Check it out!

TLC‘s reality series, “The Sisterhood” featuring five devout yet fierce Atlanta preachers’ wives premiered back in January, and remained a hot topic among many!

The Gospel Guru caught up with the stars of the controversial show, Dr. Brian and Lady Tara to discuss the show–Listen below as the Lewis’ dish on new endeavors, The Sisterhood, rumors of a cancellation, and much more.

Sidebar: Check out Dr. Brian and Lady Tara’s new show, Phenomenal Life on The Impact Network.

Check it out!

Author-television producer-musician Kenneth Mosley sits down with Bishop Carlton Pearson for an exclusive one on one interview.

Watch above and below as Bishop Pearson opens up on his marriage, Azusa Conference, notoriety, Oral Roberts, and so much more. And yes, Mr. Mosley asked the questions you really want answers to!

Press ‘play’ and watch the 3-part interview.

Jonathan Nelson is back!

After a brief hiatus, the ‘My Name Is Victory‘ hit-maker is gearing up to release his third album ‘Finish Strong’ this month, April 23rd.

The Gospel Guru caught up with the maestro to discuss his forthcoming set–Listen below as Jonathan dishes on new music, Karen Clark Sheard, joining Karew records, and much more.

Sidebar: Jonathan Nelson’s CD release concert is April 23rd at 7:30P/6:30C at Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, MD. You can join in on the celebration via the live stream at www.EmpowermentTemple.org. Special surprise guests in store! Tune in!

The Gospel Guru caught up with R&B heavyweight Charlie Wilson.

The R&B royal has been enjoying a resurgence of sorts following the success of his most recent release, “Love Charlie“, in which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The “All I Have” singer talks his faith, gospel music, and more with The Gospel Guru.

Check out the interview below…

The Gospel Guru: First things first, let me congratulate you on the success of your new album, ‘Love Charlie’, were you at all surprised by the success of it?

Charlie: I was really surprised that it debuted at #1, trust me. My single was at #1when the album debuted…so it was an awesome look for me!

The Gospel Guru: You’re singing about love on this album, and we all know that God is love. So do you think listeners can listen to your project and hear and feel your spirituality through the music?

Charlie: For sure man. I didn’t deviate too far from the branch from the tree anyway. I understand what R&B is…I know what that is. But I’m only talkin’ about love, and I know that in our homes or whatever we call…whether you’re saved,sanctified or, filled with the holy ghost or not you call your husband or wife…honey or baby. Is that bad to say honey or baby in my records, and you say it at your house? So there’s nothing on my album that will degrade christians or have faith in God. Anybody can buy my record and enjoy it. There’s no cursing or degrading women…none of that.

The Gospel Guru: You have a song on your new album called “If I Believe”, and its my absolute favorite. Its really a soul-stirring piece. What was the inspiration behind that particular song?

Charlie: Well, I know that the world needs a lot of love. God is love. You’ve got to have belief in something greater than yourself, and I knew that that song would give somebody some inspiration or some pick me up if you needed that.People that’s dealing with cancer or other diseases…etc. Just people who needed hope and faith, like myself when I was in my darkest hour. Having the belief in myself… believing that I can come back, and get up in the morning and not have to go to the liquor store. That belief is the reason I wrote the song, and that’s how we came up with the idea. Because I’ve been to hell and back, man. I’ just taking it one day at a time, and fighting prostate cancer, and still fighting drug and alcohol addiction. I’ve been successful a it for 18 years, but I still have to take it one day at a time. So that’s what that song is all about.

The Gospel Guru: You mentioned fighting addiction and your bout with cancer. What role did your faith play during those dark times in your life?

Charlie: Faith is strong  If we can have a grain of faith. The faith that Job had, man…oh my God. If we can have faith you can overcome anything. It played a big role in my comeback, in my life. So many people were telling me no, and saying that it can’t be done. But here it is 4 or 5 albums later and 9 #1 records. So I don’t listen to man, people can’t tell me nothing anymore. I believe and have the faith in God and myself that I can do anything.

The Gospel Guru: It’s evident that you have a spiritual background, do you have plans to ever release a inspirational/gospel album?

Charlie: I was definitely talking and thinking about that. I have thought about it so many times. That’s why I wanted to put the “If I Believe” record on my album first. I believe I can just use words of inspiration, and cut the music the same way that I am now…just make the words inspiration and words of encouragement, don’t necessarily have to call it a “gospel album”. But definitely have some inspirational words and get things people can hold on to. I’ve definitely thought about it a lot, and I’m definitely going to do that soon, sooner than most people think.

The Gospel Guru: When it comes to gospel music, who are some artists that you listen to?

Charlie: Well, I can take you way back…lol. You know Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples…etc. I love those people. I love John P. Kee, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin…what’s the lady name that sings ‘Take Me To The King’? Tamela Mann? MY GOD..hahaha. There’s a lot of people that I still love and remember. I love inspirational/gospel music. My father was a preacher, mother was a minister of music. I understand it oh so well.

The Gospel Guru: Uncle Charlie you’ve been in the game for a long time, and have experienced true success and longevity. What advice would you give to an aspiring artist?

Charlie: Um. My advice to them is to go hard with your instrument, I’m talking about sleeping with it…just really learning your craft. If you’re a singer, practice all the time. And never let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. I believe we all have gifts, all you have to do is open up the package and go at it. Never let anybody tell you it’s too late, I’m a living witness that it’s never too late to do anything that you believe that you can do.

Miss Kandi Burruss, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, and former Xscape member is no stranger to the music and entertainment industry.

The songwriter behind TLC’s “No Scrubs”, and  Destiny’s Child’s “Bug A Boo” , “Bills, Bills, Bills” was the first African American to win ASCAP’s songwriter of the year award back in 2000. Now, the singer turned reality tv star decided to tackle a Gospel tune (in which sparked a world of controversy) and called on Gospel force Marvin Sapp to help her out.

The Gospel Guru recently caught up with the stunning star, who dished on the success of her Gospel record, the controversy surrounding it, and much more…

******************

The Gospel Guru: First, let me say congrats on the success of your single “Stay Prayed Up”! Were you at all surprised?

Kandi: Um. Well I prayed for it, I hoped for it…lol. I mean I don’t know if I thought it would happen that quickly, but it’s something you hope for…You hope that people will like the music. So I was surprised that it happened so quickly, but I hoped for it.

The Gospel Guru: It’s no secret that you sparked controversy and received a lot of controversy from doing this gospel record, how are you dealing with that?

Kandi: Well, at first I was a little…I don’t know…I think I was expecting the criticism but when It came so strong I didn’t expect it to come like that! Basically when I first told my friends that I was gonna do a gospel song they all kinda laughed and chuckled to themselves. But then when they heard the song, and saw how it was more of a testimony of me and what I was going through, and what gets me past the hard times and dealing with stuff they were like ok I get it now. Prior to hearing it people close to me where like nobody’s gonna want to hear that from you. But for me it was more of the thing of… I felt like ok back in the 90′s a lot of people who had an R&B album had a gospel song on it. Our first Xscape album had “Is My Living In Vain” on it. I wasn’t expecting people to come sooo hard…people on twitter can say whatever. It’s not like how it used to be when I first came into the industry…now people have direct contact to you. Some of the things people said I was like whoah they kinda hit below the belt a little bit. But it is what it is.

The Gospel Guru: Do you have plans to do an entire gospel project?

Kandi: No, I was just planning to have the one song on the album that I was currently working on. I don’t think people are ready for something like that from someone like myself. What I find is they were fine and accepting of the fact that I talk about sex, and have Kandi Koated nights, but when I say that I pray all of a sudden everybody is offended. So I don’t think people would be so open to that unless I was to totally change my life around over night. And I think that for most people like myself, just everyday people… you know I’m definitely not the holier than thou type, I’m more of…what my Grandma used to call “worldly”…lol. So that’s not gonna happen overnight ,unless I start lying about who I am. I would never lie about who I am–I’m very honest, open, upfront and I think that’s part of the problem. In the church sometimes people don’t say nothing about you having sex as long as you don’t let everybody know you having sex. So it’s like if everything is hush hush then it’s ok, but as soon as it comes out it’s oooh you’re…whatever.

The Gospel Guru: What gospel artists did you listen to growing up?

Kandi: Um, growing up I didn’t listen to a lot of gospel growing up, to be honest with you. Because the church I went to it was more so hymns…we didn’t do a lot of gospel unless it was a big program that Sunday. But growing up I was exposed to The Clark Sisters early, I had their album I remember replaying it over and over again. It was a few other artists…a family member of mine had dreams of being a gospel artists and she had some of her own original songs that I had learned as a kid. I remember when I was really little I was singing her songs around my Grandmother one day, and my grandmother was like you need to be the one trying to sing instead of her…lol. I was probably 8 or 9 then, It was funny.

The Gospel Guru: You’ve already had the pleasure of working with Marvin Sapp, who are some other gospel artists that you’d like to collaborate with?

Kandi: Well, I would love to write for a lot of people… I love Mary Mary. Our group and their group started on Columbia Records around the same time, we were there a little bit earlier than them but we were still there when they started and I remember they were always cool. I would love to work with them because I love their voices… Um. Yolanda Adams of course… people like that. I’m more into contemporary gospel than traditional.

The Gospel Guru: You’re one of the few in the music and entertainment industry that has truly experienced longevity. What advice would you give to an aspiring artist or aspiring entrepreneur?

Kandi: I’ll say that you have to wear many different hats. For me, I think the thing that helps me last is that I’m ok with not always being in the front as far as being behind the mic. I’m ok with playing behind the scenes, writing songs, or producing..etc. So I think that as long as you stay in the game you’re aways able to make more things happen and you gain more respect from your peers. When people just only focus on being an artist sometimes…they’re a couple that continue to prevail, but a lot of times they eventually die out. You can do so many different things… For instance somebody may not like my voice, but they love the songs I write for other people or they may like the show that I’m on…etc. When they start respecting you for the other thing that they like they pay attention to other stuff you’re doing as well. So I think that helps me stay out there because I wear a lot of different hats.

Click the above artwork to purchase Kandi‘s new single “Stay Prayed Up” ft. Marvin Sapp.

Ever since TLC’s tv smash The Sisterhood blazed onto our screens last week, it has has remained an ever-present hot topic among many!

Pastor of the Oasis Family Life Church in Atlanta, Georgia Anthony Murray and his wife Christina Murray made their small screen debut on TLC’s new reality series The Sisterhood. The new reality show shines the light on five devout and feisty Atlanta first ladies–the show drew in close to 1 million viewers upon its debut!

The Gospel Guru recently caught up with reality star, Pastor Anthony Murray who dished on season 1 of the new series, the infamous ‘banana talk’, and the backlash concerning The Sisterhood.

******************

The Gospel Guru: Hey Pastor Murray! How are you?

Pastor Murray: I’m good…excited! How are you?

The Gospel Guru: I’m well! Congratulations on the success of  The Sisterhood thus far!

Pastor Murray: Thank you so much.

The Gospel Guru: Are you and first lady Murray enjoying the new found success?

Pastor Murray: Yea we are–we really are! I’m excited about the platform that has been given.We had a HUGE turn-out Sunday at church too as a result of it. So i’m very excited about it.

The Gospel Guru: Well, it’s no secret that The Sisterhood has a lot of people talking! How are you guys handling the controversy that’s attached to the show?

Pastor Murray: You know…it’s funny. I’ve always been a controversial Pastor, more people are just knowing about it now. In youth ministry I was controversial…doing different things trying to win young people that didn’t want to go to church or didn’t like church. Just trying to be creative. I’m excited because I feel like I’m reaching my generation, and I have the platform to reach my generation. That’s the biggest thing.

The Gospel Guru: Some have even gone as far as to start a petition to get the show canceled, what do you have to say to those people? Or what are your thoughts concerning that?

Pastor Murray: I say we should honor them because a lot of the people that’s saying that they sacrificed a lot to get us this far, and of course they’re not going to understand what I’m trying to do. I can’t speak for everybody, but I know what I’m trying to do in terms of making a positive mark on this world. So I just honor them and I understand that they don’t really understand what I’m trying to do as a Pastor and what my wife is trying to do as a first lady. So I don’t have any negative thing to say, I’m just willing to take the hits and hope one day they see the result of what I’m trying to do…what we’re trying to do.

The Gospel Guru: Ok. Well, the first season is underway. What can we expect from season 1? Will we just get more acquainted with the ladies, or will we see more of the husbands as well…what can we expect?

Pastor Murray: Yea, you’re gonna see a lot more of the husbands as well. A lot of things they cut it up and they edit so to be honest a lot of it I’ll be seeing with you guys. But with me you’ll see a lot of interaction with my wife and my girls, i think that’s the biggest thing you’re gonna see. My kids are funny, and we’re funny. We have a different way of loving on each other, teaching the girls, and spending time with each other so I think that’s gonna be very very interesting. And you know when you put a bunch of ladies together there’s gonna be a little drama and a little controversy whether you’re a first lady or not. Just ladies coming together sometimes like that sometime there will be a little tension.

The Gospel Guru: You mention your girls, so I have to hit on this…the infamous ‘banana talk’…lol. 

Pastor Murray: Hahaha.

The Gospel Guru: So many felt that you could have presented that in a better way. How difficult was it to have that conversation?

Pastor Murray: Yea man. I’m a dad, and I’m scared…I want them to do well. What I’m talking to them about is reality! Could it have been done different? Maybe, hey i’m taking suggestions you know…I’m just doing the best I can wanting my girls to be abstinent. But if not I want them to know you can die out here having sex, you can really mess your life up, and being girls especially! I don’t have any issues with what people are saying, I’m just a dad trying to do the best I can to make sure my girls are going to be ok, and they’re going into the world with their eyes wide open. And not just tell them to pray about it.

The Gospel Guru: We’ve all seen how reality tv can tear family and marriages apart. Did you and your wife have any apprehensions about moving into the world of reality tv? 

Pastor Murray: Well, first let me say we’ve been married for 17 years…going on 17 years. So of course. I turned it down at first to be honest because of that. But we hope that our marriage is solid enough to withstand the things that’s gonna come…a lot of the marriages you see are new marriages, but we grew up together–we’ve been married a looong time. It’s gonna take a lot more than a TV show, and people’s opinions of us to break up. We’ve been through enough storms already, and made it!

The Gospel Guru: Some feel that The Sisterhood is an inaccurate depiction of first ladies. What do you have to say to that? Is this really your reality that we watch on television?

Pastor Murray: Yea it is. I would ask them well what is the actual reality? Everybody’s reality is different, everybody’s life is different. We’re real people with extraordinary calls to do something that we fell God has called us to do for people. But we’re still people. So i’d just ask them the question back..you show us what’s different. Everybody’s story is different! For instance, I think it’s incredible for someone like Dominique to have survived the streets, drugs, and still made it. And then care enough for other people to at least be trying to reach out and help someone else. What’s not real about me and my wife being young, having kids, having a church, and having a life! What should we do pray all day, for 23 hours a day? What is reality is what I would ask them. We’re trying to reach un-churched people. I’m not really trying to reach the religious people that already know God. I’m trying to get a platform where I can speak to people who are not saved yet, and don’t know God…I think them seeing us being real and still loving God and doing the best we can even though it may be turning some of the religious people off.

The Gospel Guru: It seems like you and your wife’s ministry is really flourishing. How long have you been in ministry?

Pastor Murray: On the 16th of January it’ll make 7 years. Listen man, we started our I had 1500 dollars and 12 people 7 years ago. This thing is exploding…we had people in the gym, in the over flow room…we’re building on and it’s gonna be too small. This thing is growing soo fast! We had over a 1000 people for years in.

The Gospel Guru: So who’s your favorite couple on the show aside from you and your wife?

Pastor Murray: I really don’t have a favorite..I like ‘em all. But i’m different you have to remember i’m looking at their history and background. I admire the fact that all of them have the fortitude to put it all out there, and whatever their issues are they’re trying to make some kind of positive change in the world. So I don’t have a favorite, but I respect them all.

The Gospel Guru: Are there any other reality shows that you like to watch?

Pastor Murray: Yea. I watch all kind of stuff man…I watch Atlanta Housewives, Storage Wars, Pawn Stars…I watched Honey Boo Boo one time…LOL. I watch Love & Hip Hop, any of the mainstream ones I’ll check out because I’m always studying how I can reach them, and like to see how they view life. So i’m always watching from a different perspective. But of course I am entertained…imma be honest. But i’m always looking like how would I reach T.I., how can I reach Kim Kardashian, how can I reach K. Michelle? So when I’m looking at that stuff it’s kinda training for me to preach. So i’m very interested in it.

The Gospel Guru: Earlier you spoke on how amazing this platform is. How do you plan to build your brand moving forward?

Pastor Murray: Well, first I want to speak…first and foremost I’m a Pastor because that’s what God has called me to do. I’m a gifted business person because you have to have some business skills to run an organization that’s grown this fast. But man I want to be able to reach people, that’s what turned me on. I want to get non-religious speaking opportunities. I would like to go to fortune 500 companies and speak to them about dreaming big. I have a new book out called “What Happened to Your Dreams” and I believe if you have you got people that work for you in a company that dream then we’ll invent things, we’ll change the economy,etc.. If I can do something right now I’d go and do that.

The Gospel Guru: Lastly, tell me about your relationship with your wife…we know that she’s Dominican and you’re African-American how has that been moving forward since you guys formed a union?

Pastor Murray: That’s a dope question! Being married to my wife shaped my whole perspective on kingdom and the difference in culture. I learned so much from her culture, it made me more well rounded as a man to see the beauty of a culture I didn’t understand. And to understand that everybody is different and everybody has things we can take and learned from. Her family is so loving it just made me want to multi-cultural. When people call us a black church… I’m like we’re not a black church. I’m a black Pastor with a multi-cultural church. Being married to her is what made me want to have a more global ministry. So it just gave me a beautiful outlook on life.

Watch ‘The Sisterhood’ on TLC every Tuesday night at 9/8c.

Grammy-winning producer, composer and recording artist Donald Lawrence is one of the most influential figures in Gospel music.

Known for his signature approach to music, Lawrence has worked with some of the best in music such as Stephanie Mills, The Clark Sisters, Ann Nesby, and more. But most recently we’ve heard Mr. Lawrence on “Bill Winston Presents Living Word: Released“, in which he is featured on the LP’s lead single, “Released“.

The Gospel Guru recently caught up with the award-winning maestro, who dished on new music, a new project, and much more!

******************

TGG: Lets dive right in; I recently heard the new single “Released” from Pastor Bill Winston’s project, what inspired you to write such a powerful song?

DL: Well, I think I’m just inspired to write just in general, I can’t say one thing. I just write what I hear and feel, definitely God inspired. But I just feel like it’s a lyrical content for now, for a lot of people to remind them who they are, and remind them that their best days are right in front of them and it’s starting now.

TGG: How important was it for you to be apart of Living Word Christian Center’s first album?

DL: Well I think that more than anything, Pastor Winston came to me and said, “Ok the Church’s music department wants to do a record, I need you to come in and guide them because you’re out there and you know what you’re doing with it. I want to make sure they don’t make any bad steps…” So that’s my tithe for my church, I tithe my talent as well. I came in and rolled up my sleeves and dug in with everybody. It’s not a project that I feel like I produced, they produced it. I just kinda mentored them through the process, actually Ed Tucker really produced the project. The whole music teamed worked it as a collab.

TGG: “Released” embodies such a powerful message, and it’s working its way up the charts. What is it about your music that you feel makes listeners/consumers gravitate to it so quickly?

DL: I think that I’m honest when I write, when I say honest I mean I write what I hear. I don’t let style or music trends dictate to me what I write. I write what I feel like I should write in a moment. That’s probably the winning thing for me, just being honest and writing what I feel. And usually when I write what I feel it’s a lot of people that needed to hear that. When I’m really honest with it and don’t let the newest freshest thing change what I would write it tends to be something that everyone needs to hear. I’ve just learned to be very honest with that.

TGG: You mentioned music trends. How important do you feel it is for an artist to stay true to who they are and not attach themselves to the current trends?

DL: Well, if current trends are who you are then yea…But if you have something that you are true to…I just always like organic, i like people being just being there authentic self. But I understand the music business and the music industry, and if you feel like you have to add trends to your record I would add some of it, but I would still let the record show who you are.

TGG: With you being the musical genius that you are, who does Donald Lawrence listen to for inspiration?

DL: Um. Well, when it comes to lyrical content I’ll always say Pastor Winston. Great speakers, great philosophers, great spiritual teachers they inspire me to write, and dig a little deeper. Musically, when it comes to Gospel music my mentors are still – I love Andrae Crouch, I think his last cd is brilliant beyond brilliant. I listen to Richard Smallwood, I listen to… a lot of 80′s music. I’m a big 80′s gospel music fan. So I listen to old Hawkins, old  Thomas Whitfield, old Clark Sisters. I loved music from that era. There are urban people I listen to. I think with urban music I’m more of a 90′s, early 90′s guy. I was a huge fan of Teddy Riley, he inspired me as a producer. I was a big Luther Vandross fan, so that’s the 80′s.. I loved his vocal arrangements, how he approached his music, his sensitivity to lyric, tone and melody. So it’s a lot of people I pick things from, and that’s not my theater side.

TGG: So you draw a lot of inspiration from different places.

DL: I think we draw inspiration from our journey that we’ve traveled. I’ve studied musical theater, grew up in the church, and was around a lot of the other people that I mentioned. So It’s just a conversation of every place I’ve been.

TGG: You’re a busy guy! You have your hand in a lot of different projects. How was it working with Bishop Morton for his forthcoming album?

DL: It was a great. He’s one of the nicest men I’ve ever met. He goes in and does what he has to do, he’s really a one or two take singer. He just sings. And I like that, because I work with a variety of people and younger people are always so picky about “let me do this”, “let me try that run” he just sings what he feels. I’m so much about the way a song feels. As much as I’m familiar with him and his voice, I still wasn’t familiar with his brand. So it took me a minute to study it, and make sure I did the right thing with him or created a template that was right for him. So it took me a minute to figure it out, but I’m happy with what we’ve got.

TGG: Awesome. When I heard the new single I said wow I have a new favorite to add to my list of favorites from Bishop Morton.

DL: I’m really really happy with what we’ve got. I really pushed him in some areas that he wouldn’t go normally, but he did it! And he made it work too.

TGG: I remember when you first started on his project you tweeted about the Thomas Whitfield remake with Karen Clark that he’s doing, I’m looking forward to hearing that.

DL: It turned out really good too! It’s different from the original, but It still has the same feeling. I changed the tempo to more of a ballad.

TGG: From what I understand you’re also gearing up for a Tri-City reunion ?

DL: No it’s not a reunion. Well, it is but it ain’t, it’s not a reunion of the Tri-City singers. What i’m doing is a 20 years in the business Donald Lawrence cd and they’re coming to celebrate with me. But it’s gonna be music that I’ve wrote for everybody not just TriCity. So it’s Faith Evans, Lala Hathaway, Coko, The Clark Sisters, Vanessa Bell, Bishop Morton, Hezekiah, Tri-City, Donald Lawrence & Company, Anita Wilson, Dewayne Woods,…etc. It’s just a really big undertaking.

TGG: So this is a new project or..?

DL: It will be a new live cd/dvd with new music and old music. But not old music meaning just Tri-City music, it’ll be music from all of those people…I’ve even got Ted & Sheri coming back together.

TGG: I’m a big Karen Clark fan, and I knew of you and your music before “Finally Karen”, but after that project I paid closer attention to you and your music. How did your hand in that project change or affect your career?

DL: I don’t know if it changed my career, but for me I’ve always been the only Clark Sister fan, and anybody that knows me knows I’m like that. It was just great to see Karen get that moment. We did a thing called Island Inspirational All-stars, we did “Don’t Give Up” and they were looking for a female vocalist for that and I was the one who said get Karen Clark, and they were like can you get her? And I said yes I can find her. When she came to do that, that’s when the conversation started. They said you know you should do a solo record, and she said I’ve been thinking about doing one but I don’t know if I’m ready to do something without my sisters. Island president, who was Hiriam Hicks at that time, Stanley Brown, and myself just all talked about that…it just kind of evolved. So they said this is what we’re gonna do…. should it be studio or should it be live, and I said why can’t it just be both? And they were like people don’t do that, and I was like well just because they don’t do it doesn’t mean we can’t do it. So that was the best thing, and it was kinda the birth of live and studio on the same thing. I was like just go with it, don’t think about it just do it. So that’s what we did.

TGG: I love it! You guys changed the way Gospel artists record music.

DL: I said just do it. And everybody went in their corners and to do what they did. They let me handle that part of it…I said I want to do it with Tri-City backing you, because she was asking who was going to sing back up, and I said I’m going to bring my choir and have you up front as the soloist  That’s what we did, and then she went in the studio with Stanley Brown, and J Moss who was very new then. We just all came together and did that project.

TGG: You’re an artist, songwriter, producer what is your favorite role?

DL: I love songwriting, that’s my favorite.

TGG: With you being so busy, how do you find balance?

DL: I think balance for me is taking a vacation. I enjoy just chillin’ at home watching watching TV.  I love to travel, especially out of the country it helps me disconnect. I don’t really disconnect if I stay in the country, but if i travel out of the country I kinda let everything sit there until I get back. So that definitely is the best thing for me if I want to disconnect and clear out my head.

TGG: Lastly, how does Donald Lawrence define or determine success?

DL: Had you asked me this 10 or 15 years ago my answer would be totally different. But now that I’m older I define success as really learning to love who you are and the purpose of you being here, and being able to live inside that. That’s really what I define success as.

Every now and then a new artist comes along that has the ability to shake things up in the music industry, Jonathan McReynolds is that artist. Hailing from Chicago, the prolific singer-songwriter’s debut project “Life Music” hit shelves today via Light Records in conjunction with Tehillah Music Group. Highly anticipated, “Life Music” – which is preceded by the lead single “I Love You“, showcases the singer-songwriter and his own unique artistry that we’ve all come to love.

The Gospel Guru caught up with the budding artist to discuss his new album, challenges of being a new artist, vocal influences, and much more. Get into the interview below…

TGG: What was your inspiration for your debut album?

Get familiar with Gilbert Wilson, one of Gospel music’s burgeoning maestro’s.

Hailing from Louisiana, the talented musician along with his vocal ensemble United In Christ Chorale have shared the stage with artists such as Kim Burrell, Vanessa Bell-Armstrong, and Smokie Norful just to name a few. Wilson and U.I.C.C. is definitely an act you’ll want to keep your eye on. Be sure and stop by iTunes and check out their latest LP “Transformation“.

Get into my 7up with Gilbert Wilson below…

TGG: Describe Gilbert Wilson in three words.

GW: Real. Relevant. Radical.

TGG: What was the inspiration for your latest release “Transformation”?

GW: The inspiration for Transformation was to let everyone know that through God and His transforming power you can walk in His purposes.I don’t care where you come from,,what situation or circumstances you are dealing with Things can change . my life at one time was a mess . I was miserable,distress, and depress. In church but the church wasn’t in me. Got in trouble and I told God if he would bring me out and transform my mind,I will serve him for the rest of my life…I told him that I would be transparent about His transformation Power.

TGG: What was your most memorable experience during the making of “Transformation”?

GW: The actual live recording. God’s presence and His spirit took over and lives where changed on the night of the recording. His Spirit took over that 3 songs we where suppose to record ,we didn’t get a chance to do them…

TGG: What is a favorite or standout track for you on the new project?

GW: I haven’t chosen a favorite because I like them all…but I must say that ‘This is the day’ stands out more for me at this moment, it may change next week…lol.

TGG: What does U.I.C.C. stand for and what’s the meaning behind the name?

GW: U.I.C.C. stands for United In Christ Chorale…We are a group of worshipers from different churches and denominations but standing together in unity professing the same name which is Jesus… united we stand divided we fall.. God has given me a special anointing of bringing people together as one.

TGG: Who are some of your vocal influences?

GW:  Kim Burrell, John Legend, The Clark Sisters , Anthony Hamilton…It’s too many to name…lol.

TGG: Lastly, how do you define or determine success?

GW: Success is about who you are, not about what you have. Committing all you do to God and putting Him first in your life- that’s real success.