RCA Inspiration celebrated an incredible weekend with five wins and powerful performances at the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, taped in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday, July 15th.

The crowd and incredible talent celebrated the indelible impact, love, and inspiration that live Gospel music delivers, the Gospel icons, and the range of excellent new music released over the past year, with awards garnered for the hit projects Clarity by DOE (Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration), and Kingdom Book One by Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA).

DOE, Kirk Franklin, and Kierra Sheard-Kelly (Karew Entertainment/RCA Inspiration) also took the stage for live performances, with the weekend also featuring appearances from Koryn Hawthorne and Melvin Crispell, III.

Chart-topper DOE won three Stellar Awards for her acclaimed debut album Clarity, released in 2022 in partnership between Jonathan McReynolds’ Life Room Label and RCA Inspiration. Winning Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year Presented by Walmart, Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (for “When I Pray”), DOE also performed in the show’s live musical tribute honoring CeCe Winans.

The award-winning live album collaboration by chart-toppers Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin won two Stellar Awards. Released in 2022, the group’s live album Kingdom Book One (Tribl Records/Fo Yo Soul/RCA Inspiration) continued its winning streak, garnering wins for Duo/Chorus Group of the Year Presented by P&G, and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year.

The album has previously won multiple awards this year with three Grammys and an NAACP Image Award. Kirk Franklin hit the stage electrifying the crowd with a closing performance joined in a medley by Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett in a preview of The Reunion Tour, their upcoming star-studded nationwide tour that kicks off in the fall.

In a weekend of soulful celebration, chart-toppers Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Koryn Hawthorne and Melvin Crispell, III also made appearances. Sheard-Kelly kicked off the Stellar Awards with a powerhouse opening performance together with Pastor Mike Jr., featuring the songs “Miracles” and “Impossible.”

Hawthorne appeared as a presenter on the Stellar Awards, and Crispell delivered a live performance on the Stellar Awards Pre-Show, which was held on Friday, July 14th, and announced many of the early winners in multiple Stellar Awards categories.

Ron Hill, SVP of A&R at RCA Inspiration says: “We are so thankful to the Stellar Awards for another amazing show, and congratulations to production and all the talent there this year! It is a blessing to celebrate the work of DOE’s solo album and Kirk Franklin’s collaboration with Maverick City on Kingdom Book One on their awards, and take part in the show with the performances that DOE, Kirk, and Kierra gave, as well as Melvin’s on the pre-show.

Creating special moments with their fellow artists, we are proud to continue honoring God’s moving power in our lives, showcasing and lifting up the brilliance of the Gospel.”

The 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere on the Stellar Network on Sunday, July 30th at 6 pm ET (available on Charter Spectrum, Verizon Fios, and Xumo Play), and also air on BET on Sunday, August 6th at 8 pm ET, as well as Bounce TV on Sunday, September 3rd at 1 pm ET. The show will also air in national syndication from August 7th to September 10th, 2023, check local listings.

Following the release of “Stay Low” featuring Toyalove, Reece Lache & Childlike CiCi last Friday, released 3 more singles today: Mowanbe (Mo wan’be) with Limoblaze and Wande, Texas Pete from Tedashii ft. Trip Lee and Lecrae, and Flip That from Mike Teezy ft. 678NATH. This is the first of three consecutive Wednesdays Reach Records will release multiple new singles for this year’s Summer 23 Playlist!

“Mowanbe (Mo wan’be)” is a record tapping into both Limo and Wande’s Nigerian roots sonically and speaks on using your skills and abilities to glorify God and not financial benefit.

“Mo wannabe is about celebrating being the light of the world & having a spirit that’s willing to go wherever God leads you,” says Wande. Limoblaze continues saying “It’s about having a motivation for making music that is beyond money.” Wande also shares on what it was like to collaborate with Limo saying, “It was cool for both of us to experiment with combining multiple languages and the Naija sound with hip hop.”

“Texas Pete” sees the iconic Trio of Texas coming back together for a hard-hitting H-town ride-along record with bars from Lecrae, Tedashii, and Trip Lee all speaking to the lifestyle they once had in the genesis of their stories rapping to share in the gospel in the streets of Houston all the while trying to make ends meet.

Lastly, “Flip That” from Mike Teezy and 678NATH is a testimonial of God’s grace and power in the form of a soothing drill record speaking on all of the ways God has flipped around their circumstances when they’ve put their faith in Him.

Wande and Limoblaze made an appearance on The 116 Life yesterday July 18th with Meah Evans to talk about being newly married, the difficulties of pursuing music coming from a traditional African upbringing, and what it looks like to be faithful to where God needs you with their new single Mowanbe (Mo wan’be).

Reach Records Releases 3 New Singles On Summer 23 Playlist

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Pastor Mike Jr., dubbed the “new king of Urban Inspiration,” swept the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, winning 8 categories, including “Artist of the Year” for a third time in a row. The 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will air Sunday, August 6 at 8/7C on BET.

The show opened with an electrifying performance of the brand-new Billboard Gospel #1 single, “Miracles” and #1 hit “Impossible” by Kierra Sheard Kelly and Pastor Mike Jr., the night’s biggest winner. Pastor Mike, Jr. earned eight awards for his work on the album Winning, The EP was named Album of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year, while Pastor Mike, Jr.

Also took home the prestigious Song of the Year Presented by McDonald’s, Artist of the Year Presented by AT&T Dream In Black, Male Artist of the Year, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year awards.

Dubbed “The New King of Urban Inspiration,” Pastor Mike Jr.’s current album, IMPOSSIBLE, features 15 stand-out tracks of encouragement with Pastor Mike’s signature sound, trap music cadences, and lyrical mastery. IMPOSSIBLE boasts standout collaborations with Tamela Mann, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, James Fortune, Adia, 1K Phew, Tvinci and Angela McClure. 

The album IMPOSSIBLE has reached over 30M streams worldwide; the EP, WINNING, has reached over 15M streams worldwide.

Pastor Mike Jr. has scored four consecutive number-one singles (“Impossible,” “B!G,” “I Got It,” and “Amazing”) on Billboard’s National Gospel Airplay chart. His breakout single “B!G” was recognized as Billboard’s #1 Gospel Airplay Song of 2020. He serves as the Senior Pastor of Rock City Church in Birmingham, AL.

Follow Pastor Mike Jr. on social media using the handle @PastorMikeJr.

The 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will air Sunday, August 6 at 8/7C on BET.

A complete list of Pastor Mike Jr.’s 38^th Stellar Gospel Music Awards wins:

• Category #1 ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• Category #2 SONG OF THE YEAR

Impossible; Pastor Mike Jr., James Fortune & JeVon Hill; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• Category #3 MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• CATEGORY #7 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Winning; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• CATEGORY #12 CONTEMPORARY MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• CATEGORY #16 CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Winning; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• CATEGORY #19 MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Mr. McClure; Michael McClure, Andre Rudolph & Antonio Minifield; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• CATEGORY #30 RAP/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR

Blak Sheep; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

Porter’s Call, a non-profit uniquely dedicated to providing counsel, support, and encouragement to recording artists, announces new leadership changes. Set to take effect in May 2024, Founder and Executive Director Al Andrews has chosen to step down from his leadership role, promoting Beth Barcus and Chad Karger to take the helm as Co-Executive Directors.

Barcus and Karger have been Porters within the organization for 20 years combined. Additionally, non-profit veteran Phil Shay, who joined Porter’s Call in 2022, has been named Director of Development, while two staffers have recently joined the team – Office and Hospitality Manager Audrey Ragan and Porter Jared Farley.

Andrews wholeheartedly supports the non-profit he founded 22 years ago and plans to always be an enthusiastic ambassador for the organization.

“I cannot express how bright the future of Porter’s Call looks to me,” Al Andrews shares. “Handing off the leadership into the capable hands of Beth and Chad was an easy decision. I believe in them and trust them to lead Porter’s Call, with the support of the entire team, for years to come.”

Board President Matt Signore adds, “This is an exciting and wonderful time to extend the mission of Porter’s Call that Al created and Beth and Chad will shepherd into the future. The addition of Phil, Jared, and Audrey will expand their ability to serve the artist community.”

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the unique mission of Porter’s Call is sustained entirely by donations, sponsorships, and the annual event, “Evening of Stories,” its largest fundraiser. Their next “Evening of Stories” will take place on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University.

Now in its 14th year, “Evening of Stories” continues to feature an eclectic group of storytellers and musical guests weaving their unique, moving, and often humorous tales and talents into the fabric of a magical evening. This year’s featured storytellers are Al Andrews and Dr. Richard Antoine White, a speaker, author, and professional tuba player. Musical guests are Paramore, Brandon Heath, and Lucie Silvas.

Just announced today, individual tickets for “Evening of Stories” will be available starting this Friday, July 21.

A father is a child’s first superhero and a formal role model and mentor. Having a strong father-son bond is crucial for the proper development of boys. Therefore, the presence and role of a father in his child’s life as he grows cannot be overstated. 

Boys often look up to their fathers, imitating them, especially when they are young, until they can determine their own path in life. It goes without saying that the absence of a father can have a detrimental impact on a boy’s development.

A good father is actively present in his son’s life, both physically and emotionally. He ensures his child’s security, instilling confidence, intelligence, and strength to face life’s responsibilities. It is his duty to impart the right virtues and raise his son to be an asset to society, not a liability. 

He must show him how to embrace his masculinity fully and teach him the true meaning of being a man by setting the right example. And all of this begins with him showing up.

By being fully present in your child’s life, you teach him the most important lessons. Through your actions, you demonstrate that he is a priority and loved unconditionally, preventing him from seeking love in the wrong places. You cultivate healthy habits and equip him to navigate life’s challenges.

However, when fathers are absent from their sons’ lives, it creates a void. It undermines their sense of worth and deprives them of the guidance they need during a crucial stage of their growth. They may become disinterested in schoolwork or extracurricular activities, leading to poor performance or mental setbacks. 

They may also struggle socially due to feelings of being unloved, becoming withdrawn and finding it difficult to express themselves.

The absence of a father also makes a child more susceptible to negative influences. They may act out or get into trouble regularly, seeking attention. They become easy targets for bullying as they are often fearful and intimidated. 

Feeling unaccepted, they may develop abandonment issues, carrying emotional wounds that impact them into adulthood if not addressed and healed. Their relationship with the opposite gender may also be affected, leading to self-sabotage or toxic behaviors. 

They might exhibit emotional immaturity and a lack of respect towards women. Handling the challenges and difficulties of adulthood becomes more challenging for them.

A child should not be left without proper guidance from a father or father figure. A mother’s role in a child’s development is distinct from that of a father. It is high time fathers actively participate in parenting their sons and play an active role in their lives. 

For boys who have lost their fathers, it is important to provide adequate male mentors. A society with more decent and healthier men becomes safer. The rise in the number of narcissists is alarming, and we desperately need more gentlemen.

Transparent Productions announces Matt Maher’s “The Stories I Tell Myself Tour” this fall. Kicking off September 7 in California and wrapping in Indiana in November with tour support from Jon Reddick, these events will be powerful nights of worship, fellowship, and prayer that will bring together the venues they’re hosted in and the cities beyond. Tickets are on sale now.

“I’m really excited to tour this project again this fall and even more so with such a gifted artist, songwriter, and musician like Jon Reddick,” Matt Maher shares. 

The 28-city tour is on the crescendo of Maher’s career, intricately weaving together familiar favorites and new hits, such as his recent No. 1 single “The Lord’s Prayer,” along with “Lord, I Need You,” “Because He Lives,” and “Alive & Breathing,” joined by many other new worship songs that are paving the way on the charts from his latest album, The Stories I Tell Myself.

“I love getting to be in a room where people are worshipping God together and I also love and highly respect my brother Matt Maher,” Reddick adds. “I can’t even imagine how awesome this time is gonna be like for real, I’m super excited!”

Every night of the tour promises to be a powerful evening of worship, fellowship, and prayer that will surely bring everyone together. Official tour dates are listed below, and for venues and further information.

GRAMMY and IBMA Award winners The SteelDrivers announce a new Gospel album, Tougher Than Nails, due out September 8 via Gaither Music Group.

“The sacred and the secular have always gone hand in hand in Bluegrass music… just like Saturday nights and Sunday mornings,” stated group member Tammy Rogers. “The SteelDrivers have waited a long time to do a full Gospel album, but I believe the time is just perfect for our new release, Tougher Than Nails, on Gaither Music.

The SteelDrivers couldn’t be more excited to share our version of some classics along with six brand new songs written by members of the band, past and present.”

The group — Richard Bailey on banjo, Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Mike Fleming on bass, Brent Truitt on mandolin, and Matt Dame on guitar — continues to redefine Bluegrass music, showcasing seasoned musicianship and seamless, vocal harmonies that are familiar yet fresh.

Accomplished veterans individually, the quintet combines country, soul, and blues stylings for Tougher Than Nails. Featuring original songs “Magdalene,” “At the River,” and more, along with classics like “Amazing Grace” and “Farther Along,” The SteelDrivers deliver messages of hope and redemption through stellar performances.

Tougher Than Nails Track Listing:
1. Somewhere Down the Road
2. Tougher Than Nails
3. Just a Little Talk with Jesus
4. Farther Along
5. Magdalene
6. 30 Silver Pieces
7. I Will Someday
8. His Eye Is on the Sparrow
9. At the River
10. Going Home
11. Amazing Grace

Independent Christian artist, Talia Daniels, proudly announces the radio release of her latest single, “Jesus Your Love”. This moving composition presents a potent message of Jesus’ love and the restorative power of faith.

“Jesus Your Love” is a collaborative effort from accomplished writers, Natalie L. Daniels, Tara Strickland, Meg Ammons, and Kaylie Croft, and is masterfully produced by Steven Lieweke of Yackland Studios.

The song explores the depth of Jesus’ love, extending a hand of strength and solace through its meaningful lyrics. “When I feel empty, I know where to run. When I am weary, I know where my help comes from…” it proclaims, delivering hope, love, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Talia Daniels Debuts “Jesus Your Love”

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Talia Daniels’ music is a reflection of her personal journey through trials and triumphs. Her experiences from surviving an abusive marriage to escaping 9/11 while seven months pregnant have fortified her faith, serving as the bedrock for her music and her profound connection with her listeners. Her personal story, combined with her authentic sound, adds a depth to “Jesus Your Love” that is set to resonate with fans.

“Music has always been my sanctuary,” said Talia. “I hope ‘Jesus Your Love’ can provide the same comfort to listeners, reminding them they’re never alone and that Jesus’ love is always within reach.”

As the Contemporary Worship Leader at FBC GAFFNEY for over a decade, Talia Daniels has made a profound impact on her community and continues to inspire with her powerful voice and deeply touching lyrics.

Singer-Songwriter Anita Maduako’s healing music infuses smooth and sweet gospel harmonies into contemporary worship rhymes creating a unique brand of conscious songs that uplifts and bring healing to the world through music in these troubles times.

Born and raised in Lagos hails from Edo state. Joined the choir as a youth and her passion for music has continued into adulthood.

Anita’s talent as a songwriter began to bud in a worship concert in 2016 out of which many songs yet to be produced arose. Her latest single titled ‘Available’ is beautiful, heartfelt worship song straight from the throne room and it’s sure going to bless you.

Available – Anita Maduako

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US based Nigerian Gospel music minister Funmi Praise is out with her single simply titled “Praise Medley”.

It is a collection of Contemporary African Praise songs laced on Afrocentric vibes, creating an atmosphere of thanksgiving, celebration and festivity.

Funmi Praise is known for her edge in stirring a joyful ambiance with her sonorous voice and contemporary styles. The lyrics are rendered in mixtures of dialects from Nigeria and English.

The single is off her recently released album titled “New Levels,” which is still making waves, garnering streams and downloads.

Funmi Praise is a worship and praise leader who resides. in Houston. She has many songs, videos and a number of albums to her credit and has ministered alongside Laolu Gbenjo, Ronke Adesokan, Eben, Seyi Alesh and many more.

Praise Medley – Funmi Praise

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