Tag Archives: COVID-19

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Blending Gospel, R&B and Rap: Atlanta-Based Teachers, Gospel Group E21 United Receive Airplay in Southeast …

Hello World,

Blending gospel, R&B and rap, gospel group E21 United aims to “reach listeners where they are and lift them to a higher plateau,” says vocalist Yolanda Everett, through songs that “teach listeners about God’s eternal love for us and the love we should express to others.” One of those songs, “Lord You’ve Been So Good,” makes for the first single release by E21United, and is receiving airplay in the metropolitan Atlanta area and other markets in the Southeast. See the video for the single below…

E21 United, with roots in Atlanta, includes Yolanda Everett, her brother Charles Everett, also a vocalist, who produces, mixes and raps, and Christian rap artist Lonnie Edwards. In addition to music, the trio has another professional connection in common: Each is a teacher working in metro Atlanta school systems.

The group’s blend — that of two male members and one female member — makes for part of the reason behind the E21 United name, which, first and foremost, comes from scripture: Ephesians 2:1. Additionally, the number two represents the pair of siblings, Yolanda and Charles, while the number one represents Lonnie — and, as the group explains — if you add the numbers you’ll end up with three, which represents the Trinity of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

The E21 United sound, explains Yolanda, “leaves listeners wondering in which category the music should be placed. It’s not quite the traditional gospel sound,” she adds, “because it infuses rap and R&B laced with thick R&B beats that make you bob your head up and down because the music sounds and feels so good.”

That sound can be heard Sundays from 7 a.m. to noon on WPGN Radio Atlanta’s “Good News Gospel” hosted by veteran radio personality Twanda Black. Other stations include WFKX 96 KIX in Jackson, Tennessee, WSGE 91.7 FM in Dallas, North Carolina, and WMGY 800 AM/99.3 FM and WJIC Network Internet Radio, both in Montgomery, Alabama. It also had consistent airplay time on Atlanta’s WALR KISS 104.1 FM.

Having a love for music for much of their lives, E21 United members started early in music. Yolanda and Charles Everett and their younger sister Melanie began singing in church. Yolanda and Melanie later would audition for BET’s “Teen Summit” show. Out of thousands who’d submitted music, the sisters made the cut and while they didn’t win the competition, they found that it opened doors for them to “work with some really talented musicians and producers.” Charles Everett was part of an R&B group in Montgomery, Alabama, and over the years has provided production work for a number of musical artists. Lonnie Edwards began recording gospel music in 1998, and is a co-founder of Goodside, a Christian rap ministry based in the metropolitan Atlanta area. As a member of Goodside, he released three studio albums and ministered at hundreds of engagements throughout the Southeast. In 2018, he began recording and releasing solo projects.

Check out “Keep On Moving,” a song in which the COVID-19 pandemic is addressed, below…

As the group reflects on their respective evolutions, they also are in tune with the evolution of gospel music and where it stands today. “Gospel music is relevant today just as the gospel is relevant today,” said Yolanda Everett. “Gospel music addresses the issues and needs of humanity in a unique way. It speaks to the hurting, the broken and the bruised. In the times in which we now live, we’re all in need of uplifting, encouraging and inspiring messages of hope. Gospel music provides that and so much more.”

Any thoughts?

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Forty-Six-Year-Old Minister Gregory Clark Jr. Dies From Coronavirus…

Hello World,

I have intentionally not posted about coronavirus for a little now because I didn’t want every single post to be about the pandemic. We’re living it every day so there is no need for a constant reminder on every platform. However, although this country’s battle with coronavirus began roughly in March in the winter, two seasons later, we’re still grappling with how to fight it even as businesses and other facets of our community open and close and open etc. That being said, despite whatever progresses are being made, coronavirus is still claiming lives…

And Christians and non-Christians have succumbed to this illness. Minister Gregory Clark Jr. of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, died from the coronavirus after suffering from it for two months. He was 46 years old. Below is an excerpt from a Christian Post article:

After finally testing negative for the virus last week, the damage he suffered to his lungs and other organs left him unable to breathe on his own so he was stuck on a ventilator until he died, his mother said.

“Everything shut down,” Annie Clark told the publication. “His lungs were damaged beyond repair, his kidney and heart were severely damaged. It was just unbelievable.”

At a solemn memorial service at his church that was broadcast on Facebook, only a few singers and ministers were present in the building donning masks and gloves. Several hundred others logged on to the service online, some leaving warm words to comfort their hurting church family.

To read the entire article, click HERE.

I don’t know about you, but everywhere I go outside of my home, unless I’m jogging in the park, I wear a mask. Also, I carry hand sanitizer and wipes with me so that I can keep my hands clean when I’m not at home and cannot wash my hands. What are you doing to keep yourself safe during this continuing COVID-19 crisis? Have you returned to church or did your church ever close? Will your church be closing again if it opened. My church was scheduled to reopen at the beginning of this month, but after cases began spiking again here in Georgia, the church reopening has been delayed…

Any thoughts?

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Kierra Sheard of ‘The Clark Sisters’ Movie Celebrates No. 1 Billboard Album as She Mourns Grandmother’s Death Due to COVID-19

Hello World,

On the heels of the major success of the recent Lifetime TV original movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, Kierra Sheard is celebrating yet another impressive accolade:  Her self-titled album KIERRA (Karew Entertainment / RCA Inspiration) is  #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album’s chart, #1 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel albums chart, and #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 Christian & Gospel Consumption chart! Released on April 17th, KIERRA has knocked the longstanding #1 Jesus Is King out of the top position, and has garnered more than 3 million streams in its first week.

The album includes 15-tracks with sounds ranging from Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Gospel, and features some live recorded songs which Kierra performed before a sold out crowd in her hometown of Detroit, MI. Demonstrating her lyricism, Kierra either wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks on the album including the beautiful ballad “Grateful,” the authentic and raw “Human,” and “Better.” Assisted by a dynamic team, KIERRA features production from her frequent collaborators, Harmony “H-Money” Samuels and her brother J. Drew Sheard, as well as songwriters Mia Fieldes, Varren Wade, Edgar “JV” Etienne, Justin Brooks and rising Chicago artist Sir the Baptist. In addition to Missy Elliott and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the album features vocals from other star Gospel Artists Todd Dulaney,  Le’Andria Johnson and Kierra’s nephew Jacob Sheard.

See Kierra’s jubilant Instagram post below:

However, as you can see, Kierra mentioned that she wishes she could tell her happy news to her Nanna. Her grandmother on her father’s side, Willie Mae Sheard, 84, passed away on April 19 due to COVID-19 complications. (Read an excellent article about her grandmother HERE.) Kierra had revealed on Good Morning America that both of her grandparents were sick with COVID-19 at the beginning of this month. See her touching post about her grandmother below.

 

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Whoa. This hurts. Either I’m crying or I’m sleep (unless I’m around loved ones) hoping I’d see you there. Writing about you, and watching videos of you, has helped me. At first I didn’t understand. However, I begin to walk through the days of when I’d come and see you. I’d always ask, “how do you feel?” Because only a few days out of more, you’d say, “I don’t feel good.” I’d often try and blame it on malpractice. I asked a natural medicine doctor to come and see about you. I tried to find a solution. I find you, in me because you always wanted to have an answer for people you loved. However, I didn’t like how much you’d say “I don’t feel good.” I’ve asked God, “why now?”. But these things have been my answer. You were tired of not feeling well and I was tired of not having an answer to help you. It broke me apart seeing you in such pain. I also remember seeing your adoration for the Lord. I didn’t see you do anything contrary to God’s way of life. You’d put on and be strong for us during family dinners and church events, but I could tell, you didn’t feel good. You were so strong. You often saying, “you can have this/that when I’m gone…” bothered us so much; but you always had a peace when insinuating that there’s another place of interest. As believers, to be absent from the body and present with the Lord is the ultimate goal. This heaven bound understanding walks us through something so painful with such peace. We prayed and prayed and asked God to heal you, but I’m led to believe that you were ready to tap out of this earthen life. I’ve been challenged to not be selfish but to be selfless and accept God allowing your promised rest. So, I’m still trusting God and seeing that He gave you the years promised (Psalm 90:10) and 14 more years of life with us. But if I reflect on the good things, you lived a good life. What makes it hard, is having to grasp the fact that I won’t see you anymore; until we meet again. I’m even more determined to live like Christ so that I can talk to you again. I love you. I find that I act just like you and I’ll forever remember your lessons. Rest well Nanna. No more days of not feeling good. I’ll miss you.

A post shared by Kierra Sheard (@kierrasheard) on

See what Kierra’s mother Karen Clark Sheard, who Kierra portrayed in the movie, posted about her mother-in-law below.

As Kierra said, she is experiencing a bittersweet moment in life…Congratulations to her and her family on her success, and I pray that her and her family will be comforted as they grieve the loss of their precious matriarch.

Any thoughts?