Real Gospel with the Xman Podcast

CeCe Winans Radio Interview

This weekend the legendary CeCe Winans is my guest on Real Gospel. She’s been out of the music scene for awhile so we’ll talk about where she’s been, her role as a 1st Lady of her church as well as her project “Let Them Fall In Love”. Your going to be surprised to find out which member of her family actually wrote and produced on this project!! 
The eighth of ten siblings in the revered Detroit-based Winansfamily, CeCe Winans (born Priscilla) became a prominent contemporary gospel artist through performances and recordings with brother BeBe. As a duo, BeBe and CeCeproved to be the most commercially successful of the numerous Winans groupings. Their first album, Lord Lift Us Up, was released on PTL in 1984, during their membership in the PTL Singers. The siblings moved to the Sparrow label and released five albums through the mid-'90s, a period in which their success increased as they added more contemporary forms of production. Their biggest album, Different Lifestyles(1991), topped Billboard's gospel and R&B/hip-hop charts, went platinum, and won a Grammy. Two of its singles, "Addictive Love" and the Staple Singers cover "I'll Take You There" (featuring Mavis Staples), also topped multiple Billboard genre charts.
Shortly thereafter, CeCe began her solo career. Alone in His Presence (1995) found her working her way back to traditional gospel, singing standards like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "Blessed Assurance," and "I Surrender All." Everlasting Love(1998), His Gift (also 1998), and Alabaster Box (1999) cemented the singer's status as a top-tier gospel artist. By the end of the '90s, she had a handful of RIAA gold and platinum certifications, as well as eight Dove Awards to go with her Grammy 
CeCe entered the following decade with a self-titled album (2001) that concentrated on the adult contemporary and R&B markets. The set also featured a duet with brother Marvin on the stirring "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay." Beginning with Throne Room (2003), CeCefocused on worship-oriented albums released through a joint venture between her Pure Springs Gospel label and Epic. Purified (2005) likewise benefited from this arrangement, after which CeCe moved her label to EMI Gospel for Thy Kingdom Come (2008) and Songs of Emotional Healing (2010). Between the latter two, BeBe and CeCe regrouped on the Malaco label for Still, another Grammy winner. Several years passed before CeCe released another album -- a period that included a stint as a judge on BET's singing competition Gospel Best. She returned with Let Them Fall in Love (2017), on which she was joined by the Clark Sisters and Hezekiah Walker. 
#CeCeWinans #LetThemFall #beautifully broken #RealGospelwiththeXman #GospelMusic

St. James Mass Choir "Live" Ft Troy Sneed Radio Interview

This weekend the St. James UNC Mass Choir is front and center! I’ll welcome back to the show, Troy Sneed the producer of the project and we have a lot of catching up to do. Their song “All My Help” is another one of those choir songs that brings back that choir sound. GA, these guys are one of your own so make sure you tune in and find out what’s going on in the Peach state. 
Quick Bio: 
"St. James UMC is one of the fastest growing congregations in Alpharetta, GA just north of Atlanta. Led by Senior Pastor Michael T. McQueen, the congregation has grown to over 3000 members and worshippers which are blessed weekly by an anointed and skilled music ministry. In 2014, McQueen had a vision for then Worship Pastor, John Paul McGee to record the church's flagship ensemble, The Sanctuary Choir. 
While serving the St James Church, McGee had developed a multi-faceted music and arts ministry which each week presented a diverse array of music from spirituals, anthems, hymns to contemporary praise and worship. McQueen knew it was time for the world to hear the sound of praise emanating from this predominantly black United Methodist Church McGee is no stranger to the gospel industry as a recording artist, musician, and producer,  and has been featured on several highly acclaimed and award winning CD projects over the past decade. Thus, On Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016 under his direction, the St James Recording Choir presented their first live recording, a night of worship that captured the essence of their weekly services. This body of work spans the wide spectrum of gospel genres and stands poised to reclaim the honorable place of the church choir in the African American worship experience. "St James Live" featuring Troy Sneed, Pastor Wendi Wyatt, Monica Lisa Stevenson and Melody Lovely will hit stores nationwide on July 13 2018!"
#AllMyHelp #StJamesMassChoir #RealGospelwiththeXman

Ruth La'Ontra Radio Interview

This weekend the one and only Ruth La’Ontra is my guest on Real Gospel! We’re going to cover a lot of ground, parenting, being a wife, a recording artist and much more, plus her song “Come Through” & “I got you” are taking off all over the country, find out why! 
RUTH LA’ONTRA Bio: 
The dynamic 25-year old vocalist and rising gospel star, Ruth La’Ontra, has released her sophomore album, I Got You (ALJR/Tyscot Records). The ten-track set was produced by the dynamic production duo of Anthony Brown (of the Grammy® Award nominated act, Anthony Brown & group therAPy) and Justin Savage, who has collaborated with a variety of artists ranging from Donnie McClurkin to the Colorado Mass Choir. La’Ontra just wrapped a music video shoot for the upbeat and engaging radio single, “Kingdom,” which has reached  No. 12 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart and No. 19 on its Hot Gospel Songs chart – the highest chart positions of the southern gal’s career yet. Buy links: http://smarturl.it/mh4gpa 
La’Ontra is currently criss-crossing the country to promote the project with performances, media interviews and other special appearances. The set opens with the punchy, retro soul-styled declaration of faith, “I Got You.” Dramatic ballads such as “Safe,” “Come Through,” the hymn “Tis So Sweet” and the remake of The Thompson Community Singers’ 1992 classic, “In My Name,” show off her unique vocal skills. The tracks, “Reign” and “Salt” are big worship songs and the set concludes with the electrifying big bang of the club-friendly, “On The Way.” 
"Ruth La'Ontra is such a unique gift,” says Justin Savage. “Her vocal ability is so versatile and vast. This project will take listeners on an exciting journey of great music, her voice leading the way; destination, God's presence. Ruth has an incredible future in the Gospel industry. Get ready, Ruth La'Ontra is here!" 
La’Ontra has been singing since her childhood in Aberdeen, NC. After graduating from high school, she launched her professional singing career with her brilliant debut project, So Good (ALJR/Tyscot Records), which won her a Stellar Gospel Music Award nomination as New Artist of the Year in 2014. The radio single, “Count It All Joy,” peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart and the spiritual love song, “I’m In Love With This Man,” was featured in the film, “Iniquity.”

Norman Hutchins Radio Interview

Pastor Norman Hutchins returns as my guest this weekend on Real Gospel! He’s new song, “We Honor You” is classic Norman and you’ll find out why the song has taken off all over the country as well as what he’s been up to since the last time we spoke! 
Bio: 
Norman Hutchins is among those that not only share their talent, but also realize his God-given purpose in using those talents to bless, encourage, inspire and minister to countless, hungry souls. Hutchins in no uncertain terms, is more than an award winning gospel artist. A masterful writer and producer, he’s scored some of traditional gospel’s more noted albums over the years, including Spontaneous Praise: Volume One, Battlefield, God’s Gotta Blessing (With My Name On It!) and Jesus I Love You, earning nominations from the Stellar, Grammy and Dove Award academy’s in the process. Not to mention, he is a community leader, Pastor and successful entrepreneur. 
Thirty years after receiving his Doctorate in Church Administration, Norman continues to share his vision and anointing as he meets the countless demands of preaching, teaching and singing the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. While serving as Executive Minister of Music for the presiding Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ as well as serving as the Director of Social Services at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, Norman learned some very valuable lessons that would prove to be invaluable down the road. Having survived a bout with blindness and other notable setbacks in recent memory, Hutchins faith is imaginably stronger than ever on “If You Didn‘t Know, Now You Know,” his seventh solo album. The process therein, was unsurprisingly born from circumstance, but not all his own. Overall, the theme of “trusting God” rings true, as the results of “If You Didn‘t Know, Now You Know,” were derived from a two to three month period where Hutchins led praise and worship in the church. 
“While we were singing God dropped these lyrics in the atmosphere and I would look at the keyboard player and tell him to follow me.” Encouraged by where the process would take him, Hutchins continued the course and ultimately manufactured what will easily be deemed one of his most brilliant works to date. If Hutchins ever sounds like he’s preaching, it’s probably because he is…especially through song. Called to the ministry at the tender age of eight an ordained minister by the time he was twelve, Norman Hutchins was born to preach. Not the other way around. “My music is my gift, but preaching is my calling,” Hutchins says. “I’ve been called to preach, so music has become sort of a back door approach to present the gospel of Jesus Christ.” 
#NormanHutchins #Wehonoryou #RealGospelwiththeXman #Gospel #Gospelmusic

Jason Nelson Radio Interview

This weekend Jason Nelson returns as my guest on Real Gospel. So, jusy what has he been up to latley, and what can we expect from his new project "The Answer" tune in and find out! 
Bio:
Jason pastors the Greater Bethlehem Temple Church, a thriving ministry in Randallstown, Maryland; however he is one of the most recognized voices in gospel music and is considered to possess a rare gift in the Body of Christ as he releases the power of the presence of  God. Jason established his vocal status and exceptional anointing in 2005 with the release of his first solo project, “I Shall Live”. Not only a gifted voice, but a gifted song writer, the songs written for this project propelled Jason onto the industry watch list. Marvin Sapp's title track to the platinum recording “Thirsty” was composed by Jason.  The highly anticipated “Shifting the Atmosphere” project, which was released May 22, 2013, gives insight to its audience with the application of Praise and Worship. Jason has also received a Stellar Award for Praise and Worship CD of the year in 2013. Jason considers one of his greatest accomplishments to be his family, wife Tonya, and children Jaelyn, and Jason Christopher.

Be Be Winans Radio Interview

This weekend Be Be Winans is my guest on Real Gospel! He’s latest song “He Promised Me” has gone #1 and is his 1st #1 song as a solo artist, so what’s he been up to, what other projects should we be on the look out for, tune in and find out! 
Benjamin, "BeBe" Winans, the six-time Grammy Award winner, is the seventh child and youngest male of the the Detroit based first family of gospel music. BeBe is known as an inspirational, R&B, and popular vocalist, songwriter, and producer as well as Executive Music Producer for the OWN Network’s latest scripted series, “Greenleaf,” host of his own radio show on the Heart & Soul Channel (68) on Sirius/XM Radio Networks on Sunday Mornings 9am ET/7am PT), renowned as the breakthrough artist to bridge the language of his roots in the church with a chart-topping, Award-winning career spanning audiences universally throughout all genres, author, Actor in friend Denzel Washington’s 2003’s Motion Picture, ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ and star of Broadway’s Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple with Chaka Khan amongst his credits. 
Teaming with his younger sister, Priscilla “CeCe”, the duo first began crossing lines as “adopted children” of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker on the PTL television show. Their first tour, on which Whitney Houston proclaimed herself their “sister” and sang background for the siblings, set the tone for a very special career. BeBe & CeCe Winans are the first true Christian crossover artists to hit the mainstream-- from “The Arsenio Hall Show” to “Good Morning America” to The Oprah Winfrey Show”, they had taken their message and presented it in a way that touched, moved and inspired wide audiences. BeBe and CeCe are the first brother and sister to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. BeBe & CeCe moved forward to pursue their own solo endeavors in 1995 and together have nine successful gold and platinum recordings. 
Along with his seven solo albums with guest appearances from friends as disparate as Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, David Foster, Anita Baker, best friend Whitney Houston and members of the Winans family, BeBe is known for his jaw dropping performances on some of the most important and star-studded musical specials of the past decades.  BeBe, with his sisters, brothers, and on his own, has achieved an iconic status with the audiences he has moved and encouraged through the Winans’ brand of popular inspirational song.  For an artist with his message and core based in the church and its word, BeBe Winans has faced an exciting and unique career which in 2016, comes to life as a musical of his life, co-written and Directed by Motown:The Musical Director, Charles Randolph-Wright with book, music and lyrics by BeBe -- Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story is set for regional openings in Atlanta and Washington, DC.. 
#BeBeWinans #HePromisedMe #RealGospelwiththeXman

Bishop Jimmy Hicks Radio Interview

This weekend Bishop Jimmy Hicks is my guest on Real Gospel and I’ve been trying to catch up with him for a long time! His latest song is “I owe God a praise” and you don’t want to miss the story behind this anointed man of God!! 
Bio:
Bishop Jimmy Hicks was born July 12, 1963 in Sebring, FL to the parents Jimmy and Jessie Hicks. He has 5 siblings 3 brothers and 2 sisters.  He has been in Florida most of his life so he has endured the Sunshine and the Hurricanes in Florida. Bishop Hicks is The Pastor of the Apostolic Church of Jesus in West Palm Beach, FL.   He is also East Coast District  Overseer of 5 Churches located on the East Coast of Florida.  Bishop Hicks also holds the title of General Board Member of The Apostolic Church of Jesus which consist of 19 churches under the leadership of Chief Apostle Dr. Preston Rolle Sr. 
Bishop Hicks has 3 beautiful children Jasmine, Li'l Jimmy and Jeremy. God has blessed him in the music industry and he decided a long time ago that he wanted to copyright songs and start recording,  God has Blessed him in his recording of songs such as "Turn It Around" in 2001, "Blessed Like That", "Babylon, and "Crossroads" in 2003 "Born Blessed" in 2006, "God's Got It" in 2009 and "Back Up", "Move, "It Will Come To Pass" and more. 
Bishop Hicks would like to thank the Radio Ministry for pushing all of his songs that Charted "Blessed Like That" #7, "Born Blessed" #2,  "I Feel The Spirit" and now the single by Jimmy Hicks "I Owe God A Praise from his latest Project WATERWAY by  Jimmy Hicks & ACOJ. He realizes that people are living in critical times and you need to have and feel the spirit for divine direction and clarity of thought in order to make it through.
#JimmyHicks #RealGospelwiththeXman #IOweGodAPraise #BishopJimmyHicks

Christina Slocum Radio Interview Part 2

Happy Mother’s Day!! This weekend on Real Gospel, Christina Slocum is my guest. She has a powerful testimony about her life and it’s a touching one as well as an inspirational one. From the loss of her husband to God leading her to brighter days it’s an interview you don’t want to miss, plus you’ll get to hear the inspiration behind her song, “For the rest of my life” So join me this Mother’s Day weekend as God gets the glory when artist tell their story!
#ChristinaSlocum #RealGospelwiththeXman #Fortherestofmylife