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Disco and Dance Music Legend Loleatta Holloway Dies at 64

 

Legendary dance music diva Loleatta Holloway has passed at the age of 64. Holloway’s death was confirmed Monday by her manager Ron Richardson to Spinning Soul.

Top Philadelphia arranger and producer Norman Harris quickly signed her in 1976 for his new label, Gold Mind. The first release from the album Loleatta was another Sam Dees ballad, Worn-Out Broken Heart, which reached No. 25 R&B, but the B-side, Dreaming, climbed to No. 72 on the pop chart and launched her as a disco act.

Eighteen songs of hers charted on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including four No. 1s. However, it was a ballad that proved to be another big R&B hit for her. Only You was written and produced by Bunny Sigler, who also sang with Holloway on the track, and it reached NO. 11 in 1978.

The Chicago-born singer became a staple in dance music and gay clubs around the world. Holloway's catalog on Gold Mind and Salsoul—boasting classics such as "Love Sensation", "Runaway", "Relight My Fire"—has become iconic and heavily sampled by later artists. Ricky Martin later covered "Relight My Fire" with Holloway.

Holloway is probably more famous to younger audiences for Black Box's "Ride on Time", Marky Mark's "Good Vibration" and Cevin Fisher's "Burning Up" which sampled "Love Sensation". But my all time faves are two tracks: Walter Gibbons' killer 12" remix of "Hit and Run" and  the magnificent "Dreamin'." Holloway's rap at the close of the latter track—'Every lady has a man that is special, it's the inside that counts ... Stand up, tell everybody I got him'—has spawned dozens of heavily-sampled tribute tracks.

So many memories, WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Fantasia to Lip Synch in "Mahalia" Biopic, Jackson's Voice Will Be Used

Grammy Award winning R&B singer Fantasia Barrino has been signed to portray gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in a biopic. Except Fantasia won't be singing—Mahalia will, reports The Times Picayune.

Producer Dave LaCour Simien, whose Los Angeles-based Double Dutch Productions is behind "Mahalia!," said the production has acquired the rights to 18 of Jackson's songs for the film -- all of which have been remastered -- and that Barrino will be lip-synching to those original recordings. It's not a knock on Barrino's voice. Rather, it's an effort to make the film as true-to-life as possible, Simien said. "I really wanted to be authentic," he said. "We wanted to make sure if we do it, we do it right."

"Mahalia!"—which will be based on the 1993 book "Got To Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel," and which has the blessing of the Jackson estate—will recount Jackson's impoverished upbringing in New Orleans and her rise to prominence as an American music icon as well as a civil-rights activist.

"We envision this film as a black woman's 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' a colorful rags-to-riches story of a great talent who achieves enormous success and survives personal tragedy," the film's producers say in a synopsis on their "Mahalia!" web page.

If they're using Mahalia Jackson's incredible vocals, what is the point in casting a singer? If that's the case, Kimberly Elise could have owned this role. Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for Coal Miner's Daughter—she did her own singing btw—but comparing Fantasia's acting skills to Spacek is a bit much.

Anxious to hear your thoughts. Flame away if you disagree.

Controversy After Eddie Long Covers "Gospel Today" Magazine

Atlanta-based anti-gay mega-church Bishop Eddie Long, accused of luring at least four young men into sexual relationships and using church funds to give them cash, gifts and cars, is the smiling and dapper cover of the November/December 2010 issue of Gospel Today. A number of readers and subscribers have complained, while critics have slammed the magazine for not reporting the disgraced minister is the chairman of its Board of Advisors, reports TIME's Belief Blog.

Teresa Hairston, the owner of Gospel Today, defends her actions and responds to critics on the magazine's website, claiming that Gospel Today does "not explore the legalities of the issues."

One reader told Hairston:

I got my latest issue of Gospel Today; with [Bishop] Eddie Long on the cover. I read the article and said to myself hmmmm seem like some sugar coating going on. Turned back to the 1st page and saw where the Bishop of his Church in NC is on your Board of Directors, I looked down and also saw that Eddie Long is on your Board of Advisors, I said all of that to say this. The best thing your magazine should have did was to not comment.

Another reader told Hairston:

Eddie Long did not belong on the cover… You are trying to plead his case. Did you see the Oprah show? Abuses are real and yes the church / pastors are involved… I agree there are many local pastors and churches doing great work in their communities we never see them on your cover.

Hairston didn't back down. She went online and blasted the mainstream press for how they covered the Long scandal. She said the church community should treat the accusations against Long “according to the Word of God. "Hairston told readers that her magazine did not explore the legalities of the Long scandal, and chose instead to present a “biblical perspective." "Whether Bishop Long is guilty or not; whether the young men are guilty or not, the BODY OF CHRIST must handle this situation according to the Word of God! The mainstream press has painted a hideous picture; some have even called for Bishop Long’s resignation! They’re not even members!!"

Gospel Today's significant non-disclosure was reported by a new website called the "Preachers Bureau of Investigation", which offers intel and reporting on scandals in the Black church community. The website describes Long as a "transparent con artist, hypocritical homophobe, and a suspected child molester" who "should be hanging his head in shame."

Gospel Today's cover story and refusal to "explore the legalities of the issues" surrounding Eddie Long should come as no surprise. On Long's first Sunday in the pulpit after the scandal broke, thousands of members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church gave thunderous applause to the anti-gay pastor accused of using church funds to buy cars and give cash to teenage boys.

In related news: A Dekalb County judge has scheduled  a February mediation session and a July trial date for the four lawsuits against the pastor. It's expected Long will settle the cases in mediation or out of court before the July trial. And in what is described as "remarkably similar" to the allegations leveled against Long, a 23-year-old Mississippi man has filed suit against an anti-gay Apostolic minister with churches in New Orleans and Jackson, accusing the minister of coercing him to have sex.

WATCH: Gospel Star Deitrick Haddon Encourages "Opposite Sex Couples" to Dance at NOM Rally

The National Organization for Marriage concluded its summer hate tour Sunday on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.. Grammy Award gospel megastar Karen Clark Sheard was originally advertised as the headliner. KCS was later co-billed with Detroit-based gospel singers and evangelists Deitrick and Damita Haddon. Sheard's name was later dropped and the Haddons headlined Sunday's event.

You'll recall that Deitrick Haddon was the first major name in black gospel music to speak out against fellow gospel singer Tonex's confirmation of his long-rumored sexuality. "All Gospel singers are not Gay as I don’t have a sissy bone in my body," Haddon ranted on Twitter.

At Sunday's rally, while performing "I Gotta Praise”, the self-proclaimed heterosexual Haddon bounced up and down the stage and encouraged "husbands and wives" and "couples of the opposite sex" to join him and his wife to praise dance, via WhatsTheT.com watch it  AFTER THE JUMP ...

Gospel Stars Karen Clark Sheard and Deitrick Haddon to Headline NOM Rally at U.S. Capitol

The National Organization for Marriage will conclude its summer hate tour on August 15 on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington. The "Summer Marriage Tour" has been poorly attended so far but the final event may draw a crowd: Grammy Award gospel megastar Karen Clark Sheard and Dietrick Haddon.

Sheard is the former member of the The Clark Sisters, the best-selling female gospel group in history. Their iconic 1980's hit "You Brought The Sunshine" was the among the first gospel singles to became a major crossover hit on contemporary R&B radio. Sheard has performed with Donnie McClurkin and last January, the duo received a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance. Sheard is a member of the Church of God in Christ—the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States and well known for attracting many closeted black gay men, many of whom are her biggest fans, adds Darian Aaron. 

Sheard and her siblings are often credited for blending the sound of popular music with gospel. Sheard's brand of gospel music along with her daughter's, gospel sensation Kiera Sheard is no stranger to gays and lesbians and can be frequently heard inside gay clubs. If there was any doubt regarding where Sheard stood on LGBT rights, despite being apart of an industry and a religious denomination overflowing with gay and lesbian people, her upcoming performance in support of stripping a segment of the American population of their civil rights will deliver a strong answer. It's a sad day when a voice that has the power to heal and unite people is being used as a weapon of mass destruction.

Detroit-based gospel singer and minister Deitrick Haddon will also perform. Haddon was the first major name in black gospel music to speak out against fellow gospel singer Tonex's confirmation of his long-rumored sexuality. "All Gospel singers are not Gay as I don’t have a sissy bone in my body," Haddon ranted on Twitter.

NOM is apparently attempting to partner with the rabidly anti-gay COGIC, which is the nation's second-largest black denomination. In June NOM presented the top two COGIC male and female leaders with an award. And last week, COGIC's San Diego Bishop Bishop George McKinney issued a statement—curiously, through NOM—blasting Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's Proposition 8 ruling. 

Alveda King, niece of slain civil rights legend Dr. Martin Luther King, headlined NOM's poorly-attended Atlanta rally over the weekend. But the August 15 rally will be undoubtedly have the largest marquee names on NOM's hate tour. Will Karen Clark Sheard and Deitrick Haddon be able to attract a crowd? And will Karen Clark Sheard's performance at the NOM rally hurt her standing among her many Black gay fans? The first question remains to be seen but sadly, I think we all know the answer to that last question ...

UPDATE: NOM is no longer advertising Karen Clark Sheard's appearance. NOM's website now only lists Deitrick Haddon for August 15.

"Ex-Gay" Donnie McClurkin to Headline Boston's Gospel Fest

Grammy Award winning gospel singer and evangelist Donnie McClurkin will headline the City of Boston's Tenth Annual GospelFest on July 18, reports The Boston Phoenix. The free concert will be produced with taxpayer funds and will take place at City Hall Plaza.

The infamously "ex-gay"—or perhaps "re-closeted"—gospel singer delivered an incendiary rant against gay youth and recently out gospel singer Tonex at the Church of God in Christ's Holy Convocation Youth Service last November in Memphis. McClurkin's hateful rant went viral across the internet.  McClurkin compared LGBT youth to "vampires" and added: "I see feminine men, feminine boys, everywhere I go. These young girls are just as bad as the boys ... there are some evil young hard butch girls."

Mayor Tom Menino's office claims they were unaware of McClurkin's record, reports The Phoenix.

"Clearly, though, the choice of the Grammy-winning McClurkin for the free concert puts Menino in a bind, says local activist and Bay Windows columnist Reverend Irene Monroe. 'Our mayor is pro-gay and pro-same-sex marriage,' she says. Yet at the same time, McClurkin appeals to "the black Christian conservative community — which is a strong voting constituency." McClurkin and his 'ex-gay' message has no place at a taxpayer-funded community event, says Monroe. 'Our mayor and city hall represent all of its residents, not just Christian conservatives,' she says. 'It's fine to have a gospel singer, but given his history, it's a denunciation of inclusion.' Monroe also says there's little possibility that McClurkin could walk onto the City Hall Plaza stage and simply belt out his hits without discussing politics or his personal life. 'In gospel, it's not enough to just sing,' she says, 'We want to hear the narrative.'

At Donnie McClurkin's October 2008 performance in Barbados, the Pentecostal evangelist received "thunderous applause" after comparing gays to "drug dealers, prostitutes and gang members."

McClurkin has somewhat addressed the persistent rumors about his personal life. The gospel singer maintains he is no longer gay but recently suggested he still has same-sex urges, comparing homosexuality to diabetes: "I don’t eat sugar, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t want sugar."

Via: ChiTown Kev at Pam's House Blend

"The New Yorker" Profiles Tonex

Brilliant. The New Yorker profiles Tonex, the Stellar Award-winning gospel singer/songwriter and minister who recently confirmed his long-rumored sexuality. Tonex became the first to do so in black gospel music and shattered its well-guarded glass closet doors.

Kelefa Sanneh writes (pdf): "Many of his fans wondered what took him so long. Maybe some of them wondered, too, what took gospel music so long, because the question that Tonéx finally answered has been haunting the genre for for the better part of a century."

Tonex, who grew up in the anti-gay and charismatic Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (P.A.W.) and is the son of pastor, describes trying to come out:

Tonéx sensed early on that he was attracted to other boys, and he spent the better part of three decades trying to figure out what that might mean for him. One day when he was eighteen, he told his parents that he thought he was bisexual. His father said, “You need to go listen to some gospel records,” and his mother just cried. Not long afterward, Pastor Williams preached a sermon in which he decried “faggots.” (The next week, Pastor Williams apologized to the congregation for his choice of words.) Tonéx says, “Perhaps he thought that by speaking on it so harshly it would make me turn the other way.” When Tonéx started preaching, he occasionally denounced homosexuality, too, partly because such denunciations work so well. “You can talk about a slut, a hussy, a heifer, a player, any other subject— you are not going to get the response you get when you start talking about fags, or gays,” he says. “It’s like a football game!”

Given the proliferation of gay men in black gospel music, it's ironic that Tonex's father prescribed listening "to some gospel records" to cure his homosexuality. And Tonex is right, there's nothing like good ole-fashioned gay-bashing to motivate many so-called "Christians" and church folk.

The profile appears in the current February 8 issue of The New Yorker. At ten pages, it's not a quick read but is captivating and should be required reading. It's also to The New Yorker's credit that they took on the black church's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" hypocrisy around gays in the church.  The article is subscription only but a PDF is here. Love to hear your thoughts.

The New Yorker: Revelations [pdf]

Some Background:
Tonex on Black Church's Hypocrisy on Gays
Gospel Singer Deitrick Haddon: "Not a Sissy Bone in My Body"
WATCH: Gospel Star Tonex Confirms Same Sex Attraction

WATCH: Gospel Singer Tonex on Black Church's Hypocrisy on Gays

More on the story of Tonex, the Stellar Award-winning gospel singer/songwriter and minister who recently confirmed his long-rumored sexuality becoming the first to do so in black gospel music and shattering its well-guarded glass closet doors. Tonex addresses his critics in a new video interview with Atlanta-based blogger and activist Darian Aaron.

Tonex says: "Every person has to come to terms with their own self in their own time. I still am. Day by day I am getting 'deprogrammed' by someone's else's second-hand information or someone's archaic interpretation. I'm just getting to know God for myself and know that He loves me, I am able to be free of who I am as a person."

Tonex says the black church and gospel industry are "full" of gay men and responds to the so-called Christians who called him derogatory names, such as gospel singer Deitrick Haddon : "Now, officially, I am a grown azz man. You can't be a 'sissy' or a 'punk' when you're being honest. That says a whole lot about the person. ... Everyone in the church isn't being honest."

The San Diego-based minister adds that many church folk are "no longer speaking" to him but he is getting support from many others. Darian adds: "I believe his story has the ability to empower the black LGBT community or anyone who identifies as LGBT and is struggling to reconcile their sexuality with their faith."

Here, here. Too bad so many others in the black church will not preach or cannot hear that same message. PART ONE of the three part interview, WHEN YOU JUMP. Full interview at LOLDARIAN.

Test your broadband speed

Gospel Singer Deitrick Haddon: "Not a Sissy Bone in My Body"

"All Gospel singers are not Gay as I don’t have a sissy bone in my body." That's singer, songwriter and minister Deitrick Haddon on Twitter, becoming one of the first major names in black gospel music to speak out against fellow gospel singer Tonex's confirmation of his long-rumored sexuality.

Blogger and activist Darian Aaron reports the Detroit-based Haddon delivered the rant during an online discussion "responding to repeated taunting and accusations from some of his Twitter followers regarding the large amount of closeted gay men within the gospel music industry. The controversial tweet posted September 15 has mysteriously disappeared from Haddon's timeline but it was obviously present long enough for EJ of gospelpundit.com to pen a piece asking those within the industry to 'take a moment to examine our hearts and live life more carefully.'"

Darian spoke with Tonex regarding anti-gay slur. Says Tonex: "I'm a little disappointed with the response. I can't get mad at anyone's conviction. As a theologian myself I wish we would use the WORD in a way that wasn't violent or abusive. I think the term "sissy" wasn't necessary but as a brother of mine (Deitrick) no love is lost here", he added.

WWJD? He probably wouldn't use the word "sissy". But thanks for confirming your heterosexuality, Deitrick. You keep telling yourself that when you offer women Twitter tips on how to keep a good man.

WATCH: Gospel Star Tonex Confirms Rumors and Same Sex Attraction

Anthony Charles Williams II, the Stellar Award-winning gospel singing artist, producer and minister better known by his stage name Tonex, confirms his long-rumored sexuality and admits that he "is" attracted to men. Tonex's admission on the popular The Lexi Show, a popular gospel and Christian YouTube show, is perhaps the first time a gospel singer has confirmed their homosexuality, writes Darian Aaron, the Atlanta-based blogger and gospel music fan.

"Tonex boldly opens the closet door in a way that I could never imagine anyone else in the gospel music industry having the courage to do. As a childhood victim of molestation, Tonex refuses to blame his same-sex attraction on this experience like many of his colleagues who "struggle" with homosexuality (i.e. Donnie McClurkin) and corrects the interviewer when she attempts to frame the discussion in this way. 'It wasn't a struggle. And then people like to blame the struggle on molestation. No. Just say you were attracted to men and be honest and quit blaming it on that experience', says Tonex."

Although Tonex does not come out and say he is "gay". But several times in the interview he emphasizes that he "is attracted" to men and that is "not a struggle". On numerous previous times, the flamboyant recording artist has denied that he was gay, most famously on the 2007 video of The Naked Truth and an infamous YouTube video where he swore and used profanity. "I take ownership for that," Tonex now admits.

Tonex also blasts the black church for its hypocrisy and its mistreatment of LGBTs: "The church has completely faggotized everybody who's gay, sends them to hell over the pulpit and the church literally screams hooray and are happy about that. And yet, we celebrate the pastor who has a clean record and a clean look, but yet he is still doing the same thing that the same gender loving people are doing."

Tonex addresses his sexuality around 4:50 on Part 2. Watch, WHEN YOU JUMP.