Gospel News & Notes – May 2013

A star-studded lineup led by SMOKEY NORFUL and VICKIE WINANS heads the 28th Chicago Gospel Music Festival on June 20-23. This year's theme: 'The Year of the Choir.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

Troy Sneed Keeps It Simple

Gospel singer, producer, choir leader and executive TROY SNEED may wear many hats in his world, but his watchword, as he explains to BOB MAROVICH, is to 'keep it simple.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Had I Met You’

From her 100 videos in 100 days project, Christine Santelli performs ‘Had I Met You.’ Ms. Santelli’s 2012 album, Dragonfly, was a Deep Roots Album of the Year honoree.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Sun Unleashes Spectacular Solar Eruption

Documenting a spectacular solar eruption and the Hubble Telescope's sighting of the remains of a star gone supernova. There's life out there.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Chopin a National Poet

FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN a National Poet? FRANZ LISZT thought so, and explained why in an 1852 essay that begat a biography of the great Romantic composer.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Two Worlds Under One Sun

On THE SUN OF BOTH WORLDS: TRADITIONAL TURKISH SUFI MUSIC, Turkey's DÜ-ŞEMS ENSEMBLE demonstrates the musical interaction between its homeland and its neighbors. A review and band profile ensue.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Pushing the Boundaries

South Africa's FRESHLYGROUND enlisted Los Lobos's STEVE BERLIN as its producer and came up with a border crossing Afropop gem in TAKE ME TO THE DANCE
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Romantic

WILLIE NELSON returns at his best on LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE, a torch album chronicling a bruised but not broken romantic's tumultuous journey of the heart.
by David McGee