New York, NY: The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment has named Veda Brown Entrepreneur of the Year at its annual Stiletto Awards ceremony held in Charlotte, N.C. Other winners included: Wendy Credle - Legal Executive of The Year, Credle & Associates; Helen Little - Radio Executive of The Year - WWPR/Power 105 New York; Jojo Pada - Record Executive of The Year - Ignition PR; Karen Abdul -Rising Star Executive to Watch - MTV Networks; Mona Scott-Young - Award of Appreciation - Violator & Monami Entertainment.
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It is with much sadness, The Belle Report announces the passing of Ms. Sheila Smith, Director of Operations and Vice Chair of the Women’s Division of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA).

Details are still limited, but confirmed reports say that Ms. Smith was well yesterday and attended church. However sometime early this morning, she began to feel sick and was taken to a local Detroit hospital where she died hours later.

Her son Mark Smith and several close friends were with her.

More details, will be provided as we receive them.

May we keep her family in prayer!

About the Gospel Music Workshop of America

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From the Nation’s Capital, which celebrates gospel greats such as Maestro Richard Smallwood, comes a new artist with a fresh contemporary gospel sound. The John Tillery Project, fronted by psalmist, producer and musician John Tillery, presents a brand new release from Danbla Records entitled The Next Level. Flaunting modern grooves melded with strong elements of traditional church, the thirteen-track CD showcases Tillery as a gifted artist introducing his unique brand of praise and worship.
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Time-Life and BET J have teamed up to present “Love’s Holiday: A Gospel Christmas.” The fourteen-track compilation features both traditional and new gospel-inspired Christmas recordings by both established gospel artists and their R&B peers. It opens with Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers funky “Love’s Holiday” which also features the soul-savvy vocals of the quartet, Men of Standard.
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In a day and time where the average young gospel artist is seeking to make music to cross over to the radio stations spinning the latest beats by Chris Brown or Ciara, Philadelphia native Chris Graham is sticking with what he knows best: praise and worship styled gospel. His forthcoming CD debut is a live recording featuring an array of worship songs peppered with elements of funk, jazz and heart-felt emotion.
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ATLANTA, GA – (OCTOBER 18, 2007) Alpha Dog and Tyscot Records are proud to announce a national television special featuring Bishop Noel Jones and The City Of Refuge Sanctuary Choir . Black Entertainment Television sent their video crew to the estate of Bishop Noel Jones in Playa del Rey, California and spent most of the day ‘in the life’ of Jones and several members of his choir.

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Houston, TX—2007—After a four-year hiatus platinum-selling trio Trin-i-tee 5:7 is back and have released T57, the songbirds new musical collection on Mathew Knowles’ Gospel division Spirit Rising Music, September 18th.

The project flaunts the style and musical edginess that first made Trin-i-tee 5:7 a hit in the late 90s. T57 finds Chanelle, Angel and Adrian providing twelve memorable tracks dealing with everyday situations wrapped in musical elements of R&B, soul, hip hop and gospel.

The three women take much of the songwriting credits on the project - a definite sign that T57 is the personal reflection of the group – and hit producer Walter Milsap (Yolanda Adams, Alicia Keys, Usher & Dave Hollister) delivers the 1st single “Listen,” and two other unforgettable songs “I Need You” and an uplifting anthem titled “Beautiful Girl.”

NASHVILLE, TN…October 23, 2007…Celebrating the moment with the release of his new studio project, THIS MOMENT (Sparrow Records), multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award winning Steven Curtis Chapman receives media acclaim, radio success and continues to raise inspiring numbers for orphans worldwide. Today fans get a taste of what Chapman created on his sixteenth studio project and what is being praised as “among the best of his career” (Billboard) and “a thoughtful original” (USA Today).
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Forest Park, IL - October 23 - Today Central City Productions announced the official nominees for the 23rd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Nashville, TN. Journey Music Group garnered two nominations for Darius Brooks & The Tommies Reunion: Side A; CHOIR OF THE YEAR and TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR.
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Oct. 24, 2007—ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and the Gospel Music Association’s Artist of the Year, worship leader Chris Tomlin extends his highly successful “How Great Is Our God Tour” to include an additional 14 dates this fall. Speaker and author Louie Giglio again joins Tomlin, who will introduce a special tour edition of See The Morning with bonus material on Oct. 23.

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