Gospel Music Month
Photos: Wali Amin Muhammad
L–R: Pete Samaha, McDonald’s Owner/Operator (O/O); Paul Hendel, president Tri-state McDonald’s O/O Assoc.; William Holder, president NY/ NJ Black McDonald’s O/O Assoc.
L–R: Gospel fest producer, Curtis Farrow; Brenda Blackmon, anchor MY9 News; Newark Mayor Cory Booker
L–R: Curtis Farrow MC's with Toya Beasley, 98.7 KissFM
L–R: Bishop T.D. Jakes and Rev. Dr. William L. Watley, pastor St. James AME, Newark
L–R: Glenda Mattox, The Positive Community; Barry Carter, Star Ledger and Kaylyn Dines, UMDNJ
www.thepositivecommunity.com
L–R: Newark City Council President Mildred Crump; Dr. Albert Lewis, founder Gospel Music Month and Delores Moses, Weequahic Branch Library
she said “I come from traditional gospel; it was, is and always will be my favorite presentation of holy music. It’s a major example of the black church experience.” Delores Moses, branch manager and supervising librarian noted that the Weequahic Branch Library has hosted Gospel Music Month events for 12 years. She also applauded Dr. Lewis’ great vision in his work to advance the genre while still making it a community event. “This celebration exposes you to the origins, the roots of gospel music,” she said. McDonald’s Gospelfest Lewis was one of the judges for McDonald’s Gospelfest, a truly extravagant display of phenomenal talent both competitive and professional, lasting eight hours, produced by A. Curtis Farrow and his team, Irving Street Rep,. Seventy-nine competing acts hit the stage at Newark’s Prudential Center with two minutes to give it their best. All of the performances were stellar, but 14 acts came out on top taking first place in their categories. Started in 1983 by McDonald’s Tri-State Owners' Association and the McDonald’s Corporation, the competition was designed to showcase local talent, but this year Gospelfest went international with a choir from Quebec, Canada winning the Out-Of-Town Choir category and the Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir taking first place for Best Choir. The competition was followed by stirring performances by a who’s who in gospel music including hometown favorites cousins Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick along with Hezekiah Walker, Vickie Winans, Kurt Carr, Regina Belle, J. Moss, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and Roberta Flack. Between the competition and the evening performance Bishop T.D. Jakes delivered an inspirational message. Brenda Blackmon of My9 News has been co-hosting McDonald’s Gospelfest with Farrow. Commenting on the positive results of the concert, she noted, “McDonald’s does so much for scholarships; I think people forget about that.” During the final moments of an almost flawless show Farrow reflected on his more than 10 years producing McDonald’s Gospelfest and how it got this far: “A lot of prayer and a lot of faith,” he said. “I’ve realized that there’s no one we can’t get and nothing we can’t do. I love everybody for it; it’s been a marvelous day and to God be the glory.” Summer 2010 The Positive Community
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