Grammy Award nominated recording artist Deitrick Haddon has carved out a new niche in his career as a serious actor. He made a splash in 2010 with his starring role in “Blessed & Cursed” that has aired on The GMC Channel and Showtime.

In early May, Tyscot/Manhaddon Films and Releve Entertainment launched Haddon’s second major film role with the release of the movie, “A Beautiful Soul.” Initially opened in select AMC Theater markets such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and Haddon’s native Detroit for a weeklong engagement but the film was extended for a second week due to huge public demand to see the film.

In “A Beautiful Soul,” Haddon stars as Andre Stephens, an R&B superstar who loses his spiritual compass. The prestigious film industry trade magazine, Variety, summed it up in this manner: “In what is probably the first-ever mashup of Charles Dickens and R&B, `A Beautiful Soul’ stars gospel singer Deitrick Haddon as a bling-wielding, self-centered Scrooge whose wakeup call arrives via a bullet, and whose redemption involves a divine iPad (with an app for after parties past, present and yet to come) by which he learns to change his ways.”

On August 21, 2012 Tyscot Films will release the PG-13 Rated film on DVD ($19.95 List Price).

Directed by Jeff Byrd (“Soul Food “ TV series), the film also stars Harry Lennix (“The Matrix Revolutions”), Robert Ri’chard (“Coach Carter”), Lesley Ann Brandt (“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena”), and Barry Floyd (“The Game”). Currently available in stores and on-line is the Tyscot Records CD release of “A Beautiful Soul (Music Inspired by the Motion Picture) from Deitrick Haddon presents Voices of Unity, which contains original music by Deitrick Haddon, Kierra Sheard, Canton Jones, Fonzworth Bentley and Faith Evans, among others. The Top 30 gospel radio single, “No Betta” is a duet showcasing Deitrick Haddon and Faith Evans.

A Beautiful Soul PG-13 Rated Film on DVD will be available in stores and online August 21, 2012.

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Roger Cox singing lead on “Living Testimony” with Minister James Johnson & The Voices of Cedar Street

Richmond, VA – It was on Saturday, March 26th, 2012 when Dr. Anthony M. Chandler, Minister James Johnson, and the Voices of Cedar Street celebrated the release of their first CD, “Indeed.”

One of the special guest soloists was Richmond’s Gospel legend Roger Cox. Brother Cox performance was simply amazing, causing many to rise to their feet. 

Known for singing with the popular singing group, the Virginia Choral Ensemble, Roger Cox, had become, a living legend.  Minister James Johnson said, when he was first introduced to the seasoned group, he was overwhelmed to see such a strong gathering of talent, and had to have their presence on the CD.  As a result, Cox was invited to sing the lead on “Living Testimony” and did a phenomenal job.

On Tuesday morning, May 29, 2012, Roger Cox, passed away, peacefully at his home.

May we keep his family, friends and church family in prayer.

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Chicago, IL — Inspired People/EMI Gospel GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter, and recording artist Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago Live’s hit praise and worship anthem, “Awesome,” enters at #1 as the Best Selling Christian/Gospel Song on Amazon and #10 on iTunes Top 200 Christian/Gospel Songs chart.  The single moves to #8 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.  Charles Jenkins Presents Fellowship Chicago Live: The Best of Both Worlds will be in stores and online everywhere on June 12, 2012.

Jenkins will kick-off the promo tour on May 18 at the I Hear Music Conference at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The tour will resume in Atlanta on Monday, June 4 (see promo dates below—more dates and locations will be added in the coming weeks). Jenkins will also be a featured artist at the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Conference on Wednesday, June 27, in Atlanta and during the ESSENCE Music Festival weekend on July 6th, 7th and 8th in New Orleans.  Other key promo events include a CD release party in Chicago at the House of Hope on Monday, June 11 featuring special guest artists Karen Clark Sheard and Bishop Paul S. Morton, (who also appears on the CD).  The promo tour will include other key press, radio, retail, church and conference events.

Inspired People and EMI/Christian Music Group recently signed an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement. Jenkins, the senior pastor of the legendary Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, continues a long musical tradition at Fellowship, which released 25 albums under the leadership of Jenkins’ predecessor, Reverend Clay Evans.

Jenkins believes that music can be the basis of an urban Christian movement that attracts people in ways that many traditional mediums cannot. “There are opportunities to create amazing music and to create a meaningful movement around that music,” he says. “For us, this is not just a CD; it is a movement for God.”

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Nashville

“The music industry is buzzing with excitement about this record and I am honored to just be an instrument and allow God to play through me over and over again. We are celebrating 20 years of Gospeljazz,” said Tankard.

Ben Tankard is a former professional basketball player and an American gospel, jazz keyboardist, producer, songwriter, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Ben dropped out of college after one year to play pro basketball in the CBA & NBA but experienced a career ending injury. Tankard “rebounded” from his injury to discover his music talents and became the world’s bestselling and most popular musician and producer in Gospel/Jazz music with numerous Gold and Platinum albums, and Grammy / Dove / Stellar awards and nominations — all this from a man that has NEVER had piano lessons. He is also a motivational speaker for the NBA and inspires the players to look “beyond basketball.”

Tankard says, “My goal through my music is to inspire and motivate you through relaxed thought, peace, and reflection. Way down on the inside everyone has the potential for greatness, and it is time to tap into the FULL TANK that the creator gave you.”

Tankard’s music has always crossed genre, racial, and denominational borders and this release is no different in that two lead singles will be serviced simultaneously to Christian and Secular radio. Known for collaborating well with others, Ben invites Cynthia Jones to sparkle on the lead single to Gospel and CCM radio with vocal cut, Something About That Name. Jazz guitarist Tim Bowman, and sax man, Gerald Albright jam on the lead Smoothjazz radio singles, with Full Tank, and Sunday Vibes (See “Ben Tankard-Sunday Vibes” concept video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hhOsvq3Icc)

Tankard, who is also a pilot and flies his own airplanes to his events, will be on a 100 city “Full Tank ” concert / promo tour through 2013 to support the record.

In addition to his millions of fans, Hollywood has embraced Ben Tankard. He has signed a major deal for a family based reality TV show which will premier this year.

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Blacksmoke Music Worldwide CEO, Kerry Douglas, has done it “one more time” like he’s been doing it for over a decade now. Back in 2000 he gave Evelyn Turrentine Agee her biggest hit ever with “God Did It” – the most played gospel radio hit of that year. Then, he made quartet cool with Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson’s hits like “Let Go, Let God.” Douglas then bested himself when he took an unknown group, James Fortune & FIYA, to #1 for 29 weeks with their signature hit, “I Trust You.” That group has enjoyed other Top Ten hits such as “I Wouldn’t Know You” and the #1 “I Believe” because of Douglas’ grassroots marketing skills. If that wasn’t enough, Douglas took veteran crooner, Earnest Pugh, and gave him back-to-back #1 smashes with “Rain on I Need Your Glory “and” Us.”
 
So, now Douglas presents Zacardi Cortez whom he has groomed over the last few years by pairing him on duets with major artists and giving him a platform to display his dynamic vocal gifts. It’s all paid off with Cortez’ much-anticipated debut CD, “Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction.” The new CD has debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and #71 on the Top 200 Pop Albums chart. Meanwhile, Cortez’ radio single, “One More Time”, moves up to #4 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart while his new radio single, “God Held Me Together, “ heads to the Top 40.
 
The 13-track CD features Cortez singing solo and alongside musical heavyweights such as Lalah Hathaway, Isaac Carree, Kierra Sheard, John P. Kee and James Fortune. “Zacardi’s roll-out was part of a strategic plan,” says Douglas. “We used the same free marketing tools such as social media, church partnerships and aggressive radio promotions that we used to break James Fortune and Earnest Pugh. On top of that, I was able to get Zacardi a featured slot on comedian Rickey Smiley’s Laugh & Shout Experience tour that has helped build Zacardi’s brand for people who don’t even go to church.”
 
“Zacardi is the best singer in America today,” Douglas continues. “However, it’s not the singing alone that has made him successful. It’s first having God at the center of everything we do. Then, it’s the combination of the right songs and the right team of people to work it. That’s the recipe for this success that we’ve been able to give to Zacardi. My New Deal promotional plans have set him up for a long term career just as they’ve done for James Fortune and Earnest Pugh.” For more information, please visit www.mrkerrydouglas.com or www.zacardicortez.com.

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Things are still smoking over at Black Smoke Music where Kerry Douglas’ Houston-based company is currently enjoying a Top Ten gospel radio smash with Zacardi Cortez’ “One More Time” and Earnest Pugh’s spine-tingling “I Need Your Glory” that currently sits atop the Radio & Records Gospel Recurrent chart. Pugh is ready to hit the top again with his new soul, stirring track, “For My Good”, which features Beverly Crawford.

The third single from Pugh’s Stellar Award nominated CD, “Earnestly Yours”, and the ballad was recorded in the sophisticated chorale style of the late gospel conductor, Thomas Whitfield, who was known as the Maestro. “I wrote this song after going through some unmanageable disappointments in my life and career with church folk,” Pugh adds. “I felt betrayed, rejected, and hated by people I thought really loved and cared for me. One day God allowed me to step back and look at the situation and see it from His perspective, which was that of a victor and not a victim. He assured me that the situation would work together for my good. I knew Beverly Crawford could relate to my pain and would be the perfect artist to help me deliver the song.”  Executive Producer Kerry Douglas is excited about the song’s progress and says, “I always knew this single would reach deep into the hearts of people because Pugh wrote it while enduring one of his greatest storms in life but he lets the people know that at the end of the day all things work for good.”

In 2010, Billboard magazine named Pugh the #4 gospel radio airplay artist of the year and his recent radio single, “I Need Your Glory,” spent 3 months at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.  The “Earnestly Yours” CD debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and was the first gospel project within the eOne Distribution system to debut at #1. A Memphis native, Pugh released his first solo CD in 2006 and showed off his five-octave vocals on the radio hit, “Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up.” After years of making respectable forays into gospel, Pugh finally hit it big in 2009 with his #1 smash “Rain On Us”. Visit www.earnestpugh.com or www.epmmusicgroup.com for more information on this exciting showman.

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Meagan Good, 30-year-old “Think Like a Man” actress, recently admitted that her wedding night will be the first time she experiences sexual intimacy with her fiancé, preacher and Hollywood producer DeVon Franklin.

“Our wedding night will be the first time we’re actually together,” Good told Life & Style magazine recently.

Good, who has been vocal about her Christianity in the past, said she knew Franklin was destined to marry her after he was willing to take on a vow of celibacy with her.

“Because he was willing to be celibate with me for a year,” Good told the publication. “He loves God, more than I love God, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong [with him].”

In an interview with Global Grind earlier this year, Good admitted that the road to finding her husband was not an easy one.

“I was crying about so much at the time that God told me exactly what it was going to be and he told me that the next relationship that I got into was going to be ‘the’ relationship. God told me specifically what the criteria was with the man I was going to marry and he told me to not settle,” Good said. “So I would meet guys who are Christians or loved the Lord, but they weren’t trying with all their heart to walk with Him. And I wouldn’t feel in myself that that was the guy, so even if I liked him or was attracted to him I would say, OK I’m not going to settle.”

Franklin, an executive with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Seventh-day Adventist minister, proposed to Good last March in Los Angeles, according to TMZ. The couple reportedly met on the set of the motion picture “Jumping The Broom” where Good was an actress and Franklin was a producer on the set.
Still, Good said things did not start falling into place for the pair until she became celibate.

“Then shortly after that I became celibate. I said, ‘Alright Lord, let’s see what You have for me,” Good told Global Grind. “Oddly enough, Devon and I had known each other for six years and ['Jumping The Broom'] wrapped nine months before we even dated. During a couple of those months before, it started getting in my spirit that he was going to be my husband and he didn’t even know.”

The actress described confirming that he would be her husband when visiting his church.

“I came and did this thing in his church where I talked about my testimony. I already told my godsister in the car on the way over there,” Good said. “Oh, he’s my husband I know that. And we didn’t start dating till three months after that.”

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The Main Stage kicks off at 5:00p.m.

Youth 4:00p.m. – 4:45p.m.

THIS EVENT IS Absolutely Free!~

For more information, go to www.thebellereport.net

Los Angeles, CA –Kingdomanity/Relevé Entertainment inspirational recording artist Myesha Chaney will release her debut CD, Take Him to the World, in stores and online everywhere on July 3.  Myesha has burst onto the gospel music scene with a fresh new sound and a simple but radical goal: to take Jesus into the world by any means necessary. It’s the concept and the title of her debut CD. She is taking Jesus to the world through music that captivates and changes the lives of people in and outside of the church.  The lyrics of her songs focus on praise and worship of a loving and powerful God while she effortlessly fuses urban worship with rock and soul.  She brings to her music a unique artistic vision shaped by both her creative energy and her roles as a pastor’s wife, minister, worship leader, radio personality and columnist.

The first single from the CD, “I Came to Lift Him,” was written by Myesha, with Gerald and Tammi Haddon, as a declaration to the gospel music industry about who she is and what she is here to do.  The R&B style song, with its hard-driving beat, is aimed at an urban audience. 

Myesha is a partner in ministry with her husband, Wayne Chaney, who is the Senior Pastor of Antioch Church of Long Beach, California.  The Chaneys co-host a popular weekly radio show, “Real Life with Pastor Wayne and Myesha Chaney,” on Stevie Wonder’s KJLH-FM in Los Angeles, and are the founders of the Long Beach Gospel Fest. Myesha has a weekly inspirational column on Lee Bailey’s EURWEB.com.  She also is a featured blogger on ESSENCE.com.  Her debut blog, “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” premiered on ESSENCE.com on May 17, 2012.

Myesha will kick-off her promotional tour in New York City on Monday, June 4, at the Apollo Theater’s Spring Gala event, followed by a TV taping and concert at Trinity Broadcasting Network JCTV’s music show, “15th Street Live;” and a series of press, radio, retail and church events. Other special events on her promotional tour schedule will include the AIM Convention’s Urban Cafe, the ESSENCE Music Festival, the International Black Broadcasters Association Conference, the Long Beach Gospel Fest and more.

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Los Angeles

“The theme for this year’s Always Sister Forever Brothers conference is “Transformation” because I know that God is going to transform the lives of everyone that attends. I am so excited and I want every young person that can to experience ASFB 2012,” says Winans.

Selecting guests for the 3-day empowerment experience is something Winans does very carefully.  The 2012 line-up are individuals who are power-houses in their own right.  In addition to Winans hosting and speaking, registrants will hear from speakers that include Judge Greg Mathis, Dianne Manusama from Australia and special music by Israel & New Breed.  Alvin Love will host a lunch for males and Delores “Mom” Winans will host a lunch for mothers. The ticketed and open to the public closing night concert will feature Jessica Reedy, Canton Jones, Kiki Sheard, Tye Tribbett and comedian Akintunde.

Winans’ loyal sponsor Verizon Wireless and Hopeline Verizon is back lending their support along with Belmont University. Others who feel as passionate about our youth and would like to join CeCe and show support with their tax-deductible donations to cover budget can call (615) 601-2732 or go to www.alwayssistersforeverbrothers.com and click the donate button. Checks are welcomed and should be made payable to Sharing The Vision and mailed to: 115 Penn Warren Drive #300-377, Brentwood, Nashville, TN 37203.  Fans can follow CeCe at Twitter:@cecewinansasfb and Face Book- Always Sisters Forever Brothers.

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