Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 9/10/2008 7:07 PM UTC

  Meet Deborah Smith Pollard and Vickie Winans
  

  When the Church Becomes Your Party - Deborah Smith Pollard

  
  Deborah Smith Pollard, associate professor of English literature and humanities at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, is also a successful gospel concert producer and host of a popular Sunday morning gospel show on Detroit's FM 98 WJLB.
  
  Add "author" to her list of accolades.
  
  When the Church Becomes Your Party is Pollard's behind-the-scenes look at contemporary gospel music, the first book (to my knowledge) to focus its lens exclusively on the multi-faceted gospel scene of today.
  
  According to the press release, "Although the flashy clothing, informal language, and elaborate stage presentation found in some of the newest gospel music may surprise some worshippers, author Deborah Smith Pollard argues that this new aesthetic rests on the same Christian principles as more traditional forms and successfuly extends gospel's message to a wider and younger audience."
  
  Pollard "draws on Detroit's thriving gospel scene as well as her knowledge of the national gospel music industry to identify important trends in each area and trace the cultural transformation that brought them about. In addition, Pollard includes interviews with contemporary gospel artists, allowing them to explain why they rap, make particular choices in attire, or participate in gospel radio, praise and worship, or gospel musical plays."
  
  Gospel music legend and historian Horace Clarence Boyer commented, "There is no doubt that 'today's gospel is not your mother's gospel' so we should be thankful that we have Deborah Smith Pollard's When the Church Becomes Your Party to serve as our interpreter...."
  
  Pollard's book is an important companion for gospel music historians, announcers, and enthusiasts who want to better understand the connection between today's gospel music and its antecedents. In other words, the link between the artistry of Thomas Dorsey and Tye Tribbett is stronger than one might suspect.
  
  For more information about When the Church Becomes Your Party, go to:
  
  www.myspace.com/dsp313
  
  or contact Dr. Pollard directly at: DRDSP313@gmail.com
  
  

  The Gospel According To 'Ebony' Is Minus Vickie Winans

  Posted Jul 11th 2008 12:15PM by Jawn Murray
  Filed under: BV Buzz, Gospel

  By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

  Flying always affords me an opportunity to catch up on my magazine reading.

  During my flight on Wednesday to London I read 'Ebony' magazine's August 2008 issue.

  The special collector's edition of the magazine has eight different covers and features "The 25 Coolest Brothers of All Time."

  Inside the issue, there was a great article about "The Women of Gospel." I'm always excited when mainstream outlets recognize the gospel music industry in a significant way.

  Unfortunately, as much as I loved the article, I have to admit that I was a bit surprised realizing that a story recognizing "women running the business of gospel music" left out one of the industry's hardest working woman -- Vickie Winans!

  Not to take anything away from the women actually featured on the list, which include Vicki Mack Lataillade, Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, CeCe Winans, The Clark Sisters, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples, Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, Teresa Hairston, Demetrius Alexander-Stewart and Tara Griggs MaGee.

  They've all earned their respective place on it!

  But not including Winans on a list of female power players is like omitting Tyra Banks from a list of models that have expanded beyond fashion.

  There are a half dozen or so other female power movers in the gospel industry that some could argue were overlooked.

  (Ladies like Veda Brown (Black Gospel Promo), Prophetess Juanita Bynum, Lisa Collins ('Gospel Industry Roundup'), Jackie Patillo (Zomba Gospel), Tramaine Hawkins, Neily Dickerson (The nd. Company), Melanie Clark (Gospelflava.com), Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Melanie Few (Results Inc.) all come to mind.)

  But not including Winans, in my opinion, is a glaring oversight!

  The 53-year-old Detroit native has changed the way female artists conduct business in gospel music.

  She's called the "Hardest Working Woman in Gospel" because not only does Winans sing, but she manages herself, does her own bookings, routes her own tours, negotiates lucrative endorsement deals, runs a record label and markets products and merchandising to enhance her brand.

  In addition to her countless Stellar Awards, Grammy nominations and numerous other accolades for her music; Winans has recorded comedy CDs, workout videos and has co-directed and financed her own music videos.

  And I am sure the 'We Shall Behold Him' singer is not sitting anywhere worrying about what I hope was an accidental snub. I doubt that very seriously!

  Because if you know anything about Winans, you understand that she was somewhere shipping off a contract or closing a deal with an automotive company to sponsor her next tour.

  In actuality, she's really the type to start her own magazine and create her own list just because she can.

  So I applaud 'Ebony' for stepping outside the box and showcasing gospel in this issue, but I hope the next go around a faux pas like this one will not happen again.

  ******

  
  www.VickieWinans.com
  
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  • wjlb
  • vickie winans
  • deborah smith pollar
  • when the church beco
  • Christian artists
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