Listen Live
St. Jude Radiothon 2024
CLOSE
Rev. Al Sharpton Holds News Conference At National Action Network's Office

Source: Andrew Burton / Getty

Some churches are insisting on having services, despite several states demanding people practice social distancing as one way to stop the rampant spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Reverend Al Sharpton is now speaking directly to Black churches who have not heeded the warning and asking pastors and parishioners alike to stay away from public services. Sharpton wrote on Twitter, “I convened a call with the heads of the nation’s largest historically Black religious denominations & other faith leaders to call on clergy to refrain from having church services as we head into Palm Sunday and Easter Holy Week.”

Bill Withers, who wrote and sang a string of soulful songs in the 1970s that have stood the test of time, including “Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” has died from heart complications. He was 81. The three-time Grammy Award winner, who withdrew from making music in the mid-1980s, died on Monday in Los Angeles, the statement said. His death comes as the public has drawn inspiration from his music during the coronavirus pandemic, with health care workers, choirs, artists and more posting their own renditions of “Lean on Me” to help get through the difficult times.

Pastor Rick Warren is set to host a Global Easter Pastor Prayer Gathering online simulcast in 12 languages. An unprecedented digital Global Easter Pastor Prayer Gathering of clergy worldwide, hosted by Pastor Rick and Kay Warren and led by church leaders representing each continent..

Reid Temple AME partnered with Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and community leaders to feed 500 needy families, helping to end food insecurity in the community and showing how to reimagine service during the COVID-19, coronavirus pandemic. Saturday April 4th Reid Temple AME Church a “grab n’ go grocery giveaway” took place primarily to benefit Reid Temple’s adopted PGCPS school families impacted by school closures. Reid Temple AME Pastor, Rev. Dr. Mark E. Whitlock Jr. says “no child should ever go hungry, and it is our responsibility to meet the needs of the marginalized as well as our seniors who are the most vulnerable.” Previously, on Saturday March 21, 2020, Reid Temple mobilized its ministries to feed over 100 seniors in the community and regularly makes wellness check-in calls, takes medicine and other essential items to seniors.

Colts owner Jim Irsay has obtained more than 10,000 N95 masks that he plans to have distributed to medical people, he announced on Twitter on Sunday. Irsay is donating the masks to the Indiana State Department of Health so that they can be distributed to hospitals most in need. The N95s are respiratory masks used to help protect doctors and nurses working with COVID-19 patients. The masks have been in short supply for health care workers and first responders across the country as they continue to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Award-winning contemporary Christian singer Jeremy Camp and his wife, Adrienne, are encouraging Christians to stay focused of Jesus amid the coronavirus pandemic because He is “in it all, right here with us.” In an interview with The Christian Post, Camp said he’s “learned a lot” about himself and the faithfulness of God as COVID-19 continues to sweep across the United States. “In these times, I’ve loved John 16:33, where Jesus says we shouldn’t be surprised when we go through trials and says, ‘I tell you these things so you will have peace,’” Camp told CP. “He’s essentially telling us, ‘Guys, you’ll have trials in this life, whatever they may be. That’s a guarantee. But take heart: I’ve overcome the world.”

Kobe Bryant will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will also be inducted as well. A five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star. Bryant starred at Lower Merion High School, winning the PIAA Class 4A state championship in 1996 and declaring for the NBA draft. “The Big Fundamental” (Duncan) and “The Big Ticket” (Garnett) are two of the all-time great power forwards. Duncan won five championships and two MVP awards with the Spurs, while Garnett took home MVP honors in 2004 and won the NBA title in 2008 after being traded from the Timberwolves to the Celtics. Both players were selected to 15 All-Star games. Like Bryant, Garnett entered the NBA directly from high school

CLEO TV puts an island twist on breakfast in bed on the next episode of JUST EATS WITH CHEF JJ this Saturday, April 4 at 12 P.M. ET/11C. Vinnie of the multi-platinum hip-hop trio Naughty By Nature, shares fun facts about the group’s Harlem influence and reflects on their legacy as he prepares for the 25th anniversary of the Grammy Award-winning album Poverty’s Paradise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxUbGkLeEZ8&feature=youtu.be

ALL THINGS ADRIENNE WITH ADRIENNE HOUGHTON TANTALIZES THE TASTE BUDS WITH A MYSTERY SMOOTHIE CHALLENGE AT 1 P.M. ET/12C. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pJBXUNFM5E&feature=youtu.be

JOIN THE LADIES OF SISTER CIRCLE FOR THE NEWLY LAUNCHED BEYOND THE CIRCLE PRE-SHOW WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LETOYA LUCKETT, JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS AND MORE DAILY AT 11:30 A.M. ET ON @SISTERCIRCLETV INSTAGRAM LIVE

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Leonard Scott and Lady Scott want to spread words of encouragement through the singing of hymns and other great Gospel music. Join them on Facebook and Instagram live at 5pm EST on any given weekday!

For perhaps the first time in history the Patriots logo is a welcome site in New York on Friday as 300,000 N95 medical masks have been shipped to the city’s healthcare workers on a team truck after owner Robert Kraft flew 1.2 million masks in from China to address shortages in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The 300,000 masks were delivered to Manhattan’s Javits Center, which has been converted into a hospital for people infected with COVID-19. The masks have been in short supply amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as states along with the federal government have been trying to outbid each other for the sorely needed medical supplies.

The GRAMMY®-nominated and electrifying choir director Ricky Dillard brings choir music back to the choir stands with his Motown Gospel album debut, Choirmaster, available for preorder across all digital platforms today. Joined by his choir, New G, Dillard shines on his new project, which includes the already-popular radio single “Release” featuring Tiff Joy, the mid-tempo choir groove “Since He Came,” and the remake of a New G classic on “More Abundantly Medley.” As a prayer for the uncertain times the world is facing, Ricky Dillard also releases the fourth song and live performance video from the new album today—the passionate “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” http://www.gospel-spotlight.com/album_rvw.htm

Thirty years ago, on April 3rd, En Vogue started its reign as one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time with the release of Born to Sing. Today, Rhino revisits their 1990 debut album on BORN TO SING: 30th ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION, a 21-track collection that includes a newly remastered version of the original album, plus a selection of rare mixes, most of which are available digitally for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOxRMNfi-fo

Taraji P. Henson is putting wedding planning on the backburner as the coronavirus continues to take its toll. The actress recently revealed that she’s mourning the death of her uncle whom she suspects suffered from coronavirus complications. It’s been an overwhelming time for the Coffee & Kareem star who is engaged to Kelvin Hayden. Their June nuptial date has now been pushed back another month to July. https://youtu.be/C8iQ41o1Zn0

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, led by pastor Jamal Bryant, announced Thursday that it canceled a two-day drive-thru event at the church where up to 1,000 people would have been tested for COVID-19 for a fee of $150 each. In a statement posted on the church’s Facebook page and shared with local media, the church said it decided to postpone the event that was scheduled for April 4-5 to comply with an executive order expected to be signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday.

Sierra Ward-Pope is a powerful, anointed psalmist who delivers a soulful yet traditional style of Gospel music and exudes an irrefutable essence that connects with every listener. Sierra is recognized for her incredible commanding presence as a singer in the 2X Stellar Award-winning group Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, in which she has been a member since 2004. In 2015, Sierra accepted her calling in the ministry as an evangelist. Sierra currently serves weekly as a Praise and Worship leader at Riverside Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. In addition to singing with The Brown Singers, Sierra now makes her debut as a solo artist. Her first single “But God” is showcasing her prowess as a principal singer and maturity as a Gospel artist.

“Blessed Assurance” is one of the quintessential sacred hymns sang throughout churches of various denominations and cultures. Hymns like “Blessed Assurance” have been passed down through generations and have been interpreted creatively and respectfully re-arranged. The Fresh Anointing young adult choir of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church has put their contemporary dynamism on the hymn and released it as their new single. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlx2A9xFHJQ&feature=youtu.be

TV One’s newest night of true-crime programming, True Crime Thursdays, launches with the return of an all new season of FOR MY MAN premiering Thursday, April 23 at 9 p.m. ET. The Thursday night expansion joins the network’s signature True-Crime Mondays programming slate currently airing all-new episodes of FATAL ATTRACTION on Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktueA9nrw4c&feature=youtu.be

The cast of Frasier have reunited for an hour-long YouTube video for the Stars in the House channel to raise money for The Actors Fund during the coronavirus pandemic. Kelsey Grammer, who played the elitist psychiatrist Frasier Crane in the beloved sitcom, attended the reunion via video link, along with co-stars David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, Dan Butler and Bebe Neuwirth. https://youtu.be/GBM_mpTjbaM

Ellis Marsalis Jr., a jazz pianist from New Orleans, died Wednesday night from complications due to coronavirus, his son, Branford Marsalis, confirmed in a statement to Variety. He was 85. In addition to having his own prominent music career, Marsalis helped pave the way for four of his sons, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason, to enter the music industry. Wynton is a trumpeter and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s managing and artistic director; Branford plays the saxophone; Delfeayo is a trombonist; and Jason plays the drums.

Earnest Pugh set to drop “The Outpour Experience,” a highly anticipated Live disc. He also released a lead single, “God Wants To Heal You,” with a concept video on his YouTube channel. “The Outpour Experience” will be available for pre-order Friday, April 10th with early purchasers receiving two grat tracks “God Wants To Heal You” and the new Easter anthem “Grateful.” Pugh has used his down time to connect with his loyal fan base, hosting at home worship as well as his affinity for southern comfort food via vignettes on YouTube. Pugh will host a virtual listening party Friday, April 10th via social media Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He will perform two songs from the album in addition to a 15-minute question and answer session from fans and friends. “The Outpour Experience” is Earnest Pugh’s 12th CD and features guest performances from Amber Bullock and Dr. Betty Griffin Keller. “The Outpour Experience” will be available on all digital outlets on May 22nd.

Top Singles For The Week

1. PASTOR MIKE JR….BIG

https://youtu.be/X7BvJ7Tmr7E

Jermaine Dolly Source: Jerome Hunt / Jerome Hunt[/caption]

2. Jermaine Dolly..Pull Us Through

3. Zarcardi Cortez…You Don’t Know
https://youtu.be/RaXOotMNp7k

Deitrick Haddon

Source: Rob Kim Getty Images / Rob Kim Getty Images

4. Deitrick Haddon…Open Door Season

Bill Tompkins Kirk Franklin Archive

Source: Bill Tompkins / Getty

5. Kirk Franklin…Just For Me..

https://youtu.beTD3zS_GxS

Leave a Reply