18-time GRAMMY® Award-winning icon CeCe Winans is bringing her acclaimed Christmas tour to the West Coast for the first time in over a decade. Joined by special guests and her sisters Angie Winans and Debbie Winans, Christmas with CeCe Winans will visit six cities this December for an evening of beloved Christmas classics, worship favorites, and songs from throughout CeCe’s celebrated career.
“I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to bring this Christmas tour to so many cities,” said CeCe. “There’s nothing like the joy and peace that this season brings, and being able to share that through music is a blessing. I’m especially excited to be doing this with my sisters; it’s going to be a beautiful time of worship, celebration, and togetherness.”
As the best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, Winans continues to inspire audiences around the world through her music and ministry. Christmas with CeCe Winans offers an evening centered on worship, celebration and the timeless message of hope that defines the Christmas season.
An exclusive pre-sale begins Monday, July 13th, with tickets available to the public starting Wednesday, July 15th. Fans are encouraged to act fast. CeCe’s 2025 Christmas tour sold out in every city.
In addition to her West Coast Christmas tour, Winans will also co-headline the highly anticipated Christmas Together tour alongside Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. The tour will feature an evening of holiday favorites, career-spanning hits, and moments of worship as three of Christian music’s most beloved artists come together to celebrate the season.
TOUR DATES: Thursday, December 10, 2026 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
Friday, December 11, 2026 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Wednesday, December 16, 2026 – Bakersfield, CA – Dignity Health Theater
Thursday, December 17, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – Peacock Theater
Friday, December 18, 2026 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
Fresh off the viral success of his hit song “Usher in the Spirit,” Dove Award-winning artist Aaron Cole is creating new opportunities for Christian hip-hop artists with a brand-new music festival.
Held in Richmond, Virginia, Cole’s inaugural Two Up, Two Down Festival took place June 24-25 and drew a sold-out crowd, offering another sign of the growing momentum behind Christian hip-hop.
The festival included panels on faith, culture and community along with live performances from Aaron Cole, Anike, Joe L Barnes, Mali Music, Jon Keith, Derek Minor, and more.
This Fall, performer, vocalist, and songwriter Franni Cashwill head back out on the road joining six-time GRAMMY winner and icon Amy Grantas a special guest on “The Me That Remains Tour”. The eight-date run will kick off on September 18th in Hot Springs, AR and make stops across the south before wrapping in San Francisco on September 27th.
Franni will perform music from her debut solo album, Here I Am, including “Church Clothes,” “Raised By Wolves,” “Jesus All Along,” and “Menace” which have received over 5 million streams to date. The tour is the latest in Franni’s solo outings, having opened for Brandon Lake on the “King of Hearts Tour” earlier this year and Lauren Daigle on select dates last summer.
In addition to starting the tour, Franni will release her long-awaited debut solo album Here I Am on September 18th. Following her departure from We The Kingdom, Franni has rediscovered herself to make her kind of music. The resulting thirteen songs on Here I Am reveal her journey with all the bumps and bruises she’s experienced along the way including escaping from a religious cult, reconciling her faith, and coming out with confidence to move on from the past.
Fall Tour Dates:
September 18 – Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort – Hot Springs, AR
September 19 – Ozark Music Hall – Fayetteville, AR
September 20 – The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK
September 22 – Stable Hall – San Antonio, TX
September 23 – Longhorn Ballroom – Dallas, TX
September 25 – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts – Scottsdale, AZ
September 26 – Fred Kavli Theatre – Thousand Oaks, CA
September 27 – Palace of Fine Arts – San Francisco, CA
Hailing from Charleston in West Virginia, the ‘Mountain State‘, Altarheart began in early 2023 as a solo endeavour from multi-instrumentalist Anthony Conn. Anthony released an array of singles working alone, as well as Deny Thyself, a full-length album of his distinctive, melodic, progressively minded metalcore before he welcomed his brother and accomplished drummer, Alex Conn into the Altarheart fold.
The new, expanded Altarheart released the Creatures here Below EP in October of 2024 and JesusFreakHideout proclaimed the release to be “heavy, bold, and enjoyable from start to finish”. They also noted that Altarheart were becoming “an act to keep an eye on”, something that Rottweiler Records clearly agreed with as they promptly signed the band for the release of their next full-length album – which is about to be unleashed! Prone To Wander sees Altarheart taking giant strides forward and fulfilling all the potential shown by Creatures Here Below in abundance…
Having drawn you quietly into its sphere of influence, Prone To Wander’s opening track, ‘Wayward’, explodes in a dazzling display of aggressive vocals, adrenaline fuelled rhythms, powerful electronics, sublime melodies and anthemic choruses. It’s a dramatic, compelling opening gambit that propels you deeper into the musical realm of Altarheart. What follows is the accomplished realisation of a unique musical vision.
Each song sees the Conn brothers working from different areas of their expansive sonic palette, painting in different hues of emotion, conjuring different atmospheres. There’s an exploratory feel to this collection, with new ideas and new territories opening up in the face of Altarheart’s determined creativity.
This music is challenging and demanding, but its diversity is key to the longevity of its appeal – there is so much to discover and digest. In ‘Consider The Lillies’ beauty and melancholy work in strange harmony with harsh vocals and muscular riffs – force and frailty entwined. ‘Rustbelt’ sees tranquillity in a head on collision with abrasive, destructive heaviness – meditative passages of calm reflection like safe harbours in a tempestuous sea of rage – while ‘Island Of One’ serves up a remarkable plethora of riffs, each one an exemplary addition to the album as a whole.
Nor are Altarheart lacking when it comes to streamlined, tightly focussed tracks – look no further than ‘Weaken My Flesh’, featuring Michael Grice of The Light Superior, or the superbly structured ‘Reconcile’ for evidence of that. Ultimately, Prone To Wander leaves you not only with the sense of potential fulfilled but also of immense possibility. This album is an achievement in itself, but also a step in a journey still to unfold.
Mixed and mastered by Anthony Conn, Prone To Wander affords space and clarity to every element of Altarheart’s complex sound; the incredible range of vocal styles, from harsh growls to melodic refrains, anthemic roars to narrative enunciations are all allowed to shine to superb effect. Complete with powerful, thought-provoking artwork, Prone To Wander will be released by Rottweiler Records on September 25th. The ride is about to begin…
Line up:
Anthony Conn – Guitars, Bass, Vocals Alex Conn – Drums Additional vocals on ‘Mortal Man’ by Scapegoat Additional vocals on ‘Weaken My Flesh’ by Michael Grice
Genre: Progressive Metalcore For fans of: August Burns Red | Bring Me The Horizon | Refiner | The Light Superior
Teen sensation Tate Butts introduces the latest preview of his forthcoming debut with “When I Pray“. Written by Butts with Joe Kirkland, Jimmy Robbins and Nick Bays, the track expresses the power of prayer, encouraging listeners to talk to God regardless of the good or bad situation they may find themselves in. Butts sings, “When I’m blessed or I’m broken, hopeless or hoping / Every feeling I’m feeling, you wanna hear it / You just love it when I pray,” reminding fans that God accepts them just the way they are, no matter the circumstance or time of day.
When I Pray – Tate Butts
Stream & Enjoy
“My new song, ‘When I Pray,’ is about how God loves when we talk to Him,” shares Butts. “No matter how lost, how hopeless, or how far you feel from Him, He just wants you to come to him in prayer. There is no place too far and no moment of your life when God isn’t with you! So no matter where you are or what you’re going through, you can always go to God in prayer!”
Butts will release his highly anticipated debut project, Something To Believe In, next Friday, July 10. The seven-track collection showcases the South Carolina native’s signature blend of faith-filled messages and infectious pop melodies. The EP follows the release of the empowering “Brought Me This Far” earlier this year and his breakout hit, “My Defender,” at the end of 2025.
Less than a year into his rapid rise, Butts is building a purpose-driven platform devoted to reaching the next generation through his uplifting music. With Butts credited as a co-writer on all seven tracks, Something To Believe In traces his personal faith journey, highlighting his trust in God and the purposeful plan He has built for his life. Butts’ music reflects a perspective far beyond his years, pairing messages rooted in gratitude with a pop-driven sound.
Butts recently joined contemporary Christian hitmaker Forrest Frank during his headline show at Nashville’s Geodis Park for a powerful surprise. The duo delivered a high-energy performance to the packed-out crowd, teasing “SOMEBODY PRAYED” – watch the performance here. The new song dropped last Friday (6/26), surprising fans with the highly anticipated track.
Butts made his breakout debut with “My Defender,” which debuted at No. 38 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and quickly gained traction across streaming and social platforms. The momentum led to an invitation to perform with crossover superstar Brandon Lake and make an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show for a live interview and performance.
Since its release, the debut single has surpassed 15 million global streams as Butts continues to gain traction. Keep up with Butts’ upcoming announcements on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Something To Believe In Tracklist:
1. “When I Pray”
(Tate Butts, Joe Kirkland, Jimmy Robbins, Nick Bays)
2. “Hideaway”
(Tate Butts, Johnny Simpson, John Hall)
3. “I’m Gonna Sing”
(Tate Butts, Billy Dawson, Micah Carpenter)
4. “Brought Me This Far”
(Tate Butts, Jonathan Gamble, Bonnie Dymond, Benny Brisk)
Five-time GMA Dove Award-nominated, RIAA Gold and Platinum-selling songwriter and producer David Spencer has re-signed an exclusive publishing deal with Essential Music Publishing, extending a long-standing partnership as he continues a run of chart success, major sync placements, and high-profile upcoming releases.
With well over a billion streams to his credit, Spencer’s work consistently lands across Billboard, radio, and streaming charts. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists not only in Christian Music but in Pop and Country. In 2026 alone, he will celebrate the release of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Carly Simon’s new radio single, “Howl,” on her new album, as well as co-writing and producing Jo Dee Messina’s forthcoming album Bridges, and breakout viral artist Neoni, with their new album releasing with Virgin Music Group.
“It’s no surprise that David has risen to be one of the most sought-after writersand producers across CCM, Country, and Sync — his talent has always been undeniable,” shares Jamie Rogers, VP, Essential Music Publishing. “But beyond the accolades, David is simply someone you love being in this business with. We’re genuinely excited and deeply grateful to extend our partnership with him,and we couldn’t be more honored to run alongside him as he continues to create genre-defining music.”
Spencer’s music has been featured in major cultural moments, including the Super Bowl and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Most recently, he secured a worldwide sync placement with Adobe featuring “Pocket Size” by Sansol the Artist, highlighting his continued impact across both creative and commercial spaces.
In 2023, Spencer earned ASCAP Song of the Year for “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” a nine-week No. 1 hit that set the record for the longest-running debut single by a female artist in CCM history. He followed with another No. 1, “Who I Am” by Ben Fuller. He has since seen additional cuts by artists like Seph Schlueter, Jamie McDonald, Sanctus Real, and Zach Williams, with his top 5 Billboard hit, “Jesus Loves.”
In addition to his chart success, Spencer plays a key role in artist development, serving as a key writing and producing partner for Neoni and helping shape the duo’s evolving sound and global reach. While the viral, Gold-selling hit “Darkside” marked a breakout moment with hundreds of millions of streams, his ongoing work continues to define the duo’s evolving musical identity and positions him as an integral force behind their worldwide success.
ABOUT ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING: Essential Music Publishing (EMP) is a full-service music publishing company under Provident Entertainment, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. EMP is home to a dynamic Creative team that empowers songwriters to craft impactful music across genres and platforms, and a seasoned Administration team that provides publishing rights management, licensing, royalty collection, and client services for both internal and external partners in the faith-based music community.
With over 30,000 copyrights and more than 80 No. 1 songs — including “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake, “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, “What an Awesome God” by Phil Wickham, “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter, and “Praise” by Elevation Worship – EMP continues to steward songs that change the world. Learn more at EssentialMusicPublishing.com.
CCM Magazine has unveiled Ben Fuller as the cover artist for its July 2026 issue, celebrating one of Christian music’s most compelling voices with an exclusive feature that explores the remarkable redemption story behind his music and ministry.
The double cover, revealed today, offers the first look at a powerful feature that will debut in full on July 1, including an in-depth interview, exclusive performance videos, and additional digital content available exclusively at CCMmagazine.com.
Fresh off the release of his new live album, Black Sheep Tour: Songs from the Road, Fuller continues to connect with audiences through songs rooted in honesty, healing, and the transformative power of faith. Recorded during this spring’s Black Sheep Tour, the album captures the energy and authenticity that have become hallmarks of his live performances, following a tour that reached nearly 28,000 attendees, celebrated more than 130 baptisms, and created countless moments of worship and life change across the country.
As thousands have connected with his testimony and songs like “Black Sheep,” Fuller admits he’s felt the weight of carrying other people’s pain.
“I’m think I’m still taking the eraser to the ’S’ on my chest,” says Fuller. “I told them about my Jesus. I told them about what God has done for me… but I also realize the truth is I can’t save everybody.”
For CCM Magazine, however, the story goes beyond the music.
The July cover feature dives into Fuller’s personal journey from addiction and brokenness to redemption, examining how his past continues to shape both his songwriting and his mission to point others toward hope in Christ.
“Every cover story has its own personality, but Ben’s was unlike anything we’ve produced,” said Logan Sekulow, Publisher and Co-Editor of CCM Magazine. “There was a raw honesty throughout the conversation, and our goal was simply to let readers experience the same hope that shines through Ben’s story.”
Visually, the issue embraces the contrast that defines Fuller’s testimony.
“Ben’s story lives in the tension between darkness and light,” said Amanda Sekulow, Co-Editor of CCM Magazine. “We wanted every design choice to reflect that reality—that even in the darkest places, Christ’s light has a way of breaking through.”
The July cover package continues CCM Magazine’s commitment to telling authentic stories from today’s leading Christian artists while pairing award-winning editorial with cinematic photography and exclusive video content.
“When I step behind a microphone,” says Lauren Talley, “my most important job is to help the listener encounter the presence of God.” The singer set out to do just that on her upcoming collection for Horizon Records, and Walls (Part One) more than meets the challenge, enlarging her musical palette to offer listeners more ways than ever to feel their connection to Him.
Working with acclaimed producer Jason Webb, Talley blends inspirational, worship and CCM elements with the strains of Southern Gospel to create uniquely compelling accounts of God’s grace. “In Walls (Part One),”she notes,“we can feel Him in the rhythm and soul of ‘Walls,’ and in the high energy of ‘So So Good.’ He shows up in the vulnerability of ‘Mercy’ and ‘Little Faith,’ and we can give Him all of our worship in the awe-inspiring lyrics of ‘Look At The Lamb.’“
The greater breadth of arrangements allow for Talley’s emotive power to range more freely, from the intimate moments that open “Little Faith” and “Mercy” to the boldly voiced testimonies of “Walls” and “So So Good,” to the full throated power that’s reached in the closing moments of her own “Look at the Lamb.” And as the music of Walls (Part One) varies, so, too do the songs’ lyrics reflect multiple moods and imagery — yet even so, it’s easy to perceive the twin elements of God’s power and God’s grace that underlie them:
He ain’t never met a wall That He couldn’t tear down Watch it crumbling to the ground He ain’t never met a wall That He couldn’t break through Oh, just watch what He’s gonna do (Walls)
Now I’m alive to tell the story How I’ve overcome It’s His goodness and mercy And the power of His blood I’m so glad that my freedom Wasn’t based on what I’ve done It’s His goodness and mercy And the power of His blood (Mercy)
“Throughout every song I sing,” Lauren Talley affirms, “regardless of style, I want to take the listener on a ride through all the times we spend with the Lord, and point all the focus back to Him.”
About Lauren Talley Lauren Talley is one of Christian music’s most dynamic talents and has inspired a generation of young people to serve the Lord.
Born into a rich musical heritage, Lauren sang her first solo at age 2 when she toddled onto the stage, interrupted her family’s concert and announced she wanted to “thing.” Lauren went on to make her own mark on the gospel music world as a member of her family group, The Talleys, with whom she received numerous awards, including a 2015 Dove Award for their song, “Hidden Heroes.” Lauren’s lead vocals shine on eleven number one hits for the group.
She has recorded seven solo albums, including 2019’s unprecedented release of two albums simultaneously, “Glorious God: Songs of Worship and Wonder,” and “Loudest Praise: Hymns Of Mercy, Love and Grace.” Her 2017 album, “The Gospel,” reached the number one position on Billboard’s southern gospel chart. She is also the author of “Songs In The Night,” a companion devotional book to her 2010 album of the same title.
Lauren performs solo concerts and is a featured singer and speaker for many women’s conferences and special events across the country. She is frequently recognized for her appearances on numerous Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts, RFD-TV’s “The Music City Show” and “In Touch” with Dr. Charles Stanley. In 2014 she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Worship Arts from John Wesley University.
When not traveling or recording her own music, Lauren often serves as studio background singer and producer for other recordings and works with emerging artists as a voice and performance coach. Lauren is a busy lady but always finds time to cheer on her beloved Tennessee Volunteers, drink sweet tea and spend time laughing with family and friends.
Bethel Music‘sannual Worship School has officially sold out for the second consecutive year, with nearly 900 worship leaders, songwriters, musicians, and creatives expected to gather July 13-17 at Bethel Church in Redding, California. For those unable to attend in person, the ministry is offering its Online Watch Pass allowing participants around the world to experience the event live and on demand.
For more than two decades, Bethel Music Worship School has equipped worshippers through biblical teaching, live worship, ministry training, and practical instruction, creating an immersive environment for personal and spiritual growth. The continued sellout reflects the event’s growing global reach and demand among worship leaders and creatives.
This year’s Worship School features the Bethel Music Collective alongside special guests Brian and Jenn Johnson, Bill Johnson, Kari and Cody Carnes, Naomi Raine, Abbie Gamboa, Elijah Lamb, Kris Vallotton, Nathan Finochio, and Circuit Riders, among others.
Says Jenn Johnson, co-founder of Bethel Music: “Worship School is our favorite week of the year! It’s just so special to have our whole Bethel Music team together. Even if you can’t be in the room, I hope you’ll join us online. I know the Lord will speak, move, and minister to your heart in a powerful way… He always does. This year is going to be amazing, and we don’t want you to miss it!”
Beginning July 13, the Online Watch Pass provides access to 10 main sessions, eight breakout sessions, exclusive morning devotionals and every worship set throughout the week. All content will be available on demand following the livestreams and will remain permanently accessible through each participant’s WorshipU library. The pass also includes three months of complimentary access to WorshipU, Bethel Music’s online training platform for worship, songwriting, and leadership development.
Designed for worship leaders, musicians, songwriters, pastors, and creatives at every stage of ministry, Worship School offers participants an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God while developing practical skills for leading others in worship. The Online Watch Pass extends that experience to a global audience, inviting participants to engage with the same teaching, worship, and ministry moments from anywhere in the world.
The Online Watch Pass is available for $99 and includes:
Livestream access to all main sessions and featured worship sets.
Eight breakout sessions.
Exclusive morning devotionals.
Lifetime on-demand access to all included sessions.
Three months of complimentary access to WorshipU.
About Bethel Music
Bethel Music is a worship movement based in Redding, California, dedicated to pursuing the presence of God and cultivating fresh expressions of worship. What began as a local church music ministry has grown into an internationally recognized collective of songwriters, artists, and musicians. Founded in 2001 by Brian and Jenn Johnson, Bethel Music exists to raise up worshippers, help them walk in their true identity, and pursue intimacy with God above all else.
Since its founding, Bethel Music has released 27 albums, including We Must Respond (Live) (2025), Moments: Wait (Live) (2024), Come Up Here (2023), Simple (2022), and Homecoming (Live) (2021). The collective has received more than 30 career Dove Award nominations, earning 11 wins across multiple categories, and received a 2025 GRAMMY® nomination for “Holy Forever,” featuring Jenn Johnson and CeCe Winans.
Bethel Music songs consistently rank among CCLI’s Top 25, impacting churches worldwide. “Goodness of God” held the No. 1 position for more than three consecutive years, while “This Is Amazing Grace,” “Living Hope,” “Reckless Love,” “Raise A Hallelujah,” and “No Longer Slaves” have remained fixtures on CCLI charts for multiple years.
With national TV appearances on programs including Fox & Friends and The Kelly Clarkson Show, along with a sustained Top 10 radio presence, Bethel Music continues to carry the message of worship beyond the local church, leading people into God’s presence around the world.
As Black Music Month comes to a close, we had the chance to sit down with gospel music trailblazer Hezekiah Walker to hear about his personal history with Black music and the enduring significance of gospel music today.
Hezekiah: What drew me to the music and the genre was that as a child, it’s all that I heard in my house. My mother played it, and in fact, we were only allowed to listen to gospel music. I grew up listening to it, and then eventually I just started liking the music. Every day, I kept hearing all this gospel music, and I realized that I used to leave school humming the songs I previously said I didn’t like. Finally, I just gave in to the music, thinking that the music was just going in my ears. But it was really going into my heart.
I decided I wanted to sing this music because I remember my mom listening to it, and sometimes she would cry. Sometimes she would smile, and sometimes she would get happy. I always said to myself, “I want to be able to sing music that can reach the total needs of a man.” I knew this was the music I wanted to do because gospel has music for anything you’re going through. We can pop out a song that will encourage you. Whatever mood you’re in, we can put a song on.
That’s the difference between gospel and other music. We have a song for anything that you are personally going through. If you’re happy or if you’re sad, we can pull out a song. That’s why I decided to sing gospel.
What keeps me grounded in gospel music is seeing the lives that are being changed. When I get the stories and the testimonies, and when I run into people who start crying when they meet me and say, “Your songs have kept me and brought me through,” that’s what reminds me why I do what I do. I meet so many grown people now who say to me, “Bishop Walker, when I was in college, it was your songs that brought me through my college years.” That is the thing that keeps me grounded. Plus, with the culture that we live in now, you have to keep your ear on what’s happening so you can put music out that will really encourage people to stay focused and stay with God.
What is it about gospel music that makes it unique from other genres?
Hezekiah: I think what makes gospel unique from other genres is that we’re able to reach the total needs of the total man. Some music out there is only focused on one side of an individual. But with gospel, we can reach the total needs of a man. Whatever it is, we got you.
Right now, I’m thinking about creating something to help those who are terminally ill. I want to design a music therapy program that will incorporate gospel music to help people who are going through some kind of terminal illness. I think that’s what makes our music different, because it’s therapeutic.
How do you see the genre influencing culture and impacting people today?
Hezekiah: I see the genre impacting culture because we don’t just sing songs about struggle and what we’ve been through. We are a proud group of people who understand struggle, pain, and what we’ve been through as a community. But we also understand celebration. Our music is not just attached to struggle but also to celebration. I think that’s the totality of it. We go through to come out. I think that’s what really makes it celebratory, because we understand that although we go through, we definitely come out. There’s always a midnight, but then there’s always a morning.
How have you seen the genre evolve over the years? And what excites you the most about its future?
Hezekiah: The genre has evolved tremendously over the years because we have new artists on the scene. We have people out now who were kids when I started. They’ve been watching me and others, and now they’ve taken it to the next level. Even when I came on the scene, we were able to take the gospel music of our forefathers and bring it to another level. That’s what’s happened now. Gospel has evolved to the point now where everybody is attracted to it. Everyone likes the sound and the look, and I’m grateful for that.
I’m also grateful that God has sustained me to still be a part of it, you know? Because most people just kind of fizzle out. But it’s been over 40 years, and God has blessed me to still make music that people will say, “I need to hear this,” or “I need to sing this in my worship.” That’s one of the things that I stay true to. Because of course, I want music to go out where people can hear it, but my main thing is to sustain the church. We still need music for the church.
People will say, “Bring the choir back.” But I say, the choir ain’t never went nowhere! Because the church is still alive. Even through COVID. You can’t come to church, especially in our culture, and not want to hear the choir. You’re gonna want to hear the sound of the choir. So I make sure I write and sing music that choirs can sing, but then I also make music that the praise team and the worship team can do, because that’s what it’s all about. I think when you mix the praise team and the worship-style music now with the choir music… man, it’s powerful.
Can you talk a little bit about the impact that choir music is still having today internationally?
Hezekiah: The impact that choir music is having on people in other countries is amazing. I frequently go to Brazil and Africa. As a matter of fact, next year in Africa around this time, my Hezekiah Walker Center for Performing Arts will be up. That’s all because of the love of choir music there. You can’t go into Africa and not sing a choir song. They love choir music. We go twice a year, and it’s just amazing. They gravitate to it, and they learn from us, too.
But the sound that they have there, the choir, the unity that they have there… I think most people in the States need to see what choir music does. They would have a greater appreciation for it when they see its impact in other countries. It’s just amazing how people worldwide love choir music, but it seems like those of us here in the States kind of want to get rid of it, you know?
I believe this: What comes from the heart reaches the heart. I love the sound of the choir. I love the harmony, and other people love it as well. So I think it’s very important that we step outside the confines of what’s here in the States and share the music.
For someone new to Gospel music, where is a good place to start?
Hezekiah: I think what they should do is really start within themselves. Because what you don’t want to do is try to mimic anyone else. You want to be able to give the earth what God has given you.
Then once you’re satisfied with what you have to offer, you can look into other artists that really have captured your ear and your heart, and you can gravitate to and learn from them. But I think the foundation should always start with you.
About Hezekiah Walker
Gospel singer, composer, and choir leader Hezekiah Walker was born December 24, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in the Fort Greene housing projects. He formed his first gospel group, the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, when he was in his twenties and serving as a Pentecostal minister. Walker and the choir released a pair of albums in 1987 and 1990 before Walker turned to a solo career, releasing Focus on Glory in 1992. A year later, he released Live in Toronto, which proved to be his breakthrough, and the album hit the top of the gospel charts.
Forming another choir, this one called the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir, Walker continued to release albums recorded live on the church circuit, including Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College in 1994, Hezekiah Walker Presents the LFT Church Choir in 1998, Family Affair in 1999, and Love Is Live! in 2001. Along the way, Walker brought many young people to gospel and choir music, and has shown he has no problem using modern vernacular and recording techniques to expand his fan and worship base. Souled Out appeared in 2008, followed by Azusa: The Next Generation in 2013, both from Verity Records.
Bishop Hezekiah Walker is the visionary, founder and Senior Pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Churches in Brooklyn, New York and Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Pastor Walker shepherds a growing and multi-cultural flock of members varying in age, race and socio-economic backgrounds. Born and raised in Brooklyn in the tumultuous Fort Greene public housing projects, he has risen to build and lead one of the greatest ministries in the Northeast.
Love Fellowship Tabernacle was birthed in November 1993. The cradle of the Tabernacle’s humble beginnings began with only eight members. The church, located in the East New York section of Brooklyn, focused on the young adolescents in the community. As a result, many young people turned from a life of drugs, crime and sin because of his ability to preach, teach and “rightly divide” the Word of God without fear or reservation.
The need for souls to be saved was always a priority on the heart of Pastor Walker; so on Easter Sunday 1996 Love Fellowship Tabernacle relocated. What had begun with only eight members had quickly blossomed to over 1,000 members.
The vision God gave to Pastor Walker was founded on the three “P’s:” Prayer, Preaching and Praise. As he led the people of God into prayer and praise, he labored diligently in the preaching of the gospel to ensure that people of all ages received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. His ability to motivate, inspire and empower through the Word of God drew people from all walks of life to the Tuesday night prayer and Bible study, now known as the “Prayer Capital of New York City.” Presently, Pastor Walker and the church family are awaiting the construction of their new mega-church facility (The Kingdom Cathedral) to accommodate the overflow of souls.
