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24th ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL AWARDS TALENT UPDATE: Dorinda Clark Cole added as co-host, plus a host of other entertainers to present awards.
The updated talent roster for the 24th Annual Stellar Awards was released recently with some additions to the show.
Evangelist/Singer and multiple Stellar nominee Dorinda Clark Cole is now on board as a co-host, Actress/Activist Sheryl Lee Ralph will be a presenter and show organizers have also added a special tribute to recording artist Rev. Timothy Wright who was critically injured in car accident earlier this year.
The full list of 2009 Stellar Award presenters and performers to date are as follows:
Co-Hosts
Dorinda Clark Cole
Donnie McClurkin
Sinbad
James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award
Darryl Coley
Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award
Vickie Winans
Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award
Rance Allen Group
Special Tribute
Rev. Timothy Wright
Performers
Da' Truth
Kirk Franklin
Jessica Greene
Dietrick Haddon
Heather Headley
Terrell Hunt
Lee Williams and the Spiritual QCs
Mary Mary
Donnie McClurkin
Melody
The Murrills
Jai Reed
Tye Tribbett
Dionne Warwick
Presenters
21:03
Eddie Baltrip
Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Regina Belle
Clifton Davis
DeLeon
James Fortune
Donald Lawrence
JD Lawrence
Jonathan Nelson
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Marvin Sapp
Sherri Shepherd
Gospel music fans have a chance to win a weekend get-away to attend the Stellars courtesy of Rushmoredrive.com, the official search engine for the event.
The 24th Annual Stellar Awards will be held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville , TN on Saturday, January 17. Minister Byron Cage, a former co-host of the Stellars and Chicago songbird Angela Spivey have been tapped to host red carpet festivities, which will be followed by the annual nominees dinner on Friday, January 16.
"YES GOD DID" INAUGURAL PRAISE BALL: An inaugural affair that caters to Christians will feature the music of Tramaine Hawkins
To celebrate millions of faith-based voters and President-elect Obama, the 2009 Inaugural Praise Ball will be heldon January 18, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington DC . The theme is "Yes God Did!" and comedian AJ Jamal will host the affair. Featuring a mini concert by veteran gospel artist Tramaine Hawkins, the package includes food, music and non-alcoholic beverages. Ticket prices range from $200-$350.
JACQUELINE RHINEHART'S ORGANIC 'SOUL FOOD': New journal helps lead to self discovery
One of the greatest lessons of Jacqueline Rhinehart's first book, "My Organic Soul: From Plato to Creflo, Emerson to MLK, Jesus to Jay-Z, A Journal to Help You Discover Yourself Through Words of Wisdom from Visionaries Past and Present" is that you are what you eat-intellectually, mentally and spiritually speaking. The book compiles enlightening musings from past and present thought leaders--from academia, to the church and the music community--whose wisdom influenced her beliefs and helped chart a successful course in life.
From the first words of her introduction, we learn that one of the ways to know one's authentic self, oddly, is to listen and talk to oneself. The book is dedicated in part to her late mother from South Carolina who encouraged her to talk to herself and her father who she described as quick to listen and slow to speak. Rhinehart has taken those opposite traits from both of her parents and produced an empowering and transforming escape to defining oneself through journaling.
This book is for the open-minded. The way Rhinehart parallels scripture and quotes from Greek philosophers beside street proverbs and hip hop lyrics is ghetto fabulosity of the mind and fertilizer for the soul of all who will objectively read, listen and record their life lessons learned on its pages. In the words of En Vogue, you must "free you mind and the rest will follow" to truly experience the benefits of "My Organic Soul."
The author writes: "Like talking to yourself" the book is intended, "to lead you to a space where you unpack, hear, identify and reflect upon the information-the ideological food-you've consumed."
Rhinehart's ability to recognize the eloquence in some of the simplest, seemingly mundane statements is her strength as a macrocosmic thinker. She asks readers to gently consider the quotes that appear to be contradictory, words and lyrics that normally wouldn't seem to appeal to the same person. Remove labels and gently consider or meditate on what you read she suggests. If you view the contents objectively for instance, you might notice the visceral relationship of pastors' styles, tone and rythymic delivery and that of some hip hop artists are connected.
At a book signing and release party at New York City's Caffe Cielo recently, the free-thinking observer told interviewer Jacque Reid that she attributes her success to "my willingness to really go with what God has given me to help with his instigation." During that interview Rhinehart had some interesting answers to questions regarding life, race relations and current events:
"Thug life is going to be replaced by intellectual life," Rhinehart opined about the election of Barack Obama to the U.S presidency.
Concerning the high rate of single African American women she wondered if sisters were trying to "save the race" and said they should not limit themselves and date outside of the race, as she has done as a pro-black African-American woman.
A philosopher in her own right, Rhinehart's quotable voice is worthy of contemplation. We get some sense of her attitude and perspective on life in the book's introduction, yet reading her words in the "Observe" and "Consider" passages is the best part of book. Her wisdom comes in layman's terms, like a street prophet sure of her musings, but without judgment. With ample space to write down personal reflections about the quotes and proverbs, and her thought-provoking utterances intertwined, "My Organic Soul" is an intelligent aid to self discovery.
INSPIRATION FOR THE INNER CITY FROM JAH WORD: West Coast Holy Hip Hop artist releases relevant new CD
Jah Word, a native of San Diego, Ca, is a rapper who spits lyrics in the language and style those who have seen their share of the streets and hard times can relate to. It's the kind of flava that conjures up images of low-riders and rims. No, this Cali-flavored hip hop does not embrace thug life, but on the new CD "Kingdom Radio Vol. 1" he lets those who live it know Jesus Christ is the way out.
"Kingdom Radio Vol. 1" is a noteworthy, head-boppin CD from the slick beats to the collabos -- such as on the song "Beautiful One" set to tune of The Artist's "Most Beautiful Girl in the World" featuring vocalists Tommorow and Denisha Osbourne; Tonex also appears on the track "He Can Do It- Brotha Los"-- and scripture-inspired lyrical content. The album collectively is best described as a realistic depiction of "inner city blues" for youth who are encountering peril in today's urban jungles.
Wondering who Jah Word is? Here's his condensed musical resume: This artist/DJ has been carving his name in the Holy Hip movement for over 10 years. Jah Word has recorded 4 solo albums and executive produced 3 others. Jah Word is a two-time award winner of San Diego's Best Hip-Hop artist; 2001 Holy Hip-Hop Award winner for the album "Strictly Ministry"; in 2003, Jah Word received Holy Hip-Hop's highest honor--the Ambassador Award. Jah Word has also served as a writer for industry publications such as Gospel Flava Magazine, Street Chronicles, and Gospelzone.com. Jah Word is the producer and host of Kingdom Music Radio, a program dedicated to Hip-Hop and R&P (Rhythm and Praise). Kingdom Music Radio was a top rated show on KPRZ 1210 and KSON AM1240 in San Diego. Check out samples from the latest from Jah Word here: http://kingdommusic.com/store/kmradio1sample.html