Brothers McClurg Join In The Sound

brothersmc

From a legacy that now spans three generations of music and ministry comes the band Brothers McClurg. What started out as two bands fronted by brothers Anthony and Chris Hoisington has turned into a group of Christian brothers who share a desire to see lives changed through worship.

Until recently, this six-piece band of worshippers from western New York were known as Relevant Worship, the name of their community-wide ministry. With their recent signing to Integrity Music, the band decided to embrace their musical heritage by taking the name Brothers McClurg, which was the name of a rock band formerly fronted by the Hoisingtons.

The name also pays homage to Anthony and Chris’ greatest influence, their maternal grandfather Pastor Bill McClurg, who led the southern gospel group The McClurg Family Singers.

“We see it as a way of continuing the legacy and ministry while giving it a fresh vision,” says Chris.

Hailing from Buffalo, the band’s mission is to carry Jesus’ message of life, hope and forgiveness to people and places that have been ‘dead,’ hopeless and forgotten. The Brothers want to love people through prayer and acts of service, blessing the Church and uniting the body of Christ in worship. Beginning with the Buffalo area, their goal is to break down denominational barriers, starting with themselves as each band member comes from a different church tradition.

“We want to spur one another on, lifting up the name of Christ inside the church, as well as in the streets,” adds Anthony. “Our goal is to rally the church to action, loving one another and also loving the ‘unlovely’ and replicating this passion in every city and community we encounter.”

Chris explains, “Brothers McClurg is a traveling version of your church’s worship team, with many players and faces each adding to what God is doing in times of worship.”

Brothers McClurg is currently touring the Northeast, with concert stops in Rhode Island, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

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06/11/2013

in Funky
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Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell solo

Shackles (Praise You) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems like only yesterday that Mary Mary burst on the scene with “Shackles,” but that was over a decade ago. Since then, the sisterly duo ascended to the top tier of Gospel music artists thanks to a lot of hard work and sacrifices. It’s hard to be in a duo with your sister, and have a husband and several babies, AND to go out in front of huge crowds and be “on,” singing with all your heart. But Erica and Tina Campbell (aka Mary Mary) managed to have a very, very successful career not only in Gospel music, but in the entertainment industry in general.

Now, though, it’s time for the duo to take a break, and Erica is doing a solo record. Right now, you’ll be hearing her solo radio hit, “A Little More Jesus,” which goes on sale June 25th on iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers. It’s a hand-clapper with a back-in-the-day beat, full of energy and encouraging lyrics.

While her sister Tina takes some time off from the biz, Erica will be hitting the road this summer, including appearances at the legendary Essence Music Festival and New York City’s Central Park! You can visit http://www.myblockrecords.com for details.

Erica’s profile in the media has really gone up since she and her sister showed it all on their self-titled WEtv series, “Mary Mary,” which is now filming its third season. The reality show about the lives of these Gospel superstars show them in good times and bad, allowing the audience to see they’re “real people” who struggle with life issues just like everyone else. -Mark Weber

06/10/2013

in Misc
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Celibacy: What Was I Thinking?

If you read the title “Celibacy: What Was I Thinking?” then your interest would be piqued, right? Tranea Prosser wrote a book with that title, talking about her experience with celibacy and Christianity and relationships. Tranea is better known as MizT, a comedian with a successful release called “Back At ‘Ya, Lord!” She’s also a Christian music maker– a singer in church–and she has an audio devotional album of excerpts from her personal journals called “Verbal Melodies.” But lets get back to her book on celibacy.

Tranea is a plus-sized woman, and she’s not afraid of that subject. In reality, most women in America are plus-sized women, too, and they’re looking for love just like Tranea. If you’re a woman, or you know a woman (which pretty much means anyone reading this article!), then you should consider buying “Celibacy: What Was I Thinking?” as the perfect gift for your friend. The reason? Tranea comes at the subject with a comedic sensibility, while also infusing her Christian faith into the writing, coming across as a fun sister who has been through some tough dating times but held on to Jesus as best she could. Her conversational book will make you laugh out loud, and you might get some tears, too, because Miz T keeps it real.

Perhaps the best part of this book is getting to read her list of qualifications for a man, which changes over time, getting more specific. Here are some key qualifications she’s looking for:

1) Jesus Christ is head of his life and he has a personal, active relationship with Him.
2) He is affectionate.
3) He is compassionate.
4) He is considerate of my needs.
5) He spends quality time with me.
6) He makes me feel important.
7) He is an easy conversationalist.
8) He will let me get involved with his activities.
9) He’s willing to do what it takes to make us work.
10) He doesn’t mind me giving him advice.
11) We work as a team.

Even men can benefit from reading “Celibacy,” because you get a female’s perspective on what she (and most every other woman on the planet) wants in a mate!

The book is a quick read, under 100 pages, and toward the end, you get to peek into Tranea’s personal journal entries from the past ten years.

You can buy the book on Amazon for Kindle or Barnes and Noble’s site for Nook. And if your church wants to have a funny lady come talk about sex, love and celibacy, you can book Miz T via her website, www.MizTComedy.com.

06/07/2013

in Dynamic, Pop
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Natalie Grant is back with “Hurricane”

Natalie Grant (Photo credit: MDB 28)

A long time ago, I remember when Natalie Grant was having a hard time finding a record label to support her in Christian music. It took a while, but eventually she’d go on to eclipse the other famous Grant–no relation–in Christian music. If Amy Grant was the reigning Queen of Christian music in the 1980s and 1990s, Natalie Grant has replaced her since the 2000s, being named the Gospel Music Association’s “Female Artist of the Year” from 2006-2009, and then, again, in 2012.

If you asked me to name my favorite Natalie Grant song, it would be “Held.” In 2013, she’s back with a new song, “Hurricane,” which could be even more successful than “Held.” Social media and social networking is helping pave the way for “Hurricane” to do well on radio and iTunes. Get this: Natalie Grant has almost 300,000 likes on Facebook and more than 150,000 followers on Twitter. Wow.

Look (or listen!) for a new album from Natalie Grant due out later this year. –Mark Weber, ChristianMusicMakers.com

06/03/2013

in Misc
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Mike Farris speaks up

Mike Farris; photo by Anthony Scarlati

Christian music maker Mike Farris posted this on Facebook recently:

I would like to address a big misunderstanding that has come up regarding a celebrated grass roots festival named after my former band The Screaming Cheetah Wheelies called Wheeliefest. Bryan Thompson has asked me several times to come back and play the festival and I have tried the best I know to be sensitive to his requests without him feeling hurt over the matter. On every occasion I refused to do so for my own very personal reasons but I want to make my point of view very clear to you all as well. As most of you know, I am in recovery. This continues to be a “one day at a time” journey. I have been fortunate to have amazing friends and family support me, along with all the good people who work on my behalf to further the music that I get the privilege to play. I am also a strong believer in the 12 step program. All these things, combined with my personal faith has kept me above water, but it has taken diligence and commitment every single day of my life. I am extremely fortunate to have a team of people who work with me to see that while we go and share our music we don’t compromise my sobriety in any way, shape or form. This sometimes entails making really difficult decisions to turn some shows down. There are many, many, many shows I turn down every year and maybe I could make more money but it’s not worth it to me. I have turned down a lot of things in my career that could have moved things way along, including working with Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Double Trouble tours and on and on because money and fame has never driven me, or else I would have sold out a LONG time ago, cuz God knows I have had many opportunities to.

The Wheelie fans have been and continue to be an incredible group of fans. Through the years they have supported me wholeheartedly. In fact, other friends of mine who have sold way more records than myself and the Wheelies combined, on occasion, have joined me to go on solo tours because even though they sold more records they didn’t have the loyal fan support that I have had the blessing of having. I am grateful beyond measure. Even though, out of respect, I would never play Wheelies songs with my new band, I am more than happy to pull out those songs for solo shows, because I know what those songs mean to you! I’m even ok with the occasional SCW chant and the ever present “Whoo-Whoo’s” ☺

With respect to Bryan, never have I told anyone on my team that I would never do anything with Wheelies again and if that was in fact the response they gave Bryan, that was wrong. I had no idea that Bryan and KCA had even been negotiating the deal as I never know what shows they are working on at any given time. Knowing how passionate Bryan and Michelle are about Wheeliefest, I would have never allowed them to be mislead.

It’s unfortunate that there are places that my family and I don’t feel comfortable revisiting. It’s still way too painful for them as well as myself. It’s a terrible thing to live with the pain of knowing you have hurt the very people you love but surely even that can’t compare with the hell they endure by living with someone suffering from addictions and doing their level best to destroy everything around them, including themselves.

Above everything and all, my need to maintain my sobriety and to continue to be sensitive to the needs of my God and family will continue to be the driving forces in my life. I hope that these words will find understanding ears and hearts. I remain gratefully in spirit.

-Mike

06/03/2013

in Country, Funky
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Whosoever South combines country and hip-hop and Jesus

Whosoever South is the most exciting group in Christian music right now; they manage to blend bluegrass country music with hip-hop, as if Black Eyed Peas met Scotty McCreery!

The trio is comprised of Rowdy Eunice, Sarah Eunice and Mike Mitchell, whose earlier days including opening for such acts as Kanye West, Outkast, Ciara and Goodie Mob. During this time period, record label interest began pouring in by the group’s personal lives were spiraling out of control. During this time, all three members dedicated their lives to God which spawned their unusual type of music.

Learn more about Whosoever South’s musical and spiritual journey by visiting WhosoeverSouth.com.

05/26/2013

in Edgy
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Christian metalcore band As I Lay Dying going through drama in 2013

Tim Lambesis / As I Lay Dying (at With Full Force 2007) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anyone who regularly reads ChristianMusicMakers.com knows that the site tends to cover adult contemporary-type music, and not too much “Christian metalcore” music. But there’s news about Christian metalcore band “As I Lay Dying” that warrants a posting on this site, since many young, impressionable kids listen to the band.

As I Lay Dying’s singer, Tim Lambesis, is in a bit of hot water lately. He allegedly hired a hitman to kill his ex-wife…but perhaps it was the steroids he was using at the time that caused some sort of ‘roid rage. Lambesis has been in jail for several weeks now, with bail set at $2 million.
The story gets weirder. The hitman, named “Red,” was an undercover cop. Lambesis has pleaded not guilty to a single count of solicitation of murder. Allegedly, though, Lambesis handed Red an envelope with $1,000 cash, and his ex-wife’s address and security gate codes, because he wanted his ex-wife “gone.”

Lambesis’ eight-year marriage ended last summer when he emailed his wife to tell her he no longer loved her or believed in God. She also learned he’d had several affairs during their marriage.

The couple had adopted three children from Ethiopia. As if they hadn’t been through enough drama in their lives!

Come June 10th, Lambesis returns to court, and if convicted, he may serve nine years in jail. This whole escapade does not give Christianity a good reputation. Surely a lot of kids who looked up to As I Lay Dying are confused as to what to think about Christ because Lambesis essentially turned away from the faith. We shall see what happens in the months and years to come.

« Older Posts

Christian Music Makers

Brothers McClurg Join In The Sound

Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell solo

Celibacy: What Was I Thinking?

Natalie Grant is back with “Hurricane”

Mike Farris speaks up

Whosoever South combines country and hip-hop and Jesus

Christian metalcore band As I Lay Dying going through drama in 2013

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