Multi Millionaire hit maker Tyler Perry has come back with a new film and a new contest.  The new contest ‘I Can Do Good’ Gospel & Blues Video Competition will give everyone from jazz musicians to church choirs an invitation to submit videos of their gospel or blues performance. The winning videos will be chosen based on originality, talent and creativity.

(OPRAH WINFREY overwhelmed in the arms of her Sidney Poitier during the ‘Tyler Perry Studios’ opening)

‘I Can Do Good’ runs through September 7. Just in time for Tyler Perry’s newest movie, ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’. The contest was created as a vehicle for TP fans to put their singing skills to the test and debut them through a special series that will run on BET networks while also winning some cash!!!

Fans can get started by visiting www.icandobadgospelcontest.com to submit a video of their gospel or blues performance. Songs may be performed solo or with a group, and everyone from jazz musicians to church choirs are welcome to submit.  (Is it me or is this really broad…is this a gospel singing contest or a jazz contest- guess I’m ‘old school’!!!)

(New promotion for ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’)

The winning videos will be chosen by Pastor Marvin Winans of Perfecting Church in Detroit. Judging will be based on originality, talent and creativity with the first place winner receiving a spot on BET and a $2,500 gift card. Four runners-up will receive Tyler Perry prize packages.

Contest runs through September 7. So you only have a few more days to get your video together! We defiantly wanna see some faithful OC readers winning!!!

(Pastor Marvin Winans on the set of ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’)

America just can’t get enough Tyler Perry, and he continues to evolve delivering better storylines and the best hand selected actors. Fans are in for a treat with the silver screen version of ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’. With performances and songs by Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Pastor Marvin Winans and Oscar-nominee Taraji P. Henson we are guaranteed to laugh, cry, and walk away enriched.  If you’re wondering, Winans will play the Pastor in the movie- surprise surprise!!!! Catch Tyler Perry’s newest movie in theaters September 11!  Hey readers can you name any famous celebrities, singers, or preachers who played a Preacher in a movie!!! Leave a comment below!

(New Karima Kibble promo photos)

Karima Kibble, formally of the gospel group Virtue is coming out with her own CD. Formally Karima Trotter, she came together with her sisters  Ebony Trotter and Shavonne Floyd Sampson at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama (the same Seventh Day Adventist establishment that spawned those acapella hitmakers Take 6) to form Virtue back in 1994.

(New cover art for ‘Just Karima‘)

Since then the girls released six projects with Karima singing the majority of the leads that earned them Grammy, Stellar and Dove award nominations along the way. Now ready for the world to hear her unique sound she releases ‘Just Karima’ being described as a sound that “cannot be classified by one specific genre, it is rather an infectious hybrid of musical genre’s that is as varied as the wealth of experiences one garners throughout their journey in life - human struggle, love, courage, heartache, strength and lessons learned.”

(You may remember these Virtue Albums)

Regarding the fears of branching out on her own she says:
“It wasn’t until I let the fear of singing alone (without my sisters) go - that I became aware of what my true calling was. I was always thinking I wasn’t smart enough to write and make sense, so in my mind if we just stayed together as a group I would be fine! I feel I finally have found my true self. I was placed here to share with the world what has been in me for years. I am a free spirit who loves people and cares about how they feel, I want to make sure they feel good about themselves on every level. I want people to feel and be their best and if I can do that with mere words, wow I can surely do it with singing what I feel.”

(Karima’s GLAM SQUAD…Matthew Jordan Smith (photograpgher) Bernard Jacobs (wardrobe) Tanya (hair) Samuel Paul (make-up) at a recent photo shoot)

In a recent Facebook status Tye Tribbett said this:
“Hey Everybody! Go add my girl Karima Kibble from the group Virtue! She’s the former lead singer of the group VIRTUE and she’s representin for the Kingdom! ADD HER NOW!”

To hear the music of Karima Kibble click the link to her MySpace page below. ‘Just Karima’ will be available for purchase September 22, 2009 on line and in stores everywhere.

www.myspace.com/musicbykarima

(CD cover for Greg Drumwright’s ‘A Long Time Comin’)

♫OC MUSIC SAMPLER: Greg Drumwright’s Latest CD‘A Long Time Comin’ ♫

Pastor Gregory B. Drumwright is defiantly a new artist to look out for. For the past 15 years, “Drumwright” as he is affectionately known, has traveled the world performing the Lord’s music and preaching the Gospel of Jesus. He has been an invited guest to perform at The White House (three times during the eight year span of the Clinton administration) as well the World Famous Apollo Theatre twice.

Recently he organized a group of Levites called The Singers and Musicians ALIVE! to record their debut project ‘A Long Time Comin’. The CD is fully loaded with 18 tracks(we don’t see that much)!!!You can hear the entire CD preview by clicking the link above. The project merges different church-choir/ensemble sounds featuring everything from praise and worship to contemporary and traditional gospel grooves. After listening to the CD this is what some of Gospel’s elite had to say:

“Greg Drumwright has been singing and producing music since I met him at the age of 14. I highly recommend that you listen and support this great man of God. The CD is spiritual, inspiring and musical and will be a true blessing for your CD library.”

-Bobby Jones, BET TV, Bobby Jones Gospel

Min. Greg Drumright’s project captured my attention from track one and held it all the way to the end. The message, the energy, the music and MY GOODNESS, the SINGING! I know this CD will be in heavy rotation for me and anyone who supports it! Great Work, Greg!!!

-DeWayne Woods

Quiet Water Entertainment/Jive/Zomba Music Recording Artist

“The quality of Greg’s music caught my attention immediately as something that has the makings of a national sensation. I demanded that WNAA break the single, “My Hope” that has become the No. 1 request.”

- D’Cheree Loftin, WNAA 90.1 FM

“When I debuted It Remains To Be Seen on my show, the phone lines immediately lit up with listeners wanting to know the artist and where they could purchase the product. Greg’s single, My Hope has knocked off the No. 1 requested new artist and become a hit in NC.”

-DJ Rick, WNAA 90.1 FM

(Pastor Greg on the Stellar Awards Red Carpet)

After hearing the CD through a friend Fred Hammond went to CDBaby.com to buy the CD and made these comments:

Review Title: BLESSED CD!

Review Author: Fred Hammond

THIS CD LITERALLY BLESSED ME! THE ENERGY AND HYPENESS OF THIS PROJECT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!! I GOT TO LISTEN TO THIS CD BY A FRIEND OF MINE, (DEWAYNE WOODS) AND I TOLD HIM MAN YOU GOTTA LET ME HOLD THIS LONGER!! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PASTOR GREG, FOR FOLLOWING THE CALL OF THE LORD AND MAKING HIS NAME KNOWN, AND ALL I GOT TO SAY IS ROTATION, ROTATION, ROTATION!!!

(continue reading…)

(Cover art for JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise’s new release ‘Resting On His Promise’)

♫OC MUSIC SAMPLER: ‘RESTING ON HIS PROMISE’ James “JJ” Hairston and Youthful PRAISE’s NEW release♫

Album cover, promotional photos and the entire CD listening preview have been released for RESTING ON HIS PROMISE the new release of James “JJ” Hairston and Youthful Praise. And we must say we are really impressed. JJ carries an air of sophistication and looks quite distinguished. The staff over at Lox Entertainment (JJ’s management/publicist representation) sent us some unreleased photos. They also gave us some insight to the feel and focus of this release, here is what they had to say:

“JJ” Hairston’s ability to craft tunes with timeless melodies and timely lyrics is aptly demonstrated by the title track “Resting In His Promise”. The words of “Hear Me Lord” [also] epitomize the theme of RESTING ON HIS PROMISE: “Every miracle, in your word is preceded by a sound… I need a miracle, so I’ll make my own sound right now.”

(Exclusive promo pics of James “JJ” Hairston and Youthful Praise)

Wow, if those words don’t send you into worship I don’t know what will. This time around JJ calls on the best in gospel to create this stellar release like David McClure whose runs and riffs take “Powerful God” to a whole new level; the alto timbre of Deon Kipping’s (who we believe is one of Gospel’s best secrets …love his ministry…Check Him Out) effortless voice on “Lord You’re Mighty”; Myron Butler’s exhortation of “Great Expectation”; and the flawless vocal styling’s of the incomparable Dorinda Clark Cole. There is even a surprise appearance from the First Lady of Gospel, Shirley Caesar.   Other surprise appearances by Pastor Jamaal Bryant, and worship leader Stephen Hurd add to the worth of the project.

(James “JJ” Hairston’s newly released promo pics)

RESTING ON HIS PROMISE is a definite must have for every music collection and will be available in store everywhere September 1^st.

“Missy” Elliott is an American recording super star, producer and actress. With record sales of over seven million in the United States, she is the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) including one double platinum album. One thing the world may not know is that Miss Elliott has a great love for Gospel Music and more specifically The Vocal Queens of Gospel Music, the legendary Clark Sisters.

The Multi- Platinum selling mega producer grew up listing to the sisters (while cleaning the house with her mother on weekends) and has never lost her love for the dynamic Clark voices. For a very rare interview, Missy flew into Detroit to tape an episode for the ‘Dorinda Show’ which airs on the TCT Networks. Dorinda, well known for her sweet spirit, makes Missy feel really comfortable. You can tell that the love flows from heart to heart. Going down memory lane provides lots of laughs and the two have fun in this interview.

You can check out ‘Dorinda interviews Missy’ parts one and two above and for more information about ‘The Dorinda Clark–Cole Show’ log onto

http://www.tct.tv/

P.S. Though you guys would like to hear the song that Missy and Dorinda were referring to in part 2.Listen close and you’ll hear Missy singing back ground for the sisters.

(Missy Elliot’s… ‘I’m Not Perfect’ - featuring The Vocal Queens of Gospel Music, Dorinda Clark-Cole & Karen Clark-Sheard of the Gospel iconic… ‘Clark Sisters’)