GRAMMY® Award winning producer, recording artist, and composer, Donald Lawrence, contributes music to a 45-minute preview performance of a new concept musical, GOSHEN, as a part of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater‘s 25th anniversary season, on August 25 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
GOSHEN, is based on the Biblical story of the Exodus. It’s a collaborative fusion of historical narrative, dance theater, and spiritually inspired music that explores the trials and triumphs of the human spirit. Lawrence first introduced some of the music in the Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri-City Singers‘ best-selling 2019 album, GOSHEN. It featured Le’Andria Johnson leading the heart-wrenching ballad, “Deliver Me,” which spent five weeks in the No. 1 spot on the prestigious Billboard Gospel Airplay chart. Johnson joins the principal soloists of The Tri-City Singers; cutting edge gospel act, Zeke Locke & The NuXperience; and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, to bring GOSHEN to life.
The full-length production of GOSHEN was initially scheduled to open for a two-week run at Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse in spring 2020. “Then COVID hit,” Lawrence recalls. “That canceled everything. I envisioned this as a live touring event. I hope for it to eventually become an international touring vehicle as dance theater meets a choir. I would love to see a short run on Broadway too.”
Meanwhile, The Tri-City Singers will begin rehearsals in October to record the GOSHEN Deluxe soundtrack that will release in 2022. It which will include the current songbook and new songs. “The additional songs are to further tell the story,” Lawrence adds. “We are also having two of the songs re-done in Portuguese as bonus tracks. The Brazilian group, Kemuel, will do `Jehovah Sabaoth,’ and the choir, One Service Project, will do the song `Goshen‘ under the direction of Brazilian choir master, Lucas Augusto. They have studied the Tri-City Singers’ sound and finesse for years. We hope to eventually take GOSHEN to South America too.”
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater reimagines and diversifies the aesthetics of contemporary dance by uniting modern, classical, American, and African American traditions in dance and storytelling. Deeply Rooted collaborates with nationally renowned choreographers, across the spectrum of modern, ballet, and African dance, to reflect contemporary voices.
The Stellar Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA) for the past three decades has orchestrated one of the two biggest award nights for Gospel music enthusiasts, Honoring the impact of individuals, groups and organization in Gospel music. The 34th edition of the Stellar Awards, which was held back in march had all glistening shades of awesomeness sparkling from all angles.
The event which held on Friday the 29th of March 2019, at the Orleans Arena, in Las Vegas, was hosted by gospel music luminary and host of BET Sunday Best Show, Kirk Franklin. The event was well attended and also had some stellar performances, with some of gospel’s current biggest artists on stage, which includes Kelontae Gavin, Koryn Hawthorne, Charles Jenkins and a special tribute to Aretha Franklin by Erica Campbell, Yolanda Adam and others. The reputable award night will be televised by American digital cable and satellite television network BET on April 19, 2019.
The Night was quite eccentric on the awards as Jonathan McReynolds evidently had one of the best nights of his life gaining a staggering 8 awards out of 9 nominations. Here below is a list of nominees and winners.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jakayln Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
Jonathan McReynolds,Make Room , Entertainment One [WINNER]
Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name, Entertainment One
SONG OF THE YEAR
Nobody Like You Lord, Maranda Curtis & Red Alliance Media/Fair.
Not Lucky, I’m Loved Jonathan McReynolds, Terrell Demetrius Wilson & Anna B. Warner, Entertainment One. [WINNER]
Won’t He Do It, Makeba Riddick, Richard Shelton & Loren Hill, RCA Inspiration.
You Know My Name (Live), Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Brenton Brown, Motown Gospel.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brian Courtney Wilson, A Great Work, Motown Gospel
Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One [WINNER]
Kelontae Gavin, The Higher Experience, MBE/Tyscot
Tye Tribbett, The Bloody Win, Motown Gospel
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR*
Jakalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group. [WINNER]
Hawthorne, Unstoppable, RCA Inspiration.
Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade.
Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul RecordingsTori Kelly, Hiding Place, Schoolboy/Capitol.
DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence & Tri-City, Goshen 432 Hz, RCA Inspiration
Isaiah D. Thomas and Elements of Praise, Still Here, Murchison Motion Pictures
Judah Band, Gone Fishin’, Light Records
The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings [WINNER]
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cheryl Thomas Fortune, Simply Cheryl, LuDawn/Tyscot
Jabari Johnson, Day of Redemption, Entertainment One [WINNER]
Phil Thompson, My Worship, Phil Thompson Worship/JamesTown.
PJ Morgan, The Transparency Project, IDMV Music Group
CD OF THE YEAR
Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration
Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One [WINNER]
Open Heaven, Maranda Curtis, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot [WINNER]
Dexter Walker & Zion Movement, Hope, IndieBlu Music
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I Am Reminded: Live!, Brooklyn Tabernacle Music
Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis, Super Excited, Empty Me Entertainment
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jonathan McReynolds & Darryl “Lil Man” Howell, , Entertainment One [WINNER]
Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill, Phil Thornton, Clifton Lockhart, Tasha Page Lockhart, Myron Butler, Dontaniel Kimbrough, Zeek Listenbee, Cordell Walton, Edward “6Mile JP” Page, Charles “Ollie” Harris, Daniel Bryant, Bryan Popin & Lewis, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill, Warryn Campbell and Phil ThorntonThe Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
Todd Dulaney & Dontaniel Jamel Kimbrough, Your Great Name, Entertainment One
CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence & Tri-City, Goshen 432 Hz, RCA Inspiration
God’s Chosen, God’s Chosen, Dream Label Group/Dream Gospel/GFavored Entertainment/Capitol Christian
Judah Band, Gone Fishin’, Light Records
The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings [WINNER]
TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Gospel Legends, Resting Easy, Humility Music Group
Jarrell Smalls & Company, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT
Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie [WINNER]
Nu Tradition, Nu Tradition, Altmo Productions
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One [WINNER]
Kelontae Gavin, The Higher Experience, MBE/Tyscot
Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name, Entertainment One
Tye Tribbett, The Bloody Win, Motown Gospel
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Earnest Pugh, Survive, EPM/Black Smoke
Jarrell Smalls, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Read/SRT
Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie
VaShawn Mitchell, Cross Music, Tyscot [WINNER]
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Benita Jones, The Evolution, IndieBlu Music
Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable, RCA Inspiration
Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings [WINNER]
Tori Kelly, Hiding Place, Schoolboy/Capitol
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jakayln Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group [WINNER]
Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
Shana Wilson-Williams, Everlasting, Shana Wilson Ministries/IndieBlu
Tammi Haddon, Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir – Run to the Altar , JH/Tyscot
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration
Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One [WINNER]
The Higher Experience, Kelontae Gavin, MBE/Tyscot
Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
A New Season, Jarrell Smalls & Company, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT
One Nation Under God, Jekalyn Carr, Lunjeal Music Group [WINNER]
Run to the Altar, Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, JH/Tyscot
The River, Keion D. Henderson, Eye Light Productions
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Forever, Jason Nelson, RCA Inspiration
Never Alone ft. Kirk Franklin, Tori Kelly, Schoolboy/Capitol
Not Lucky, I’m Loved, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One [WINNER]
Reckless Love, Israel Houghton, RCA Inspiration
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A Great Work, Matt Reed, Motown
My Good, G. Randy Weston, Light Records
Won’t He Do It, Casey Cross, RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
My Life; Grateful – Patrick Tohill, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot [WINNER]
Demetrius West & Jesus Promoters, ChoirOlogy: The Study of Choir Music, Music Worldwide
Dexter Walker & Zion Movement, Hope, IndieBlu Music
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I Am Reminded: Live!, Brooklyn Tabernacle Music
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Brent Jones & the Waco Community Choir, Open Your Mouth and Say Something, JDI Records
Dr. Alyn E. Waller Presents Fresh Anointing, Totally, Enon Music Group
New Direction, When All God’s Children Get Together, New Haven Records [WINNER]
Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis, Super Excited, Empty Me Entertainment
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration
Evidence, Elevation Collective, Elevation Worship Records
The Best of Fred Hammond, Fred Hammond, Verity/Sony Music [WINNER]
WOW Gospel 2018, Various Artists, RCA Inspiration
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
BLSD, Armstrong, Management
God Knows, Flame, Clear Sight Music [WINNER]
I Preaching to the Choir, Miz Tiffany, Digistoric Music
PRAISE, Emcee N.I.C.E., Gypsy City Music
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Christian Bolar, Speak It, BGA Music
Praise, We are Personal Praise, RoBabies Records
Pure N Heart, “Be You” 15 Years Unplugged, Music2ChangeU [WINNER]
The Children Speak, Hey Young World, HOLYwood Records
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
Gospel Legends, Resting Easy, Humility Music Group
Jarrell Smalls & Company, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT
Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit / SRT/Shanachie [WINNER]
The Wardlaw Brothers, Stand There, TWB Records
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Israel Houghton, Road to , RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
Justin Foster, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
Leonard, , Entertainment One
Octavious Holmes, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
Everlasting, Shana Wilson-Williams, Shana Wilson Ministries/IndieBlu
Open Heaven, Maranda Curtis, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
The Higher Experience, Kelontae Gavin, MBE/Tyscot
Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One [WINNER]
OTHER AWARDEES INCLUDES:
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALISTOF THE, YEAR – Jekalyn Carr
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR – WCGL AM 1360/FM 94.7, Jacksonville
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR – WIMG 1300AM, Ewing
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR – uGospel Radio
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR – Dwight Stone, WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta, GA
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV) – “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” This year, Donald Lawrence is taking us back to Goshen in the Book of Exodus—and reminding us why the story is just as relevant today.
Goshen (RCA Inspiration) will reunite GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter-producer Donald Lawrence with the original Tri-City Singers. The album will also mark the 25th anniversary of A Songwriter’s Point of View, the 1993 debut recording by Lawrence and the Carolina-based Tri-City Singers.
Genesis 45:10 (NIV) (God speaking to Israel) – “You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me – you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.” Located in Egypt, Goshen was the place given to the Hebrews by one Pharaoh, but another Pharaoh arose, and felt they were becoming too powerful so he enslaved them. This land was blessed by God, it is stated God’s presence resonated high there. But for Lawrence, Goshen is more than a physical location—it’s a city set apart (Exodus 8:22-23).
“I think of Goshen as a spiritual zip code,” he says, “and those who reside there succeed against all odds. If we have a Goshen mindset, we have a position of faith that God’s hand of protection is always around us.”
It’s a concept Donald Lawrence has been mulling over since gospel songwriter-producer Jermaine Dabney brought him an early version of the song “Goshen” about three years ago.
I wanted to tell the story of Exodus in a unique way,” Lawrence explains. “I didn’t want to focus necessarily on the Israelites’ departure, but the spiritual concept of Goshen. There were many years of plagues after the Exodus but Goshen was God’s protected place and those living there were oblivious (to the plagues) and prospered.”
“The idea is that in these times of new plagues (gun violence, anger, hatred, fear), we need to pray that God’s Goshen follows us wherever we go, that our families and those connected to us will still experience supernatural peace and prosperity in these troubling times. This is a position of faith.”
The GRAMMY® Award-winning Lawrence has put his inimitable stamp on contemporary gospel music as a choir director, solo artist, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Whether for his own projects or for Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, The Clark Sisters, or Karen Clark Sheard, Lawrence weaves texturally-rich choral patterns that reflect his music conservatory training, his skills forged in the crucible of church music, and his abiding affection for musical theater.
Goshen features stories from the Book of Exodus that serve as metaphors for living a better life. For example, “He Heard My Cry” suggests that each of us has a Pharaoh within us. “And the song says it’s time to tell that Pharaoh to let you go,”Lawrence says. “What is controlling you can’t control you any longer.” He describes the song’s sonic underpinning as “starting out like a long-meter hymn and becoming tribal-trap-meets-typical-Tri-City. It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard.”
Featured Artists
“He Heard My Cry” also showcases talented Chicago-based hip-hop artist Sir the Baptist (who also co-wrote and co-produced the song). Lawrence met Sir eight or nine years ago while teaching music business at Columbia College Chicago. A huge Tri-City Singers fan since childhood, Sir is one of Goshen’s several collaborators. Sir also serves as a Co-Producer of the album.
New Orleans hip-hop combo Tank and the Bangas, who won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest, is another collaborator. The group appears on “Let My People Go,” a song that uses Moses’ declaration to Pharaoh to speak out against today’s social injustices.
“The Sound of My Breathing (YHWH)” takes its concept from when Moses was at the burning bush, when he asked God His name and he heard the sound of the wind (Exodus 3:13-14). For Lawrence, pronouncing the Hebrew name for God transcribed into English lettering, YHWH, is like breathing YH (inhale) WH (exhale).
“The first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do before we die is take our last breath,”Lawrence says. “With every breath, we say God’s name. His name is the sound of our breathing.”
The senses also appear on “The Voice of the Blood,” a song based in part on Exodus 12:12-13, when lambs’ blood smeared on the doors of Egypt kept the angel of death away. It’s also based on the murder of Abel by his brother, Cain. Lawrence explains:
“At that time, the blood spoke revenge, but when Jesus died, His blood spoke mercy. The point is that Jesus’s blood speaks a better word than the word the blood spoke to Cain and Abel.”
Download :::: GOSHEN 432 hz – Donald Lawrence Ft Sheri Moffett here
“Sir the Baptist calls the album ‘choral theater,’Lawrence says. “To me, it’s choral theater mixed with traditional gospel, contemporary gospel, some hip-hop and trap music. It has Sunday morning music with some edge, old-school samples, rap and hip-hop, and tribal sounds. The record is sonically unique. It’s been one of the hardest records to get out of my head because it is so different.”
But in the end, it’s all about the story.
“I like my songs to tell stories and teach spiritual wisdom, to help others live a better life,” Lawrence says. “I always try to give a solution or a resolution, a remedy for how to get through these particular times. That’s what gospel music has always done and should always do.”
To mark the 25th anniversary of his debut album with the Tri-City Singers, Lawrence has gathered nearly all of the original choir members to participate on Goshen. One of the new members is the daughter of Robin Rowe-Stewart, a Tri-City singer who Lawrence first met when they were in first grade, but who passed away from breast cancer in 2002. “Her daughter is a singer and sounds so much like Robin, it’s unbelievable!” he says.
It’s been a busy time for Lawrence as he’s toggled between working on Goshen, performing, and serving as vocal score arranger for Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story. The new musical, which tells the story of BeBe & CeCe Winans through BeBe’s eyes, has played Atlanta, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Boston. Opening a show on Broadway has always been his dream, and Born For This is Broadway-bound.
“I want music to be authentic and inspired,” Lawrence responds. “I want to write music that helps people not only get through the week, but look at life through a different set of eyes. And if it’s new and it shifts the culture, it just does”.
