SUCCESS👍! ‘The Clark Sisters: First Ladies Of Gospel’ Biopic Is The Highest-Rated Lifetime Movie Since 2016!
The Lifetime original movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel sang loud and proud on Saturday night, hitting a high note in viewership, netting a staggering 2.7 million total viewers in L+SD, according to Nielsen. This marks the highest-rated original movie for Lifetime since 2016.
The TV movie, which included lauded performances by Aunjanue Ellis, Angela Birchett, Sheléa Frazier, Kierra Sheard and Raven Goodwin, was the strongest original movie for all television for 2020 across key demos including both broadcast and cable. To add to their winning night, The Clark Sisters was the best ad-supported cable original movie since 2018 in key demos. With the biopic, Lifetime has the boasting rights of having the top three original movies on ad-supported cable in 2020 in key demos, alongside with Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story and Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer.
For those who didn’t catch The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, don’t worry the movie is also available for your viewing pleasure on VOD.
HALLELUJAH!!👏 The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin’s Documentary ‘Amazing Grace’ Will be here for all to see!
NEW YORK: More than 46 years after it was shot, the Aretha Franklin concert film “Amazing Grace” will finally be released, ending one of the most tortured and long-running sagas in documentary film. The late gospel singer’s estate and film producers said Monday that “Amazing Grace” will premiere Nov. 12 at the DOC NYC film festival with the full support of Franklin’s estate.
Largely shot by Sydney Pollack, the film captures Franklin’s performance at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles’ Watts neighborhood in January 1972. The music from the two performances was released as a landmark double live album in 1972, but Pollack’s footage proved virtually impossible to edit because the filmmaker failed to sync the sound.
After acquiring the film’s rights from Pollack in 2007, producer Alan Elliott brought in a team to construct the film, which Elliott calls “a labor of love.”
“Aretha’s fans will be enthralled by every moment of the film,” Elliot said in a statement, “as her genius, her devotion to God and her spirit are present in every frame.”
Franklin first sued Elliott in 2011 for planning to release the film without her permission.
“Amazing Grace” nearly saw the light of day in 2015, but was yanked at the last minute from the Telluride and Toronto film festivals after Franklin’s attorneys obtained an injunction against its release. They argued the film was “the functional equivalent of replaying an entire Aretha Franklin concert,” and couldn’t be screened without her consent. A Colorado court largely agreed, ruling in 2016 that the concert film didn’t constitute “fair use,” prompting a new round of talks. Telluride also listed the film in its 2016 lineup only to pull it yet again.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
The Queen singing ‘Amazing Grace’
Last year, Telluride Executive Director Julie Huntsinger told Variety that “[Franklin’s] resolve for it not being shown is so intense, and I don’t think any us really understand it all the way.”
Franklin passed away in August. Pollack died in 2008.
The late singer’s estate said “Amazing Grace” was an important part of Franklin’s legacy.
“‘Amazing Grace’ is the heart and soul of Aretha Franklin,” Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece, said Monday. “This film is authentic and is my aunt at her core. She was a daughter of the church. She loved gospel music and she always incorporated some form of sacred music in her concerts.”
BREAKING: Gospel Pioneer Edwin Hawkins dead at 74! 😢😢
NEW YORK — Grammy winner Edwin Hawkins, the gospel Pioneer and ICON best known for the crossover hit “Oh Happy Day,” has died.
Hawkins died early Monday at his home in Pleasanton, California. He was 74 and had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, publicist Bill Carpenter told The Associated Press.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers reached the top 10 on the pop charts with “Oh Happy Day,” a call and response hymn that began as a local favorite in the San Francisco Bay Area and became an international hit in 1969.
The following year the Hawkins singers backed Melanie on her top 10 hit “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” and won a Grammy for best soul gospel performance for “Oh Happy Day.” Rest In Peace Edwin and Thanks for your immeasurable contributions to Gospel Music!
BREAKING NEWS! Pastor and Famed Gospel Singer Andrae Crouch DEAD at 72!
Legendary gospel singer, composer and producer Andrae Crouch died Thursday at the age of 72, his publicists announced Thursday night. He had hospitalized in the Los Angeles area since Jan. 3 following a heart attack.
Crouch, sometimes called "the father of modern gospel music," led the choirs that sang on such hits as Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror and Madonna's Like a Prayer. As a songwriter, he wrote several gospel favorites, most notably The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) and Soon and Very Soon, a song sung at Jackson's public memorial service.
A San Francisco native who grew up in the Church of God in Christ, Crouch wrote his first gospel tune at age 14. By 1960, he had formed the Church of God in Christ Singers, a group that featured Billy Preston on keyboards.
He started another group, Andraé Crouch & the Disciples, in 1965, eventually signing to a contemporary Christian label, Light Records. Crouch brought a contemporary pop and R&B melodic sensibility to gospel, making him uniquely suited to appeal to both black and white audiences during the early days of the countercultural "Jesus movement" and also bringing him attention beyond the church.
Elvis Presley recorded Crouch's I've Got Confidence for his 1972 gospel album He Touched Me, and Paul Simon recorded his Jesus Is the Answer on 1974's Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'. Crouch also became the go-to vocal arranger for Los Angeles recording sessions that needed a gospel sound, working not only with Jackson and Madonna but also Elton John, Quincy Jones, The Commodores, Diana Ross and Ringo Starr.
Crouch's gospel albums often featured guests from the R&B and jazz worlds, including Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Wilton Felder and Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey. Chaka Khan, Sheila E. and vocal group Take 6 appeared on his most recent album, 2011's The Journey.
His recordings brought him seven Grammys, and Crouch also received an Academy Award nomination for his arranging work on the 1985 film The Color Purple.
Throughout his life, Crouch struggled with dyslexia, sometimes memorizing words by the shapes of their combination of letters. He often drew simple pictures to help him comprehend words and write songs.
Crouch's sister, Sandra Crouch, served as his spokeswoman, and the siblings were pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando, Calif., carrying on a work begun by their parents.
Crouch survived multiple bouts with cancer and also suffered from diabetes. In early December, Crouch was hospitalized with pneumonia and congestive heart failure, forcing the cancelation of his Let the Church Say Amen Celebration tour, which had been scheduled to begin Dec. 6 in Philadelphia. He was re-admitted to the hospital Saturday with what his sister characterized in a statement as "serious health complications."
Pastor Crouch, Thank you for all you've done with your contributions to Gospel Music. You are now absent from this body and present with Christ! Sleep in Peace! Well done good and faithful servant!
Well it appears that gospel singer James Fortune over sold tickets to his Live Recording.
The event took place on Friday night at Word of Faith Church outside of Atlanta, GA.
With over 5,000 fans seated inside, Fortune still had over 100 paid fans waiting to get inside. All of whom were angry and demanded a refund. Police officers shut the doors and refused to allow anyone in.
Radio personality KD Bowe was gracious enough to go outside and attempted to defuse the situation. He explained to the angry fans how they could receive a refund at a later date. They were not hearing it.
They refused to leave and demanded an immediate refund. Meanwhile, the star of the show, James Fortune, was well in the middle of his performance.
Besides being angry from not getting in, many fans complained of the horrible parking at the Word of Faith Church. Some fans stated that their cars were dinged by other cars as they were leaving and entering the parking lot. There were not any parking attendants.
Among the attendees were Israel Houghton, Isaac Carree, Zacardi Cortez, Tasha Cobbs, Alexis Spight, and DA T.R.U.T.H. The recording was amazing. He will probably sell plenty of records.
With the last name Fortune, James give your fans a refund and throw in a free cd.
Hezekiah Walker Scores Billboard #1 With ‘Azusa The Next Generation’ CD
HEZEKIAH KABOOM! Hezekiah Walker has seen his latest album ‘Azusa: The Next Generation‘ make it to Billboard’s top spot on the hems of its hand-clapping lead single ‘Every Praise’. Released June 11th, the album’s debut was accompanied by numbers that saw it crowned with the year’s best first week sales for a gospel release. And the sales are in! Check out what the TOP 5 Gospel Artists sold and see where their albums charted on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart below…
Hezekiah Walker – ”Azusa: The Next Generation”
Chart position: #1
First Week Sales: 14,514
Tamela Mann – “Best Days”
Chart position: #2
Weekly Sales: 4,314/Total US Sales: 264,647
Tasha Cobbs – “Grace”
Chart position: #3
Weekly Sales: 2,845/Total US Sales: 61,382
Various Artists – “WOW Gospel 2013″
Chart position: #4
Weekly Sales: 2,531/Total US Sales: 97,478
Fred Hammond – ”United Tenors: Hammond, Hollister, Roberson, Wilson”
Chart position: #5
Weekly Sales: 1,980/Total US Sales: 48,065
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Congrats to RCA Inspiration recording artist, Bishop Hezekiah Walker on his new chart-topping project “Azusa The Next Generation“!
Don’t have the Top 5 Gospel albums in the country? You’re missing out! Go cop these great projects! And stay tuned to see who makes the Top 5 On Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart next week.
Tha' Bishop is BACK! Hezekiah Walker will see his latest project ‘Azusa: The Next Generation’ hit store shelves on June 11. Led by acclaimed single “Every Praise”
Sources tell me the album is set to feature the likes of fellow chart champions Donnie McClurkin, and serial Adulterer Deitrick Haddon, and many more.Fans of Walker were pleased this week when he unveiled the Donald Lawrence-produced album’s accompanying artwork .
Inspirational Soul Sundays: EXCLUSIVE! New Music
Vashawn Mitchell – Turning Around For
Me VaShawn Mitchell is back with a brand new
song for your summer listening pleasure. The inspirational song entitled,
Turning Around For Me, will certainly bring comfort to the discouraged. Turning
Around For Me is the first single from VaShawn’s forthcoming album,
Created4This. listen:
The new album is slated to
hit stores on August 28th. Recorded live this past April in Chicago, the album
features appearances from Fantasia and her mother Diane Barrino; Kierra Sheard;
Isreal Houghton; and gospel rapper Da’
T.R.U.T.H.
The 12th annual Celebrtation of Gospel for the first time in
its 12 year history, will air during the Easter season! BET’s highly anticipated
music special, invites viewers to “Rise Up! Renew! Rejoice!” on Palm Sunday,
April 1st at 8 p.m. Hosted, one again by Steve Harvey — this year’s stellar
line-up includes Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday, Faith Evans,
Ledisi, Johnny Gill, Kelly Price, Fred Hammond, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Marvin
Sapp, Ricky Dillard & New G, The Rance Allen Group, James Fortune &
FIYA, Le’Andria Johnson, Jessica Reedy, Mali Music, and many more.
Two moving tributes are planned in recognition of the life and
legacy of Whitney Houston and Mahalia Jackson. In addition to musical
performances, Dr. Bobby Jones and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson of The Game will
deliver moving spoken word selections. The two-hour special, will taped Friday,
March 16th at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
Tickets to attend the taping are free to the public on a
first-come, first-service basis by submitting a request via betrsvp@bet.net.
