Sunday's Best Le'Andria Johnson

                                                                                               Music World Gospel

Reading the articles Gospel stardom a bumpy road for Le'Andria Johnson written by Jonathan Landrum and Sunday Best's Le'Andria Johnson has a Testimony by Bob Marovich, gives you a depiction of the life of an upcoming gospel artist, but it also took me back in time.  Le’Andria Johnson was the winner of a BET series called Sunday Best, hosted by Kirk Franklin and had a panel of gospel Grammy award winning legends, Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin.  The season that Le’Andria was on Tina Campbell was out having a baby, so Yolanda Adams took her place.  I actually had an opportunity to attend several tapings during that season.  I attended the taping for a friend, Dathan Thigpen, who actually made it to the finals.  I did not realize what a blessing it would be to attend.  This particular season another contestant, 80 year old Elder Goldwire, electrified the stage, as well.  This made it a very tough competition.

Le’Andria stood out.  There was something on the inside of her that drew you in.  You could always tell that she was singing her story.  She would ignite the crowd and the judges to the point where taping would have to stop and the people would just have to praise God.  She not only had the stage presence, but the honesty the sincerity and the humbleness was all over her.  I was there to support my friend, but she quickly made me a fan.  This admiration only grew after hearing her story. 

She arrived at the audition wearing socks and flip-flops.  She described the other contestants were dressed up and she literally wore what she had.  She was a twice-divorced, single mother of three, who had struggled financially to the point of foreclosure.  She didn’t even have a car to get to the auditions.  A close friend encouraged her and the rest is history.  She is human and has struggles like the rest of us, but she is still striving to achieve.  She has lost a great deal, but slowly gaining so much more.  Her new album "The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson" was released mid-September and has topped Billboard’s Gospel Album Charts for the fourth time in the last five weeks.  If you ever have an opportunity to see her live, please do.  You will be blessed!

iChanged

Steve Jobs

1955 - 2011

Apple's Founder

October 5 marks a day of triumph for the heavens and a day of apprehension for the rest of us, as we learned of the passing of Steve Jobs.  It also marks the two-year anniversary of my father's death, so somberly I sit. 

I was given an assignment to post an industry-related blog for class, and I was moved to say something, because Steve Jobs truly changed the entertainment industry, especially music.  Simplistically, as you go throughout the day, count how many white earbuds you see attached to an iPhone, iPod or an iPad.  I realize that Steve Jobs never knew my name or the effect that he has had on me, and  so many more, but he really changed our lives.  He has provided an example to all us to follow our dreams, and if we truly believe in something, enjoy what we do, and pour ourselves into it, we can achieve!  I am so motivated by his life.  He started out in the garage and developed a world-changing product, which virtually ended up in our garages.  Apple has touched so many lives, and changed the way we socialize and do business.  I am a student at Full Sail and every student enrolled on campus or online has an apple computer, because of the advanced technology and dependability it provides. 

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being”.  

This statement speaks volumes about what he meant to the world.  I remember travelling abroad to Spain and the people requesting that we send back iPhones.  They were very expensive to obtain, but they wanted them very badly.

Steve Jobs created an opportunity for those in the music industry to be seen and heard.  He launched the iPod in 2001, he bound it to iTunes, the first easy-to-use software for managing your digital music collection, which had debuted earlier that year. 

This invention changed the music industry in the aspect of giving the aspiring artist a chance to get his music out there, without a major record deal.  It changed the music in the sense that it gave the consumer more power in the way they purchase music.  The consumer can choose to buy a single, as opposed to buying an album full of filibustering songs.

I admire him also because, he showed us how to survive, even when your world has crumbled.  He built Apple and had a power struggle with his Board and was fired.  He gave a commencement speech and stated how devastated he was, but  he was determined and driven by the passion still inside him.  He started NeXT and acquired Pixar and ten years later joined forces again with Apple.

I pray for his family’s strength.  I can’t even imagine the loss they must feel, and I pray that Apple can continue his vision.  RIP Steve Jobs, hence iChanged.

The Williams Brother New Release

The Williams Brothers are celebrating 50 years in the music industry.  Originally they started off as The Little Williams Brothers.  They are just a very talented family.  I think of them as the Jackson's of Gospel music.  I often reflect back on their talented brother Frank Williams.  He had such an anointing that is carried throughout the family.  You also have to mention Huey Williams, their brother of The Jackson Southernaires, when you think of the talent in the family.  I know them personally through my husband "CC", who is their bass player for recordings.  I must say that the first time I went to the studio, I was a little nervous about how they would act, or react to my being there.  You must understand that I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of different celebrities, including Shaquille O'Neal, Warren Moon, David Hollister, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Vanessa Williams, Rick Foxx, Kurt Carr, Dottie Peoples and Johnny Gill just to name a few, so by no means am I an amateur of being around a star.  I guess it was the close encounter, their greatness and talent and being confined in a small space together that made me nervous.  I must say I had no reason to be nervous.  They are the nicest, down-to-earth people and they made sure I felt right at home.  Did I mention how humorous they are?  Well I can't think of a group that deserves more.  Please get the new release and support the legendary Williams Brothers!  Mississippi's own!

Move in Me by The Williams Brothers (Hubby on bass)