Shekinah Glory Ministry has set the release date for Contemporary  Gospel Jazz artist Tonya Baker’s highly anticipated sophomore CD ‘The Live Encounter’.Produced by Grammy Award winner Myron Butler and recorded last summer  Tonya will be celebrating on Saturday, April 30th, at her Album Release Party at New Covenant Believers Church in Columbus, OH.

Her first radio single is a sing along ballad ‘Miracles’ (featured above) composed by well known drummer Romel Gibson . ‘Miracles’ is unquestionably packed with much skill from both Tonya and the BG Singer, well know goto group Levi , best know for with Myron Butler . But above skill it’s anointed to send you into God’s presence! ” I would be lying if i said that i wasn’t nervous. I’ve been asked several years when are you going to do a live recording, well this is the first time and I hope that God will be pleased, by our offering and the listeners will be blessed and encouraged. I don’t want them to just come for a good show , but for an encounter with God.” said Baker.

Tonya and some of her friends including Candy West and Kevin Gray invite us to her Live CD Release on April 30th via the Youtube video below. Check it out.

‘Miracles’ and Tonya’s 2nd single ‘Sweet Spirit the Remix’ with Phil Tarver are both  available for purchase on ITUNES. The complete CD progect ‘The Live Encounter’ will be in stores mid-May 2011.

♫OCT MUSIC SAMPLER: MARY MARY ‘SOMETHING BIG’♫

With the release of   Mary Mary’s new album ‘Something  Big’ Erica and Tina have been crisscrossing the country hitting up all the major media outlets. For the release of there CD the ladies spent the day at J&R Music stores signing autographs and greeting fans. The day before Rocsi and Terrance received them with BIG smiles on 106&Park (check it out below) in spite of the tragic news they had just gotten about a DJ Cory McGriff being shot earlier that day. To comfort the host, in true gospel music style, Erica broke out while Tina followed singing ‘Trouble Ain’t’ by  from their Incredible CD, Rocsi started crying.

The album  has several big records including ‘Walking’ their first single purposed to inspire listeners to live big, love big, give big, and do something big. ” I think the cool thing about every album we do is that they all stand on the shoulders of one another. we always want to go bigger,better,stronger,” This record is all about Something Big, and that something big is God,” Erica said. its all about being okay with where you are but knowing that in order to get somewhere else, you’ve got to change the way you think.”

With their new album Mary Mary are not shy about pushing the envelope ” It may be offensive to some people because  a lot of people choose this approach: okay, God i want something, but I’m just going to pray and think in my mind that I’m going to get it.”Erica said.

And as we all know Mary Mary’s bold approach and sound has expanded their fan base,which will spin on R&B/hip-hop stations.“Fortunately for us, we love banging beats; they inspire us to write great songs, Tina continues “We all are excited to say that the feeling is contagious on ‘Something Big’ , a pop Gospel album that will stand out in any music collection.

(Mary Mary performs on Tonight with J Leno)

Keeping with the envelope pushing the ladies recently appeared exclusively for Perez Hilton the famed socialite turned gossip blogger. Shown below,it’s an acoustic set where they perform the new song, Walking, and their classic hit Shackles.

Both Tina and Erica announced the “Do something big Campaign” that will host“Do something big” on their Facebook fan page,engaging fans to participate in a new weekly activity for 6 weeks to focus to different segments of those in need(the elderly,homeless, local schools, local neighborhoods, and worldwide hunger).

According to the duo, the Do Something Big campaign is the heart beat of their album.” We want to give back to communities around the world, take part in 6 causes close to our heart, we’ll do something big”

♫OCT MUSIC SAMPLER: TINA BAKER  ‘FREE TO WORSHIP♫

Tina Baker shines on her debut solo release ‘Free to Worship’, an exciting praise and worship maxi-single featuring 3 intense tracks from her upcoming CD. Tina the daughter of Bishop Joby and Pastor Sheryl Brady is the full time worship leader for The Potter’s House of North Dallas where her and her husband Chris (who is the minister of music at The Potter’s House of North Dallas) recently relocated. She recently sat down with Scott West from Day Break USA ( a radio show out of Texas) for a four part interview that you can watch below.

(Check out this interview on Day Break USA with Tina and husband Chris Baker)

Prepare to get real mad with this one saints cause these three tracks are so power packed the only question you’ll have is “When is the full CD coming”. ^_^ What you see is truly what you get with Elder Baker, she didn’t just bring the power for the CD.  Parishioners of The Potter’s House of North note that Tina ushers the people into the presence of God Sunday after Sunday with out fail. There is no question that she is anointed to sing the Lords music.

(Check out Part 2 of the interview on Day Break USA with Tina and husband Chris Baker)

When Tina isn’t singing and preaching she’s handling business as the Executive Director of Sheryl Brady Ministries and being Mommy to Jaden Christopher and Josiah Paul. Tina’s full debut  release “Free to Worship” will be available in stores everywhere this Spring.For contact information visit Tina Baker Ministries and make sure you watch Pares 3&4 of this interview with Day Break USA after the cut.

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♫OCT MUSIC SAMPLER: THE SOUL SEEKERS II♫

World-class musicians and singers Gerald Haddon, Teddy Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Nisan Stewart, John Smith, Charlie Bereal, Craig Brockman and Eric Seats have been nominated for Stellar and Dove Awards. In 2006, the group received a Stellar Award for Quartet of the year. The group has released its second album, Soul Seekers II, which features the single, “It’s All God,” performed with Winans family icon, Pastor Marvin L. Winans. The group follows this belief:“Let’s do what we love to do, let’s write and get songs that we love to sing, and let’s give them to the world.”The Soul Seekers are coining new quartet fans. The Soul Seekers believe the formula is simple, “we’re just trying to bring music to the world and let everybody see God through us.”

MEET THE CREW

(They don’t just produce write and play…but these guys can really sing!!!)

Soul Seekers II is in stores now and for more information,videos,pics and more log on to there website www.thesoulseekersmusic.com or their Facebook www.facebook.com/TheSoulSeekersMusic.

As we all know,Gospel Artist Ty Tribbit recently released his first project ‘FRESH’ after the very public  scandal his brand is yet recovering from back in 2009. He later announced that the ensemble known as ‘Tye Tribbet & G.A.’ would no longer exist which devastated many fans.Many believed  the highly acclaimed artist  needed  time away from the public eye. During a recent interview with Oscar winning comedian Monique (featured below watch all three in sequence) Tye explains that he did take the time need for God to heal his marriage to his high school sweetheart Shante, and restore him back to righteousness.Since then he has made many strides to move past these events, hence the album title and  campaign for ‘FRESH’.

Now living the maxim “Everything new everything Fresh”, It’s clear that Tye nor faithful friends and family have given up on his ministry/gospel career.But long time supporters are hesitant and it’s safe to say their not making the road back to their hearts easy for the beloved artist. Many of Tye’s former diehard fans have strayed due to the loss of  his energetic choir ‘God’s Anointed’ and underlining feelings that he has “commercialized”  his signature sound with the ‘Fresh’ project. Yet as a testament of his resilience, Tye is building a new fan base.

(Amide rumors and scandal noted artist Tye Tribbett keeps ministering. Above, we see Tye praise God  “In the Midst”  with Byron Cage )

Via Tye’s youtube channel he offers a series of  much needed interviews giving viewers an indepth (track-by-track) look at the writing and recording process  of  songs like ‘Keep Me’ featuring Pastor Tim Crawford , the title track ‘FRESH’ ,and  ‘Eulogy’ written by the Murphy twins of Rock Nation.

The staff and those connected to OCT have been deliberating for some time now about Tye’s place in our minds. Several staffers have followed this ministry all the way back when Jason Nelson was in G.A. and Just Jokes was an underground phenomenon.Yeah that long!(Google it )

Look people let it GO!!! So Tye did make you erase all the #’s out your phone like a thousand times and throw away your JayZ CD’s. But you can’t keep the “hypocrite sign” on his chest for it (not to mention we all needed the deliverance)!!! This is your therapy…. breath in, and breath out,then thank God your mess wasn’t smeared all over newspapers and blogs. (Big Smile ^_^)

To watch the entire track-by-track album diary  for ‘FRESH’ visit Tye’s YouTube Channel.‘FRESH’ is in stores and available on ITunes now.