Top 10 Most Fascinating People in Gospel in 2007
GOSPELflava.com takes a look back at some of the most fascinating people in Gospel in 2007.We polled some of our colleagues and incidentally, some of our all around favorite people to see what they thought and... WOW!!!! We got as varied responses as possible, and had to scratch our heads a bit to figure out how to whittle it down to TEN.So we present to you the top ten based on count (but in no particular order) and then share some of the wild cards with you. Here's GOSPELflava.com's look at people who brought a bit of intrigue to gospel in 2007....
1. Barack Obama - As candidate for presidency in '08 Senator Barack Obama has not just embraced faith but has infiltrated his campaign with it; reaching out to the faith community at large and specifically to the Gospel community. Mary Mary, Beverly Crawford and many others participated in a mini-tour of some South Carolina cities on behalf of the Senator. However, The 40 Days of Faith and Family Campaign hit a speedbump in Columbia, SC when gay rights activists objected to the participation of Pastor Donnie McClurkin on the Gospel concert segment of the campaign. Of course, Pastor McClurkin's testimony of being delivered from homosexuality doesn't sit well with those who don't believe it to be a problem. Obama held fast to his family values and tried not to alienate anyone, taking an opportunity to urge the black church to take a look at its history of homophobia. All in all, Obama continues to wear his faith on his sleeve, even holding public prayer via a toll free number each morning leading up to the Iowa caucus, which he ultimately won... Who is God voting for?!
2. The Church Gone Wild - Well by now you know its not our M.O. to do the gossip thing. We just in general feel that if it's not edifying, well, we'll let somebody else say it. However, we couldn't ignore the enormous number of votes for things that fell into a category that panelist Neily Dickerson so aptly named "The Church Gone Wild". She explains, "This year it seems like even more than in the past that the people in the church have gone crazy. There's so much emphasis on sensationalism and focusing on what's wrong, it seems to be overshadowing what is right. A couple gets divorced, another celebrates their 13 year anniversary... we focused on the divorced couple. One pastor falls from grace, another is honored for shepherding a congregation more than 20 years... who makes the cover of the magazine? The thought here... beloved let us love (pray for, support, encourage, stop talking about) each other. More importantly - let's LIVE what we're reading... heck, are we reading?!" Enough said!!
3. The Cross Movement / Da' T.R.U.T.H. Cross Movement Records (CMR) is home to the cream of the crop in Holy Hip Hop: the original crew (The Cross Movement), Ambassador, J.R., Lecrae, Phanatik, T.R.U.-L.I.F.E, Ministri of Defence, R-Swift, Flame, The Tonic, Everyday Process and Da' T.R.U.T.H. Though HHH fans might argue about who's their favorite, Da' T.R.U.T.H. seems to have crossed into a territory that has kept him on the mainstream Gospel charts in '07. In addition to his live DVD and new project, Open Book, he appears on Kirk Franklin's new release The Fight of My Life. With a squeaky clean ministry reputation, and proof that they are as studied in the Word as they are skilled to flow, CMR continues to collectively and individually forge ground for HHH and the Kingdom at large.
4. Fred Hammond - Now based in Texas, the Gospel superstar has spent 2007 readying his new entertainment conglomerate, FHammond Family Entertainment. Fred Hammond was honored at the beginning of this year with the BMI Trailblazer award and went on to fight through a tough year which marked the passing of his mother, Mildred Hammond. He ended the year with new beginnings releasing FHFE's first venture, the DVD comedy movie "Christmas... Who Needs It". He rounds it out with a web-based video broadcast and radio program titled "Radio Fred" and of course continues to give us the absolute best in Gospel music. It seems that Fred Hammond is back in the saddle and raring to go.
5. Kirk Franklin - Kirk continues to leave his mark on Gospel music in a way that has been unparalleled. His marketing campaign leading up to his recently released project The Fight of My Life, was innovative and drew in the listener. In addition to several stints as guest host of TBN, he landed a gig hosting BET's new Gospel superstar talent search show, "Sunday Best". With his predictable unpredictability, Franklin continues to be someone always interesting to watch.
6. Tonéx - It's been a tumultuous year for him, but we are never bored with the Phoenix-rising that is Tonéx. With what one contributor referred to as "his controversial YOUTUBE diatribe denouncing all things gospel", he then set the house on FIRE at a subsequent Bobby Jones' Gospel Show on BET. We agree with the same contributor who brilliantly notes that "this singer/ songwriter/ pastor's picture is probably to be found in the P. section of the dictionary. An 8x10 of his likeness is probably found under the word PARADOX!" Of course you can't leave out that he is MAD talented, sings like he invented the scales and is innovative with a capital I. Plus, it's always refreshing to see someone who does WHATEVER they do with that other P word... PASSION!
7. Vickie Winans- Speaking of passion!!! Miss Vickie just does everything she does on 100! With a new record label - her own! She set out in '07 to show the big boys what she was talking about. Nobody can market Vickie Winans better than Vickie Winans and she blazed the trail last year with an aggressive campaign featuring BIG giveaways, an online talent contest, a holiday album and an always in-your-face email campaign. Add that to her infectious smile and signature voice and you've got record-breaking independent success.
8. Yolanda Adams- Five-time Grammy winner Yolanda Adams forged new territory for herself in 2007 with the all-new Yolanda Adams Morning Show. Syndicated on Radio One in over ten markets, Yolanda along with co-host Brother Larry Jones and Marcus Wiley keeps listeners coming back with a repertoire of "Faith, Family and Fun". The ground-breaking show based in Houston is said to be the first daily nationally syndicated inspirational show in radio. Of course, she continues to bring us great gospel music, featured on soundtracks, releasing a compilation and a Christmas project, What A Wonderful Time. There's the clothing-line and of course she's a mommy. With the early morning radio show and a young child, any way you slice it, she's got to be tired! Yet and still one of the most fascinating people in Gospel in '07.
9. Max Siegel - Former Senior Vice President of Zomba Label Group, Max Siegel has moved on and currently serves as the President of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc. where he oversees marketing and sales for all of the company's properties. He keeps his fingers in the Gospel cookie jar by hosting The Artist Boot Camp, which provides artists and entertainment entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with industry influentials up close and personal. From Donnie McClurkin to Dale Earnhardt? Interesting for sure!
10. Dr. Bobby Jones - Whether you call him Ambassador, Doctor or just Bobby Jones, the man continues to move, and not just geographically. A new solo album on Zomba Gospel, another album independently released on Sunrise Entertainment as a CD/DVD and big things planned for his new Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel Complex for Education and Preservation in Tampa, this pioneer continues to turn heads.
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