During the Labor Day Weekend, Inspired People/EMI Gospel recording artists Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago made a smash performance at Jay-Z’s Made In America Music Festival in downtown Philadelphia on Sunday, September 2. At the outdoor venue, Park Stage, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, in front of a devoted and committed audience, Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago opened the festival with an hour concert—bringing the spirit and singing gospel songs from their current album, The Best of Both Worlds, currently #5 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. One of the highlights of the concert was their performance of their #1 praise and worship anthem “Awesome,” currently #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart for 12 weeks. The single is also #1 in listening audience at gospel radio.
Watch:Pastor Charles Jenkins: “Break The Cycle!” [VIDEO]
Jay-Z and his management team personally requested Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago’s participation at Made In America. They were the only gospel act that performed at the two-day festival. “Gospel means good news and I have a responsibility to share it everywhere I can,” says the GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter Charles Jenkins. “It was a huge honor to be invited to carry messages of love, hope, and peace to an event celebrating music made in America. Gospel music was made in America and has influenced some of America’s best artists in almost every musical genre. I’m so grateful to Jay-Z for allowing us to share poetry, and music from our #1 album, The Best of Both Worlds and our #1 single ‘Awesome,’ which were made in America! The feedback we’ve gotten has been amazing and I’m looking forward to doing more events like it.”
Famed filmmaker Ron Howard was on hand to oversee the taping of Jay-Z’s upcoming film project, “Made in America,” which will include highlights from performances on three different stages at the two-day festival. The festival featured artists from various genres, including hip-hop, R&B and rock.
