After appearing at the National Association of Black Journalist annual convention over the weekend, Donnie McClurkin is set to minister around the country. While at the convention McClurkin, spoke about his battle with diabetes and also performed while sharing the stage with Dr. Oz.

(Donnie really shined as a true minister of the Lord during a recent tapping of a TBN show with Donnie as host and Steve Harvey as guest.)

McClurkin has alreadystarted his ministry with a nationally syndicated radio show titled “The Donnie McClurkin Show”. One vital part of his radio show is titled “Gospel Gold” where he showcases classic gospel songs from many of gospels matriarchs and patriarchs.

“My true excitement about the radio show comes from being able to be interactive while reaching several million people. Through radio, internet, and technology I’m able to communicate with the “All Star Kid” segment and our “Kid Bits” segment. Kids call in to ask me about the bible or any subject. We’re able to interact with listeners on‑line taking telephone calls from people all over the world.” said McClurkin.

(Donnie pictured above at a Oprah sponsored event honoring Susan Taylor for her 37 years at Essence magazine with Wintley Phipps; Gayle King and author Terrie Williams)

McClurkin is set to host his annual New York Call conference on August 28^th in Eisenhower Park. Also he’s planning to start the “Perfect Music Ministry Conference” on August 19^th in Chicago. This upcoming conference will include a two day workshop with a host of speakers and evening services.

When McClurkin was ask about his ministry he stated “I want to utilize all my gifts to unify and draw from the different wells of knowledge we have. It’s time to realize that our diversities should not separate us, but in this eclectic display of unity I want to show the true love of God and the true love of man.”

After battling pancreatic cancer for two years, gospel patriarch Bishop Walker Hawkins will be remembered on July 20^th at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA. with a special concert which will feature many of gospel music greats.

(Images from Bishop Hawkins Memorial Service)

The concert which is titled “The Man, the Music, The Ministry: A Musical Salute to Bishop Walter Hawkins, will feature artist such as Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Bebe Winans, and Donnie McClurkin. The star studded lineup will also consist of Lynnette Hawkins, Ledisi, Karen Clark Sheard, Daryl Coley, Byron Cage, Melvin and Doug Williams, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Ted Winn, The Love Center Choir, and Jonathan Dubose Jr.

(Images from Bishop Hawkins Memorial Service)

Also in attendance will be Hawkins’ former wife and gospel great Lady Tramaine Hawkins. Donald Lawrence, Kurt Carr, Edwin Hawkins (Bishop Hawkins Brother), Richard Smallwood and Rusty Watson will serve as music directors for the ceremony. BET personality Dr. Bobby Jones, former Sunday Best Judge Bebe, and his brother Dr. Marvin Winans will share responsibilities as the masters of ceremonies.

(Images from Bishop Hawkins Memorial Service)

Tickets were first come, first serve and vanished sooner than you could blink. For information about tickets contact Paramount Theater Box Office at 510-465-6400. Bishop Hawkins home going service will be held today Wednesday, July 21 at the Paramount Theater and will be officiated by Bishop Kenneth Moales.

KTVU.COM will webcast the Bishop Walter Hawkins Homegoing Memorial Celebration on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. P.S.T. In honor of Bishop Walter Hawkins, his family request that all donations be made to The Walter Hawkins Memorial Foundation. The Love Center Ministries will also be accepting cards, letters and donations in Hawkins honor at: Love Center Ministries, 10440 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94603.

Remember the quote all good things must come to an end. Well in this case the quote might prove to be heart breaking and detrimental. The Word Network has discontinued its highest rated groundbreaking success…. “The Lexi Show” hosted by Alexis Nucklos. The Lexi Show brought a voice to Christian journalism that had never been heard before.

(Historical “Lexi Show” Interview w/ Bishop Carlton Pearson)

The Lexi Show” has courageously given gospel celebrities a place to dialog about the controversial matters we have all experienced or at least noticed. It was on “The Lexi Show” that Grammy-nominated artist Tonex admitted to having a homosexual relationship. Not only was this a controversial topic but it also proved to be one that would either make or break Tonex career. Opening himself to the public through “The Lexi Show” brought more viewers to the television program. Aside from controversial matters “The Lexi Show” became a stage for viewers to explore the deeper sides of gospel celebrities like Prophet Todd Hall, and Dr. Jamal Bryant. I don’t think any of us will ever forget Lexi’s historical interview with Pentecostal Fame Maker Bishop Carlton Pearson. Speaking on the alarming news Lexi stated:

“I’m overwhelmed with the unbelievable number of letters, phone calls and e-mails I’ve received in support of my show; I’m thankful and grateful to all of the fans of the show and will have a new home for the show soon.”

(Lexi’s Newest Promo Pics)

Along with her career as a TV personality Lexi is a renowned gospel singer who has released numerous gospel albums. Her most recent album “What Heaven Hears” was released in 2007 and held a spot on billboards gospel charts. Keep your eyes and ears locked to the OC for updates regarding the future of “The Lexi Show”. Lexi is a fighter. Widow of the late producer Michael Allen and single mother since his untimely death, Lexi has made it clear in recent statements that she will not give up on the brand she has created in the “The Lexi Show” and is currently entertaining negotiations to find the show a new home!!! What were the executives over at The Word Network thinking…..this is just the type of show BET and TV1 would love?????

“I’ve been through so many storms in my life,” Lynette Hawkins Stephens wails in robust contralto tones at August’s Art & Soul Oakland festival. The 40-voice Love Center Choir answers her with “He’s brought me through,” each syllable enunciated with the precision Bishop Walter Hawkins’ hand movements dictate.
“The same thing He did for me,” she continues over the rhythm section’s loping waltz underpinning, the choir adding, “He’ll
do for you.”
“I love to call His name,” she sings reverently as “Special Gift,” a 1988 gospel music hit penned by Walter, moves into a vamp after its third chorus.
“Jesus,” Walter cries out in a high, ringing tenor, his pitch an octave higher than hers.
“He’s my refuge,” she injects.
“Jesus,” he responds, his voice growing progressively stronger as the brother-sister call-and-response continues.
The tempo picks up for “He’ll Bring You Out” from Walter’s 1984 album Love Alive III. As choir member Karen DeVone takes the helm, Walter bounces in place, his arms waving vigorously while directing.
Some of the hundreds of fans who’ve gathered for the afternoon-long gospel
concert get up to “shout” — a highly animated style of dancing marked by rapidly shuffling
feet and flapping arms that the faithful believe is inspired by the Holy Ghost — on a carpet that has been placed for that purpose on the asphalt between the stage and the seats.
“We’ve turned downtown Oakland into a sanctuary,” Walter says at the conclusion of the song. His older brother Edwin, who programmed the performances on the outdoor festival’s gospel stage, looks on with pride from the sidelines. Earlier, the brothers had opened the concert together, backed by a 100-voice choir.” Califoirnia Daily

Forty-one years ago, Walter was a pudgy teenager singing anonymously in Edwin’s Northern California State Youth Choir. The ensemble’s only album, ‘Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord’, was a vanity affair, hastily recorded at Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley — to help cover the expenses of a trip to a Church of God in Christ youth congress in Washington, D.C. Early the next year, one of the album’s tracks — “Oh Happy Day,” Edwin’s ultra-hip arrangement of an old hymn, fueled by a Latin-tinged soul groove and featuring lead singer Dorothy Morrison repeatedly interjecting “good God” into the lyrics in a manner inspired by James Brown — began getting airplay on KSAN, the hippie era’s hugely popular San Francisco progressive rock FM station.

(Bishop Hawkins speaking at his 60th birthday celebration last year)

The song soon crossed over to AM Top 40 radio, first locally, then nationally. By the end of 1969, “Oh Happy Day,” reissued by Buddah Records in New York and credited to “The Edwin Hawkins Singers,” was a Top 10 pop hit throughout the United States, England and other parts of the world. It would sell some seven million copies, permanently alter the direction of African-American gospel music, and vastly improve the fortunes of Edwin and his siblings Carol, Feddie, Daniel, Walter and Lynette, who had grown up in relative poverty in Campbell Village, a housing project deep in West Oakland.

(Singing one of Walter Hawkins greatest contributions to music, the masterpiece known as “Changed”, stars from every genre ignite a timeless moment of amazement at Oprah’s Legends Ball. Diane Sawyer coined this moment as “one of the most transcendently spiritual moments of her entire life”)

Bishop Walter Hawkins influenced a generation of gospel music lovers and singers alike. Today, the gospel music industry lost one of its most beloved icons, the great Walter Hawkins, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer today.The news is soaring across social network sites with fans contributing their individual memories of Walter Hawkins by posting their favorite songs in videos as well as posts wishing the family the best.

(Walter and his brother Edwin Hawkins at the ‘08 Christian Music Hall of Fame Induction. At 14, Edwin landed his first paying job as a church pianist, at Mount Pilgrim Church of God in Christ in a former movie theater on San Pablo Avenue near 27th Street. “I used to catch the bus and go there,” he recalls. Walter, who is six years Edwin’s junior, began getting paid as a pianist at 10. He started at East Oakland Church of God in Christ, and then moved to Unity Baptist Church, where the pastor was a barber.“Part of my compensation was I got my hair cut for free on Saturday,” Walter remembers. “And I think probably got about $5.”)

There is no news posted from an official news source (CNN, MSNBC) yet, but calls have been placed to Love Center Church and church members have confirmed that Bishop Hawkins passed this life. We expect to have an official statement soon. Until then, fans should keep the family and church family in their prayers.

♫OCT MUSIC SAMPLER:  TRIP LEE “BETEWNN TWO WORLDS”♫

Gospel rapper Trip Lee recently took the leading spot on the Billboard gospel charts, moving Marvin Sapp out of the number one spot after weeks on top. Trip Lee’s new album “Between Two Worlds” took the #1 spot on the Gospel and Christian Album charts this week! Crossing over has also helped Trip Lee land #10 on the Rap albums chart.

It’s rare that a gospel album see’s such notoriety on the Billboard Rap charts but with the sophistication and intelligence Trip brings to the table it’s not surprising. William Lee Barefield III better known as “Trip Lee” is a Christian rapper who hails from Dallas. Having been a part of 116 Clique, Lee is no stranger when it comes to ministering through gospel music. His debut album “If They Only Knew” was released in 2006. The success of “If They Only Knew” gave Lee a name in gospel music. He soon released his sophomore album, “20/20″ in 2008 which sold on the itunes music store. The hard work put into this album landed Lee a spot on the Billboard Charts.

On June 22^nd TRIP released “Between Two Worlds” which is currently selling big and quenching the thirst of rap lover everywhere. Gospel rap has certainly evolved over the year. With its evolution it has proven to be a wonderful way to deliver the Gospel of Christ to younger generations.