Richard Smallwood

Richard Smallwood, the American Gospel music artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.

Richard graduated cum laude from Howard University with degrees in both vocal performance and piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology. Smallwood was a member of The Celestials, the first gospel group on Howard University's campus. That group was the first gospel act to appear at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. Richard was also a founding members of Howard's first gospel choir.

Smallwood's recording career began in 1982 with the album The Richard Smallwood Singers. The album spent 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart. Its followup, Psalms was nominated for a Grammy. Two years later the album Textures was also nominated. Textures spawned the now-classic "Center Of My Joy" written by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. He won his first Grammy, along with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones' gospel project Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.

His music has been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He even accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price at a White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration. Richard, with his current group Vision, has recorded several successful projects for Verity records. He finished his Masters degree in Divinity from Howard University in 2004 and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Smallwood's next project was recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York. The concert features guestsKim Burrell on "I Can Make This Journey (With You By My Side)," Kelly Price on "Morning Is Breaking," Chaka Khan on "Precious Is Your Name," as well as The Hawkins Family, Tramaine Hawkins, and the original roster of singers who comprised The Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision.Aretha Franklin and The Clark Sisters will contribute to additional studio tracks to appear on the album

Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Vanessa Bell Armstrong, the gospel singer who released her debut album Peace Be Still in 1983.

Vanessa Bell Armstrong made her solo debut on Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound Records in 1983 with the album Peace Be Still. The title track has since became one of Armstrong's signature songs. Armstrong's second albumChosen hit number one on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.

Bell Armstrong performed on the 1st Annual Soul Train Awards ceremony. Her 1986 album Following Jesus won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album - Solo in 1988. She is also a seven time Grammy Award-nominee.

Vanessa enjoyed a slice of mainstream success in the late 80's. Her self-titled 1987 Jive Records debut yielded the Billboard-charting hit "You Bring Out The Best In Me," as well as the club favorite "Pressing On." The next year's follow-up album Wonderful Onefeatured a cover of the Labi Siffre anti-Apartheid anthem "Something Inside So Strong." The song was later remade in 1995 by Armstrong along with Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond,Tramaine Hawkins, Yolanda Adams, and a host of other gospel artists as a tribute to Rosa Parks. The song was serviced to radio stations to play on the 40th anniversary of the civil rights icon's arrest.

Vanessa Bell Armstrong took a 3 year self-imposed hiatus from recording before releasing A Brand New Day under a new deal with Tommy Boy Gospel in 2001. Vanessa was presented with a lifetime achievement award during 2004's Gospel Superfest.

Armstrong's 2007 album, Walking Miracle, is her first release in 6 years, and blends traditional gospel fare like "So Good To Me" (produced by Smokie Norful) with contemporary songs like "Til The Victory's Won" (produced by Fred Jerkins III) and the title track (produced by Rodney Jerkins). The latter song was inspired by Armstrong's son who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Armstrong recorded a stand out duet "Choose Ye" with gospel act The Winans on their major label debut Let My People Go for Qwest Records. She also sang the theme song for the 1980s NBC sitcom Amen.

Armstrong was a frequent musical guest of the early projects of John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir, and lent her voice to several classics that include "We Walk By Faith", and "We Glorify".

Rev Timothy Wright

Reverend Timothy Wright, the American gospel singer and pastor.

Wright started on piano at age 12, and sang and composed for his church choir as a teenager at the St. John's Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God in Brooklyn. He played piano for Bishop F. D. Washington and Isaac Douglas in the 1960s and 1970s, including on recordings, and he formed his own gospel ensemble in the mid-1970s, the Timothy Wright Concert Choir. He eventually became pastor of the Pentecostal Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and issued albums regularly from 1990.

Wright's 1994 album Come Thou Almighty King, with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, made Billboard’s Top 20 chart for gospel albums and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, as was his 1999 release Been There Done That.

On July 4, 2008, Wright was critically injured in a car crash on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, a crash which killed his wife and grandson as well as the driver of the oncoming car.He died April 24, 2009 as a result of these injuries, at the age of 61.

Dottie Peoples

Dottie Peoples, the American gospel singer.

Born Dorthy Peoples in Dayton, Ohio, Peoples began singing at an early age. After completing high school, she toured with gospel pioneerDorothy Norwood, a member of The Caravans. After that, she briefly joined a jazz ensemble, performing in various venues across the country.

Unhappy singing secular music, she relocated to Atlanta to return her gospel roots. At the age of 32 Peoples gave birth to her daughter, Tyra.

She recorded her debut album, Live At Salem Baptist Church, in 1993. On July 28, 2008, Peoples performed a free concert at the EastBirmingham Church of God in Christ.

Dottie has an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music from Global Evangelical Christian College (Part of the International Circle of Faith Colleges and Seminaries network). Dottie toured many places with her very dear friend Garnelle Hubbard-Spearman

Hold My Mule

Shirley Caesar, "Hold My Mule" Concert

BeBe & CeCe Winans

BeBe & CeCe Winans, the American Gospel music brother and sister duo. BeBe (Benjamin) and CeCe (Priscilla) Winans are the seventh and eighth of "Mom" and "Pop" Winans' ten children, most of whom have had successful Gospel music careers.

While BeBe and CeCe were in high school, four of their elder brothers formed the successful Gospel musicgroup The Winans. Initially known as The Winans Part II, BeBe and CeCe first appeared in the public eye when they debuted in 1982 as part of the singing group The PTL Singers on the long running popular Christian television show Praise The Lord. They were introduced by Jim Bakker by their childhood nicknames and recorded their first album Lord Lift Us Up as a duo for PTL Records.

BeBe and CeCe had their biggest success with the release of their 1991 album Different Lifestyles featuring the singles "Addictive Love" and a cover of The Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" featuring Mavis Staples. Both singles topped R&B charts. Rapper MC Hammer also made an appearance on the single "The Blood" at the height of his career.

1994 saw the release of their last studio album Relationships, featuring the notable singles "If Anything Ever Happened To You," "Love Of My Life," and "Stay With Me." This album conveyed a more personal approach, in CeCe's words: "A lot of people think we're supposed to be perfect, but we're people too, we go through hurt [and] pain. We get songs through experiences and as we reveal these things, people are touched."^[1]

As a duo, BeBe and CeCe Winans' accolades include 5 Grammy Awards, 8 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image awards, 2 Soul Train Music Awards, and over a dozen Stellar Awards, 12 charting R&B singles, as well as numerous #1 singles on Christian radio, 3 Gold albums and 1Platinum album.

In 1995, they officially parted ways to work on their solo careers and other areas of interest. Both artists have gone on to have successful solo careers, receiving numerous awards and accolades. To date, BeBe has released six solo albums, while CeCe has released eight.

BeBe and CeCe Winans have only recorded together twice since 1996: once on What A Child, a duet from CeCe's Christmas album His Gift, and once on Tonight Tonight, a duet from BeBe's 2000 album Love & Freedom.

In 1995, they officially parted ways to work on their solo careers and other areas of interest. Both artists have gone on to have successful solo careers, receiving numerous awards and accolades. To date, BeBe has released six solo albums, while CeCe has released eight.

BeBe and CeCe Winans have only recorded together twice since 1996: once on What A Child, a duet from CeCe's Christmas album His Gift, and once on Tonight Tonight, a duet from BeBe's 2000 album Love & Freedom.

Fred Hammond

Fred Hammond, the gospel music singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.

The Dove and Stellar award winner has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist (currently for Verity Records). He is a multipleGrammy-, Dove-, Stellar- award winner and nominee as a performer and a producer.

Hammond first gained recognition while playing bass guitar for the gospel group The Winans.By 1985 he was one of the six original members of the group Commissioned, participating in 10 of the group's 12 albums.

After his stint with Commissioned ended, he regained fame in the gospel community after selling millions of albums with his musical group Radical For Christ.

In 2002 Hammond returned to the group Commissioned (now with members Keith Staten, Marvin Sapp, Mitchell Jones, Karl Reid, Michael Williams, and Marcus Cole) to produce the Commissioned Reunion Live album.

Hammond produced Make Me Like The Moon, a stirring gospel ballad co-written by Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore for their 2006 double-CD of gospel and R&B love songs entitled Uncovered/Covered (released October 10, 2006 by LaFace/Verity/Zomba Music Group). He also performs with Sean Combs on the album Thank You.

21:03

The Bible says in Matthew 5:16: “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

One of the features of DreaminSoul.com will be special “Spotlights” of artists, especially young artists, who are using their talents to glorify God and to motivate people of all ages. These artists aren’t focused on placing the spotlight on themselves, but they use their gifts to shine a light upward to put the focus on God.

As a prelude of the “Spotlights” feature this post is dedicated to the contemporary gospel group 21:03. The group consists of three talented young men, Torrence Greene, Evin Martin, and Jor’el Quinn, who minister to the world through a combination of soulful singing, energetic dance and unique life experiences. The group was brought together by the hit-producing team PAJAM (Paul “pda” Allen, J. Moss, and Walter Kearney), on January 21, 2003, and that date is the inspiration the name 21:03 arose from. Since today is the anniversary of their founding, let’s go down the list of why 21:03 shines:

Enough Said - 21:03 was nominated for Best Gospel Song for “Cover Me.” They also won a Stellar Award last year for Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year.

21:03 keeps us cracking up with their hilarious videos (click here to see what we mean!), brotherly bickering, and fun personalities. Look at how they brought in the New Year below! (Be prepared to "LOL").

he guys are not afraid to share their personal testimonies, even in trying times. They show us how us they are human, and how they too struggle with situations other young people deal with.

The guys give us spiritual lessons not only through their music but by talking to us too. Their “Message in the Music” video series makes us think, and in their blogs they often have a word of encouragement to give. Their series on God’s promises was truly soul-stirring.

Unfortunately there are not as many young gospel artists that are promoted or known widely within the industry as there are young secular artists. The men of 21:03 are relatable to young people, even those who may not be yet saved, because of their raw realness and youthfulness.

James Fortune

James Fortune, the gospel music singer. He is a graduate of Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, and attended Cal State Northridge. He is the choir director at Higher Dimension Church in SW Houston, TX. Higher Dimension church was organized on January 23, 1999 at Judy Bush Elementary School. Under the leadership of Pastor Terrance Johnson, Higher D has grown from 29 members in 1999 to more than 12,000 with 10 operative lead ministries and a host of sub-ministries that cater the needs of kids, youth, men, women, couples and singles.

James Fortune & FIYA’s highly anticipated debut CD, “You Survived” was released in September 2004. He was honored at the 19th annualASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards for his hit single "You Survived" off the same album. “You Survived” also peaked as the #2 most played Gospel song in the country and has remained in the Top 7 for thfvbxe last 3 years. The radio single, “God Can” features Micah Stampley and upcoming gospel artist Zacardi Cortez. James Fortune received a 2006 ASCAP Writers Award for “You Survived” alongside some of music’s finest like L.L. Cool J., Mary Mary, and Ciara. FIYA has been nominated four years in a row for the Texas Gospel Youth & Young Adult Choir of the year. They have been featured on Eric Carrington’s album, “Soar”.

FIYA has been blessed to open up for various artists such as, John P. Kee, Kim Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Mary Mary, Donald Lawrence, Albertina Walker, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett & G.A. and many others. FIYA made their mark in the gospel arena when they participated in the “One Church Tour” with some other gospel greats such as Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, RiZen, Smokie Norful, and Vickie Yohe.

James Fortune and F.I.Y.A.’s sophomore project on Black Smoke Music World Wide (formerly World Wide), “The Transformation”, was .released January 22, 2008. The first single “I Trust You” is dominating Gospel radio with 25 weeks straight at #1 and counting. Because of its crossover appeal, “I Trust You” is # 30 on Urban AC charts and #1 at WBLS in New York City, Urban AC’s # 1 station in the U.S.

James Fortune has taken the initiative and believes his mission is to draw lost souls to Christ, encourage you to share in Christ’s unconditional love and peace, and live a life free from bondage and strongholds in God’s abundance according to John 10:10. Because of his calling, Fortune constantly writes ballads and Sunday morning worship songs, collaborates with stellar producers and songwriters, and creates music complete with life transforming principles.

James Fortune is a family man that recognizes his success is only as comparable to his obedience and yielding to God’s will. He invites you to transform your life and remain committed to your God given journey.

On an BET episode "Lift Every Voice" host CoCo Brother, James Fortune is interviewed and reveals the history behind writing the hit song "I Trust You"

Smokie Norful

Smokie Norful, the American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, I Need You Now and his 2004 release, Nothing Without You, which won a Grammyat the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004.

Norful, a minister who is also the son of an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas but grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, deeply involved in his father's church. He was interested in music from a very young age, reportedly picking out one-finger piano melodies from the age of four. His parents supported him with music lessons, and, unusual for his background, allowed him to experiment with and listen to the current R&B andsoul music of the day as well as gospel music. Norful attended Pine Bluff High School, where he occasionally performed in school assemblies and programs. Norful graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a History major and spent four years teaching high school. In 1998 he felt a calling to the ministry of the gospel, and pursued a Master of Divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. While working toward ordination in the A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) church, he took a position as assistant pastor at a church in Chicago. He currently pastors Victory Cathedral Worship Center in Romeoville, IL, which he founded on September 20, 2005.

Smokie released his first live album on April 7, 2009. It is entitled Smokie Norful Live and features the singles "Justified," "Jesus is Love" featuring Heather Headley, and "God's Gonna Come Through" featuring Tye Tribbett. The Smokie Norful Live DVD was released in September of the same year on his newly formed label Tre'Myles Music. This is a collaborative effort between Tre'Myles Music and EMI Gospel.

Norful describes his first single, "I Need You Now"...

"I wrote that at a time when my wife [who was told she may have cancer and wouldn't be able to conceive], my father [who had just had emergency heart-surgery] and my grandmother were all dealing with some serious medical issues, and I was seriously reaching out to God for comfort and guidance and healing. I was crying out to God and realizing my total dependence on Him, and ultimate victory through Him."

Norful and his wife, Carla, are the parents to two boys, Tre' and Ashton, and a daughter named Ashley.

Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin, the American Gospel music singer and author, and is most notably known as the leader of urban contemporary gospel choirs such asThe Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew (1NC).

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his great aunt Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother. Gertrude collected and resold aluminum cans to raise money for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of 4. Kirk excelled in music, able to read and write music by ear.

He received his first contract offer at the age of seven, which his aunt turned down. He joined the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir at the age of eleven.

Despite his strict religious upbringing, Franklin rebelled in his teenage years, and in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, his great aunt arranged an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. He was accepted and, while his life seemed to be on track for a while, the announcement of a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for behavioral problems proved otherwise.

Kirk Franklin's 10th album, The Fight of My Life, was released in the United States on December 18, 2007. The album debuted on theBillboard 200 at #33 with 74,000 copies sold in the first week. It reached #1 on both the Billboard Top Gospel and Top Christian albums charts, and also peaked at #7 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. The first single, "Declaration (This is It)," was released on October 23, 2007 and peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. The album features guest appearances fromRance Allen, Isaac Carree, TobyMac, Da' T.R.U.T.H., Doug Williams, and Melvin Williams. The song "Jesus" was released as the album's second single in 2008 and was sent to Urban AC radio on July 15, 2008. In January 2010 after Haiti had a devastating earthquake, Kirk Franklin got an ensemble of gospel artists together to sing the song he wrote, called "Are You Listening". They included: Yolanda Adams,Jeremy Camp, Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Natalie Grant, Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann, David Mann, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin,Bishop Paul S. Morton, J. Moss, Smokie Norful, Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard, BeBe Winans, Cece Winans, and Marvin Winans.

Kirk is currently host and co-executive producer of the BET original series, "Sunday Best." It is reported that Kirk is working on a new album, due in Spring 2011.

On January 20, 1996, Franklin married long-time friend Tammy Collins. When they wed, they each had one child from previous relationships: Kirk's son Kerrion, born in 1988, and Tammy's daughter Carrington, born in 1989. As a couple, they have two children: Kennedy, born in 1997, and Caziah, born in 2000.

J.Moss

J. Moss, the American gospel singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, and record producer.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan as James Moss, the son of Gospel star Bill Moss, Sr., James spent much of his childhood on tours with his father's popular group, Bill Moss and the Celestials, and his cousin's group The Clark Sisters. As an early teen, Moss was teamed with his brother Bill Jr. in the singing duo The Moss Brothers. They toured on weekends around the midwest and recorded two major label albums during their seven years together.

In this period James developed as a keyboardist and burgeoning songwriter. He was also learning first-hand the business of music. He attended Michigan State University for two years, but the desire to write and perform was too strong, and he left to seek a career in music.

Over the next seven years, the PAJAM team became Gospel music's most prolific hitmakers. However, Moss' desire to perform never went away, and in 2003 he and Allen began writing songs for what would ultimately become The J. Moss Project, released in September 2004 onGospoCentric Records.

Though PAJAM's work has been seen as a revolutionary blend of gospel and hip-hop style, The J. Moss Project is a surprisingly traditional affair. The set largely relies on familiar arrangements, and keeps its focus on Moss's clear tenor voice and strong backing choir vocals. The album made a grand entry with the upbeat lead single "I Wanna Be".

The disc includes a number of upbeat gospel numbers such as "Don't Pray and Worry" and "Psalm 150". J. Moss' lithe falsetto at times draws comparison to the likes of Prince and Tonéx on "Livin' 4". There are also several gentle ballads such as "Give You More" and the album's anthemic single "We Must Praise" that display J. Moss' range as a vocalist and songwriter.

Finally, on April 3, 2007, J Moss released his second album V2... The J Moss Project through GospoCentric Records. Appearances made by contemporary Gospel group 21:03, Moss's cousin Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Kirk Franklin, his cousin Karen Clark-Sheard, Marvin Winans of the famed Winans family, Byron Cage, Anthony Hamilton and American comedian Steve Harvey. Three bonus tracks were originally thought to be regular album tracks. The bonus tracks are "Florida", "73 Degress", and "Everybody Ain't Got a Word".

J. Moss released his third album V3: Just James on August 25, 2009. On there is one of his big hits,Restored/I Gave It Up.