ANGEL DOVE MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA GROUP “WOW THE JOY OF URBAN WORSHIP AND PRAISE” “WOW The Joy of Urban Worship and Praise” from the urban church on my heart several years ago. This project is a testament of how God can bring many cultures and ethnicities together to produce a body of eclectic worship. As we know, an Ethnicity is defined as: “An ethnic group or ethnicity is a category of people (congregation) who identify with each other based on similarities, such as common language, ancestral, social, cultural, or national experiences.” Whereas, a Culture is defined as: “the beliefs (faith), (trust), customs, arts (music), etc. of a particular society (fellowship), group, place, or time, way of thinking, behaving, that exists in a place or organization (Church).” (Wikipedia) In most cases, the way people worship, praise and the style of music they exude is inspired by their ethnicity and culture upbringing or surroundings.(Wikipedia) CCM / Contemporary Christian Music / Christian History Today Arguably, the single biggest alteration in the life of the average evangelical congregation within the last 30 years has been the sweeping change in the music that is played on Sunday mornings. Where organ and piano, formal choirs, and vocal soloists and groups once held sway over a slowly-changing canon of staid hymnody and gospel songs, a flood of guitars and "praise choruses" suddenly came rushing in. This began during the 1970s via Calvary Church in California under Pastor Chuck Smith and the church in-house writers and composers writing and creating music inspired by the lifestyle of that culture. An irresistible, grassroots, pop-culture-driven force met the immovable object of tradition and sentiment, and the ensuing years saw no shortage of conflict and controversy as a result. During this same culture movement of the 70s, Maranatha Inc. was created to publish this music. In the 80s, 90s through 2000’s, Integrity Music caught fire and came upon the scene ushering in the sound of Praise and Worship and taking it to a brand new level of exposure through live church and studio recording. Hillsong Church, a Pentecostal megachurch in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, with a heart for authentic worship and passionate about the local church has taken the sound of praise and worship music created from their church services by their in-house writers and musicians, and these songs are sung by congregations around the world. Praise Houses / Cindy Reid Originally built during the pre-Civil War era by plantation slave owners as a place of segregated worship, the praise houses became central points in the community in the ensuing years, as places of worship, but also a meeting place and even as self-governing “court houses” for the self-reliant African American community. Songs of Hope Traditionally services were held three times a week, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, a typical service would consist of singing, prayer, a testimony of a religious experience, and then the service almost always ended with a “shout.” Some aspects of the ring shout are thought to be related to the communal dances found in many West African traditions. Music has always played an important role in the praise house service and they have been called the “incubator of spirituals”. Songs important to the African American (Culture) religious tradition can be traced to the praise house community. “WOW The Joy Of Urban Worship And Praise” Detroit, Michigan has always been the culture center and hub of gospel music and great churches producing such groups such as, The Clark Sisters, The Rance Allen Group, Commissioned and The Winans plus R&B giant and church girl, Aretha Franklin. Ms. Franklin is also known for her gospel roots establishing themselves as global leaders in spreading gospel music. In order to bring this worship experience of honoring our Lord with admiration, love, and giving him the thanks through our praise it took the vision of Dr. McNichols. Dr. McNichols brought together a select group of church in-house anointed worshippers, praise warriors (musicians and singers); producers, arrangers creatively spearheaded by songwriter, producer Michael Allen; song writer, vocal arranger Gary Crawford all from Dunamis Out Reach Ministries (which influence the praise and worship ministry of their former member Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ). The collaboration between these musical giants allotted for an expression of our awe of who God is through music and song like other cultures by capturing the sound of the Sunday morning worship and praise of the urban church experience. Featured on the “WOW The Joy Of Urban Worship And Praise” compilation album includes: Pastor William Murphy III, Detroit, MI born, chart topping gospel recording artist and the outstanding Pastor of The Dream Center Church in Atlanta, GA, with background vocals featuring Radical For Christ “Yes To Your Will” is the first single released from the “WOW The Joy Of Urban Worship And Praise” compilation album released on Angel Dove Praise. Also, this Worship and Praise Compilation album features several songs birth from and inspired from services such as, “Holy Holy,” written by Gary Crawford, produced by Joyce Dozier McNichols (taken from the Harvest Time Live Praise And Worship Recording) with lead vocals by four International renowned Praise and Worship Leaders such as Stellar Award Winner, Dove Nominee, teacher and song writer - Martha Munizzi, teaming up with The Voice semifinalist and gospel recording artist, Regina Love; Recording Artist, Teacher, and Praise And Worship Leader, Nicole Binion, who appears across the country leading Praise And Worship services along with her husband, David Binion, at some of America’s great churches. Praise and Worshipper, then Dunamis Church member and former Fred Hammond’s Radical For Christ member, Terrie Lynn Taylor, putting her signature finishing heavenly high notes on “Holy Holy.” Producer Michael Allen brought in then Radical For Christ, Joshua, and his Dunamis Church member, Tiffany Smith, who has sung background for Mary J. Blige and presently for Chaka Khan and matched her up with the soulful, dynamic blues and gospel recording artist, Mark Allen on the urban contemporary inspirational songs, “Get On Up” and “I Will Never Leave.” Worship ushered praise in the house in with “Far Away From Home”, written by Psalmist Joyce Dozier McNichols and featuring a duet by Troy Evans and Gwen Spencer delivering a heartfelt, sincere and profoundly emotional delivery demonstrating their trust in God and His word. Former Radical for Christ member and outstanding solo vocalist, Eric Coates, lifts up his voice on high proclaiming, “All Creation Sings” of Jesus the King and giver of life, Lord Sacrifice and Lord overall, faithful and true Jesus we love to worship You. Eric sums up his message of worship and praise with “Oh Give Thanks,” that features the lyrics, “Oh give thanks unto the Lord for what he done for you and I praise and glorified, we will worship him on high and lift up our voice on high.” While we always live in God’s omnipresence when we worship we experience his revealed presence. We come together in our prayer groups and also joining in with our congregation in worshiping God corporately and sometimes we retreat to our secret place and worship God. Regina Love steps forth in the Sunday morning corporate service setting the mood for worship, singing “I Will Worship You;” a song that admonishes us to worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Lexi Allen, member of Dunamis Ministries’, recording artist, journalist and former host of her own TV show on the Word Network has been sharing her music ministry grifts from the in-house platform of Dunamis Church and a member of Radicals For Christ. “Secret Place” sung by Lexi was written and produced by her late husband Michael Allen. Although absent in the tangible since, his spirit and legacy lives and his music ministry was inspired by the in-house worship and praise service of the Dunamis urban church culture. Worship Leader, writer, vocal arranger and producer Gary Crawford, who is no longer here with us pinned one of the most inspired congregational songs, “Tabernacle.” Worship and Praise Palmist, Lisa Scott Bailey, former member of Radical For Christ sings we (congregation) will “Tabernacle” in the Lord Holy place and let the power of his Holy Holy presence live in us this day. Troy Evans sings and the house shouts out, “God said, don’t be afraid get on up, stand your ground, God has said - Take The City” move on up, move on out.