October - December 2007 FREE The Lord’s Notes Lord Before Us Productions Quarterly Newsletter In Your Interest I Almost Gave Up… Do you ever find yourself questioning God, and why he does things to force you to trust him even more? Recently I went through a challenge with my Finances – which to be honest with you, almost broke me. Sure I know God does things in his own time – but at that time, I wanted him to show up and out. My car note got behind, I took out 4 payday loans and could barely even pay the extension fees; let alone the loans themselves. It seemed as if every clients I was working for either couldn’t pay me, or just kept giving me the run around. That Sunday I went to Church and my Bishop (Noel Jones - City of Refuge Church) preached a sermon (“It’s Got To Get Better”) which inspired me so, till the point that I had a personal experience with God all over again. I almost let go, then I remembered what I was holding on too – something that wouldn’t let me go; my grip became stronger. As we Celebrate the birth of Jesus this holiday season, let's remember to keep God first in Everything we do… LB Upcoming Events Oct. 24-27 Heritage Music Foundation, Annual Conference, Greater New Bethel B.C., Inglewood, CA 28 27th Annual Appreciation Service/Banquet honoring Dr. Calvin B. Rhone, Proud Bird, L.A. 31- Nov. 3 Bishop Noel Jones presents the Fresh Oil Conference / Jazz Concert, City of Refuge Nov. 10 L.A. Young Adult Choir of GMWA, Annual Concert/CD Releasing, Israel B.C., FREE 17 Lord Before Us – 15th Annual Pre-Winter Workshop/Musical, Morning Star B.C. Free!!! L.A. Inner City Mass Choir’s Destiny Awards, Celebrity Centre International, Hollywood, CA 18-21 Dr. Bobby Jones presents Int’l Gospel Industry Retreat, Hollywood, FL, Call 615-750-3426 20 Diana Ross in Concert – Gibson Amphitheater 21 Queen Latifah in Concert – Royce Hall at UCLA Campus 22 THANKSGIVING DAY!!! 25 Chaka Khan in Concert – Gibson Amphitheater (New Date) Dec. 1 L.A. Chapter of GMWA – Live Recording, many guests to appear, call 310-412-6750 for info 15 Stevie Wonder’s 12th Annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert, call 310-330-2200 for info 25 CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! Jesus Is The Reason For The Season… Jan.: The Stellar Awards Feb.: Grammy Awards Mar.: GMWA Board Meeting – Dallas, TX Event Reviews GMWA 40th Annual Convention, Orlando, FL – 8/11-17/07: Over 60,000 Gospel Music lovers made their way to the town that Mickey built. Bishop Albert Jamison (Chairman) said it best “Mickey is King of Orlando – and Jesus is King of it all…” The saints and their Families came to Orlando for a Vacation and GMWA, you could tell that by the low attendance for the services/showcases, but overall – God still got the Glory over Disney. Consecration Service saw the likes of Maurette Brown-Clark and Tramaine Hawkins vocals and Bishop Jamison as the speaker, not much to tell here other than Bishop was Bishop and Tramaine sung like a mad woman. Kickoff concert was good (Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Georgia Mass Choir, Tramaine Hawkins, Maurette Brown-Clark, & MC – Yolanda Adams ). Nightly Services were Fine – talent was ok too, standouts included: LaShun Pace, Charles Fold Singers, Stephen Hurd, The Caravans, Northern CA Chapter, L.A. Chapter, Unique, Cincinnati Chapter, L.A. Young Adult Choir, Lighthouse Singers, a group from Memphis, and The Tommies. Showcase highlights included: Vickie Winans, Lucinda Moore, Zie’L, Coko, Kim Burrell, Myron Butler & Levi, Amy Rushes, Brent Jones & T.P. Mobb, Youthful Praise, and Marcus Cole. The recordings featured good material – and the project will be Produced by John P. Kee (who stated – if it wasn’t for James Cleveland & GMWA, he doesn’t know where he’d be…), GMWA heads to Dallas, TX for the Board Meeting (Mar. 11-14, 2008), and Nashville, TN (Grand Ole Opry) for the 41st Annual Convention (Aug. 9-15, 2008). Stop The Violence / Think Education, City of Refuge – 9/15/07: Started almost like clockwork, and after a brief Praise & Worship session, guest speakers came one by one to encourage kids to stay in school and to do the right thing. Trin-I-Tee 5:7, (City of Refuge) Psalms Choir, Keyo, Zie’L, L.A. Inner City Mass Choir, and Show-Stopper Kevin Vasser all gave Stellar performances. Despite it being a little long, this years event seem to go off without a hitch. Hats off to Dorean Edwards for a job well done. Joseph James & the S.V.S. Chorale, Live Recording – 10/20/07: Started a little late, but opening comedian – Cizzle C, made the crowd forget all about it. Praise & Worship by Dr. Charles Williams seem to fly by; as well as the instructions by Min. Lamont Bradley. Opening Song “Created To Praise”, seem to set the atmosphere… “Dwell In Me” (written by Newcomer – Kevin Humphrey) was a Hit with Zaneta “Motha” Johnson on lead; the saints shouted a minute off that one. But if that wasn’t enough – Errol Gillett’s lead on “Expecting A Promise” took them right back in… Founder/Director Joseph James gave it his all on “It’s Coming Down” as a closing number for the first half. Intermission guest – Unique performance was ok, and then it was time for the second half with the choir adorning T-shirts and Jeans. Opening song “Bless Him” was good and so was “Jesus I Love You” & “Going On”, but DeSean Horne’s “I Love To Worship You”, took the Church in again, Closing song – “Nothing Like Your Name”, left the audience wanting more… Look for this Lord Before Us Records release in April 2008. Event Reviews (In Short...) Sheryl Lee Ralph’s “Sometimes I Cry” Play, Nate Holden Center – 8/26/07: Compiling stories, and excellent acting by Sheryl as well… Greater Harvest COGIC, Pre-Labor Day Midnight Musical – 9/2/07: Packed out, and good talent too… Voices of Fulfillment sung you up under a pew… DIVAS Simply Singing – 10/6/07: Sold Out, and Talent Packed… Hats off to Sheryl (Lee Ralph) and the crew for a job well done… Tupac Assassination – DVD Screening – 10/11/07: Good crowd, and very thought-provoking… Good Q&A period too… Releasing on Oct. 23 – pick it up! Whatever She Wants – Play, Kodak Theater – 10/18-21/07: Nice crowd… Vivica A. Fox, Lil G & Boris Kodjoe shine like never before, singing was ok too…. CD / DVD Reviews Myron Butler & Levi “Stronger” Myron & Levi are a force to be reckon with in the Gospel Industry, although He has been at it for a while – their sound is a breath of fresh air. Lead sing (and title cut) “Stronger”, gets you in the groove, while “Here with Me” puts you right back in the Worship mode. Other hits Include: Unrestrained, I Live, God of All, Give Us This Day, and Jesus Saves. With production work by Myron himself – he has a lot to be proud of, as Strong Vocals and Music seem to blend effortlessly throughout the project…. 7/10 Vickie Winans “Happy Holidays from Vickie Winans” Vickie what took you so long to release this one? I guess things are done in God’s own time, well this release is certainly just what the doctor ordered. The single “Do Your Holiday Dance” gives you a little sample of what this Holiday treat is offering, but it’s Vickie’s versions of some of your classic like: Silent Night, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, O Holy Night, Jingle Bells, and she even gets the Family involved on We Wish You a Merry Christmas – that will put in the Holiday Spirit. Run out and get this one to add to your list of great Holiday CD’s... 8/10 Ricky Dillard & New G “The 7th Episode: Live In Toronto” Oh My God, what a project this is, and this type of music is greatly needed in our Churches, that Choir sound is back; and Ricky & New G have always been the ones to give it to us… From opening track “Awesome God” to closing “Thou Art My Lord”, this release will have you Jammin’ all over again. Hits include: One More Chance, Bless His Holy Name, Search Me Lord, Grateful, and Stretch Out Your Hand. Get ready to have some sho’ nuf Church with Ricky & New G… Wait till you see the Video (1/08) – Toronto will never be the same… 9/10 Marvin Sapp “Thirsty” (DVD) Welcome to the Marvin Sapp show, and all it has to offer… This video offers a little something to all who view it… Whether it’s the production side of Marvin, the Pastoral side, or the Singer side, you will fall in Love with Sapp all over again… From the Opening song, to Magnify, Posses The Land, Praise Him In Advance (they better Dance), Thirsty, In The Garden and the ever popular – Never Would Have Made It, this video takes Praise & Worship to a whole new level – and then leaves you there to vask in the Glory of God…. We would have love to see a little more Audience shots and less of the group/band – but overall the Praise rang through… 7/10 Worth A Spin: John P. Kee & New Life “Nothing But Worship” 6/10, Beverly Crawford “Live In Los Angeles” 7/10 VaShawn Mitchell “Promises” 8/10, Dijon “A Kid’s Point of View” 6/10, The Canton Spirituals “Driven” 7/10 Jonathan Butler “Brand New Day” 7/10, Deitrick Haddon/Voices of Unity “Together In Worship” 7/10 Worth A View: Myron Butler & Levi “Stronger” (DVD) 7/10, Bishop Noel Jones “Welcome to the City” 7/10 FOOTNOTES L.A. Young Adult Choir of GMWA presents their annual Concert and CD releasing for “Mighty God” – their Highly Anticipated Independent project. This event will take place Saturday, November 10 @ 6PM, at the Israel Baptist Church 4501 So. Compton Ave., Los Angeles, CA, where Rev. Rodney Howard is the Pastor. Special Guest: Church of the Word, Admission is Free/Freewill Offering will be collected, CD’s will be available for $10.00 Donation. For more information, please call 310-692-0590 / www.MySpace.com/layoungadultchoir. Dr. Bobby Jones – 21st Bi-Annual International Gospel Industry Retreat will be held at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL – November 18-20. Affectionately known as the Information Conference – this years line up of Panelists will follow tradition – offering everything from what to do to get a deal – to how to manage the deal you got… This years event will kick off with the CD release Concert of Dr. Jones latest project “Bobby Jones – The Ambassador” Nightly showcases will feature some of the Top Gospel Artists from around the world. For more information, Please Call 615-750-3426 / www.GospelIndustryRetreat.com. The Stellar Awards heads to Nashville, TN – January 12, 2008, the 23rd annual event will be hosted by Byron Cage, Ce Ce Winans & Kirk Franklin, and will feature performances by some of your Favorites in Gospel. Some of the Nominees include: J Moss (7), Tramaine Hawkins (5), Kelly Price (5), Vickie Winans (5), The Clark Sisters (4), and Bishop Noel Jones (3). This year a New Category – Hip Hop/Rap CD of the Year will be introduced. For more information and/or Tickets, please call Central City Productions at 312-321-9491 / www.StellarAwards.com. Lord Before Us Productions would like to thank you for your Support throughout the year, and for the past 15 years. Because of the great demand that is on our Ministry, our Newsletter will now be available via the Internet – and distributed at various Conferences/Conventions only. Lord Before Us Records is off to a good start with our first artists – LAVA Ministries “This Is My Story”, which has been well received by the Industry, look for our New Artists – Joseph James & the SVS Chorale “The Wait Is Over” to be released in April 2008. Join us on November 17 at 7PM, for our 15thAnnual Pre-Winter Workshop/Musical, held at the Morning Star B.C. 1334 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, CA. It will feature some of your Favorite local artists, New Talent, and out of town guests as well. Admission Is Free, but please bring a non-perishable item to Benefit various Homeless/AID Organizations…