Publicist Expands Business To Include Artist Management, Event Management & Booking

(Washington, D.C.) – September 9, 2009 - Gospel music industry insider, Andrea R. Williams, recently celebrated three years since leaving her full-time job and launching the publicity division of her company. In August 2006, she left her prestigious job at the GRAMMY Awards and took Tehillah Enterprises, a company she started in 1999, and launched it full-time. “It was definitely a huge step of faith for me,” says Williams. “I have always had a passion to promote gospel music and its artists and God has given me favor with Tehillah Enterprises.”

Since August 2006, Williams has represented clients like award-winning producer Steven Ford, praise and worship artist Alvin Slaughter, famed singer and Stellar Award winner DeWayne Woods, 2009 Stellar Award nomineeTerrell Hunt and Gospel Jazz artist and producer Terrence Richburg. Developing comprehensive public relations campaigns for gospel artists and Christian authors is one of the company’s fortes. Although much of her company’s mission has been devoted to publicity, Tehillah Enterprises will soon be venturing into artist management and booking. With the company’s staff experience in gospel music, having a more active role in the direction of an artist’s career is clearly the next step for the company. New artists being added to Tehillah Enterprises’ roster will be announced soon.

In addition, Tehillah Enterprises will be branching out into event management. The company organized its first gospel music concert, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Entertainment Division, last year. The event, held at Fort Belvoir, VA, included gospel artists CeCe Winans, Byron Cage and the 7 Sons of Soul. Tehillah Enterprises will be organizing more gospel music and Christian events in the near future.

Williams is no stranger to the music industry. Employed for 8 years with the GRAMMY Awards, she was part of the original staff of the D.C. Chapter of the GRAMMY Awards, known as The Recording Academy. During her tenure, she brought gospel icons like Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, Tonex, Kim Burrell, Tramaine Hawkins, and many others on board as members (and board members) of The Recording Academy. She was also instrumental in the Academy’s Salute To Gospel Music series which included artists like Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar and Smokie Norful.

Outside of the Academy, Williams has been named a “Mover & Shaker” in the 2004 – 2009 editions of the Gospel Music Industry Round-up, known as the “Bible of the Gospel Music Industry”. She’s a former writer for online and written publications such as Gospelcity.com, Charisma Magazine, and Gospel Today Magazine, to name a few. Also, as a writer, she’s penned bios for artists like Marvin Sapp, Byron Cage, Dr. Bobby Jones, Vickie Winans, Jonathan Butler, Tramaine Hawkins, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Kenny Lattimore & Chante’ Moore, and many others.

Williams’ company, Tehillah Enterprises, is also the creator of The Tehillah Report, an e-zine reaching thousands highlighting the genre of praise and worship, the D.C. Gospel News Update e-zine, focusing on what’s going on in gospel music in the Nation’s Capital, and its complimentary website, DCGospelNewsUpdate.com. Williams truly has a goal of blessing the gospel music community. “I am thankful that God allowed me to realize my dream,” says the President of Tehillah Enterprises. “I am excited to see what God has in store next.”

Tony LeBron, a 32-year-old dual-language worship leader from Boca Raton, FL was crowned the winner of season four the American Idol-style talent search TV series Gospel Dream last night on the Gospel Music Channel television network

LeBron was chosen over Robert Mauti, 26 of Nashville, TN, and NeVar Massey, 34 from Hampton, GA in the dramatic season finale.

The theme for the Gospel Dreams fourth season has been The Greatest Inspirational Songs of All Time and the contestants delivered both classics as well as mainstream hits. Massey sang Stevie Wonders Higher Ground and How Great Is Our God. Mauti performed Give Me Jesus and the classic Ill Take You There. But it was LeBrons stunning, dual language performances of Bruce Hornsbys The Way It Is and I Surrender All that catapulted him to the crown.

LeBron, born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, auditioned for Gospel Dream in Orlando and lives in Boca Raton where he is the Worship Leader and Director of the Young Adults Group at the Boca Raton Community Church. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Tonys seemingly effortless transitions between both languages within the same songs this season helped drive him to the top of the competition.

The judges who picked the winner were Michelle Williams from the GRAMMY- winning group Destinys Child; one of Gospel musics most prolific talents, J. Moss; and one of the music industry’s most respected executives, Mitchell Solarek. American Idol alumnae Kimberley Locke co-hosted the show along with Mike Kasem (MTVs Top 20 Video Countdown American Top 10).

The semi-finals and finale will be seen again on GMC back-to-back this Saturday night, August 1 at 9:00 and 10:00 pm. Respectively. The finale will encore Sunday, August 2 (8:00 & 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.) GMC will present a Gospel Dream Season Four Marathon on Saturday, August 8 beginning at 8:00 am and again at 8:00 p.m. All times Eastern.

Gospel Dream invited solo artists between the ages of 16-40 years of age, from all genres of Gospel/Christian music styles, including traditional, rock, pop, country and soul to compete for the final competition in Nashville from which ten finalists– and ultimately one winner–will be chosen by a celebrity panel of industry professionals. The winning artist will receive record and music video exposure, among other prizes.

Project Is First Out Of The Gate From Behind The Veil Records

(Tampa, FL) – July 2, 2009 - Toni Rackard is a new voice in gospel music, but not for long. The talented soprano has been singing gospel music all her life, but recently decided to step out on faith to record her debut release. Are You Ready For War? is the title of a dynamic new project from the artist. A collection of contemporary gospel, urban gospel, praise and worship and Contemporary Christian music, Are You Ready For War? is a declaration of battle and the pronouncement of spiritual warfare for the Christian. The 12-track CD was released on June 30, 2009 on Behind The Veil Records and is being marketed, promoted and distributed by Edmondson Communications, Inc.

The Praise & Worship Leader of Jesus People Family Worship Center in Tampa, Florida, Rackard delivers strong performances throughout the project. The lead single, “Unconditional Love” is a bouncy, funky cut with an R&B feel. “The song ‘Unconditional Love’ is so precious to me, because it talks about another level of intimacy with God”, says Toni. “The track is really about giving God our whole heart so that some of our old ways will die off,” concludes the singer. “I Can See The Light”, another single from the CD, is a song for the tough times that some are currently going through. Almost like a modern day psalm, it allows the listener to cut through all the challenges and darkness and focus on The Light. Concept videos have been created for both singles; fans can view them at Myspace.com/ToniRackard or on YouTube.

A singer and songwriter, Rackard tapped Lewis Bryant as the CD’s producer. Toni is supporting the project with a number of performance dates including Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida on July 18th and a concert at the Citadel of Life Cathedral in Orlando on September 12th. For more information about Toni Rackard, go to www.ToniRackard.com or www.MySpace.com/ToniRackard.

With less than a month on the market, the first single from gospel phenom Fred Hammond’s new CD could turn out to be the gospel hit of the summer.

“They That Wait” features John P. Kee and is #1 in rotation at gospel radio stations around the country.

“This is a great summer time song. It is signature Fred Hammond,” Mike Changler, GM/Owner REJOICE 100.9 told Gospelflava.com.

Called the architect of urban praise and worship, Hammond adds another melodious notch to his belt with the upcoming CD release entitled LOVE UNSTOPABLE.

The CD will be in stores in September. And first release is available for purchase now at iTunes, Amazon.com and all digital providers.

This will be Hammond’s sixth CD release through his Verity Records label since leaving the Black gospel group Commissioned.

ATLANTALast night’s Season Four premiere of Gospel Music Channels (GMC) American Idol-style talent search series Gospel Dream had a little bit of everything: rousing performance highs, disappointing performance lows; tears of joy, tears of sorrow; judges praise, judges criticism; contestants moving on, contestants going home; drama, comedy and much more. (Viewers can catch special encores of the season premiere episode Sat. June 27 (8:00 P.M., 1:00 A.M.) and Sunday, June 28 (8:00 P.M., 11:00 P.M.) on GMC. All times eastern.

The judges deciding the fate of the contestants are: Michelle Williams from the GRAMMY- winning group Destinys Child; One of Gospel musics most prolific talents, J. Moss; and one of the music industry’s most respected executives, Mitchell Solarek. Kimberley Locke, the first American Idol alumnae to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts with a non-Idol single, serves as co-host along with Mike Kasem (MTVs Top 20 Video Countdown American Top 10). In addition, two major musical artists will serve as surprise coaches during the season. The theme for the Gospel Dreams fourth season: The Greatest Inspirational Songs of All Time.

Twenty-six people were sent home last night with the judges selecting these contestants as the Top Ten Finalists: