Month: September 2025

The Family returns with new music after 30 years

Dallas, TX – Bursting on the scene in the early ’90s was a unique ensemble of singers who gave birth to what we now know as Urban Contemporary Gospel Music.  Their unmistakable vocal style and flair became the sound of the ’90s and early 2000s. That ensemble was Kirk Franklin and The Family.  This iconic group lit up the charts and toured the world, collecting multiple GRAMMY®, Stellar, NAACP Image, and Dove Awards, and selling over 7.5 million records and singles that reached Gold and Platinum status. Their vocals were the backdrop of hits “Why We Sing,” “Conquerors,” “Silver and Gold,” “Now Behold the Lamb,” “Melodies from Heaven,” and “Whatcha Lookin’ 4.”  The group is now known as THE FAMILY, and they are back!

After an almost 30-year hiatus, the twelve dynamic voices of The Family have returned to Gospel music with a renewed mission, shared healing, and a testimony of what happens when purpose outlasts pain. The Family members are: Kisha Grandy–Lee, Dalon Collins, Carrie “Mousie” Collins, Darrell Blair, Teresa Rucker, Jeannette Johnson, Yolanda McDonald, Ramona Barlow White, “Mother” Shelia Brice, Demetrice Clinkscale, Nelda Washington, and Stephanie Glynn.

The iconic sound, vibrant energy, and undeniable anointing that this aggregation of singers possesses remain evident today.  Their current single, “Jesus,” is heard on the chart-topping soundtrack from the movie Love Mountain.  With this single, The Family has been preparing for their reunion project TOGETHER FOREVER, set to release on October 3, 2025.  Their long-awaited EP is available now for eager fans to pre-order or pre-save on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer.

This 30-year reset of The Family is being facilitated through a joint venture between veteran producer and songwriter Ernest J. Lee (David’s Dance Music) and music mogul Kerry Douglas (Blacksmoke Music Worldwide). This dynamic partnership is poised to bring The Family’s nostalgic sound back to their fans from the ’90s and to the new generation of Gospel music lovers.

The Family gave a showstopping performance and a glimpse of their return at the 40th Annual Stellar Awards Pre-Show in August.  They are set to attend the 10th Annual Avidity Awards being held on November 1, in Dallas, TX.  They will be honored with a special musical tribute and the Avidity Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Family’s album release celebratory concert is October 12.  Hosted by Carmina Barnett and Aldren McCullar, A Night With The Family will take place at New Breed Christian Center, 4500 S. Riverside Dr, Fort Worth, TX. 

Services announced for Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Walker, pastor and gospel singer

Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Walker

GMF extends heartfelt condolences on the passing of Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Walker, who passed September 14, 2025, at the age of 77.

For more than 50 years, Walker faithfully served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. Within the gospel music community, he was best known for his cover of “One Day at a Time,” written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson. His 1970s recording of the song with the T.L.W. Ensemble brought him wide recognition, and he revisited it decades later in 2010 with his group, Thomas L. Walker & Totally Committed, on the Keep Me In Your Will project.

According to H.D. Pope Funeral Home, services celebrating Rev. Dr. Walker’s life and legacy will be held in Rocky Mount as follows:

Friday, September 26, 2025
Meet & Greet
5 PM – 7 PM
The Assembly@9121
9121 West Mount Drive, Rocky Mount, NC

Saturday, September 27, 2025
Lying in State
10 AM – 12 Noon
The Rocky Mount Event Center
285 NE Main Street, Rocky Mount, NC

Saturday, September 27, 2025
Celebration of Life
12 Noon
The Rocky Mount Event Center
285 NE Main Street, Rocky Mount, NC

Interment will follow in the Buster and Bonnie Family Garden in Nashville, NC.

2026 Soar Awards announces 9th annual TV taping in Chicago

American Idol Season 23 Winner Jamal Roberts and
Billboard Music Award Nominated Singer Kierra Sheard to Co-Host!

Soar Awards Transparent Logo

Chicago, IL – The 2026 Soar Awards will tape its 9th annual ceremony on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Greenwood Oasis in Chicago, IL. Widely recognized in the gospel music community as the celebration, “where music, media, and ministry take flight,” the Soar Awards continues to honor the most influential voices across the inspirational music industry. The evening will be hosted by American Idol Season 23 Winner Jamal Roberts and Billboard Music Award nominated gospel star, Kierra Sheard.

“I couldn’t be more excited for the 2026 Soar Awards as we continue to celebrate the very best in music, media, and ministry,” says Soar Awards founder Justin Francis. “This year will be our biggest yet, filled with unforgettable moments that honor the legacy and future of gospel and inspirational arts.”

This year’s program will feature poignant musical tributes to gospel music legends Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, and Erica Campbell. They will honor Pastor Chris Harris Sr. of the Bright Star Community Outreach in Chicago for his vast community philanthropy. There will be a special tribute to Bishop Leonard Scott, who specializes in recording hymns and who is also the founder of the oldest existing black gospel label in the USA, Tyscot Records. Scott’s tribute will celebrate Tyscot Records’ 50th Anniversary—a milestone moment in gospel music history. 

Several leading artists have already been confirmed to perform. Gold-selling artists such as John P. Kee, Dante Bowe, Le’Andria Johnson, and Anthony Brown & group therAPy will be joined by gospel crooner Jason Nelson and quartet queen Lisa Knowles-Smith & the Brown Singers for a night of dramatic performances.

For the first time, the Soar Awards will expand its categories beyond music to celebrate outstanding achievements in Media and Ministry. The new fan-voted categories include:

·      Media: Podcast of the Year, Personality of the Year, Influencer of the Year

·      Ministry: Breakout Preacher of the Year, Preacher of the Year, Author of the Year

In addition, the Soar Awards will present its inaugural Ministry Honoree and the first-ever Ministry ICON Award in the inspirational media sector.

Musical categories will also broaden to spotlight the best in gospel and inspirational music, including Music Artist of the Year, Church Anthem of the Year, Most Played Song of the Year, Breakout Artist of the Year, and more. Final nominees will be announced in October 2025.

Launching alongside the awards show, the Soar Awards Experience will debut in 2026, featuring special events and activations leading up to the main ceremony.

The Soar Awards continues to raise the standard for celebrating music, media, and ministry—creating powerful, inspiring moments for audiences worldwide. The event takes place Monday, March 2, 2026, at Greenwood Oasis, 7621 South Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60619. The pre-show starts at 5:30 PM and the main show starts at 7 PM.

CeCe Winans’ global legacy grows through record-breaking tour, international honors & humanitarian work

CeCe Winans: African leg of More Than This World Tour

(Los Angeles, CA) – CeCe Winans continues to stand as one of the most commanding voices in music, building on a legacy defined by both critical acclaim, spiritual impact, and heartfelt service. Her latest More Than This World Tour has expanded into a global phenomenon, marking her first international tour in more than a decade and reinforcing her influence as both an artist and evangelist.

The international tour spanned 11 countries across 3 continents, drawing more than 100,000 people worldwide. Highlights included:

  • Kingston, Jamaica – over 20,000 in attendance, where she was honored with the Key to the City and an official Mayoral Citation from Mayor Councillor Andrew A. Swaby, JP, celebrating her extraordinary contributions to gospel music and her life-changing global influence.
  • Port of Spain, Trinidad – a sold-out crowd of more than 12,500.
  • Africa – her first tour across the continent in over a decade, where a 7-city run drew nearly 50,000 people in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya.

The Africa leg of the tour ended with a deeply personal moment in Nairobi, Kenya, where Winans partnered with Compassion International to visit a local church and deliver food and toiletries to a family in need, underscoring her commitment to ministry beyond the stage.

Reflecting on the experience, Winans shared:

Walking into concerts filled with people from every corner of the world singing these songs of faith was overwhelming. This tour has reminded me that music truly transcends borders. It unites us, strengthens us, and draws us closer to God. And being able to step off the stage and serve communities, like my time in Kenya with Compassion International, was a powerful reminder that this calling is always bigger than me.

By the end of 2025, Winans will have performed more than 90 concerts worldwide, with the More Than This Tour continuing into Spring 2026 for its final bow. The record-breaking success of this tour reaffirms her place as one of gospel music’s most influential figures, inspiring generations with a message of faith, hope, and love.

Spencer Taylor, Jr. of the Highway QC’s passes at 97

By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

Gospel Music Fever joins countless others in extending condolences on the passing of Spencer Taylor, Jr. The longtime Highway QC’s frontman, who spent seven decades with the group and came to be known as “The Godfather” of gospel quartet music, died last week at the age of 97.

Taylor’s son and fellow group member, Lynn Taylor, shared the news of his father’s passing in a heartfelt Facebook post on September 5th. 

“Daddy, you were my King, and I will hold you dear to my heart for the rest of my life,” he wrote.

“Throughout your final days, you urged me to let you go, and I was compelled to watch you take your last breath today. Your parting words, ‘Ok Lynn, I do it for you,’ continue to resonate with me. Today, you showed me immense affection through your kisses. Furthermore, I was touched by your heartfelt prayer for the group and me. So, I understood. To put it simply, my dad wasn’t ailing; he was merely elderly and eager to reunite with Christ in heaven. 🙏 Thus, you should know that the Godfather peacefully left this world at 3:16, surrounded by his devoted group and family, while affectionately kissing me. I love you, Daddy. Your baby son.”

Several years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Taylor for Gospel Music Fever. At the time, I marveled that he had been on gospel’s battlefield with the Highway QC’s for nearly 60 of the group’s 69 years. He was 86 then, and he was showing no signs of slowing down.

The Highway QC’s carved out a storied place in gospel history, with past members including Lou Rawls, Sam Cooke, and Johnnie Taylor (no relation to Spencer). A younger Spencer Taylor probably could’ve chosen the secular road at some point, too. Instead, he stuck with gospel. 

As we chatted that afternoon, Taylor stood both unnoticed and undisturbed in the back of the auditorium he would shortly demolish with his most requested number, “Oh, How Wonderful.” I was struck by how approachable he was, enjoying the performance of a lesser-known quartet instead of retreating to a dressing room. Speaking about the group’s enduring legacy, he reflected, ‘Well, through Christ… anything you do only stands by the Word of God, and that has been our success. To last, you’ve got to stay with God.’”

Enjoy the full GMF interview here. 

Homegoing celebration arrangements have been announced by the Taylor family as follows:

Homegoing Celebration flyer

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
Public Viewing
9 AM – 11 AM

Celebration of Life Service
11 AM – 1 PM
Pastor Tim Rogers, Eulogist

Viewing and Celebration of Life service will be held at Southern Friendship Baptist Church, 4444 Branch Avenue, Temple Hills, MD. Services will also be live-streamed via YouTube through Southern Friendship Baptist Church’s channel.

In acknowledgment of his passing, The Journal of Gospel Music published an essay about Taylor and the Highway QC’s, which you can read here.

“OMG You Gave Me Everything” – TONIO

“OMG You Gave Me Everything”
TONIO
Available on Spotify (July 4, 2025)

By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

TONIO "Oh My God" art work

From the very first beat, “OMG You Gave Me Everything” makes it clear that gospel jazz/rap artist TONIO came to get listeners moving.

Before a single lyric drops, the song delivers a solid 25 seconds of pulsating rhythm that gives me Afro-Cuban vibes—plenty of time to settle into the bop.

At its core, the track is TONIO’s expression of gratitude. He raps:

From the block to the pew, gotta whole new view
Everything I have, it came from You
I’m telling You Lord, I’m so amazed
For the rest of my life, I’ll be giving You praise

TONIO’s audiences have taken notice of his bold lyrics, authentic energy, and heart for ministry.

“Back to the Ways of God” – Neva Ford Nation

“Back to the Ways of God”
Neva Ford Nation
Bdm/Ugroove Music (2025)
www.nevafordnations.com

By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

Neva Ford Nation "Back to the Ways of God" art work

Neva Ford Nation’s single, “Back to the Ways of God,” comes with the urgency of breaking news. The uptempo track, produced by Glenn “Gp” Piper and Shelia Moore-Piper, carries a clear and uncompromising message: in light of the condition of our society, we must return to God’s ways.

Nation delivers the song’s admonition in an uncomplicated fashion, which makes the message all the more direct and impactful. 

With “Back to the Ways of God,” Neva Ford Nation offers not just a song, but a charge for listeners everywhere.