has touched through this song! The testimonies really encourage me and lift my spirits,” Fortune remarks.
On next week, James Fortune & Fiya will participate in the TBN taping to be hosted by Kirk Franklin. The show will air Friday September 5th from 9PM to 11PM, central standard time. Make a note to tune in and be represented in the 26 million + homes that view the show world-wide.
Congratulations James Fortune as you have brought forth one more classic into the gospel music marketplace. Kudos to Kerry Douglas for your hard work and determination. To you both, “It has paid off!” Bask in your achievement!.
The first picture of the Rev. Timothy Wright taken after he was critically injured in a car accident shows the famed Brooklyn pastor's resolve during a rehab session.
The "Godfather of gospel" still cannot breathe, eat or walk on his own, more than a month after the horrific crash that killed his wife and grandson.
Still, in the most dire period of his life, Wright, 61, wants nothing more than to get back in the pulpit, preaching to his loving congregation.
"Can I go to church?" Wright asked his son Tuesday inside his hospital room at a New Jersey rehabilitation center. "He says that all the time," David Wright, 30, told the Daily News as he stroked his father's shoulder. Wright has been incapacitated since the July 4 accident that took the life of Betty Wright and his 14-year-old grandson, D.J.
"He was always the one to help everybody else," Sharpton, a decades-long friend of the Wrights, said during a visit yesterday. "Now, it's time for everybody to help the Godfather." Sharpton said his goal is to raise at least $100,000 by week's end, noting that Wright's care at Kessler is likely to end up costing about half a million dollars. "The insurance that he had covered him as far is it could," Sharpton said. "Now, he must depend on the insurance of his friends and his supporters."
The Wrights were returning to the city from a church conference in Detroit when a drunken driver heading the wrong way on a Pennsylvania highway hit their car head-on.
The driver, John Pick, 44, was killed in the crash. Wright has recently regained feeling in his shoulders and is expected to be taken off of a respirator in six weeks, family friend
Laurie Schneider said. Schneider said she has been stunned by Wright's strength and devotion to his church despite his heartbreaking ordeal.
"He was asking to put a tent on the parking lot, so he can hold his services outside here," Schneider added. "That's all he's praying for - to give a service."
Cover: Tammy Powell - The Story of a Self Made Millionaire
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POLL: If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers Go for McCain
PRINCETON, NJ -- A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for...
Renowned music artists Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, and Matt Thiessen (Relient K) have all signed up as judges for this year's International Songwriting Competition (ISC). These artists are just some of the prestigious judges who will participate in ISC this year. Add in Tom Waits, Chaka Khan, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Jon Secada, T-Pain, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ricky Martin and many more, and you have the most impressive panel of judges in any songwriting competition. An equally impressive group of top-level music industry executives rounds out the panel. Consistent in its tradition of having such esteemed judges, ISC continues to raise the bar for songwriting competitions. 
The first picture of the 
