INDIANAPOLIS- It never hurts to look at an artist today and wonder what their artistry was like in the beginning. Based on first week sales, longtime Deitrick Haddon fans must have been pondering this same question as his new project, Anthology: The Writer and His Music Deluxe Edition [CD w/DVD] debuts at #7* on the Top Gospel Albums Billboard Chart.

Anthology, the brand new collectible of Haddon’s music, gives listeners the opportunity to hear the distinct sounds, soul-stirring lyrics, signature vocals and incredible arrangements that have made his music ministry so impactful.

Tyscot Music & Entertainment president, Bryant Scott, is thrilled that consumers are so receptive of the new project which features just some of the many tracks that Haddon created during his tenure with label. According to Scott, this debut charting accomplishes Tyscot’s overall goal for releasing the CD/DVD set: “Our desire with Anthology is to expose Deitrick’s ever-expanding fan base to the genius of his early works.”
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(Washington, D.C.) - July 16, 2010 - Dynamic Gospel Singer Earnest Pugh is thrilled about this week’s success on the gospel charts. His breakout hit, “Rain On Us” continues its roll in the Top 10 on the BDS/Billboard chart. Peaking at the #1 spot, the power ballad takes its seat this week at number 7. As of July 28, 2010, the song will have celebrated its 52nd week on the chart. Pugh’s follow up to one of the year’s most popular gospel songs is “The Great I Am”. An up-tempo cut, “The Great I Am” is currently at the #17 position, giving the artist two songs in the Top 20.

Both tracks are from the EPM/Black Smoke Music release Earnest Pugh Live: Rain On Us. Co-produced by Michael Bereal and Earnest Pugh, the critically-acclaimed CD features the talents of gospel greats Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Richard Smallwood. The CD is available in stores across the country where music is sold or online at iTunes and Amazon.com.

The powerhouse vocalist is prepping for the release of another single, “Perfect Peace”, a stunning remake of the Keith Pringle classic. The track is featured on the forthcoming project, Kerry Douglas Presents: Gospel Mix IV hitting stores September 2010.

Walter Hawkins, a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, composer and pastor from Oakland, died Sunday. He was 61.

Hawkins, who was battling pancreatic cancer, passed away at his home in Ripon, Calif., his older brother Edwin Hawkins said.

“Today, I lost my brother, my pastor, and my best friend,” said Edwin Hawkins. “Bishop Hawkins suffered bravely but now he will suffer no more and he will be greatly missed.”

Born in Oakland, Hawkins studied for his divinity degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

While at the university, he recorded his first album titled “Do Your Best” in 1972.

The next year, Hawkins became a pastor and founded the Love Center Church in Oakland, where he also formed a choir.

In the 1980s, Hawkins recorded a number of albums and earned nine Grammy Award nominations, according to friend and family representative, Bill Carpenter.

His “The Lord’s Prayer” won a Grammy in 1980 and he also performed on the televised Grammy Awards ceremony that year.

In 1990, Hawkins released “Love Alive III” which spent 34 weeks at the top on the Billboard gospel album sales chart, while going on to sell more than a million copies, according to Carpenter.

In 1993 his next album, “Love Alive IV,” also hit the top spot on the album sales chart. Between work on the two albums, Hawkins was ordained a bishop in October 1992.

At the time of his death, Hawkins was planning a new “Love Alive” CD concert recording for this fall.

Besides his brother Walter, Hawkins is survived by two children, two grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were pending.

James Roberson’s “Everybody Dance!” debuts at #2 on Billboard!
Debuting at #2 on Billboard and the #1 Most Added Song on R&R/Billboard Radio Chart, “Everybody Dance!” is the gospel dance craze single sweeping the country!
Grammy-nominated hit producer of many of today’s hottest artists including Beverly Crawford, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Norman Hutchins & President/CEO of JDI Records - the #1 fastest growing record company in the world (Billboard) - James Roberson finally steps into the spotlight with one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year - “Everybody Dance!”
“Everybody Dance” is the gospel dance craze single sweeping the country! James Roberson’s exciting debut, “Everybody Dance!”, is reminiscent of gospel revolutionary Kirk Franklin.”
Ebony Magazine
JDI/Universal Music
Available on CD, Songbook, and Sing-Along Performance Tracks

One of Gospel music’s most dynamic duos has grabbed top spots in the Gospel Song and Gospel Album categories. Mary Mary’s latest CD “The Sound” holds the top spot in part because of the success of the disc’s #1 hit single “God In Me.”

The Sound has occupied the #1 slot on the Billboard Gospel Album chart for more than six months since its release in October 2008 and has been #1 for 15 consecutive weeks beginning April 19. The Sound has also spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

This latest single features Kierra “Kiki” Sheard on the track with the visionary blending of urban, hip-hop and pop elements that is the signature sound of Mary Mary.

Mary Mary performed “God In Me,” with guest artist Queen Latifah, at the 2009 BET Awards, where the pair was named this year’s Best Gospel Artist.

The sister duo also took this year’s NAACP Image Award for Best Gospel Artist (Traditional or Contemporary).