October - December 2008 FREE The Lord’s Notes Lord Before Us Productions Quarterly Newsletter In Your Interest A Time To Celebrate… When we think of the word Celebration, we think of happy times with Family, Friends, and Love Ones. But this time we need to Celebrate the fact that, although 2007 was challenging; 2008 was a growing year. I personally realized that I had to grow Spiritually to deal with Reality. At the end of 2007 I was in debt, by mid-2008 I had family issues to deal with, as well as still climbing out of debt. Now at the end of 2008 – the light at the end of the Tunnel is not only Bright, but it’s hurting my eyes – thereby forcing me to get up and change my situation. It is A Time To Celebrate, for you see my Destiny is about to be Birthed – 2009 is the year to Walk In Your Destiny, make those Ideas come to Pass; enjoy your family & friends this Holiday Season;; who knows your Celebration may not include them… LB Upcoming Events Oct. 24-25 SCGAG Gospel Meets Hollywood Summit, Burbank Marriott Hotel/Convention Ctr. 31 Halloween (Holyween) Nov. 1 Karen Thompson’s Birthday Celebration, Emmanuel Bible Church 7502 S. San Pedro St. 8 L.A. Young Adults Choir’s annual Concert “Crazy Praize” Tamarind SDA Church 15 Lord Before Us Productions 16th Annual Pre-winter Workshop/Musical 323-993-8581 22 MIA Awards 27 THANKSGIVING DAY Dec. 13 KJLH 102.3 FM - House Full of Toys Event, call 310-330-2200 for more information 25 CHRISTMAS DAY (Jesus Is The Reason, For The Season!!!) Jan.: Stellar Awards Feb.: Grammy Awards Mar.: GMWA Board Meeting – Birmingham, AL Tim Bishop Brown & Miracle Mass Choir “The Miracle Experience” Noted as a vocal powerhouse, this release features the Songwriting styles of Bishop while displaying the vocals of Miracle as well… Although it lacks in the overall Production of previous releases, it more than makes up in the Song selections and overall presentation that has made Bishop & Miracle an audience favorite. Standouts include: God Is Wonderful, Philippians 4:4, I Got Away, I’m Gonna Bless Him, We Came, It’s So!, and the new style of All of Me… 6/10 Monique Walker “My Genesis” A Long Time Coming – is the first thing that comes to mind when you listen to this note- worthy release, by one of America’s favorite voices. Not only is Monique in rare form, but her background singers has vocals to match her range as well… Hits include: Crazy Praise, More of Your Glory, Starting All Over, Now Is The Time, I Can Make It, Trust and Believe and Psalms 61. After the many years as featured vocalist for Hezekiah Walker & LFC – it’s Good to see Mo walk in her own Destiny, and Genesis is just the beginning… 7/10 The Lilly Mack Sing-A-Long Series “Sunday Afternoon” What happens when you get the Best Singers you can find, put them in a room and let them sing till they get tired – the answer is MAGIC. But then again, we are talking about Vickie Mack Lataillade (the mastermind behind Kirk Franklin & the Family, Byron Cage, Kurt Carr and the entire GospoCentric Records empire) , she can make No Mistakes when she follows God. This release features some of your Favorites and some New Music that all Churches will be singing. Hits include: Thank You Lord, In The Sanctuary, Is There Anything, You Made A Way, Reign Jesus Reign, and You Are God… 7 Songs, 7 Sing-A-Longs, 7 Live DVD Performances = 21 tracks… 7/10 Deitrick Haddon “Revealed” Deitrick has always had his own style when it comes to Gospel Music – like a mix of Kirk Franklin/James Moore/Walter Hawkins all rolled into one; in other words;; you never know what to expect from this vocal powerhouse brutha. Revealed keeps the flow going as Haddon presents some of his best production work in years. Hits include: I’m Alive, Running To You, Don’t Take Your Spirit Away, Let Me Go, One Blood, The Word and the ever popular Love Him Like I Do.…. 7/10 Mary Mary “The Sound” The Sisters are back with one of the most Innovated projects that they have ever released. The Sound is one of those feel-good CD’s that you can hit the road and be at your destination before you realize it. After a 4 year hiatus, the girls give you a little something for everyone in the family with this release. Note-worthy are: Get Up, Seattle, Superfriends, God In Me, I Worship You, and The Sound. Pick this one up today and find out why this Grammy-Winning duo continues to soar! 8/10 Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir “Souled Out” Hez and LFC are back – and back strong, this project seems to pick up from the ones we grew to Love back in the early 90’s. Each songs seems to have that style LFC was known for, so therefore it’s a welcome surprise to hear them with the same Strong Vocals like only Hez & LFC can present. Standout cuts include: Title Cut (Souled Out), All My Help, It Shall Come To Pass, There’s No Way, You’re All I Need, Moving Forward, and God Favored Me. Pick this one up and let Hez & LFC Bless you again… 8/10 Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers “Just The Beginning” After taking a break from recording, while Producing projects for the likes of Tramaine Hawkins, Byron Cage, Amy Rushes and Bishop Paul Morton. Kurt has decided to return to the Live stage to release what may be some of his Best work to date. With the addition of a few new Singers – this project seems to flow nicely with his other releases. This time it’s a 2 Disc Set on his Own (Kurt Carr Music) Label, so get ready to hear the Real Kurt like never before. Hits include: Peace & Favor Rest On Us, Grateful People Grateful Praise, I Am The One, Testimony, Great Jesus, Blessed Be The Rock and Don’t Let Your Light Go Out… 7/10 Coko “Christmas” What can you say about Coko and that Unique voice of hers, well one thing is sure – this project proves that the girl can sang just about anything. Even a Christmas Song, has to move with the vocal stylings of this sister. Her renditions of Give Love On Christmas Day, This Christmas and Silent Night – would make even Donnie Hathway turn and look for the source. New hits like We Thank You and The Greatest are sure to keep you in the Holiday spirits, but add in the ever popular The Christmas Song with help from her fellow SWV sisters – & you’ve got the Star on Top of the Tree. Run and get this release and Brighten your Holiday Season… 7/10 This Christmas (DVD) Starring an All-Star cast: Delroy Lindo, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown, Regina King, Idris Elba, Keith Robinson & Columbus Short. This Christmas with the Whitfields promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years and they've brought plenty of baggage with them. As the Christmas tree is trimmed and the lights are hung, secrets are revealed and family bonds are tested. As their lives converge, they join together and help each other discover the true meaning of family… 8/10 Worth A Spin: Paul Porter “A New Day” 7/10 , Take 6 “The Standard” 6/10, Marvin Winans Jr. “Image of a Man” 7/10 Kiera “KiKi” Sheard “Bold Right Life” 7/10, Dave Hollister “Witness Protection” 7/10, Lecrae “Rebel” 7/10 James Fortune “The Transformation” 8/10, Damita “No Looking Back” 7/10, CeCe Winans “Pure Worship” 7/10 Worth A View: Shekinah Glory Ministries “Jesus” 7/10, Third Day “Christmas Offerings” 7/10 Event Reviews (In Short...) GMWA’s 41st Annual Convention, Nashville, TN – 8/9-15/08: NICE Location (Opryland Hotel), but low Attendance this year… Not a lot of highlights either – looking forward to Board Meeting (3/10-13/09) in Birmingham, AL & the 42nd Convention (New Date: 7/25-31/09) in Cincinnati, OH. DIVAS Simply Singing – 10/11/08: Sold Out, and Talent Packed… Mikki Howard almost fell, while Rachelle Ferrell & Patti LaBelle both showed out as usual. Hats off to Sheryl (Lee Ralph) and the crew for the 18th Annual event running Smooth as Silk… Sounds of Praise, 3rd Anniversary/Live Recording – 10/18/08: Packed house, & the Saints were on their feet for most of the night as Pastor Theo & SOP shine like never before! SCGAG, Gospel Meets Hollywood Summit – 10/24-25/08: Very well Attended, and the Information was second to none. Quoted as being the Best Investment ever made… FOOTNOTES The Stellar Awards heads to Nashville, TN – January 17, 2009, the 24th annual event will be Co-Hosted by Comedian Sinbad, and will feature performances by some of your Favorites in Gospel. Some of the Nominees include: Marvin Sapp (9), Jonathan Nelson (8), Dorinda Clark-Cole (5), Kirk Franklin (5), Beverly Crawford (4), & Ricky Dillard (4). Special Recognitions will be presented to Daryl Coley, Vickie Winans, and The Rance Allen Group. 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 16 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 working hard to bring you more great Gospel Music – look for the New Release “Just My Praise” by Christopher T. Jones in stores – Spring 2009. Join us on November 15 at 6PM, for our 16thAnnual Pre-Winter Workshop/Musical, held at the First New Christian Fellowship 1555 W. 108th St., Los Angeles, CA 90044. 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 of Southern California.