Issue 27
Aug/Sep 2017
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IN THIS ISSUE
Editor's Note Last month I had the privilege of seeing two legends in concert for a One Night Only event of a lifetime. Hezekiah Walker and John P. Kee both have both been cranking out hits for well over 30 years and they proved why they are still masters of their craft. Songs like: Jesus Is My Help, Power Belongs to God, Jesus is the Light, We Walk By Faith, Wave It Away, Strength, Lily in the Valley and so many more, have shaped our lives, and quite frankly, made me fall deeper in love with Gospel Music back in the 90’s.
LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON .....................................5 CHOIR DAZE .........................................................8 BROTHER CULTURE .........................................9 SHINE: GENE MOORE ....................................12 THE BENEDICTION: ........................................14
Editor-In-Chief: Hasan James Photography by Stephen Reid
Speaking of the 90’s, another great artist of that era was Lauryn Hill. I happened to be at the GrammyÂŽ Awards when she won wĂ›i ĂŒĂ€ÂœÂŤÂ…ÂˆiĂƒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ iĂ›i˜ˆ˜}] ĂœÂ…ÂˆVÂ… Ăœ>Ăƒ > Ă€iVÂœĂ€` >ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ ĂŒÂˆÂ“i vÂœĂ€ a female artist, when The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was adorned by critics and fans alike. Our latest cover artist and fellow GrammyÂŽ winner, Le’Andria Johnson has also been
Senior Art Director Fatima Williams-Burke www.FatimaBurke.com
Management Shawn Gibbs for The Firm Artist Management Shawn.
Contributors Fatima Burke Markita Collins Torin Derek Shawn Gibbs Larif Hamm Jazz Hunter Roudy Michel Chloe Vanderpoole J.S. Williams Isiah Williams
TheFirmManagement@Gmail.com
Â“ÂˆĂƒĂ•Â˜`iĂ€ĂƒĂŒÂœÂœ` ĂœÂ…i˜ ĂƒÂ…i wĂ€ĂƒĂŒ ĂƒĂŒiÂŤÂŤi` L>Ă€ivÂœÂœĂŒ ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒÂœ ÂœĂ•Ă€ Â?ÂˆĂ›iĂƒ œ˜ /Â˝Ăƒ -Ă•Â˜`>Ăž iĂƒĂŒÂ° /Â…ÂˆĂƒ ÂˆĂƒ ĂœÂ…Ăž Ăœi VÂ…ÂœĂƒi ĂŒÂœ re-create that famous Lauryn Hill cover for our 27th issue.
Sales & Marketing Ricardo Cantrell Michael Gordon
Le’Andria Johnson is one of the most powerful singers on the planet. Power, Pain, Joy and Anointing all `ĂœiÂ?Â? ˆ˜ Â…iĂ€ Ă›ÂœÂˆVi] >˜` >Â?ĂŒÂ…ÂœĂ•}Â… ĂƒÂ…i ÂˆĂƒ ˜œ Â?œ˜}iĂ€ …œ“iÂ?iĂƒĂƒ >˜` L>Ă€ivÂœÂœĂŒ] ÂŤ>ˆ˜ ĂƒĂŒÂˆÂ?Â? w˜`Ăƒ Â…iÀ° -Â…i ĂŒ>Â?ÂŽĂƒ >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ >˜` ĂƒÂœ “ÕVÂ… Â“ÂœĂ€i ˆ˜ ÂœĂ•Ă€ ˆ˜‡`iÂŤĂŒÂ… VÂœÂ˜Ă›iĂ€Ăƒ>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂŒÂ…i -Ă•Â˜`>Ăž iĂƒĂŒ] -i>ĂƒÂœÂ˜ ĂŽ ĂœÂˆÂ˜Â˜iÀ°
Printing Shweiki Media
Photography Bruce McKinzy Derek Blanks Tara Hauck Stephen Reid
Visit Us On The Web at: www.RootMagazineOnline.com
What would the black church be without the choir? Well, we have four choir directors who want to let you know, not only is choir music back, it is alive and well, in a special feature entitled: Choir Daze Are Here AgainÆ >˜ Âœ`i ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i -ÂŤÂˆÂŽi ii ÂœÂˆÂ˜ĂŒ] -V…œœÂ? >âit /Â…i Â™Ă¤Â˝Ăƒ >Â?ĂƒÂœ LĂ€ÂœĂ•}Â…ĂŒ Ă•Ăƒ > VÂ?>ĂƒĂƒÂˆV >Â?LՓ vĂ€ÂœÂ“ œ˜i‡vÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ… Âœv /Â…i Â?>Ă€ÂŽĂƒ -ÂˆĂƒĂŒiĂ€Ăƒ] >Ă€i˜ Â?>ÀŽ -Â…i>Ă€` ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… Â…iĂ€ `iLĂ•ĂŒ] Finally Karen. We got a chance to speak to some of the players who helped that album see the light of day, in The Benediction. As usual, we’ve created a conversation peace for our readers, because after all, you love Gospel Music just as much as we do. Love, Live, Life!
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ROOT: œ˜}Ă€>ĂŒĂ•Â?>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜Ăƒ œ˜ ĂƒÂˆ}˜ˆ˜} ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… , Ć‚ Inspiration. How do you feel about signing with such a prestigious label? Le’Andria: I feel like it’s a great moment ĂžÂœĂ• ÂŽÂ˜ÂœĂœ] `iwÂ˜ÂˆĂŒiÂ?Ăž iĂ?VÂˆĂŒi` >LÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…i ˜iĂœ move. It’s just been a wonderful ride thus far. I’m very humbled and grateful for this opportunity.
ROOT: Are you still pastoring your church in Atlanta?
LÂˆĂ˘>ÀÀi] iĂƒÂŤiVˆ>Â?Â?Ăž ĂŒĂ€>`ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â? VÂ…Ă•Ă€VÂ… vÂœÂ?ÂŽĂƒÂ°/iÂ?Â? us a bit about your approach to salvation.
Le’Andria: 9iĂƒt 7i½Ài `œˆ˜} ĂƒiĂ€Ă›ÂˆViĂƒ iĂ›iÀÞ 1st and 3rd Sunday and it’s going good. -Â…ÂœĂ•ĂŒ ÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂŒÂœ ÂˆÂ˜ÂˆĂƒĂŒĂ€ÂˆiĂƒt
Le’Andria: Well okay..some may call it Ă•Â˜ÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ…Âœ`ÂœĂ?] LĂ•ĂŒ >ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…i Ăƒ>“i ĂŒÂˆÂ“i] iĂƒĂ•Ăƒ Ăœ>Ăƒ Ă•Â˜ÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ…Âœ`ÂœĂ?t i Ăœ>Ăƒ Â…i>Â?ˆ˜} ÂŤiÂœÂŤÂ?i œ˜ ĂŒÂ…i Sabbath and folk were looking at him like he was crazy, because instead of healing them on a regular day, he chose to do it on a day Âœv Ă€iĂƒĂŒÂ° /Â…>ĂŒ Ăœ>Ăƒ VÂœÂ˜ĂƒÂˆ`iĂ€i` Ă•Â˜ÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ…Âœ`ÂœĂ?° i said, “Are you worried about me doing it on the regular day as opposed to somebody Liˆ˜} Â…i>Â?i`œ 7i½Ài ĂƒĂ•ÂŤÂŤÂœĂƒi` ĂŒÂœ wÂ˜ÂˆĂƒÂ… what Jesus started. People are gonna smoke when you’re there and they’re gonna smoke when you leave. I just have a different approach and instead of just giving them a cigarette just to give it to them, I say, “I got something to talk to you about, I wanna talk to you about a man who delivers and Ăƒ>Ă›iĂƒÂťÂ° /Â…i ĂœÂœĂ€Â?` }iĂŒĂƒ ĂŒÂ…i ÂşĂ•Â˜ÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ…Âœ`ÂœĂ?Âť way but the church doesn’t seem to get ÂˆĂŒÂ° Ă›iÀÞLÂœ`Ăž ÂˆĂƒ Ăœ>ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂ˜} ĂŒÂœ ĂƒÂˆĂŒ œ˜ ĂŒÂ…i vĂ€ÂœÂ˜ĂŒ row at church and have the appearance of holiness but that’s not how it should be. Ă›iÀÞLÂœ`Ăž ĂƒÂ…ÂœĂ•Â?` }iĂŒ ĂŒĂ€i>ĂŒi` ĂŒÂ…i Ăƒ>“i Ăœ>Ăž in the church, from the pulpit to the door, but unfortunately that’s not how it is. Jesus was ÂœĂ•ĂŒ ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i wiÂ?`] Â…i Ăœ>Ăƒ Ăœ>ĂƒÂ˜Â˝ĂŒ ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i ĂŒi“Â?i° He was out sitting among the prostitutes, liars and drinkers. He went to parties and turned water into wine, so you know, he was using the people where they were.
ROOT: If you were not singing, what would be your dream job?
ROOT: It’s hard to believe that you’ve been doing this for a couple of years now. And although you’ve already won Stellars and a GrammyŽ, it still feels like we haven’t heard the best from you. How do you feel about that?
Le’Andria: I would have to say a police ÂœvwViÀ°
Le’Andria: I hear a lot of people saying that and I believe that the best is still yet to come. /Â…i Â?ÂœĂ•Ă€Â˜iĂž ÂˆĂƒ ĂœÂ…>ĂŒ ÂˆĂŒ ÂˆĂƒ] ĂžÂœĂ• Â…>Ă›i ĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ ups and downs but you’re still moving. I’m still growing and I must say, It’s a beautiful process.
ROOT: Do you like law enforcement?
ROOT: Speaking of process, take us through the whole process of making this album. Is there a particular sound that you are going for or are you just kind of doing your 2? Le’Andria: I would say it’s a different sound for the most part, but I still have some churchy songs that will be on this album. I Â…>Ă›i > ĂƒÂœÂ˜} V>Â?Â?i` Âş Â…>˜}i Ă•Ăƒ Â˜ÂœĂœ]Âť ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ my husband wrote and I think it’s such a great song. I really believe this project will show a different side of Le’Andria Johnson. Many people have only seen one side of me but this is a different body of work that I’m Ă€i>Â?Â?Ăž iĂ?VÂˆĂŒi` vÂœĂ€ iĂ›iĂ€ĂžÂœÂ˜i ĂŒÂœ Â…i>Ă€ ÂˆĂŒÂ° ROOT: Ă€i>ĂŒt ½“ iĂ?VÂˆĂŒi` ĂŒÂœ Â…i>Ă€ ÂˆĂŒ >Ăƒ ĂœiÂ?Â?° I’m glad you mentioned your husband LiV>Ă•Ăƒi œ˜ Âş*Ă€i>VÂ…iĂ€Ăƒ Âœv Ć‚ĂŒÂ?>Â˜ĂŒ>]Âť ÂˆĂŒ showed a lot of ups and downs in your relationship. How are things with you and Forrest now? Le’Andria: Of course we still have our problems like anyone else, but everything is }œœ` LiĂŒĂœii˜ Ă•ĂƒÂ° ÂœÂ“Â“Ă•Â˜ÂˆV>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ ÂˆĂƒ ÂŽiĂž] ĂƒÂœ you know you gotta work from there. ROOT: ,i>Â?ÂˆĂŒĂž /6 Â…>Ăƒ > Ăœ>Ăž Âœv “>}˜ˆvĂžÂˆÂ˜} everything and shows things in a different light and sometimes when you see it you’re Â?ˆŽi] Âş ˆ` Ăƒ>Ăž ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒÂśÂť /…ˆ˜}Ăƒ ĂœÂˆÂ?Â? ÂœvĂŒiÂ˜ĂŒÂˆÂ“iĂƒ get misconstrued. Do you regret doing the show? Le’Andria: No, I don’t regret anything. It was another opportunity for viewers to see the things I go through just like other people. I still have a relationship with God, so it’s kinda hard to worry about what everyone else has to say. I believe that reality television is a different kind of ministry.
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ROOT: Really? Le’Andria: 9iĂƒ
Le’Andria: I mean you know, I’ve always had a passion for it but never had a chance to really get into it because I love kids as well. Âœ œ˜i Ă€i>Â?Â?Ăž ÂŽÂ˜ÂœĂœĂƒ] LĂ•ĂŒ ½“ > ViĂ€ĂŒÂˆwi` *Ă€i‡ teacher. If singing doesn’t work out, I would get myself together, go on down to the >V>`i“Þ] ĂŒĂ€>ˆ˜ Ă•ÂŤ] >˜` ĂƒĂŒiÂŤ œ˜ ÂœĂ•ĂŒt >ĂŒVÂ… people on the roads for running red lights. (Laughter) ROOT: /Â…>ĂŒÂ˝Ăƒ …ˆÂ?>Ă€ÂˆÂœĂ•Ăƒt -Âœ ĂŒ>ÂŽi Ă•Ăƒ L>VÂŽ ĂŒÂœ your Sunday best audition. Of course we all saw it on television and it was nothing fake about it. It was real in your face, bare foot, y>ĂŒ ÂœĂ•ĂŒ ĂƒÂˆÂ˜}ˆ˜}] >˜` Ăœi >Â?Â? Â?Ă•ĂƒĂŒ viÂ?Â? ˆ˜ Â?ÂœĂ›i ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂžÂœĂ• >ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ “œ“iÂ˜ĂŒÂ° />ÂŽi Ă•Ăƒ L>VÂŽ ĂŒÂœ how you even got there. Who told you to audition? Did you really want to do it from the beginning? Le’Andria: Well at that moment, I was in the process of losing my house, and during that time, they were wrapping up season two and the singer that I felt should have won did not win but, at that time my best friend said, Âş9ÂœĂ• ˜ii` ĂŒÂœ ĂŒĂ€Ăž ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂť >˜` Ăœ>Ăƒ Â?ˆŽi Âş >Â… ½“ }œœ`tÂť Ć‚ĂŒ ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ ĂŒÂˆÂ“i] Ăœ>Ăƒ ĂŒĂ€ĂžÂˆÂ˜} ĂŒÂœ }iĂŒ > house for my kids and my friend still thought it would be a good idea for me to try out. Prior to that, I tried out for American Idol in 2007, and of course they felt like I already Â…>` ÂşÂˆĂŒÂť >˜` Ăœi½Ài Â?œœŽˆ˜} vÂœĂ€ ĂƒÂœÂ“iLÂœ`Ăž that we could train and be taught. ROOT: Wow! I didn’t know that. Le’Andria: 9i>Â… ĂƒÂœ LĂž ĂŒÂ…ÂˆĂƒ ĂŒÂˆÂ“i Ă€i>Â?Â?Ăž `ˆ`Â˜Â˝ĂŒ want to do it but lo and behold, I auditioned and to my surprise I got picked and from there the rest is history. I’m very appreciative Âœv / >˜` -Ă•Â˜`>Ăž iĂƒĂŒ vÂœĂ€ ĂƒĂ•VÂ… > “>}ˆV>Â? moment on television. ROOT: iĂŒÂ˝Ăƒ ĂƒÂ…ÂˆvĂŒ }i>Ă€Ăƒ > Â?ÂˆĂŒĂŒÂ?i LÂˆĂŒÂ° 9ÂœĂ•Ă€ ĂƒĂŒĂžÂ?i Âœv ÂŤ>ĂƒĂŒÂœĂ€ÂˆÂ˜} ÂˆĂƒ Ă›iÀÞ Ă•Â˜ÂœĂ€ĂŒÂ…Âœ`ÂœĂ?° 7i Ăƒ>Ăœ ĂžÂœĂ• out ministering to people in the street and you actually gave someone a cigarette to smoke. Many people thought that was pretty
ROOT: 9ÂœĂ• Ă€iViÂ˜ĂŒÂ?Ăž ĂžÂœĂ• ĂƒĂ•vviĂ€i` > “>Â?ÂœĂ€ Â?ÂœĂƒĂƒ in your family with the untimely death of your brother. How are you and your family holding up? Le’Andria: I would say I’m taking it one day >ĂŒ > ĂŒÂˆÂ“i° 9ÂœĂ• ÂŽÂ˜ÂœĂœ ÂˆĂŒÂ˝Ăƒ ĂƒĂŒÂˆÂ?Â? Ă›iÀÞ ĂƒÂ…ÂœVŽˆ˜}° We were so close, so it’s been heartbreaking. I went from spending time with him talking about everything, to being away from him for so long because of my travel schedule to then getting a phone call saying ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ Â…i }ÂœĂŒ Â…ÂˆĂŒ LĂž > V>Ă€ >˜` ĂŒÂ…iĂž `ÂœÂ˜Â˝ĂŒ iĂ?ÂŤiVĂŒ him to make it. I don’t think I had enough time to properly mourn. None of us did. ROOT: My condolences go out to you and your family. I was listening to the remake of Âş ˜`ÂœĂœ iÂť Âvi>ĂŒĂ•Ă€ÂˆÂ˜} œŽœ] >ÂˆĂŒÂ…] >Â˜ĂŒ>ĂƒÂˆ> and Lil Mo) and I said to myself,“Man I wish iÂ˝Ć‚Â˜`Ă€Âˆ> Ăœ>Ăƒ >Ă€ÂœĂ•Â˜` ĂŒÂœ }iĂŒ œ˜ ĂŒÂ…ÂˆĂƒ ĂŒĂ€>VŽ° I think that would have been amazing! With that being said, what is your dream collaboration? Le’Andria: My mentor, the late Rev. James ÂœÂœĂ€i] /ˆ˜> /Ă•Ă€Â˜iĂ€] *>ĂŒĂŒÂˆ > iÂ?Â?i] Â…>ÂŽ> Khan and Stevie Wonder. ROOT: /Â…>ĂŒ ĂœÂœĂ•Â?` Li >˜` iÂŤÂˆV VÂœÂ?Â?>LÂœĂ€>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ for real! Le’Andria: 7ÂœĂœt /Â…>˜Ž ĂžÂœĂ•] /Â…>˜Ž ĂžÂœĂ• ĂƒÂœ much!
ƂÃ / ` Ì Hasan James
Last month I had the privilege of witnessing a very rare concert with two choir masters who have collectively been making hits for well over 30 years. Hezekiah Walker and John P. Kee came together for a ONE NIGHT ONLY impromptu concert that featured a myriad of choir anthems like Jesus is the light, Jesus is my help, Wave it away, Standing in the need of prayer, We walk by faith, Lily in the valley, Show Up and so much more! If you think about, all of those songs that I mentioned are products of the 90’s and we al know that in the 90’s, choir music was in its hey day. But something happened at the top of the millennium, when gospel radio decided to trade choirs for praise and worship and it became too expensive to book choirs for concerts and award shows. In recent years, however, the hunger for choirs has come back and there are a plethora of adorned choirs across the country. But there are four choirs that you may or may not know, who are helping in bring back choir music and the culture back in a major way! Zak Williams & 1Akord hail from Philadelphia, PA and pretty much have the Northeast on smash with a distinct sound reminiscent of James Hall Worship and Praise, but with that 1/A sauce! Zak has taken his love for choir music a step further with the creation of his Choir Storm concert series and radio show of the same. “I felt like there needed to be more platforms for Choirs & Choir music! You really didn’t hear it on radio like that and there weren’t a lot of “Choir Only� concerts. So I came up with
the Choir Storm concept as a traveling concert series just for choirs. I called it “Choir Storm LIVEâ€? and I would invite choirs from everywhere to be apart,â€? says Williams. One of those choirs who has been apart of “Choir Storm LIVEâ€? is Atlanta native, Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling, who have their own particular sound when it comes to choir music. Their sound is a mix of East Coast, Chicago and a little bit of Southern comfort. When asked about Higher Calling’s particular sound, Lemons describes it as a melting pot of sorts.“The sound of Kevin Lemons and Higher %CNNKPI KU PQV XGT[ GCU[ VQ FGĆ’PG 6JG UQWPF KU just a melting pot of trial and error. We glean from a lot of different artist, which has made us versatile like Orlando Draper & The Associates, 6JQOCU 9JKVĆ’GNF &QPCNF .CYTGPEG 6TK %KV[ The Atlanta Masonic Choir, Walter Hawkins and Love Center, Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers and Kirk Franklin.â€? When you listen to gospel radio, one out of GXGT[ Ć’XG QT UKZ UQPIU OC[ EQOG HTQO C EJQKT which may lead one to believe that choir music is a thing of the past, but Kevin Lemons begs to differ.“Choir music never left, but it did go dormant for a moment. It wasn’t the “flavor of the monthâ€? for a season or so because more emphasis was being put on groups and solo acts, in an effort to appeal to the new wave of Gospel Music. In my opinion, you can’t talk about Gospel Music without paying homage to the choir.â€?
THE BROTHER CULTURE:
Real men don’t cry. Or do they? Ăž ĂƒÂˆ>Â… 7ˆÂ?Â?ˆ>Â“Ăƒ ÂœĂœ -Ă•ÂŤÂŤĂ€iĂƒĂƒi` Â“ÂœĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜Ăƒ -ĂŒĂ•Â˜ĂŒ Â“ÂœĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â? >˜` -ÂŤÂˆĂ€ÂˆĂŒĂ•>Â? Ă€ÂœĂœĂŒÂ… I remember one time I hurt my ankle while playing baseball. I was rounding third base and I heard a snap but I kept running. Maybe it was adrenaline that made me keep running or maybe it was testosterone? All I knew was that ÂˆĂŒ Ăœ>Ăƒ œ˜Â?Ăž ĂŒÂ…i wĂ€ĂƒĂŒ ˆ˜˜ˆ˜} Âœv ĂŒÂ…i game and I did not want to stop playing because of what I thought was just a minor snap. I played the entire game and didn’t feel much pain, but after the game I sat down and all the pain that I could possibly feel went straight to my foot! At that moment I screamed as tears fell, because it was the ĂœÂœĂ€ĂƒĂŒ ÂŤ>ˆ˜ ½` iĂ›iĂ€ iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi`° When I got to the doctor, he told “i ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ ĂƒÂ…ÂœĂ•Â?` Â˜ÂœĂŒ Â…>Ă›i wÂ˜ÂˆĂƒÂ…i` the game and the moment I
Edward Busta Fields is the latest act to come out of the We Here Now Music Group camp and he is sure to be a fan favorite with his old school UQWPF CPF CHĆ’PKV[ HQT UWKVU YJKEJ RTQORVGF this millennial to start the #BringingSuitsBack movement. “With this movement, I just want to show young men that there’s nothing wrong with being a man who wears a suit, goes to church, takes care of his family and who sings and praises God. If anything all of those examples make you a REAL MAN!â€? Also a Philly native, Busta (as he is affectionately called), is also optimistic about the resurgence of choirs. “I believe choir music, gospel music and the church in general is making a comeback! People are in search for something real, but for some reason young people have this idea that choirs are wack or old school. That’s why I decided to bring all ages together at my Live recording, to show them that choir music is still very dope. It’s all about your approach.â€? Vincent Bohanan and SOV out of Brooklyn, New York, know a thing or two about approach, as the 100 member choir have left their mark all over the country with the song “We Win.â€? The song has that “Brooklyn Bounceâ€? reminiscent of Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship in their JG[ FC[ CPF FGĆ’PKVGN[ UGVU VJGO CRCTV HTQO VJG rest. “I think what makes VBSOV different from the rest is our originality. God has blessed me to write all original music and the choir learns a new song almost every rehearsal. Also, our style is a mix of old school traditional mixed with new school contemporary,â€? says Bohanan.
heard the snap, I should’ve told ĂƒÂœÂ“iœ˜i° /Â…i `ÂœVĂŒÂœĂ€ ĂŒÂ…i˜ >`Ă›ÂˆĂƒi` me that I had broken my ankle. Once I found this out, I realized that I did more damage to myself by continuing to play and ignoring the injury. Hey iV>Ă•Ăƒi `ˆ`Â˜Â˝ĂŒ Ă€iĂƒÂŤÂœÂ˜` ĂŒÂœ ĂŒÂ…i pain immediately, I lashed out at the wrong people. I remember yelling at the person that came to help me, as if they were the one who caused my injury. It was then when God revealed to me that like me, this is how most men respond when they get hurt, disappointed and let down. Instead of dealing with the emotions that accompany these situations, we keep playing this game of life. We work longer hours, stay busy and invest our time in things that seem to get rid of our issues, when in reality we’re suppressing the root of the problem. Repressed feelings stunt spiritual growth. In order to have healthy growth, you have to be honest about where you are going and where you have been. Refusing to show emotion, can cheat you
ÂœĂ•ĂŒ Âœv > Ă€i>Â? iĂ?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… Jesus. For a lot of us men, we’ve run through the bases of our lives and gotten hurt on the way to our destination, but never stopped to acknowledge the pain. Over time, if you do not connect with the emotional side of yourself, you will become a disconnected danger to yourself and to those who love you! Loving your spouse, children, work, church, family and iĂ›iĂ€ĂžĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜} iÂ?Ăƒi ĂŒÂ…>ĂŒ Li˜iwĂŒĂƒ vĂ€ÂœÂ“ 9"1] Ă€iÂľĂ•ÂˆĂ€iĂƒ iÂ“ÂœĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜t ÂœĂœ V>˜ ĂžÂœĂ• ÂŤĂ€ÂœÂŤiĂ€Â?Ăž Â?ÂœĂ›i >˜` Li˜iwĂŒ vĂ€ÂœÂ“ >Â˜Ăž Âœv ĂŒÂ…iĂƒi ĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}Ăƒ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ÂœĂ•ĂŒ wĂ€ĂƒĂŒ `i>Â?ˆ˜} ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ iÂ“ÂœĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂƒÂś 9ÂœĂ• V>Â˜Â˝ĂŒt -Âœ] `Âœ Ă€i>Â? “i˜ VÀޜ 9iĂƒÂ‡Ă€i>Â? men cry, if they give themselves permission to. In this season, allow ĂŒÂ…i ˜iĂœ 9"1 ĂŒÂœ `i>Â? ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂŒÂ…i ÂœÂ?` ĂžÂœĂ•Â° Âş/Â…iĂ€ivÂœĂ€i] ˆv >Â˜Ăž “>˜ ÂˆĂƒ ˆ˜
Â…Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŒ] ÂˆĂƒ > ˜iĂœ VĂ€i>ĂŒĂ•Ă€i] ĂŒÂ…i old has passed away, behold the ˜iĂœ Â…>Ăƒ Vœ“i° Ă“Â˜` ÂœĂ€ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒÂ…Âˆ>Â˜Ăƒ 5:12. ĂƒÂˆ>Â… 7ˆÂ?Â?ˆ>Â“Ăƒ ÂˆĂƒ ĂŒÂ…i 9ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂ… *>ĂƒĂŒÂœĂ€ >ĂŒ -ĂŒ ÂœĂ•ÂˆĂƒ Ă€i>“ iÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€ Âœv ÂœĂžVi Meyer Ministries and has been married to singer, Jai, for 15 years. /Â…i ĂŒĂœÂœ Â…>Ă›i œ˜i `>Ă•}Â…ĂŒiĂ€] />ĂžÂ?ÂœĂ€Â°
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Gene Moore Ăž °-° 7ˆÂ?Â?ˆ>Â“Ăƒ Long-awaited debut music from Motown Gospel soul singer, Gene Moore, was recently introduced to radio and has made >˜ ˆ““i`ˆ>ĂŒi ÂˆÂ“ÂŤ>VĂŒÂ° /Â…i wĂ€ĂƒĂŒ ĂƒÂˆÂ˜}Â?i] Âş,iVÂœĂ›iĂ€]Âť ÂˆĂƒ > `iiÂŤÂ?Ăž personal and beautifully performed ballad that set the stage for ÂœÂœĂ€iÂ˝Ăƒ `iLĂ•ĂŒ >Â?LՓ] / 1/1, ° Newcomer Gene Moore has emerged as a new force in music Vœ“Lˆ˜ˆ˜} ,E ] ĂƒÂœĂ•Â? >˜` Â?>ââ ĂƒÂœĂ•Â˜`Ăƒ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… >˜ ÂˆÂ˜ĂƒÂŤÂˆĂ€>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â? vÂœĂ•Â˜`>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜Â° *Ă€ÂœvÂœĂ•Â˜`Â?Ăž ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒÂˆÂ“>ĂŒi] ÂœÂœĂ€i VÂœÂ‡ĂœĂ€ÂœĂŒi Âş,iVÂœĂ›iÀ ÂĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ÂŤĂ€Âœ`Ă•ViĂ€ Ć‚>Ă€ÂœÂ˜ ˆ˜`ĂƒiĂž >˜` ĂˆĂ? ,Ć‚ 9Ă ĂœÂˆÂ˜Â˜iĂ€ ĂƒĂ€>iÂ? Houghton) out of his own powerful testimony of depression and hopelessness, and his eventual healing, survival, and Ă€i`iÂ“ÂŤĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜Â° /Â…i ĂƒÂœ>Ă€ÂˆÂ˜} L>Â?Â?>` Â…ÂˆĂŒĂƒ …œ“i ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… “i>˜ˆ˜}vĂ•Â? Â?ĂžĂ€ÂˆVĂƒ and Moore’s smooth vocals. /Â…ÂˆĂƒ ĂƒÂœÂ˜ Âœv > ÂŤĂ€i>VÂ…iĂ€ “>˜ >˜` ÂŤĂ€i>VÂ…iĂ€ ĂœÂœÂ“>˜] Â…>` ĂŒÂ…i ÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ›ÂˆÂ?i}i Âœv ÂŤiĂ€vÂœĂ€Â“ÂˆÂ˜} >ĂŒ LÂœĂŒÂ… i}> iĂƒĂŒ >˜` -- iĂƒĂŒ Â?>ĂƒĂŒ Â“ÂœÂ˜ĂŒÂ…] ĂœÂ…iĂ€i Â…i Ăƒ>˜} ˆ˜ ĂŒÂ…i Â“ÂŤÂœĂœiÀ“iÂ˜ĂŒ Ă?ÂŤiĂ€Âˆi˜Vi ÂœĂƒÂŤiÂ? ĂŒĂ€ÂˆLĂ•ĂŒi ĂŒÂœ ÂˆĂƒĂƒĂž ÂœĂ•ĂƒĂŒÂœÂ˜ >Â?œ˜} ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… >Â?Â?Â‡ĂƒĂŒ>Ă€Ăƒ i i 7ˆ˜>Â˜Ăƒ] Ă€ÂˆV> >“LiÂ?Â?] iÂ?Â?Ăž *Ă€ÂˆVi >˜` Â…>Â˜ĂŒj ÂœÂœĂ€i° iÂ˝Ăƒ >Â?ĂƒÂœ performed for the ‘Moment of Power’ seminar alongside India. Arie, Dee-1 and more. Ready to step into the forefront, Moore has worked for years as an in-demand background singer and session vocalist for music Â…i>Ă›ĂžĂœiˆ}Â…ĂŒĂƒ ˜`ˆ>Â°Ć‚Ă€Âˆi] ˆ“ ÕÀÀiÂ?Â? >˜` ÂˆĂ€ÂŽ Ă€>˜ŽÂ?ˆ˜° ÂˆĂƒ ĂŒ>Â?iÂ˜ĂŒ ĂœÂˆÂ?Â? Li œ˜ vĂ•Â?Â? `ÂˆĂƒÂŤÂ?>Ăž œ˜ ĂŒÂ…i >Â˜ĂŒÂˆVÂˆÂŤ>ĂŒi` `iLĂ•ĂŒ] / 1/1, ] a perfect introduction to this special and relevant artist. Moore teamed up with a host of like-minded writers and producers on / 1/1, ] ĂœÂ…ÂˆVÂ… ÂˆĂƒ >Ă›>ˆÂ?>LÂ?i ÂˆÂ˜Â‡ĂƒĂŒÂœĂ€iĂƒ >˜` œ˜Â?ˆ˜i iĂ›iĂ€ĂžĂœÂ…iĂ€i° / 1/1, ÂˆĂƒ VÂœÂ˜ĂƒĂŒĂ€Ă•VĂŒi` Li>Ă•ĂŒÂˆvĂ•Â?Â?Ăž ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… Ă•Â˜VÂœÂ“ÂŤÂ?ˆV>ĂŒi` production which allows Moore’s vocal talent to shine. It is an album that is easy to listen to while offering a full picture of who Gene Moore is. With tunes that are based around love, light, and Â…i>Â?ˆ˜}] / 1/1, ÂˆĂƒ ÂˆÂ˜ĂƒÂŤÂˆĂ€>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â?] ÂŤÂœĂœiĂ€vĂ•Â? >˜` Ă€iÂ?iĂ›>Â˜ĂŒÂ°
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THE
BENEDICTION
Finally Karen Turns 20! By Torin Derek The Clark Sisters is one of the most adorned quartets in music history. After over two decades of singing alongside her sisters Twinkie, Dorinda and Jackie, FINALLY, Karen was ready to face the music all alone and it was worth the wait. Root caught up with some of the people who played a major part in the making of Finally Karen, including the legend herself. Here’s what they had to say.
Root: You were responsible for signing Karen Clark Sheard to Island Black Music, correct? Stanley Brown: Yes absolutely! I started working at Island records in 1996 and they brought me in to do A&R. Hiriam Hicks was the President of the label at the time and prior to him being President, he was my manager. So when I was producing, he was very instrumental in getting me projects. So I started my company SBM Entertainment at the time and he gave me that imprint, and under the imprint, he gave me a production deal to sign CTVKUVU CPF -CTGP YCU QPG QH O[ ƒTUV UKIPKPIU Root: How did you guys come up with that sound and the half studio, half LIVE formula? Was that intentional? Stanley Brown: It was actually done intentionally. Initially, I had never heard of J. Moss and he started sending me demos of songs for Karen’s record because at that time he had not really made his mark in the industry as a producer. I listen to music on the weekends and I always say that there’s Saturday music and then there’s Sunday music. On Saturdays, you get your car washed and there’s this particular vibe and sound of music that you want to listen to and that’s what J. Moss had to offer. So of course when it came to the Sunday morning side, who better than Donald Lawrence to make sure that we
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accomplish that goal at the highest level? Donald literally came in and really navigated the whole LIVE session, the whole structuring of what it should be, what it should look like and what it should sound like. So you have your A side, which is your real churchy side, then you have your B side, which I like to call “Saturday, on our way to the car wash music.” You know what I mean? Root: You were 10 years old when you and your mom recorded “The Safest Place.” Once the world heard your amazing vocals on that record, it was evident that you were following in your mother’s footsteps. How much of that song was planned? Kierra Sheard: 9KVJ KV DGKPI O[ ƒTUV VKOG featured on a record, we rehearsed quite a bit prior to the recording, so most of the song was planned. But once it was actually time to perform, I felt like doing something different toward the end of the song. I know it was God, because I was too young and nervous to plan what I actually did. I remember being surprised myself! What an amazing experience! I’ll never forget it. Root: Looking back 20 years, what are some of your favorite songs on “Finally Karen”? Kierra Sheard: I still love and listen to “Jesus Is A Love Song” and of course, “Balm In Gilead”. The entire record is timeless! It was worth the wait for sure! Root: We are approaching the 20th Anniversary QH ū(KPCNN[ -CTGP Ŭ *QY FKF KV HGGN VQ ƒPCNN[ TGNGCUG [QWT ƒTUV UQNQ RTQLGEV CHVGT UKPIKPI YKVJ your sisters for over 20 years at that point? Karen Clark Sheard: Has it been 20 years already? Wow! I didn’t realize that. It felt really IQQF VQ ƒPCNN[ TGNGCUG CP CNDWO CHVGT DGKPI asked about it over and over again. That’s partly YJGTG VJG VKVNG ECOG HTQO + ūƒPCNN[Ŭ TGNGCUGF something that was always in me. Singing with
my sisters prepared me to stand on my own. They all pushed and supported me on this album, along with my husband and the rest of my family. It really was a dream come true! Root: Your debut birthed a new sound in gospel with the cutting edge production of your cousin J. Moss (who was relatively unknown at the time). How receptive were you to that new sound? Karen Clark Sheard: I was pretty receptive to the new sound because my sister Twinkie was always trying new things with The Clark Sisters. So I was ready for what J. Moss presented. Root: The world was introduced to your then 10 year old daughter, Kierra, on “The Safest Place”. On the video it looked like even you were surprised at some of her vocal ability. Karen Clark Sheard: My facial expression on the video tells it all! That little girl shocked me! I remember thinking, “Wow, where did that come from?” She really sang her heart out and I’ll never forget that moment. It was just what my dear mother prayed for when I was pregnant with Kierra. Root: What was the creation process like for your solo debut? What do you remember most? Karen Clark Sheard: The creation process was fun and exciting but I also felt the pressure at times. People waited so long for my solo album, so I wanted it to be perfect. I was by myself on this record, so I couldn’t lean on my sisters like I normally did. Typically, we all lean on each other, but this time it was just me. So naturally, I felt the pressure that came along with that. The thing that I remember most was how packed the Cathedral was. I was surprised that all of those people came to see little ‘ole’ me. There wasn’t an empty seat in the entire building. That was unforgettable!
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