gospel

Dante Bowe: “Wind Me Up” (feat. Anthony B)

Happy Juneteenth! Although Juneteenth has been recognized as a U.S. federal holiday for three years now, of course its roots lie here in Texas. So in the rich century-and-a-half tradition of spiritualism, resilience, and commemoration, today we’re celebrating Juneteenth with a North Texas gospel inspiration. Hailing from small town North Carolina and now based out of the Big D, Dante Bowe‘s been blowing up pretty quickly over the past decade; beginning with his self-released 2017 debut Son of a Father and continuing with 2021’s Circles, Bowe’s empowered, contemporary approach to gospel has scored his original tunes tons of streams across the globe. On top of a win for his contributions to Maverick City Music’s Old Church Basement, the past two years at the Grammys have also seen Dante Bowe earn an impressive number of self-earned nominations. Closely coinciding with the recent launch of his own label, TRUE Music, this summer Dante Bowe bestows us with a passionate, self-titled full-length. This eponymous entry finds Bowe bringing his deep gospel roots and persevering voice into the worlds of hip-hop, and reggae with the help of some top-tier collaborators including Jekalyn Carr and Vic Mensa. Just last Saturday, Dante Bowe took part in Hartsville, South Carolina’s Juneteenth Celebration, marking a pretty sturdy midpoint between Dante Bowe‘s drop date on July 21st and the release of its latest single at the top of June. Thanks to Jamaican Rastafari reggae revolutionary Anthony B, “Wind Me Up” circumnavigates the constraints of Christian music with a beach-party-ready bop. “Wind Me Up” lets loose with tack-sharp timbale rolls, steamy rhythm guitar, dancehall-proven drum and bass, and just the best of both worlds when it comes to vocals.

Elizabeth King: “I Need The Lord”

Back in February, we celebrated Black History Month with Sacred Soul: The D-Vine Spirituals Record Story Volume One & Two, a gospel compilation that introduced once-rare 45s to digital platforms. D-Vine Spirituals was founded by record producer Juan D. Shipp and studio engineer Clyde Leoppard, with Elizabeth King & The Gospel Souls as the label’s flagship artist. King and D-Vine started off the ’70s strong with an impassioned string of “sacred soul” singles, but by the mid-’80s, Shipp called it quits and King’s aspirations for a debut LP were left behind…until 2021. Despite all that passage of time, Shipp (in his early eighties) and King (in her late seventies) rekindled their six-decade-relationship and brought the heat on last year’s Living In The Last Days. And while others may have hung up their crown after that impressive accomplishment, you don’t just become the “Queen of Sacred Soul” without a regal sense of drive. To that point, King just released her sophomore full-length I Got A Love on June 24th. King’s rejuvenated powerhouse performance on I Got A Love makes Living In The Last Days sound like a first-round audition tape in comparison. And although the set list stems from the classic D-Vine collection, I Got A Love‘s modern style of production gives those timeless tracks a bold new set of legs. We’re a little late for Sunday mass, but this ten-track collection definitely deserves another pass around the congregation, especially with sacred soul stunners like “I Need The Lord”.

Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation: “Let The Sunshine In”

To all the Texans, Happy Belated Juneteenth! Even if you’re out of the state, we hope you got to unwind, enjoy some much-needed shade, and maybe even connect better with your local community over the weekend. When it comes to that last bit, there aren’t a whole lot of creatives that’ve gotten tight with their community quite like Los Angeles producer-arranger-singer-songwriter Jimetta Rose. Rose put out an open call for community choir members on social media and whittled down the prospects based more on their passion for growth and healing rather than sole musical ability. The result is a fervent and diverse nine-piece, The Voices of Creation. With a constituency that includes Sly Stone’s daughter (alto Novena Carmel), Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation quickly invites comparisons to progressive gospel, jazz, and soul groups of the ’60s and ’70s, but thanks to Rose’s visionary instincts, The Voices of Creation caters comfortably to contemporary listeners. Last Tuesday, Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation announced their debut album, How Good It Is, for release on August 12th. Produced by Beastie Boys/Seu Jorge cohort Mario Caldato Jr. and recorded in an East Pasadena church, How Good It Is offers six uplifting tracks of “new Black classical music” as means of formally introducing The Voices of Creation. The original gospel numbers are impeccably inspiring, but the two Sons and Daughters of Lite re-works (like “Let The Sunshine In”) really earmark the ingenuity of this deep and divine debut record.

The Shaw Singers: “My Time Ain’t Long”

With less than a week to go in our celebration of Black History Month, we’ve gotta keep sweeping through the amazing compilation Sacred Soul: The D Vine Spirituals Record Story Vol. 1 & 2. Engineer Clyde Leoppard and Producer Juan D. Shipp poured their hearts into this ’70s Memphis label and recorded some of the steamiest gospel ever heard. Now that these nearly thirty singles are crisply remastered and on streaming for the first time, there’s no need to dig in the crates to curate a playlist of strictly D Vine Spirituals. Instead you can throw the record on and instantly transport yourself back a half-century with breathtaking pieces of Black History. They all capture a singular snapshot of ’70s Southern soul with lyrics applicable to both society and spirituality, such as those heard onThe Shaw Singers‘ “My Time Ain’t Long”.

Elder Ward & The Gospel Four: “A Change Is Gonna Come”

By design, Song of the Day tends to feature up-and-coming artists and contemporary releases. But in honor of Black History Month, we’re gonna shake things up just a little bit. You’ll still get the usual mix of modern acts over the course of February, but each week we’re also offering a unique piece of Black History.

Sacred Soul: The D-Vine Spirituals Records Story Volumes 1 & 2 showcases a collection of rare 45s – never digitized until now. Each track is a remarkable document from producer Juan D. Shipp and engineer Clyde Leppard’searly ’70s Memphis label, D-Vine Spirituals. At nearly thirty singles, Sacred Soul will captivate you with these historical gems and their context of faith, tribulations, and hope. Elder Ward & The Gospel Four kick off the tribute with their funky, upbeat rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come”.

Akina Adderley: “Home Before Dark”

The term “songstress” is a relatively outdated one, but if there’s anyone here in Austin that fits the description, it’s absolutely Akina Adderley. In addition to her work providing vocals for the world-jazz group NORI and as one third of retro-girl-pop project Charlie Faye & The Fayettes, Adderley’s long maintained a reputation as a must-hear powerhouse performer, be it on her own or with her eponymous trio.

Akina Adderley plays with NORI on December 11th at Central Market North Lamar and with The Akina Adderley Trio on December 29th at Geraldine’s, but the big news comes in the form of a standalone single. Touting a gospel-blues-adjacent waltz of a groove and lyrics that look at our collective path as a nation, “Home Before Dark” will keep you in bright spirits even in these wintry early nights.

Ben Tankard, pt. 2 (Ep. 50, 2016)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes his conversation with Ben Tankard, author of The Full Tank Life: Fuel Your Dreams, Ignite Your Destiny. Tankard is a pilot, pastor, motivational speaker, reality TV star, and a bestselling Jazz and Gospel musician.

Ben Tankard, pt. 1 (Ep. 49, 2016)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Ben Tankard, pastor, pilot, motivational speaker, best-selling gospel-jazz musician, reality TV star, and author of The Full Tank Life: Fuel Your Dreams, Ignite Your Destiny.

Candi Staton (Ep. 42, 2016)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. welcomes legendary R&B, Soul and Gospel recording artist Candi Staton to the program, discussing her nearly 50 years as a singer, and her new Gospel CD It’s Time To Be Free.”

Texas Standard: September 23, 2016

Signals from space telegraph warnings for Texas about the source of those earthquakes we’ve been worried about. We’ll explore. Also when doctors can’t offer infants life saving technology because its too expensive: what then? A Doctor at Rice has been working on solutions, and she’s just been awarded a MacArthur genius grant for her efforts: we’ll meet her. And when in Rome, do as the Romans. When in college do you dare go with the Greek system? Hazing rituals back in the spotlight. Plus: it’s a beloved symbol in the Lone Star State, and yet its getting bulldozed out of Texas, almost literally. Can anyone save the Houston Toad? Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:

Dr. Leonard S. Scott (Ep. 29, 2016)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a conversation with Leonard S. Scott, co-founder of Tyscot Music and Entertainment, a family-run entertainment company that is also the oldest black-owned and operated Gospel recording company in America.

Nina Simone (3.2.14)

This is the body.