32-year-old bilingual worship leader from Boca Raton, FL Tony LeBron beat thousands of entries to win the fourth season of the talent search TV series Gospel Dream last night on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC) television network (www.gospelmusicchannel.com).
LeBron was chosen over the other finalists Robert Mauti, 26 of Nashville, TN, and NeVar Massey, 34 from Hampton, GA in the dramatic season finale.
The finale opened with a memorable performance by Gospel Dream season three winner Melinda Watts, who sang “There Will Come a Day” from her debut album called People Get Ready, out this week on Razor & Tie Records. The theme of the show’s fourth season was The Greatest Inspirational Songs of All Time and the final three contestants then delivered both classics as well as mainstream hits last night. Massey sang Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” and “How Great Is Our God.” Mauti performed “Give Me Jesus” and the classic “I’ll Take You There.” But it was LeBron’s stunning, dual-language performances of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is” and “I Surrender All” that catapulted him to the crown.
The judges who tapped LeBron as the winner were Michelle Williams from the GRAMMY- winning group “Destiny’s Child”; one of Gospel music’s most prolific talents, J. Moss; and music industry executive Mitchell Solarek. American Idol® alumnae Kimberley Locke co-hosted the show along with Mike Kasem (“MTV’s Top 20 Video Countdown” “American Top 10″).
Gospel Dream 2009 Winner Tony Lebron
Click the link below to watch video of Tony Singing
One of Gospel music’s most dynamic duos Mary Mary has grabbed the number 1 spot in 3 Billboard Chart categories.
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1. Number #1 on the Gospel Song Chart
2. Number #1 on the Gospel Album Chart
3. Number #1 on the Christian Album Chart
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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.
It was an award-winning week for gospel duo Mary Mary, who were awarded a 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist in a ceremony held in Los Angeles.
Hot on the heels from their win for Best Gospel Performance at Grammy Awards ceremony, the win marked the first time sisters Erica and Tina Campbell won an NAACP Image Award and added to the many accolades they have received for their chart-topping album, The Sound, which released last October.
“2009 is truly shaping up to be the year of Mary Mary for the dynamic duo sisters Erica & Tina Campbell,” Mary Mary’s publicists announced. “The win adds to Mary Mary’s growing assortment of awards and achievements which include two Grammys, an American Music Award, Stellar Awards, BET Awards, and more.”