“The most precious thing in the world is the financial security and wellbeing of your family…You want to send your little ones to the best school and in the end you want to know you left them with peace of mind. Nowadays, we all know that cash rules everything around us. C.R.E.A.M. Get the money. Dolla dolla bill, y’all.”

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Unfortunately Marvin’s life ended in much of the tragic ways that our people die each day.  Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was born April 2, 1939  and died  April 1, 1984). After starting off as a session drummer at Motown records, Gaye ranked as the label’s top-selling solo artist during the sixties.

Marvin had a series of hits, but none in my opinion nearly as timeless as these two songs.

As I get older I understand perfectly what he sings in “Mercy Mercy Me”.

Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas/ Fish full of mercury
Oh, mercy mercy me/ Oh, things ain’t what they used to be
No, no/ Radiation in the ground and in the sky/ Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

As documented in the PBS “American Masters” 2008 exposé, several witnesses claimed Marvin’s mental and physical condition spiraled out of control. Groupies and drug dealers hounded Marvin night and day. He threatened to commit suicide several times after bitter arguments with his father. On April 1, 1984, Gaye’s father fatally shot him after an argument that started after his parents squabbled over misplaced business documents. Gaye attempted to intervene, and was killed by his father using a gun that Marvin Jr. had given him four months before. Marvin Gaye would have turned 45 the next day.   How prolific were the lyrics he wrote in 1970 to “What’s Going On”.

Mother, mother/ There’s too many of you crying/
Brother, brother, brother/ There’s far too many of you dying/
You know we’ve got to find a way/ To bring some lovin’ here today – Ya/
Talk to me, so you can see/Oh, what’s going on/ What’s going on

Rest In Peace Marvin.  Some of us are still wondering what’s going on?

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Mitchell, slated to open the show, will join the duos to hit a series of major market US tour dates this April 2011.  Earning this coveted spot on the highly anticipated tour, Mitchell’s current success has been propelled by his Number 1 song, “Nobody Greater.”  “Nobody Greater” has topped the Gospel radio charts for over 5 weeks continuing to touch a chord with audiences and people around the world.   In 2011 Mitchell has garnered two Grammy nominations and recently two Dove Award nominations for his blockbuster CD, TRIUMPHANT.

Mitchell has performed on national TV specials including BET’s Celebration of Gospel, The Stellar Awards, TBN, Bobby Jones Gospel with an upcoming appearance on The Mo’Nique Show.  Mitchell recently performed several songs from TRIUMPHANT on TBN’s Praise The Lord show.

Earlier this weekend BeBe Winans said that this would be his last tour. Read:

BeBe Winans Says This Is Last Tour With His Sister

STILL SOMETHING BIG TOUR DATES:

April 1^st— Detroit, MI: Fox Theatre

April 2^nd— Chicago, IL: Chicago Theatre

April 3^rd—St. Louis, MO: Fox Theatre

April 6^th— Washington, DC: Lincoln Theatre

April 8^th—Upper Darby, PA: Tower Theatre

April 9^th—New York, NY: The Theatre at Madison Square Garden

Mitchell is the Minister of Music at Higher Living Church in Atlanta, GA, who has a passion for worship,the heart of an encourager and the story of an overcomer.

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“I feel on the inside that this is our last go-round,” Winans, who’s been recording with his sister since 1984, tells Billboard.com. “I don’t see me doing this outside of this year.” Winans sees the gospel duo’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star prevention on Oct. 19 as a convenient conclusion to their musical association. “I told [CeCe], ‘Sweetie, I think that’s the day we say, ‘Thank you. See ya. So long. Have a great life,’ ” he explains. “That’s not to say that we’ll never sing again, but it is to say that it’s not going to be a continuation of BeBe and CeCe.”

As he settles in to his position as music minster at The Christian Community Center in Brooklyn New York he must evaluate his path. Winans says he also feels that 2010′s “Still,” which was nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards and five Stellar Awards — with the single “Close To You” named BMI’s Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year — brought the sibling’s recording career to a natural end. “It had been 15 years since we did an album together,” he notes, “so to come back and do the album, I felt it was important for us to say goodbye in the manner of honestly saying goodbye. The album [got] a wonderful reception and an appreciation that caused us to look back and say, ‘Wow, it’s been a great journey.’ But every journey comes to an end, so I believe it’s going to be that for us.”

It’s not just BeBe and CeCe that Winans plans to put on ice, either. Turning 50 in 2012, Winans says, is “a good enough reason to say ‘so long’ to the touring and the craziness that goes on with that.” In other words, he’s taking himself off the road entirely? “Yes sir,” Winans says, “with a capital Y-E-S and a capital S-I-R.”

Click here to read more

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The two-day workshop with guest speakers and panels is designed to expand the role of music and the arts in ministry to serve as a platform for the advancement of artists, musicians, and ministry leaders.

Industry veterans will head up sessions geared towards Evangelism, Music/Arts Dept., Church Administration, Praise and Worship and Liturgical Dance. While the business sessions will cover Radio Seminar, Marketing Branding, Record Deals, Recording 101, and Developing a Label. In addition to the PMC sessions, a Job/Career and Multicultural Health & Wellness Fair has been added to make this an event for the entire family. For details go to www.perfectingmusicconference.com

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Here are the men of Gospel who have shaped the way.

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Todd Dulaney was born December 20, 1983 in Maywood, IL. He grew up as a singer and an elite athlete and graduated from Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, IL. In 2001, he was drafted from Wabash Valley Community College in Mt. Carmel, IL, by the New York Mets to pursue a professional baseball career.

While refining his athletic skills, Todd realized that there was a higher calling for his life. He accepted an invitation to travel and perform background vocals for gospel artist and Grammy winner Smokie Norful.

His song “Pulling  Me Through” is sure to be added to Gospel shortlists for 2011.

Todd has worked with many award-winning artists, including Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Nicole and David Binion, and Donnie McClurkin. Currently, Todd is the worship leader at Faith Walkers Assembly in Rockford, IL.

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The Washington Post reports:

Authorities and witnesses said about 1,500 people were at the DMV music awards ceremony at the Crystal City Hyatt hotel when several fights erupted. Five people were treated at the scene and one was taken to a hospital, witnesses said.

Read The Whole Story

Brawl Mars DMV Music Awards Outside Washington: MyFoxDC.com

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