The 2011 version of “Celebrate” was only made available to a limited number of media outlets and I was fortunate to enough to get a copy. I want to give a big thank you to Fred Hammond, Debra Hanna and everyone at Verity Gospel Music Group. You can listen to the song below.

[audio:http://thegospelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/mp3s/HeLives-2011-RadioEdit1.mp3|titles=HeLives-2011-RadioEdit]

In case you forgot what the original version sounded like, you can listen to it here.

You can buy a copy of the original version by clicking here. What do you think about the 2011 version of “Celebrate” (He Lives)?

You can listen to the entire interview by clicking here.

By all indications this will not be a Gospel jazz project. Fred's music roots began as a bass player. Recording this album will be mechanism for him to get back to his roots.

I'm trying not to be hurt by this news, because I absolutely love Fred Hammond as a Gospel artist. However, I can respect his desire to want to do something different. I am desperately hoping and praying that he decides to do more Gospel music in the future.

A couple of weeks ago, he sent a message out on Twitter looking for topics related to love. I'm assuming he was looking to compile material for his jazz album.

Christians need love and love songs just as much as anyone else. I won't be surprised if Fred Hammond ends up revolutionizing the jazz music industry.

What do you think about Fred Hammond doing a jazz album?

Check out the audio from Jawn Murray's report on the Praise Philly website.

“If I had to write another love song to write on this project what would you like to hear?”

“What do you want to say to the Love of your life?”

“If I had to write another Love song, what topic would you suggest?”

It appears that he received a ton of suggestions. I’m sure you can still reach out to Fred and offer your suggestions. He’s @RealFredHammond on Twitter.

The Soul Seekers are currently holding a songwriter contest on Blazetrak and will be accepting submissions until Dec. 21, 2010. All submissions will be fully considered. You can make your submission and find out more information by visiting www.blazetrak.com/SoulSeekers.

The winner of the Soul Seekers songwriting contest will receive a flight with accommodations to Los Angeles where the Soul Seekers will record and perform the song for an upcoming DVD release. The winning contestant will meet the band and also be interviewed and featured in the DVD.

The Soul Seekers will announce the winner on February 1, 2011 at www.ustream.tv/channel/soul-seekers-live-fever-studios.

In my opinion this is a very unique opportunity for aspiring songwriters. The opportunity to have your music performed by an outstanding Gospel group is hard to pass up.

The Soul Seekers are comprised of award winning ongwriters, producers, musicians and composers. Collectively they have worked with artists like Beyonce, Mary Mary, Diddy, Whitney Houston and Fred Hammond. You will be able to tap into a network that could cause your career to explode.

The Soul Seekers currently have an album out entitled Soul Seekers II and it is getting rave reviews. Check out this video below where David Banner talks about the new album.

Do you plan on making a submission?

Best Gospel Performance
Forever Jones-He Wants It All
VaShawn Mitchell-Nobody Greater
Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway-He’s Been Just That Good
Israel Houghton-You Hold My World
BeBe & CeCe Winans-Grace

Best Gospel Song
Beautiful Things-Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
Better Than Hallelujah-Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
It’s What I Do-Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
Our God-Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Return to Sender-Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album
Church Music-David Crowder Band
For Those That Wait-Fireflight
Beautiful Things-Gungor
Rehab-Lecrae
Hello Hurricane-Switchfoot

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Beauty Will Rise-Steven Curtis Chapman
Love God. Love People.-Israel Houghton
Pieces Of A Real Hart-Sanctus Real
Mosaic-Ricky Skaggs
Tonight-TobyMac

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album
Times Like These-Austins Bridge
The Reason-Diamond Rio
Expecting Good Things-Jeff & Sheri Easter
Journey On-Ty Herndon
Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River-Karen Peck & New River

Best Traditional Gospel Album
The Experience-Vanessa Bell Armstrong
A City Called Heaven-Shirley Caesar
Downtown Church-Patty Griffin
Here I Am-Marvin Sapp
All In One-Karen Clark Sheard

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
Get Ready-Forever Jones
Love Unstoppable-Fred Hammond
Triumphant-VaShawn Mitchell
Aaron Sledge-Aaron Sledge
Still-BeBe & CeCe Winans

So, there you have it. What do you think about the nominatins?

[img credit: treehugger.com]

In my opinion, Donnie McClurkin did a good job serving as host for the evening. I really didn’t expect anything different. In addition to hearing about the 2011 Stellar Award nominees, we got see a concert that featured a couple of different artists from the gospel industry. 

The performances from Vashawn Mitchell, Joe Pace and Lucinda Moore were all good. However, in my opinion, Jessica Reedy delivered the performance of the night. Her performance of God Has Smiled on Me was so unique and inspiring. She is definitely bringing a special sound to gospel music. 

Another highlight from the evening was a tribute to the late Gospel legend Albertina Walker. Don Jackson offered some very kind words regarding the life and legacy of this gospel pioneer.

Here is a list of the nominees for the 2011 Stellar Awards.

Artist of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA 
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Marvin Sapp
Fred Hammond 

Female Vocalist of the Year
Karen Clark Sheard
CeCe Winans
Lucinda Moore
Tamela Mann

Male Vocalist of the Year
J. Moss
Byron Cage
Fred Hammond
Marvin Sapp

Song of the Year
Best In Me, Marvin Sapp
Close to You, BeBe Winans
Encore, James Fortune, C. Fortune and T. Vaughn
They That Wait,  Fred Hammond, Calvin Rodgers, Phillip Feaster, Ericka Warren, Michael Bethany and Dynna Wells

Choir of the Year
James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Victory Cathedral Choir
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

New Artist of the Year
Forever Jones
Kristina Halloway
Travis Greene
Victory Cathedral Choir

Traditional CD of the Year
Won’t It Be Wonderful, James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Here I Am, Marvin Sapp
A City Called Heaven, Marvin Sapp
The Experience,Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Contemporary CD of the Year
Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans
Love Unstoppable, Fred Hammond 
Just James, J.Moss  
Encore, James Fortune and FIYA 

Producer of the Year
James Fortune, Terrance Vaughn and Ayron Lewis, Encore
Aaron Lindsey, Here I Am
Donald Lawrence, The Experience
Fred Hammond, Love Unstoppable

Group/Duo of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Forever Jones
James Fortune & FIYA
The Anointed Pace Sisters

Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year
Byron Cage
Fred Hammond
J. Moss
James Fortune

Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Alvin Darling
Darrell Hines
Marvin Sapp
Marvin Winans

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans
Karen Clark Sheard
Lisa Page Brooks
Tamela Mann

Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year
Fredericka Faison
Lucinda Moore
Shirley Caesar
Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Contemporary Choir of the Year
God’s Little Soldiers International
Myron Butler & Levi
Youth for Christ
Youthful Praise featuring J.J. Hairston

Traditional Choir of the Year
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Victory Cathedral Choir
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Forever Jones
James Fortune & FIYA
Trin-i-tee 5:7

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
James Greer & Company
The Anointed Pace Sisters
The Christian Angels
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Quartet of the Year
Reverend F.C. Barnes & Company
The Christian Angels
The Golden Wings Quartet
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Entermission, DJ Official 
Outtadisworld, Everyday Process
Lions and Liars, Sho Baraka
Between Two Worlds, Trip Lee

Music Video of the Year
Close to You, BeBe and CeCe Winans 
Make Me a Believer, Kirk Whalum 
Playground In Heaven, Shirley Caesar 
If I Be Lifted Up, The Anointed Pace Sisters

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Still, BeBe & CeCe Winans
Get Ready,Forever Jones 
Encore, James Fortune & FIYA
Here I Am, Marvin Sapp

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Cameron Hilson and Mark Neubauer for Get Ready
Denise Trotman for Here I Am
Derek Blanks and Ken Barboza for Still
Jeff Gilligan for Love Unstoppable

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Darwin Hobbs Live: Champion, Darwin Hobbs
Encore, James Fortune & FIYA  
Place of Worship, Phil Tarver
Access Granted, The Anointed Pace Sisters 

Special Event CD of the Year
Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans
Are You Listening, Kirk Franklin
CoCo Brother Live Presents Stand 2010, Various Artists 
WOW Gospel 2010, Various Artists 

Children’s Project of the Year
Soldier Story, God’s Little Soldiers International 
Kingdom Kids Worldwide Volume 1, Kingdom Kids Worldwide
While We Still Have Time, The Velasquez Family Singers
Thanks In Advance, Youth for Christ

I think quality artists have an inherent nature to want to evolve and do something different. When I listened to Israel Houghton’s new CD, Love God. Love People., I definitely heard something different. For those of you that thought The Power of One CD was just a phase, I can assure you that this is not the case. It was a turn in a different and new direction.

This project was recorded in the legendary Abbey Road Studios in England. This is the same studio where The Beattles recorded some of their music.

Love God. Love People. features 12 tracks that are each unique in their own special way. The song Love God. Love People. is a cry out to us all to make a difference and help change the world through love.

One of my favorite songs on the entire CD is Yahweh (The Lifter). If you have been an Israel Houghton fan over the last couple of years, you will find that this song has a very familiar sound. If you enjoy songs like You Are Good and Again I Say Rejoice, then you will love Yahweh (The Lifter).

As I reported in previous posts, a couple of guest artists lend their voices to tracks on this album. In Mercies, Kirk Franklin brings the energy and excitement that I have come to expect from him.

When you listen Surprises you will hear a duet with Israel Houghton and Fred Hammond that doesn’t disappoint. I really like how their voices blended together on this track.

There was time when you could by an Israel Houghton CD and immediately have 4 or 5 songs that your worship team could sing. It seems like those days are coming to an end. Don’t get me wrong. You will find a couple of songs on this CD that you will want your worship team to sing. I just don’t think there are as many of those types of songs when compared to previous Israel Houghton CDs.

There is a clear musical difference between Israel Hougthon as a solo artist and Israel and New Breed. Whether this is intentional or unintentional, Israel Houghton is giving praise and worship a new sound.

Despite that, I still think that Love God. Love People. is high quality music! You can grab your copy on Amazon.com or iTunes.

Have your head songs from the Love God. Love People CD.? If so what did you think about them?

I already told you in previous posts that Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond will be making appearances. You can now add Take 6 to that list.

We haven’t been hearing a lot from this group multi-award winning group lately. It will be good to hear their unique sound on new music.

What do you think about the Israel Houghton/Take 6 collaboration?