With some of the most memorable moments and powerful performances on television, it’s hard to believe BET’s annual special Celebration of Gospel, marks its 10th anniversary this year. BET will celebrate its annual mega-hit special CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL at the famed Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday 12 December.
With grandiose performances by gospel and mainstream artists, a 24-piece orchestra led by world-renowned musical director Ray Chew, and the most engaging host around, bestselling author, radio host and King of Comedy Steve Harvey. CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL will air in the UK in February 2010 and be larger and more soulful than ever.
This year is set to deliver an exciting show filled with breathtaking performances and spoken word segments by both mainstream and gospel greats. Taking to the stage will be Fantasia and her mother Diane Barrino Barber, Anthony Hamilton and his wife Tarsha Hamilton, GRAMMY™ award winners BeBe and CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Deborah Cox, Kelly Price, Tamia and Sherri Shepherd, along with gospel superstars Donnie McClurkin, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp, James Fortune & FIYA, Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing, Dr. Bobby Jones and the Nashville Super Choir, SUNDAY BEST winner Y’Anna Crawley, The Rance Allen Group, and P.S.A.L.M. Choirfrom theCity Of Refuge.
Last year’s show featured one-of-a-kind performances by hip-hop icon LL Cool J, Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., Kirk Franklin, Heather Headley and gospel supernovas, Mary Mary. This year o3 Media will bring you hot news and reports and photos from the red carpet.
Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir from Atlanta West Pentecostal Church won Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound competition and has earned the title of “The Best Church Choir in America.” During the grand finale, held on Nov. 7 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir walked away with not only the title, but a cash prize of $30,000.
The second annual How Sweet the Sound finale brought together the best church choirs from 11 cities across the nation. Gospel music celebrities, who added performances to the night’s entertainment, judged and hosted the event. Returning for a second year, GRAMMY winning music legend Marvin Sapp helped judge the choirs along with GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel artist Dorinda Clark Cole and Gospel music legend Byron Cage.
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.”
Marvin Sapp is set to record the follow-up to his runaway hit Thirsty, and fans around the world are invited to the concert as it is streamed live over the web at www.verityrecords.com.
It will be an exciting evening as Gospel music’s most heralded voice takes the stage to record what is sure to be another hit project. And, for the first time in the Gospel music genre, fans are invited to take part in the recording through a live stream, which will begin with an exclusive pre-show at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Win Marvin Sapp’s Entire Catalogue
In addition to viewing the concert as it happens, fans will be invited into the Marvin Sapp Recording chat room for an interactive experience during the recording that will include special contests throughout the evening, including the opportunity to win Marvin Sapp’s entire catalogue and a call from Sapp himself immediately following the recording.
Watch one-on-one interviews with Marvin Sapp
As an added bonus, chat room visitors will be able to send facebook and twitter updates without leaving the Marvin Sapp Recording page. Those viewing the stream will also be the first to see one-on-one interviews with Marvin Sapp, Aaron Lindsey, and others involved with the recording.
Dream team of Aaron Lindsey and Myron Butler
With the dream team of Aaron Lindsey and Myron Butler returning to helm the project, the recording is expected to be dynamic from the time Marvin Sapp belts out his first note. Fans logged into the live stream can text to purchase a ringtone of one of the evening’s amazing songs – “I Came” – during the recording.
Michigan radio station has turned down an offer by gospel musician Marvin Sapp to become part owner of the failing station.
Three investors in WJNZ-AM (1140), the city’s only urban station, also returned the $150,000 in good faith money that Sapp presented saying they plan to come up with the money themselves to save the station.
According to the Grand Rapids Press, radio personality Robert S. Womack and two other investors have filed court papers saying they plan put up as much at $315,000 to save the station from receivership.
Sapp announced his intentions to be part of the deal including his desire to house the station inside the church he pastors, Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids. According to the report Sapp wanted 75 percent ownership in the station for his 50 percent investment. Attorneys for the other investors advised against that deal.
The financial split between Womack and Sapp is the latest twist in a legal saga to preserve the 31-year-old urban station, which went into receivership after the previous owner defaulted on a bank loan.
With some of the most memorable moments and powerful performances on television, it’s hard to believe BET’s annual special Celebration of Gospel, marks its 10th anniversary this year. BET will celebrate its annual mega-hit special CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL at the famed Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday 12 December. 
