Billboard magazine have compiled a list of the 10 best selling gospel albums of the decade. No British artist features, but lets hope that by 2011, some British gospel artist will have picked up the gauntlet, challenge and become a musicial force to be reckoned with.
Here is the top 10 list.
1. Yolanda Adams Mountain High…Valley Low
2. Donnie McClurkin Live in London and More
3. Kirk Franklin The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
4. Mary Mary Thankful
5. Kirk Franklin Hero 6. Yolanda Adams Believe
7. Marvin Sapp Thirsty
8. Mary Mary Mary Mary
9. The Fighting Temptations Soundtrack
10. Mary Mary Incredible
The top five albums in this list all sold 1 million copies or more. The bottom five have sold 500,000 or more.
In 2008, After spending 32 weeks as the number one song at Gospel radio, Marvin Sapp’s, “Never World Have Made It,” becomes the longest running number one radio single across all formats in the history of the BDS chart and surpasses former record-shattering hits that have topped the Adult Contemporary, Rock, Hot AC and Regional Mexican Charts for 25 weeks or more.
“We are immensely proud to have made radio history. This is a great moment for Marvin Sapp and a great moment for Gospel music that will stand for years to come,” says B. Jeffrey Grant-Clark, Zomba Gospel’s Vice President of Promotions/Artist Relations.
“This has been such an amazing experience, because we weren’t even going to put this song on the album,” said Marvin Sapp. “The song was birthed during a time of pain that I thought would be my breaking point, but everyone has had a “never would have made it” moment and that’s why I think the song is receiving such a tremendous response.”
A revolution is taking place, one profile at a time. Online social networks like Facebook and MySpace are connecting people like never before. With hundreds of millions of users, they’re creating almost limitless potential to redefine our personal worlds. It’s a movement that’s changing how we form relationships, perceive others, and shape our identity.
In his new book, The Church of Facebook (David C Cook, October 2009) author Jesse Rice takes a deeper look at the movement which, at its core, reflects our need for community. “Our longing for intimacy, connection, and a place to belong has never been a secret, but social networking offers us a new perspective on the way we engage our community,” Rice states. This new perspective raises new questions: How do these networks impact our relationships? In what ways are they shaping the way we think of ourselves? And how might this phenomenon subtly reflect a God who longs to connect with each one of us?
Brian “Head” Welch, former lead-guitarist for Korn, a controversial nu-metal band, is now a Christian and no longer does drugs (meth) and alcohol. He says in this interview on Fox News that he has found God.
Amazon.com says this in an Editorial Review of his book, “Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story”:
In February 2005, more than 10,000 people in Bakersfield, California, watched as Brian “Head” Welch–the former lead guitarist of the controversial Nu–metal band Korn–was saved by Jesus Christ. The event set off a media frenzy as observers from around the world sought to understand what led this rock star out of the darkness and into the light.
Now, in this courageous memoir, Head talks for the first time about his shocking embrace of God and the tumultuous decade that led him into the arms of Jesus Christ. Taking the reader backstage with Korn, Head tells the inside story of life in the band and how his rock star lifestyle resulted in an all–consuming addiction to methamphetamines. Head writes openly about the tour bus mayhem of Ozzfest and The Family Values tour, while providing a candid look at how the routine of recording and traveling placed him in a cycle of addiction that he could not break on his own.
Speaking honestly about his addiction, Head details his struggles with the drug that ultimately led him to seek a higher power. Despite his numerous attempts to free himself from his addiction, nothing–not even the birth of his daughter–could spur him to kick meth for good. Here he addresses how, with the help of God, he emerged from his dangerous lifestyle and found a path that was not only right for his daughter, it was right for him. In addition, he discusses the chaotic end to his time in Korn, and how his newfound faith has changed his perspective on his past.
Stephen Mansfield explores the groundbreaking business acumen of this prolific company, and uncovers a deeply held faith running throughout the family’s history.
The story begins with Arthur Guinness
Arthur_Guinness
Arthur Guinness was a great man of faith. Born on the estate of an Archbishop and raised a loyal son of the Irish church, Arthur lived by the words that were his personal motto: Spes Mea in Deo — “My Hope is in God.”
He was deeply inspired by the revivalist John Wesley to use his wealth and talents to make the world better. Taking scripture as his guide, Arthur served the needy of his time and worked to use his gifts in honor of his God. One favorite project of his that seems confirmation of both the purity of his faith and his concern for social good: Guinness was the founder of the first Sunday Schools in Ireland.
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.”
“ holds the top spot in part because of the success of the disc’s #1 hit single “God In Me.”
