October - December 2009 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 2009 was the year to Walk In Your Destiny, and 2010 is the year your Destiny Begins. 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. 21-23 Dr. Margaret Douroux’s Gospel Heritage Conference, Many Guests, Inglewood, CA 30 Southern B.C.’s Harvest Festival, Pasadena Chorale, Keisha Renee, & More… Free!!! 31 Halloween (Holyween) Nov. 7 Pastor Theo Wilkins & Sounds of Praise – Live Recording, First Goodwill B.C., Free!!! 14 L.A. Young Adults Choir’s Annual Concert/CD Releasing, Tamarind SDA Church, Free… 21 Lord Before Us Productions 17th Annual Pre-Winter Workshop/Musical 323-993-8581 MIA Awards, Southern B.C. 26 THANKSGIVING DAY Dec. 12 Victor Bell & Halel – Live Recording, Dr. Norman Hutchins, Southern B.C., $15/$20/$25 25 CHRISTMAS DAY (Jesus Is The Reason, For The Season!!!) Jan.: Stellar Awards Feb.: Grammy Awards Mar.: GMWA Board Meeting – Henderson, NV Sheri Jones-Moffett “Renewed” Sheri is here to stay, and although she’s been in the game for a long time with the likes of The Tri-City Singers & Ted & Sheri; she’s in a class all her own – Solo. This style is a little different from what you are use to from Sheri, but she still delivers a powerful display of talent. Standouts include: Title Track, Free Indeed, I Feel Your Spirit, Wonder, and Grace of God. Check Sheri out today… 6/10 J Moss “Just James” J Moss is back, and this time it’s personal; and more heartfelt… J brings you a little of everything on Just James, and it seems his voice just keeps getting better with time… Hits include: Restored, I Gave It Up, God Happens, No More, So Into You, Anointed, and Holy One. With production work by PAJAM – and background vocals by the likes of 21:03, Kierra Sheard, and many others; this project is a Must Have for you J Moss / Clark Family fans… 7/10 Youthful Praise “Resting On His Promise” James “JJ” Hairston & Youthful Praise step back into the scene with what critics are saying could be another hit – and we would have to agree with them. With production work by such notables as: Eric Davis, and James Robinson Jr. – this project is smoking. Such standouts include: High Praise, Still Mighty, Still Strong, Lord You’re Beautiful, Powerful God, and Lord You’re Mighty. Guests include: Pastor Shirley Caesar, Pastor Jamal Bryant, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Troy Bright and Stephen Hurd. YP are back to their roots with this project – as in High Vocals and Powerful Praise that shines through on every song… 7/10 Phillip Carter & SOV “Songs From The Storm” Now enters Phillip Carter to the Gospel Industry – and what a pleasant surprise He & SOV are… With a Traditional / Quartet sound, and Vocals to back it – SOV & Carter are sure to be winners with the saints. With Top cuts like: Put Your Trust, Eternal Life, Great Day, Rejoice, Ride Out Your Storm, and We’ve Come To Worship. Carter & SOV should be in the game for a long time to come… 7/10 Fred Hammond “Love Unstoppable” Known as the “Architech of Urban Worship”, Hammond returns with yet another Masterpiece of work; and for the Hammond fans – this one is a Keeper. Take the hit single They That Wait with John P. Kee, or the music turning Awesome God. Other notables include: Find No Fault, I Know What He’s Done, Lost In You, Take My Hand, and Thank You – which features Hammond’s Children.. . Pick this one up today and fall in Love with Fred all over again! 7/10 Lorenzo Johnson & Praizum “Life Support” Praizum is a group of Energetic young people from Los Angeles, who has the Vocals to get the job done – and with Johnson as the lead; they do it effortlessly. With the Style of Tye Tribbett & GA and the Vocals of Ricky Dillard & New G – Praizum is a welcome surprise to the Industry. Standout cuts include: Get Up, In His Presence, These Signs, Title Cut, I Need You, Romans 7, and The More I Praise Him. As a Independent group – they standout like professionals… 7/10 BeBe & CeCe Winans “Still” Some say it’s been 15 years, but we say – it’s like they never left the scene… BeBe & CeCe have returned with a project that will have you pressing repeat on several tracks. New hits like: Close To You, Still, Grace, He Can Handle It, Things, and Let It Be. With guests like: Bishop Marvin Winans, and Mary Mary, and production work by Warryn “Baby Dubb” Campbell, Percy Bady, and Mervyn Warren; this project is a Must Have. Whether you are a Old fan or a New one, pick this one up Today… 8/10 James Roberson “Everybody Dance!” Some know him as Professor, others know him as CEO of the popular West Coast Record Label – JDI Records, home to such hit makers as Beverly Crawford & Norman Hutchins. James steps out of Producer role – and into Artist with this release, as he shows he can not only sing – but also make a Musical impact on the Industry. Notable cuts are: Title cut, Revive Us, I Wanna Be More, Trouble In My Way, and Joy Unspeakable. Roberson proves he’s a master at everything he puts his mind too, check this one out… 7/10 Byron Cage “Faithful To Believe” For over 15 years, Cage has been delivering hits; and this project is sure to continue his reign. From his early Mid-90’s hits with Purpose, to the days of I Will Bless The Lord & The Presence of the Lord is Here – Cage comes with song vocals… With the help of Producer – Aaron Lindsey, and vocal arranger – Dewayne Woods, Faithful is sure to keep Byron’s fans coming… Hits include: Thankful, In The Midst, Lord You Are Everything, I Can’t Hold It, and Simply Yes. We can say that this project seems to be a little more Churchy then his past efforts. Get ready to experience Cage at his true best… 8/10 A Quick Note: Beverly Crawford’s Live in Los Angeles DVD is a Must See as well… Bev Shouting, Moses Tyson Organ playing, and Ricky Dillard Directing – check it out today…. 8/10 Event Reviews (In Short...) GMWA’s 42nd Annual Convention, Cincinnati, OH – 7/25-31/09: New Date – New Crowd (Smaller…), although things were a lot closer in Ohio – the saints were few in number. Highlights were Malcolm Williams performances, and the Thursday Night Gospel Concert… Next year – back to Cincinnati GMWA goes – only time will tell what the crowd will be like… Just Churchin’ Concert – 9/5/09: Nice Crowd, and talent was good too. Standouts was M to the 3rd Degree Praise Dancers of Messiah B.C., and Spirit of David Choir from City of Refuge… Black Angels Over Tuskagee – 10/3/09: What a Wonderful way to paint a picture of Our History, and a Talented cast too… DIVAS Simply Singing – 10/10/09: Sold Out, and Talent Packed… Frenchie Davis, Loretta Devine, Barbara Morrison, Faith Evans, and Sheryl Lee Ralph all showed out… FOOTNOTES BET’s Celebration of Gospel will be Taped on December 12, 2009 at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. The 10th Annual event guests list includes: Fantasia & her mother, Anthony Hamilton & his wife, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Deborah Cox, Kelly Price, Tamia, Fred Hammond, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett & GA, James Fortune & FIYA, PSALMS Choir of City of Refuge and more… The event will Air on January 10, 2010, For More Information, goto – www.bet.com/COG. The Stellar Awards heads back to Nashville, TN – January 16, 2010, the 25th annual event will be Hosted by Kirk franklin, Vickie Winans & Donnie McClurkin, and will feature performances by some of your Favorites in Gospel. Nominees include: Vickie Winans (9), Donald Lawrence (9), Hezekiah Walker (5), Kierra Sheard (4), Malcolm Williams (4), and Mary Mary (4). Special Recognitions will be presented by way of The James Cleveland, Thomas Dorsey & Dr. Bobby Jones awards to various artists. 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 17 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. Join us on November 21 at 7PM, for our 17thAnnual Pre-Winter Workshop/Musical, held at the First Goodwill Baptist Church 6900 So. Compton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002. 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.