Let's Talk: Gospel Music Gold

•Pastor Donald Gay  is a member of the legendary Gay family and leads the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ, founded by his mother in 1959. Rev. Gay has released two albums,  Soulful Sounds  and  On a Glorious Day , and has performed at various Chicago venues, including Millennium Park, the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the University of Chicago Folk Festival.•...

•K. Jeanette grew up in Darlington, SC in the United Methodist Church as a little girl.  She sang in the children’s choir at the ageof 5, and was an usher, she joined the youth choir as a teenager, then later became the director. She is the CEO of the Edith Mae King Foundation that assist victims of domestic violence, breast cancer and elderly care. Sheorganizes an annual Sneaker Ball for the yout...

• Willie Hill hails from Durham, NC and has a great history of playing with bands, Shirley Ceasar, Willie Hinton and many, many more and he has some powerful songs to come. Willie attended North Carolina Central University (located inDurham), where he played trumpet in the University's marching band. He began playing guitar as a teenager and soon gravitated to bass guitar, a move which landed...

•Tremaine "Tranzpar3nt" Barr born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, didn’t just witness struggle, he lived through it. Growing up in poverty forced him to mature quickly and understand the realities of life at an early age. The environment around him could haveeasily shaped him in a different direction, but by the grace of God, Tremaine discovered ways to stay grounded. His natural s...

• Franklin Croutch is carrying forward a profound musical legacy—one rooted in generations of anointing andspiritual depth. His early years were shaped under the mentorship and musical guidance of his godfather, Gospel legend Pastor John P. Kee, a relationship that deeply influenced his musical and ministerial journey.•Beginning as a drummer in his local church during his preteen years, Franklin’s...

•Dr. Paulette Wright is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning Gospel recording artist, author, and actress whose anointed voice has inspired audiences across the globe. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Paulette discovered her gift for music at the age of four and has spent decades sharing her powerful, soul-stirring performances with listeners everywhere.•Since the 1970s, Paulette has gra...

•Cody Malek Mazie is a Chicago-based educator, choir director, and visionary with a lifelong immersion in music. His journey began at age five at Rock of Ages Baptist Church, where he directed his first song, "Shabach," alongside his children’s choir director, Sis. Olivia Young.•A founding member of Deitrick Haddon’s LXW Chicago, Cody has served in leadership roles within Rock of Ages Ba...

•David Fraizer has been involved in music ministry for over four decades and has written and recorded over 100 songs with various Gospel artists. David’s music has been found on numerous Grammy, Stellar and Dove awardwinning recordings. The L.A. Times recently called David Frazier “One of Gospel music’s most successful and consistent songwriters.”•David has written over twenty-six songs for Bishop...

•Courtney Thorpe is a Gospel Recording Artist and Vocal Music Educator, with a BA in Music Business from Berklee College of Music.•She has been a professional vocalist since 2012 and has had many great opportunities singing behind a variety of artists. Y’anna Crawley, Sting, Paul Simon, Micah Stampley, and the late Isaiah D. Thomas, just to name a few.  She was afforded the opportunity to go on an...

• Briana L. Donaldson is a Detroit-based recording artist,worship leader, and certified coach dedicated to helping others say 'yes' to their God-given purpose. •With 25 years of ministry experience—from directing the Michigan Gospel Chorale to headlining her first solo worshipconcert in 2026—Briana blends her background in Applied Positive Psychology with her passion for music. •Briana’s a...

•Benita Bellamy Kelley is a Marketing and Public Relationsexecutive with 27 years of experience in the arts and entertainment. She is the founder and CEO of The Bellamy Group located in Music City USA – Nashville, TN, launched in 2008 to fill a void in the marketing and promotions sector thatfocused on independent music artists of all genres, authors, faith-based businesses and non- profit organiz...

• Pastor Brandon Holland , the youngest of three children born to Presiding Bishop Carl E. and Lady Sandra Holland, has lived a life deeply rooted in faith, family, and ministry. From anearly age, music became a central part of his life. In middle school, he joined the development continued when he began organ lessons in 1991. After graduating from Southfield High School, he attended Oakland Commu...

•Dr. Kathryn Baker Kemp servesas an associate minister at  Memorial M.B. Church in Chicago working in Christian education, music and prison ministry.  She served on the faculty of the Gospel Music Workshop of America 16 years. Kathryn is currently active with the faculty of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses and Pastoral Advisory Council.•Her second book, “Anointed To Sing The G...

•Minister David A. Whitfield II has been entrusted with a gift to be used in witnessing to God’s people.  David thanks God for those who continually believe and supports him and his ministry. He serves as spiritual leader and music director for over 41 years in the Detroit Michigan Area at Wings of Love Ministries.•During the drug epidemic of the 1990’s he was given a vision to bring awareness and...

•Carl B. Phillips & Rashyeda "Rocky" Lewis •Carl is an award winning, internationalgospel-recording artist, songwriter and producer from Detroit, MI.  His 2016 debut cd “Great Rain”, features thesingles “Great Rain”, “I Know What God Did Last Summer”, “Prove Me” and “Meeting In The Air”.  In 2020 hereleased a remake of Stevie Wonders “Heaven Help Us All”. Carl is a 50-year gospel mus...

•Voices of Worship Choir  located in Tallahassee, Florida at Divine Glory Ministries, Inc, under the leadership of Apostle Melinda Jones.  They are a choir committed to knowing theLord, loving the Lord and glorifying the Lord through music.•The Voices of Worship are committed to modeling what it truly means to be worshippers upholding a standard of worship not only in song, but in lifestyle, so th...

• Dr. Alyn Waller has served as Senior Pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with over 15,000 members. A highly sought-after revivalist, vocalist, and lecturer, Dr. Waller is a true visionary of the church and the community who serves humanity far beyond the restraints of traditionalism.•The heart of Dr. Waller's ministry can be felt through his musical gifts....

• Tony B. Dickerson (now embracing the resonant name "Barnshaw" ) is not just an  artist; he is a catalytic force in inspirational music. A two-time Grammy-considered  songwriter and performer, his journey is a masterclass in musical synthesis. He  channels the raw soul of gospelpioneers, the fearless innovation of funk, and the  lyrical depth of classic songwriting into a sound that is...

• Compassion    Anderson , affectionately known by his stagename,  "C'Tyre" , hails from Houston, Texas. C'Tyre is a gifted musician, singer,songwriter, producer, and national recording artist.• Known as the  "Prince of Bump,"  C'Tyre captivatesaudiences with his fiery, high-energy performances and is recognized globally for his ability to lead praise and worship in...

• B. Chase Williams a choirmaster for over 30 years who has groomed his choir Shabach to perform elaborate choral arrangements, traditional hymns, and high-velocitypraise and worship songs.  Their 2023 CHASING THE NEXT CHAPTER album garnered the choir a Stellar Award nomination and a Billboard Top 30 Gospel Airplay chart hit single, “Power of God.“•As mentioned in The Unleashed Voice Magazine “Wil...

• Billboard’s 1994 Year in Review- Where is Gospel Music in the Review Let’s Talk: Gospel Music Gold Looks back 30 Years to 1995 in Billboard’s Gospel Music History.  1994 the #1 Gospel album was “The Live Experience” Helen Baylor•There was no “Hot Single” for Gospel Music and there was no “Top Videos” in the category for Gospel Music•This list was posted in the Billboard January 7, 1995, issue wh...

• Thomas C. Horton known to fans as “ The Soul King” , isa powerful independent singer, songwriter, and producer whose music bridges gospel, soul, and contemporary R&B. With over 100 released songs and a growing global audience, Horton delivers a sound that is both timeless andmodern — rooted in heartfelt emotion, spiritual depth, and authentic storytelling.is a rapidly rising gospel, soul, an...

• Ellen Hayes Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ellen Hayes is the youngest of ten siblings in a deeply musical family. Surrounded by singers and musicians from birth, Ellen’s passion for music was nurtured early by her late mother, who sparked her love for the piano. By the age of three, Ellen was already exploring melodies on the keys, and by sixteen she knew she was called to music ministry...

•Ben Tankard discovered his passion for music as a child but got distracted by basketball. After making it all the way to the NBA,  he returned to his passion of music after a career ending injury, homelessness and an encounter with God.•Former Pro Basketballer, Aircraft Pilot, Reality-TV Dad , Musician, Pastor,  "TANK"  has done it all!  Ben Tankard--known as the Godfather of the Gospel...

• Kim Kenny Green – Recording Artist | Educator is an award-winning vocalist, recording artist, and educator who serves as Program Director for the Music Business Commercial MusicIndustry program at Dallas Baptist University. Known for her versatility across classical and commercial genres, she has performed on major stages including the Apollo Theater, ABC Studios Chicago, and the Emmy Award winn...