Attended by gospel music’s premier songwriters, brightest stars and
leading industry executives, the invitation-only event, part industry
celebration and part awe-inspiring worship service, will also announce
the Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year at the ceremony.
This year’s honorees are comprised of talents who are deeply rooted
in the gospel genre. Israel Houghton, a prolific worship leader and
singer-songwriter-producer, has been at the helm of his own music
ministry for 22 years and has worked on more than 50 albums as an artist
or producer. In 1995, he formed New Breed Ministries, giving way to Whisper it Loudand Way of the World,
debut releases from 1997. Since then, Houghton has released 11 solo and
group CDs and has reached consistent commercial success with Billboard
chart toppers like New Season, Power of One and his most recent
release, Jesus at the Center. Houghton has garnered countless accolades
throughout his career, including five GRAMMY awards, 13 Dove awards,
two Stellar awards and a Soul Train award.
Their success laid the groundwork for group member and sister LaShun Pace to launch a successful solo career. Pace’s first album, He Lives,
featured her opus “I Know I’ve Been Changed.” Several memorable albums
followed.
BMI is proud to honor these towering talents and celebrate their legendary contributions.
During the Voices of Power Reunion (founded by her brother
Bishop Murphy Pace III), LaShun Pace tells her testimony and thanks God for the "four" times that she recalls Him sparing her life.
A few days ago, I was on my way to work, listening to a gospel radio show. I don't think it was Yolanda Adamsor Donnie McClurkin (but it could have been).... I'm not really sure.
Anyway...they were stating that people are no longer buying gospel music. When I initially heard that, I said, "that's not true". Then I asked myself, "what is the last gospel album that you've bought?" Of course, I had to think.....REALLY LONG!!! Then, I remembered that the last gospel album I purchased was Reborn byLashun Pace.....and that's not a new release!!!
After I finally realized that I hadn't purchased a gospel album in a long time, I started questioning why I wasn't buying.... So, rather than say why I haven't bought a gospel album lately, I thought I'd do my share by sharing a few gospel albums with you that are available for purchase such as this new music by Karew Records...... (ENJOY!!)
If you have ever read any of my blogs, you know that I have admired LaShun Pacesince I was a child. Also I blogged about the amazing time I had when I attended her live recording for her Rebornalbum.
After all these years of admiring LaShun Pacemusic, I finally got a chance to meet her and to have her on my show!!! So without continuing on with a lot of talk.....I present to you LaShun Pace on When We Speak!!!!
One day I was looking on Youtube and I ran across a video of Ann Nesby and I really liked it so I “Thumbs Up” the video. Then, you know how if your Twitter and Youtube are connected, it will inform the person on Twitter? Well, it informed the person that posted it that I had liked the video. Since my Twitter and Youtube are also connected, the person sends me a message. Then we started talking about Ann Nesby and I was telling him how I admire Ann’s vocals….. To make a long story short, he tells me about a guy named Randevyn and says that I should check out some of his music. I always try to check out everyone that people tell me about, so I was eager to check out some of his music. He tells me to check out the Randevyn song Dear Farah. Once I checked it out I told him that I really liked it.
About a day or two later, I decided to see if I could find some more music from this “Randevyn” guy. During my search on Youtube, I found a video by Randevyn called Life Support. I instantly fell in love with the song. I liked it so much that I decided to post Randevyn on the When We Speak TVArtist Spotlight on my website. Later, I found out that Randevyn was in the Atlanta area and I was like “you should try to reach him for an interview”. Well, to my surprise since we had tagged Randevyn in our tweets, he saw the messages and sent a thank you message to us. That was my perfect opportunity to ask him about an interview with me. Luckily he agreed!
During my preparation for the interview I started checking out more of his music and I shared the song Life Supportwith a few of my friends. That night, on of my friends called me on the phone singing the words to the song! He told me he loves the song. I was so excited to tell him that I had actually scheduled an interview with the artist that sang the song. My friend was very excited for me and congratulated me on what I was doing and the progress I had made on When We Speak.
Once I got off the phone, I continued to surf the internet for more information about Randevyn. In the process I found out a lot of background information about his musical career, his family, and his musical inspirations but I also found something that I wasn’t expecting…. I found another song of his called Legend.
When I heard this song, tears instantly came to my eyes. I know you may be wondering, “What was so special about this song?” Well, this particular song captured the very essence of who I am and what I want to be. It was like this guy had written my life story! (Now I began to get more excited about the interview.) I listen to lots of music on a daily basis, some I connect with, some I only like the beat, and some that's not my preferred style of music. However, this song was much more than that….it was as if this song was me!
A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT ME:
When I was a little child, I always believed that even though I was growing up in a small town, I destined for something greater. I always dreamed of living in Atlanta. Crazy as it sounds; the main reason I wanted to live in Atlanta was because I knew that my favorite singer Lashun Pace was from here and I always dreamed of meeting her one day. After about three years in Atlanta I decided to create my online talk show, When We Speak, and has been difficult running everything on my own…. I have to find people to interview, schedule the interview, prepare questions for the interview, find locations to hold the interview, and then edit the interviews once the interview is completed! I try to make each interview the best that I can for the level that I’m at…..while maintaining a regular 9 to 5 job!
Sometimes I get so discouraged because I feel like it doesn’t stand up to other shows that I see on the internet and sometimes I get so frustrated that I think about giving up on my vision. My vision for the show is to be a platform for independent artists and others to share who they are. Major artists have lots of shows that they can promote themselves on and can hire people for promotion but many Indie Artists don’t have that flexibility. As minor as it is, the show is my way of showing my support to those people. I may not have millions of viewers but I hope that I’ve introduced their music to at least one more person that may not know who they are. In the back of my mind, I hope that what I’m doing will encourage someone to keep pushing for their dreams, whether it is from hearing my testimony, watching my vision (When We Speak) grow, or by the words that are spoken by a guest. In my own little way, I hope that my hard work inspires someone that has thought about giving up on their vision.
BACK TO THE SONG:
I said all that to say that the song expressed my life desire… to be a legend. Before I came across the song Legend by Randevyn, I really thought about giving up on my vision. But when I heard the song, it gave me a second wind! I felt like I had found someone that really understood how I felt and understood how it feels to have a passion for something that is greater than money… a passion to have leave a mark on the world that could never be erased! Wow! I can’t even write anymore about it! After that all I can say is, enjoy the interview with Randevyn Pierre!
P.S.
I was so excited during the interview….(when I get excited I start talk moderately fast...At the beginning of the interview I’m talking moderately fast!)
Thanks Randevyn for taking the time to speak with me on When We Speak. Most of all, thanks for encouraging me to keep trying; despite my disappointments, rejections, or unfulfilled expectations. I wish you much success on your new album and pray that everything you touch prospers!
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There are many people that have influenced my life and have encouraged me throughout the years, through the art of music. Among those are people like India Arie, Lashun Pace, Anthony Hamilton, Monica, Sounds of Blackness, and ThePace Sisters. (Like I said that’s just a few names). I can even tell you the songs that have had the most impact on my life by each of these artists:
Among the list of artists, I never thought I would ever get a chance to meet any of these artist but I believe that when people have empowered you, you should let them know. Who would have thought that I would get a chance to meet the leader of one of these songs.......
Recently, I had a chance to sit down with Quan Howell, who led the song Hold On (Change is Coming) by the Sounds of Blackness. I can’t begin to tell you how great it felt to speak to someone that had empowered so much Life into my life. So when the opportunity allowed me a chance to interview him, I JUMP ALL OVER IT!
Not only was Quan a member of the Sounds of Blackness but he also played Reverend Lewis in the Tyler Perry play Madea’s Family Reunion.
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it! ….Meet Quan Howell!
(June 2, 2011) I don't have to say much about the legendary Lashun Pace. I was honored to be at the recording for her new album Reborn which comes out this month. Make sure you check it out. (She is my favorite gospel artist!!)
SHAME ON ME! I can not believe that I have allowed so many days to pass and I haven't told you about my experience on February 28, 2011. This was the day that I had an opportunity to attend a live recording of my favorite gospel singer of all times, Lashun Pace.
It was not the best of days on that night because it was raining very badly in Atlanta but of course I trucked on! (Only way I would have missed this night was if Jesus came back for me!) So despite the horrible weather, we made our way down to Barnesville, Georgia, for a good time. (Actually, I didn't even know where Barnesville was but a great time I had!)
Once we arrived at the church, the attendants instructed us where to park our cars. Thankfully, I was there early (which I'm rarely early to anything...nor on time for that matter).
We entered the church and I began searching for a place to sit. Once I decided that I wanted to sit in an aisle seat, I sat down and began to prepare myself for what was about to take place. Everything was pretty calm as the people continued to come into the building. Then, to my right I saw a very familiar face, dressed in a gray skirt suit walk by. It was none other than the talented Duranice Pace, one of Lashun's many talented sisters.
Duranice Pace
She stopped to talk to a few people that she seemed to be acquainted with, as she walked in the direction of her seat. The noise of the crowd was at a very small roar when Duranice says, "Y'all ready to have church?" (With a voice like her's she could have been thinking the words and we still would have heard it! I can only wish my voice was as powerful!) Of course the church responded and then she moved to her seat near the front of the church.
From then, until the time that the recording started, I don't really remember much. So much was going through my head, so much excitement, so much anxiety. Can I be honest? I wanted to cry! Yes, I'm a cry baby! SO WHAT! The excitement went way back to my days of being a child. LET'S GO BACK FOR A MOMENT........When my mother gave her life to the Lord, I was probably about eleven or twelve, and thereafter, we started attending church. Since my mom was a young Christian at the time, one of the ladies at the church gave her some music to listen to......you already know that one of the artists was The Anointed Pace Sisters.... When I heard these ladies sing, you would not believe the feeling that flowed through me! It was like angels were singing. I wasn't used to gospel music other than quartet music, but I loved it! I definitely loved how they would blend their voices so perfectly, to sound as one voice and accompany one another in a worship ad lib at the end of the songs. I had never heard anything like it! So once I heard this sound, and this great music, I wanted to sing! So what did I do? I volunteered to sing a song at our annual Children's Day at church. I sang "The Shepherd's Song" by the Mississippi Children's Mass Choir. I was so nervous that I couldn't look at people as I sang, so I turned my back to the congregation and sang the entire song! (Poor Baby!)
HOLD ON I'M GETTING THERE! After my first solo, I decided to pull my sister into it....I guess I was trying to start my own group now! My sister (who was only about 7 years old) and I would sing some of my favorite Pace Sisters' songs such as, "Jesus Be A Fence", "My Purpose", and "Safety Zone" BACK TO THE RECORDING: As time drew closer, for the recording to begin, I remember going so deep into my memories of a child that I started to pray and thank the Lord for allowing me to be here. Then, I started praying for the entire Pace family because this family had played a major role in my family's life through their music. Then I started praying for Lashun specifically. (You may not understand where I was at that moment but Lashun was the lady that sang me through my childhood, teenage years, and military years. I remember being a little boy going through issues with other kids at school and I would imagine that Lashun was my aunt, and she would sing to me! I knew she was not really my aunt but my "aunt" really knew exactly how to usher me into prayer to the Lord!)
In the midst of all this, I recall seeing some of the other Pace Sisters making it to their seats. I remember gospel singer, Ted Winn, best known from the duet Ted and Sherri, entering the church. ( I can't remember if it was before it began or once it had started, because by now I was zoned!) And lastly I remember gospel singer, Dewayne Woods, entering the church. Dewayne is best known for his song "Let's Go, Let God".
Ted Winn Dewayne Woods
Once the recording began, Lydia Pace opened with beautiful and powerful words (I forgot who she said wrote it), that reflected on the past songs of Lashun and described the essence of the Lashun Pace that we have always loved and will continue to love. Thereafter, Lashun was front and center! Lydia Pace Lashun stood there with such grace, beauty, humbleness, strength, and anointing! I couldn't do anything but clap and stare! She spoke to the audience for a moment and then it began, Lashun Pace- "Reborn"
(I know you probably thought I would go more into detail about the songs and what took place....YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE! All I will say is, "You need to get the cd when it comes out, you will definitely enjoy it!") She was also joined with her lovely daughter, Aarion Rhodes, in a contemporary duet that I think you will definitely enjoy.
Everything was great, the Lord definitely blessed and Lashun encouraged my heart once more like only "Auntie Lashun" can do........And when she did her signature "holla", I could have jumped out of my skin. I remember telling my friend that was there with me, "...now that's the Lashun I remember!" That was such a great night! When We Speak TV would like to congratulate Lashun Pace on her new cd and we encourage everyone to support her music as well as, all the gospel artists that have served so faithfully to spread the word of the Lord through this nation.
God bless you Tarrian Lashun Pace-Holmes......God is going to continue to elavate you!
CATHERINE BREWTON (BMI Vice
President, Writer-Publisher Relations), DONALD LAWRENCE, WARDELL MALLOY (BMI Executive Director, Writer-Publisher Relations), & MIKE O'NEILL (BMI President and CEO) .
