Billboard. OCTOBER 12, 1996

To p Gospel AIbums.

Compiled from a national sample of retail store and rack sales sscaound z reports collected, compiled, and provided by I I I I 14",ge, 3 3 N Ñ ° ARTIST TITLE n % LABEL & NUMBER /DISTRIBUTING LABEL

* * NO. 1 * * FRANKLIN AND THE FAMILY 1 1 23 this month. With it, they are being heralded as one of GOSPO CENTRIC 72127 22 weeks at No. 1 WHATCHA LOOKIN' 4 SPLIT the industry's hottest new male vocal groups. KIRK FRANKLIN AND THE FAMILY 169 2 3 GOSPO CENTRIC 72119 ® KIRK FRANKLIN AND THE FAMILY By virtue of who they are and how they came togeth- FRED HAMMOND & RADICAL FOR CHRIST er, most expect that it is Pye and Carree who will carry 2 3 18 BENSON 4320 THE SPIRIT OF DAVID by Lisa Collins this group up the charts. But Carree is proud to point 4 4 51 CECE WINANS SPARROW 51441 ALONE IN HIS PRESENCE out that "everybody in the group can step out front and IN GOD'S TIME: Four years as lead vocalists with hold their own. Lowell [and I] don't have to do anything, 5 13 YOLANDA ADAMS TRIBUTE 1000 5 YOLANDA LIVE IN WASHINGTON John P. Kee's New Life Community Choir -one of because they can take care of it." And in concert, it is 19 MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR 7 8 the nation's hottest -selling choirs -established Isaac clear that what Pye and Carree inherited more than 6 MALACO 6022 I'LL SEE YOU IN THE RAPTURE fad Carree and Lowell Pye as prime contenders for break- anything else from Kee is the ability to captivate an 7 6 19 COMMISSIONED BENSON 4184 EN IRREPLACEABLE LOVE out talent on the gospel scene when word got out that audience. were looking a in ( 9 38 REV. CLAY EVANS MEEK 3995 I'VE GOT A TESTIMONY the two for deal after leaving Kee "Basically everything we learned about the industry 1994. and maturing our voices, we learned with John P. Kee," 9 11 68 ANOINTED WORD 67051 /EPIC EE THE CALL "A few record companies had approached us right Pye states. "We left at the time to establish [ourselves] O BRODERICK RICE after we left John, but it just never came together," Pye because if we had stayed, we felt we wouldn't get the 10 11 11 BORN AGAIN 1010 TOMMY FORD PRESENTS: BRODERICK E. RICE ALIVE ALIVE ALIVE says. "I can only say it wasn't God's timing. Instead, exposure and experience we deserved. Besides, I think RON WINANS PRESENTS FAMILY & FRIENDS 12 16 we sat [out] for a year or so just to get some season in you can't stay under people but for so long. It's really 11 SELAH 33205 FAMILY AND FRIENDS IV the word and in the church [so] we wouldn't come out all in God's timing." 12 8 32 V.I.P. MUSIC & ARTS SEMINAR MASS CHOIR VERITY 43014 ® STAND! and get caught up in the hype, but [rather be involved THE FLORIDA A &M UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR with] the ministry of our music." BRIEFLY: South Gospel recently came to an 13 10 8 Central :. ', SONG TWINKIE CLARK-TERRELL PRESENTS THE FLORDIA A &M UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR Carree's mother, who is also a pastor, offered the agreement with New Haven Records for the distribu- 22 RICHARD SMALLWOOD WITH VISION 14 14 VERITY 43015 ADORATION: LIVE IN ATLANTA name Men Of Standard, and Pye and Garree are hop- tion of its gospel releases at gospel and general -mar- ing that the name says it integrity, professional- ket retail. Among the artists signed to the Nashville - THE NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHOIR FEATURING JOHN P. KEE all- 13 87 15 VERITY 43010 ® SHOW UP! ism, the anointing, and personality. To round out the based label are the Voices Of Binghampton and the SHIRLEY6 CAESAR'S OUTREACH CONVENTION CHOIR harmonies, the duo enlisted the vocal support of Bryan Rev. Lawrence Thomison. The deal became effective 15 11 16 WORD 67687/EPIC JUST A WORD Pierce Sr. and Michael Bacon. With that, they have Oct. 1 ... The annually televised Stellar Awards, which 17 23 2 A -1 S.W.I.F.T GOSPO CENTRIC 72135 TALES FROM THE SWIFT set out to reach the lost while uplifting those already in honor and recognize excellence in the field of gospel the church. music, are set to be taped Dec. 12 in Nashville . . . 1S NEW ALBERT PHILLIPS & DIVINE MESSENGERS REDEMPTION 5004 VICTORY This past March, the four (ranging in age from the LaShun Pace's "A Wealthy Place," which shipped to DARYL COLEY 16 14 mid- to late 20s) signed to the newly resurrected Mus- retail Sept. 6, has taken off so quickly that Savoy exec- 19 SPARROW 51523 BEYOND THE VEIL: LIVE AT THE BOBBY JONES GOSPEL EXPLOSION XII cle Shoals division of the Malaco /Savoy Music Group. utives have launched a Setting the Pace tour of more 20 18 65 YOLANDA ADAMS TRIBUTE 3592 Irg MORE THAN A MELODY Their first project, "Winter" -which was produced by than 26 cities to accommodate the requests for personal HEZEKIAH WALKER & THE LOVE FELLOWSHIP CRUSADE CHOIR Donald Lawrence and features a remake of Mar- The kicked 6 in 21 66 the appearances. tour off Sept. Atlanta and 21 BENSON 4168® LIVE IN NEW YORK BY ANY MEANS... vin Winans classic "Trust In God " -will be released winds down in late November in Los Angeles. VARIOUS ARTISTS 24 25 22 BENSON 4272 SHAKIN' THE HOUSE...LIVE IN L.A.

23 29 49 CARLTON PEARSON WARNER ALLIANCE 46006 LIVE AT AZUSA

FRED HAMMOND & RADICAL FOR 81 CHRIST 24 19 BENSON 4008 THE INNER COURT

25 26 38 THE WINANS QWEST 45888/WARNER BROS. HEART & SOUL & 21 DOTTIE PEOPLES THE PEOPLES CHOICE CHORALE 26 32 ATLANTA INT'L 10221 COUNT ON GOD HIGHER 27 27 106 HELEN BAYLOR WORD 66443 /EPIC GE THE LIVE EXPERIENCE mance. Needless to say, NQC executive director Clarke DONALD LAWRENCE & THE TRI -CITY SINGERS Beasley was pleased to see crowds lining up at the box 20 67 28 CRYSTAL ROSE 51480 /STARSONG ® BIBLE STORIES office to purchase tickets for next year's event.

29 31 22 WITNESS CGI 161185 A SONG IN THE NIGHT For those who missed the fun this year, the highlights GRO RD® were many, including Jeff & Sheri Easter's Saturday _ _ __ TOGETHER AS ONE 30 a . 14 VARIOUS ARTISTS 1NTERSOUND-919n_ night performance with their children Madison and Mor- 31 28 49 DOROTHY NORWOOD MALACO 4476 SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF by Deborah Evans Price gan; special seminars by John Hagee, Bill & Gloria Gaither, and Dr. Charles Stanley; a tribute to the late 32 22 103 DOTTIE PEOPLES ATLANTA INT'L 10200 ON TIME GOD Wendy Bagwell; and rousing performances at the Day - AT 33 33 2 LASHUN PACE SAVOY 14831 A WEALTHY PLACE BIG CHANGES REUNION: Sources say that a sale wind Music Group showcase. The Daywind team members of Reunion Records by BMG is pending. It was unclear at wore football jerseys in their booth at NQC, and in keep- SHIRLEY CAESAR RE -ENTRY 34 WORD 67301 /EPIC ® SHIRLEY CAESAR LIVE...HE WILL COME press time whether key executives such as president Terry ing with the sporty theme, had a marching band kick off MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR Hemmings, VP of marketing and sales Ben Howard, and their showcase, which included the Steeles, Brian Free 35 38 156 MALACO 6013 IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN... VP of artist development Stephen Prendergast will & Assurance, the New Hinsons, and Amy Lambert (who, 36 35 11 ALLEN & ALLEN CGI 161195 COME SUNDAY extend their contracts if the label is sold. Executives at by the way, has a wonderful new Christmas album). BMG and Reunion declined to comment. Family and friends gathered during NQC to celebrate HEZEKIAH WALKER & THE LOVE FELLOWSHIDC RUSADE CHOIR RE -ENTRY CDI BENSON 1097 /CGI LIVE IN ATLANTA AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE George Younce's 50th anniversary in Southern gospel. The MORE EMI CHANGES: Following the departures of evening was hosted by Homeland Entertainment, with CEO CI RE -ENTRY VARIOUS ARTISTS COI 161090 GOSPEL'S GREATEST HITS Star Song president Darrell Harris; his wife, Star Song Bill Traylor serving as master of ceremonies. Glen Payne, 39 34 13 BEN TANKARD TRIBUTE 9021 INSTRUMENTALLY YOURS VP of administration Janet Harris; and Chordant Distri- Mark Lowry, Bill Gaither, J.D. Sumner, Ed Harper, and bution president Steve Griffin, other key personnel have Hagee were among those who got up and spoke at the emo- 4O RE -ENTRY THE CANTON SPIRITUALS BLACKBERRY 1610 /MALACO LIVE IN MEMPHIS II exited Star Song, and one has left Sparrow. Add to the list tional event saluting the Cathedrals' bass singer/founding

Q Records with the greatest sales gains this week. Recording Industry Assn. Of America (RIM) certification for sales of 500,000 units of former employees Star Song VP of marketing and sales member. Look for the Cathedrals' album "Radio Days" this RIAA certification for sales of 1 million units with each additional matron indicated by a numeral following the symbol. All albums available on Danny McGuffey, Sparrow manager of national promo- fall. Traylor anticipates that it will be one of the group's cassette and CD. *Asterisk indicates vinyl available. ® indicates past or present Heatseeker titles. c, 1996, Billboard/BPI Communications. tions Kyle Fenton, and Star Song VP of strategic mar- most successful releases. keting development Matthew Price. In addition to their appearances during NQC, the In the wake of the changes, the Sparrow and Star Song Nelons performed at an afternoon tea held at historic "A Wealthy Place ", marketing departments are being melded into one EMI Louisville hotel the Brown. The tea was hosted by Rob release from Christian Music Group (CMG) marketing department. Patz and Coastal Promotions, a Bellingham, Wash., com- the newest Griffin's former position will not be filled. Instead, former pany that produces and syndicates the radio show "South- the extraordinary Chordant VP John Nardini will head the marketing ern Styles" to 60 stations. Affiliates in attendance had an LaShun Pace department, with Rich Paluso handling Christian retail opportunity to visit with the Nelons and were treated to sales and Hugh Robertson taking care of mainstream songs from their current release, "We're Glad You're and Savoy Records sales. All will report to EMI CMG president Bill Hearn. Here." The Nelons recently signed with Homeland is worth it's weight Records and will be releasing their label debut in early in gold. N QC NOTES: As reported in last week's issue, the 39th 1997. annual National Quartet Convention (NQC) in Louisville, One performer at NQC who had everyone talking was Ky., was a rousing success, with more than 40,000 South- Michael English, who took the stage to sing during Sum - ern gospel fans attending the Sept. 16 -21 event, including ner's Saturday evening slot and signed autographs in Sum - a sell -out crowd of 19,500 for the Friday night perfor- (Continued on next page) RECORDS W INC Nf1TRD

42 BILLBOARD OCTOBER 12, 1996 www.americanradiohistory.com