Center of My Joy [Live]

Richard Smallwood

Composer, pianist and arranger, Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of gospel music. He has impeccably blended classical movements with traditional gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood’s alone. A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honors; Dove Awards and a Grammy also attest to his talents.

Richard Smallwood was born in Atlanta, Georgia on November 30, 1948. After graduating from Howard University (his classmates included Donny Hathaway, Debbie Allen, and Phylicia Rashad), where he earned degrees in vocal performance and piano, Smallwood taught music at the University of Maryland and eventually formed the Richard Smallwood Singers, putting out an eponymous debut album in 1982 that spent an impressive 87 weeks on Billboard's gospel chart. The group enjoyed success into the early '90s, releasing a bevy of hit records before Smallwood put the project to rest and began releasing albums with his choir, Vision, who made their debut in 1996 with the Verity-issued Adoration: Live in Atlanta. In addition to his work with the Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision, Smallwood has had his songs recorded by the likes of Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Kelly Price, Gerald Levert, and Aretha Franklin.

Richard Smallwood has been honored by the Smithsonian Institution as a “gospel innovator and songwriter,” and his hometown, Washington, D.C. heralded two separate occasions as “Richard Smallwood Day,” also, distinguishing him with the Mayoral Art Award for “precision and excellence in artistic discipline.” Smallwood’s gift has made room for him to minister to presidents and dignitaries at all of D.C.’s halls of fame, including the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center and the White House. Touching all areas of the arts, Richard and his singers toured with a theatrical musical, “Sing Mahalia Sing” starring Jennifer Holiday, which segued into a guest appearance on television’s “Ryan’s Hope” for ABC.

         Richard Smallwood - Adoration: Live In Atlanta Original May 21, 1996


         Richard Smallwood with Vision - To God - Live In Detroit


         Richard Smallwood - Behind The Scenes of Promises


         Richard Smallwood - Psalm 118 [His Mercy Endureth Forever]


         Angela Winbush/Richard Smallwood - I Won't Be Troubled


Angela Winbush and Richard Smallwood, along with the Union Temple Baptist Church Reunion Choir, minister with "I Won't Be Troubled."This song was originally written for Ms. Winbush back in the 70s, but was recorded on Smallwood's "Testimony" album in 1992.

Richard Smallwood was the original keyboardist and director for this choir back in the 60s and 70s. Union Temple Baptist Church was founded by Richard's step-father, the late Rev. Chester Smallwood.

        Richard Smallwood - It Is Well/Come, Ye Disconsolate

The Story of Gospel Music: The Power In The Voice (1998)

The Story of Gospel Music provides a thorough overview of the history and performers of gospel vintage recordings. Viewers feast their eyes and ears on some of the most soulful concert footage ever recorded. The biggest names in spiritual music, including Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Reverend Thomas Dorsey, and The Fisk Jubilee Singers perform. The program was originally broadcast on PBS's Great Performances series. ~ Betsy Boyd, Rovi

Performers: Tramaine Hawkins, Robert and Lillie Mae Butler, The Fisk University Jubilee Singers, The ARC Choir, Cissy Houston, Rance Allen, Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, The Fairfield Four, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Aretha Franklin, The Clara Ward Singers, Shirley Caesar, The Dixie Hummingbirds, James Cleveland, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Clark Sisters, John P. Kee, Danny Eason and Abundant Life.

Kampaign and the me band - Jesus Children of America

Thank you God for your Love

      Thank you God for your Love you have been with me always, your grace has protected me, your grace has comforted me in hard times. I have not been the kind of person you taught me to be. I have sinned repeatedly and yet I know you love me. I have lost faith and turned my back to you oh God and still you loved me. I know you are the creator of all things and still you love me. I praise you and thank you God for your love.

                  Thank you God for your Love Playlist

Patti LaBelle Sends the audience into a frenzy with "Changed" [Live]

Tasha Cobbs - Break Every Chain (Lyrics)

Living, He Loved Me (One Day)/Send It On Down/Power, Lord/Yes,Lord (VHS)...

Donnie McClurkin Living, He Loved Me (One Day)/Send It On Down/Power, Lord/Yes,Lord medley.

Carlton Pearson Live At AZUSA 2,Precious Memories: Original Release Date: February 11, 1997.

Jeff Majors

                Jeff Majors - Playlist


Official Biography (courtesy of Jeff Majors)

As a native of Washington, D.C., music flowed throughout the household of JeffMajors courtesy of his mother Annie P. Fitzgerald - a talented jazz trumpeter in her own right with a circle of friends which included legendary actress and singer Pearl Bailey.

At age 15, JeffMajors had a dream in which he saw himself strumming the harp; an instrument he had never played before. Inspired, he used the dream to fuel his passion for music and literally change the course of his life. With the harp hand-made for him by a local music store owner, he began to pursue mastery of the instrument.

He spent the next several years in Los Angeles studying under the wings of jazz pianist and harpist Alice Coltrane, wife of jazz legend John Coltrane. He later teamed up with legendary jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. He returned to the Washington D.C. area, where he formed several jazz bands and became a radio personality at Radio One. This led to the opportunity to host "Sunday Joy," the semi syndicated inspirational and gospel on-air ministry that can be heard on Magic 95.9 and 102.3 in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area.  From there he evolved into the vice presidency of gospel music programming for the Radio One network of stations.

Hailed as an inspirational jazz / gospel producer and renowned harp master JeffMajors has touched the hearts of millions through his television program, TV One's "Gospel of Music with JeffMajors," along with his faith-affirming, soul-stirring Sacred series and  outreach initiatives that include his annual nationwide free concert tour "JeffMajors Blankets for the Homeless," and most recently "Hiphop for the Homeless." During which there are performances and provision of clothing, blankets and other items necessary for surviving life on the streets.

After being welcomed to perform on her talk show, media mogul Oprah Winfrey stated that the music of JeffMajors, "...energizes my faith and transports my spirit. For me, it is the best way to start my day." And when he was hand-picked by the Martin Luther King Family to perform at Coretta Scott King's memorial service, JeffMajors demonstrated that his music could console a nation.

Today, he appears in more than 40 million homes through "The Gospel of Music with JeffMajors," the flagship program on TV One. The hit show provides a venue for diverse well-known and emerging talent, and has showcased some of the biggest names in the industry, including James Ingram, Mavis Staples, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and Gerald Levert in his last television appearance.

The upcoming project will be the JeffMajors Sacred series of the "Epistles," which will include for the first time ever a DVD of some of the most memorable performances of JeffMajors on the Harp. Thanks to the popular success of the series, the release is eagerly anticipated within the industry of inspirational/Jazz music and by fans alike. It is projected to meet the expectations set by his acclaimed Sacred 2000, of which Billboard said: "One listen will make believers out of even stone-cold cynics."

JeffMajors is also focusing on his humanitarian efforts as an activist for the nation's homeless through his non-profit organization "The Network of Doves."  This includes a continuation of his annual "JeffMajors Blankets for the Homeless" and the newly established initiative "Hiphop for the Homeless," where he has collaborated with some of today's emerging artist and youth in the inner cities to bring awareness of and help to the homeless communities around the country.

In a career marked by industry achievement, JeffMajors says that the dream of that 15-year-old boy strumming the harp is still unfolding.

"Every time I step on stage I step into a sacred place," JeffMajors says. "And the dream continues."

Obama at Ebenezer - We Shall Overcome

Soweto Gospel Choir

             Soweto Gospel Choir

Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in November, 2002, and has achieved incredible success both in South Africa and around the world, having been hailed as a “South African music phenomenon”

                Soweto Gospel Choir Playlist



The choir’s first album “Voices from Heaven” went on to reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s World Music Chart within three weeks of its release in the US. Since then, they have recorded five albums and won two Grammy Awards in the World Music category, an Emmy Award for their collaboration with U2 for ESPN’s television promotion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, received four SAMAs and a Metro FM award. In 2010, the choir’s recording with Peter Gabriel was nominated for an Oscar, and that same year, they were the first South African artist to have performed at the Academy Awards.

In 2003 the choir won its first award, a Helpmann Award, Australia’s prestigious Performing Arts Award, for “Best Contemporary Music Concert”.
This success was followed when they won a 2003 American Gospel Music Award for “Best Choir”
In the same year, they won an American Gospel Music Award for “Best International Choir”.
In December 2006 they performed at Sun City, South Africa, for Oprah Winfrey and 200 of her V.I.P. guests, including Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Sydney Poitier and Quincy Jones.

On 11 February 2007, Soweto Gospel Choir received its greatest accolade, a Grammy Award for their second CD “Blessed”, in the category “Best Traditional World Music”.
At the same time, they were nominated for the 26th International Reggae and World Music Awards, held at the Apollo Theatre, Harlem, on 5 May, in the category “Contribution to World Music”, alongside Jimmy Cliff, Salif Keita, Youssou N’Dour and Ziggy Marley.
In May 2007, the choir won a SAMA Award (South African Music Association Award) in the Category “Best Live Performance DVD”.

In February 2008, the choir was awarded a second Grammy Award for their third album “African Spirit”, in the “Best Traditional World Music” category

Soweto Gospel Choir received its third Grammy nomination in December 2008, this time in the category Best Contemporary World Music, for their album, “Live at the Nelson Mandela Theatre”.
The song “Down To Earth” from the blockbuster Wall-E movie, their collaboration with Peter Gabriel, won a Grammy in the Best Movie Song category.
In February 2009, the choir became the first South African artist to perform at the Academy Awards, when they sang “Down To Earth”, the Gabriel/Newman Oscar-nominated song, with John Legend.

In December 2010, Soweto Gospel Choir received its fourth Grammy nomination, in the Best Traditional World Music category, for its album “Grace”. The choir was featured alongside the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the song “Baba Yetu” and on the album “Calling All Dawns”, both of which won Grammys in February 2011.

The choir has toured the world extensively, performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, London’s Royal Festival Hall, as well as at Johannesburg’s Nelson Mandela Theatre. They have performed and collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Jon Legend, U2, Aretha Franklin and the Harlem Gospel Choir as well as with local favourites Vusi Mahlasela, Johnny Clegg, the Bala Brothers and Lira.