Dream In Soul – Creativity for the Kingdom:

Above: B. Smith with the Wilbur Belton & LADWEC Choir, winners of the Bounty Soul Food Cook-off

On Saturday, January 9, the 11th annual Allstate Gospel Superfest took place at Xavier University in Cincinnati. The event, sponsored by Proctor and Gamble, hosted more than 30 national acts for one night of celebration through song and praise. Performances included Dorinda Clark Cole, Regina Belle, Richard Smallwood, The Whispers, Kiki Sheard, James Fortune, Shirley Murdock, J. J. Hairston, Jason Nelson, James Jackson & Atlanta Praise and many more.

Bishop Hezekiah Walker received the Allstate Gospel Superfest Lifetime Achievement Award, commemorating his twenty-five year career in inspirational entertainment and ministry. Past recipients of the award include, Candi Staton, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dorothy Norwood, The Williams Brothers, Mom & Pop Winans and Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

During the event, TV host and entrepreneur B. Smith hosted the Bounty Soul Food Cook-off, a competition between three of America’s top gospel choirs. Participating choirs included the Wilbur Belton & LADWEC Choir of Forestville, MD, Bishop Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship of New York City and the Ricky Dillard and New Generation Chorale of Chicago. Each group prepared their individual dish, allowing attendees and fellow participants to taste and vote on their favorite recipes. The winning recipe went to the Wilbur Benton & LADWEC Choir.

Check out more images from the event below. Click on a thumbnail to view larger images:

And He that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new”. And He said unto me, “Write: for these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:5

Moving forward – a great anthem for the New Year…

Moving Forward – Lyrics by Israel Houghton and Ricardo Sanchez

I’m not going back, I’m moving ahead
I’m here to declare to you my past is over
In You, old things are made new
Surrender my life to Christ, I’m moving moving forward…

What a moment, You have brought me to
Such a freedom, I have found in You
What a Healer, You make all things new
Yeah Yeah Yeah…

You have risen, With all power in Your Hands
You have given me, A second Chance
Hallelujah, Hallelujah…

You make all things new, I will follow You – forward…

Be sure to watch the third annual Gospel Music Channel Music Video Awards on Saturday, January 2 at 9 PM ET to see the top videos of 2009 revealed, and to catch some of your favorite artists in action.

Here are some more great Christmas song picks for you to enjoy as you celebrate:

Downloads & Albums

You can also download a few free tracks from GospelMusicChannel.com: “Christmas Is Here” from The Katinas’ album Sounds of Christmas, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” featuring Mary Mary from the new project Gotta Have Gospel! Christmas, and “With Us (Oh Emmanuel)” from Israel & New Breed’s A Timeless Christmas. Be sure to check out and purchase the full albums to play during your holiday celebrations.

More Christmas Albums That Released This Year:


– Christmas Like This – Ayiesha Woods

– Christ is Come – Big Daddy Weave

– Worship And Adore: A Christmas Offering – Featuring Various Artists, from Integrity Music

Check out the latest buzz in all things music…

James Fortune & FIYA’s New CD “Encore” In Stores January 26, 2010

James Fortune & FIYA will release their third CD offering, Encore in stores on January 26, 2010. The first single and title track, “Encore,” co-written by Fortune and produced by Terence Vaughn was released to both gospel and urban mainstream radio simultaneously last month.

The CD features 12 songs and features five duets with Fortune and other special guest artists including Kierra “KiKi’ Sheard on “The Greatest;” “I Need Your Glory” with William Murphy; “I Want To Praise You” with Men of Standard’s Isaac Caree; “Can’t Stop” with Nikki Ross; “Draw Me” with Anaysha Figueroa; along with a trio performance of “You Are Here” with Fortune, Men of Standard’s Lowell Pye and Zacardi Cortez. Both the CD and DVD will include a live version of the hit song, “I Trust You” from Fortune’s current and ground-breaking sophomore album The Transformation.

“The Power of One Fan” Israel and New Breed Contest

Enter “The Power of One Fan” Contest for your chance at winning $500 and an autographed copy of Israel Houghton’s entire catalog just in time for the holidays.

Simply answer 10 questions about Israel’s past works to win. A new question will be posted every weekday starting Monday, December 7th 2009 through December 17th 2009. The first person to correctly answer all 10 questions wins, and 5 runners up will also win copies of Israel’s entire catalog. All answers should be submitted after all 10 questions have been posted. The submission email address will be provided on December 17th, 2009.

To view contest rules visit: http://www.columbiarecords.com/artist/israelhoughton/facebook/rules.html.

Visit the Israel and New Breed contest page to see the trivia questions: http://www.facebook.com/IsraelHoughton

Leah Smith Fan Contest

Express yourself creatively and enter the “Feels Like I’m Running” contest presented by singer Leah Smith. Fresh off the success of her debut EP, Beautifully Made, Leah Smith is offering a way for her fans to get involved with her creative process. The “Feels Like I’m Running Contest” allows fans to interpret Smith’s latest single, Monster, for themselves.

The contest requests fans to upload 30 second video segments of their best interpretations of Monster. Smith kicks off the contest with her own homemade creative video for Monster featuring her 1-year-old niece. The best videos submitted will be selected to be shown in portions of her music video. See her video announcing the contest below:

Along with the chance to be featured in Smith’s video, the winner of the “Feels Like I’m Running” contest will receive an autographed copy of Beautifully Made EP, a framed lyric sheet of Monster with exclusive artwork from Smith’s graphic designer, and an iPod shuffle.

Each video submission must include a name and email address to be officially entered into the contest. Videos should be no longer than 30 seconds and can be uploaded to http://bit.ly/leahsmithmonster. All submissions must be received by Monday, December 21 at 11:59 p.m.

Don’t wait, submit your video today. Be sure to pick up your copy of Leah Smith’s debut EP entitled, Beautifully Made available in select stores and online via CD Baby, digstation, and iTunes. For more information on Smith’s touring schedule, visit her website at www.leahsmithmusic.com

Download “Love Like This” from Ayiesha Woods

Click here to download the Gospel Music Channel’s Free mp3 Download of the Week, “Love Like This” from Ayiesha Woods, a fresh, rock and soul infused declaration of one’s love to God:

I want to stay in Your presence all day / And I don’t care if the time slips away / There’s no place I’d rather be / When You’re here surrounding me with Your love / I’m finding out that nothing compares / With these endless moments we share / Now I have peace of mind / Fulfillment of a great kind when I’m with You / And I? I’ve never known love like this before / My heart is Yours / I… I’ve never known love like this before / You take my breath away / Lord I can’t imagine not having You here / And I find it so amazing / What I feel when You’re near / When it’s just me and You / There’s nothing that I can’t do / So take me away / I never want this to end / I am surrounded by Your love – it’s everywhere / And all that I am is Yours forever

– “Love Like This” from Ayiesha Woods’ album of the same title

Buzz From Around the Web:

Marvin Winans Jr. & Ruben Studdard Star in Musical Christmas Play

1800Gospel recently posted that Marvin Winans Jr. of the legendary Winans gospel music family and American Idol champion Ruben Studdard will be presenting an original production at Pastor Paula White’s Without Walls International Church on December 18. Find more details at 1800Gospel.com.

Clark Sisters’ Family Christmas

Don’t Miss Grammy Award Winners “The Clark Sisters” Perform Christmas Holiday Songs from their Latest CD “Clark Sisters’ Family Christmas” Tonight, Wednesday, December 16th @ 9:00pm (PST) on TBN. (From EMI Gospel)

Recent Album Release Picks

Three Songs For Christmas – Rachael Lampa

Artist Website: www.rachaellampa.com
Release Date: December 2009

Rachael Lampa’s Christmas EP “Three Songs For Christmas” is now available through an exclusive Paypal promotional offer on her website.

The EP includes such favorites as “Oh Holy Night”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and features a beautiful new song written by Rachael Lampa and Brendan McCarthy titled “God is With Us”. The first 500 copies will be personally signed by Rachael. Order your copy at www.rachaellampa.com.

Rachael’s EP Human is also scheduled to be released on December 22nd; visit her website and follow her on Twitter @rachael_lampa for more updates.