Latice Crawford
Click here for Official Website
To watch Contemporary Christian Gospel singer/songwriter Latice Crawford make second runner-up on BET’s Sunday Best or in the video of her 2014 major label hit “There,” one sees a confident and stunning young woman with short-cropped hair and thin model poise from which a soul-stirring voice is shared. A cadre of fans and followers would come to know that the power in the Bronx, New York-native’s voice and her unique approach to singing stem from Latice often not having a band to support her so she had to carry the full intent of the songs herself. To the power of her testimony and especially the songs she composed herself; those reside within a life story of struggles and triumphs, and a burning desire to share the extent of both in her lyrics.
Thus the thrust of Latice’s stunning 2016 sophomore recording: the five-song EP, Diary of a Church Girl was released via an exclusive licensing partnership with EchoPark ARTS Entertainment and distributed by Caroline Distribution, the Independent Services division of Capitol Music Group (CMG). Self-penned and nakedly autobiographical, the project resonates with authenticity because Latice’s goal is to connect to listeners in personal sometimes painful ways that transcend traditional gospel song storylines.
“Writing has always been my passion,” Latice states. “I was never planning to be upfront. I was even told, ‘The money is in the writing, stay in the background and get the coins!’ But I come from a family of musicians. My grandmother, the late Glorya Dove was an opera singer who insisted her children and grandchildren sing, too. When we all sang together, we were well-known locally as The Singing Doves. My family also included highly sought-after singer/musicians Ruth Schofield and Derrick Schofield. Growing up Apostolic as the middle sister of three in the Holy Tabernacle and Morning Star churches where my father, Arnett Crawford, was an elder in both, I graduated from the children’s and youth choirs to become a soloist and praise and worship leader, which in turn led to recording sessions. It was my boss at the Police Athletic League where I worked for 14 years that told me, ‘If you don’t try out for ‘Sunday Best,’ you’re fired!’ I wrote all the songs on my first CD (Latice Crawford— RCA Inspirational—2014), but they weren’t saying what I wanted to say. Everybody knew ‘God is good,’ ‘Jesus is coming back’ and ‘He can save you.’ I wanted to write about things that happen to church people that church people never talk about.”
“Diary of a Church Girl are songs from my life and relationships—the good and the bad: an emotional journey through the eyes of a human being who happens to be a Christian.” “Author,” the EP’s sweetly orchestrated and lyrically fortifying first single, speaks to the central theme of allowing God to work through you in your darkest hour. “Being faithful to what my parents always taught me about God being The Supplier and The Deliverer, I was always a ‘silent sufferer,’” Latice shares. “There was a time I was eating out of the garbage and nobody knew. When I was going through all that is when I really found out who God is. ‘Author’ started out as me literally having a ‘why me’ conversation with God…like, ‘God, man…seriously!? What’s going on?’ He said, ‘Don’t worry about all that—you work on being better. That way when your situation gets better, you are able to see it. You have no idea what I’m working on for you. So prepare yourself by learning more about this music industry so you can better understand what’s coming up next for you.”
“At my lowest point,” Latice continues, “I felt like a piece of paper somebody ripped out of a notebook, crumpled up and threw into the furthest garbage can they could find. But that’s exactly where God needed me to be for him to show me, ‘In your imperfection I’m still here. I’m going to open you back up, smooth you out. You’re going to have some wrinkles but that’s okay because now I’m going to use you. Even when the world crumbles you up, what I wrote on you does not change.’”
Each song on Diary of a Church Girl has a corresponding story that Latice elaborates on when she performs them, in interviews and with people that come to her aching to know what inspired them. “In this day of social media, if people don’t see the person behind the songs—know what you cry about—they don’t want to buy your music,” Latice states.
Breaking down each song, Latice says, “‘Choose Me’ is about the desire to be accepted by other people then realizing the only One you need to be accepted by is God. ‘Look at Yourself Again’ is about me getting the courage to not look at what others say about me, but what God says about me. When I wrote ‘In Love With You,’ I was walking through Hallmark trying to find a card for the person I was dating—someone who wasn’t even faithful or loving me right. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it was out of habit. I turned that thought around into thinking about our relationship with God…how every day you should strive to make that relationship ever-better. ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’ is the finale for all the songs that came before. Your storm is over, now, what are you going to do?”
Latice collaborated on all five songs for Diary of a Church Girl with producer, Bruce Robinson, who worked with her on most of her first CD including the single “There.” From the soulful guitar plea of “Choose Me” to the old school piano nostalgia of “In Love With You” to the feel good sway of “Look At Yourself Again” to the big hand-clappin’ finish of “Whatcha Gonna Do,” the duo shaped specific sounds and vibrations that amplified the arc of each story—none sounding like another. “I have an old soul,” Latice confesses. “I like funk and jazz. Bruce is from down south and we really ‘get’ each other. For every song I write and arrange, the music has to promote the same emotion. From the keys to the instrumentation, the songs ascend or descend the same way as the stories.”
One of the most tremendous personal challenges Latice has faced is an ongoing battle with Social Anxiety Disorder resulting in debilitating panic attacks she has suffered since childhood. The attacks were so severe that she completed high school through a home school program; too terrified to come out of her house and too ashamed to face her fellow students. The issue followed her into adulthood as a woman, wife, parent and artist, and has become a face forward element of her testimony and music ministry.
“In church, I was told that this thing inside me was ‘the devil’ but it’s not,” Latice insists. “It’s a condition I had to educate myself about so I could be better—for me, my son and my ministry. It’s not about the things from which God delivers you, it’s the things he protects you through to make you grow. Sometimes you need to be in things to become stronger.” In a confessional magazine editorial, Latice additionally shared, “By identifying my condition and talking about it, I gave God the opportunity to show the non-believer—or the person that thinks they have to be perfect before they can come to Him—that God will work with your imperfections and use it to bless other people.”
Latice concludes, “When I recorded Diary of a Church Girl, I had no expectations. I did it for me—to prove that I could share some things that were on my heart. I believe people hear my sincerity and transparency. When it debuted at No. 15, it was the only EP on the Billboard Gospel chart. To see so many people commenting online and that the songs are so relatable is amazing. That showed me it doesn’t take God to come off the mountain to save the universe. It takes us to let Him work through us and our imperfections—and in those imperfections, He is still there for us.” (June 2016)
The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 24, to showcase non-televised award winners, including superstar Harvey Watkins, Jr. (of the Canton Spirituals), the recipient of the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award. Among the artists performing that evening are C. Ashley Brown-Lawrence, Micah Stampley, Janice Gaines, Latice Crawford, Myron Butler, Charles Butler & Trinity, The Wardlaw Brothers, Kinsmen, and the Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University.
*Gospel recording artist Latice Crawford receives her first Stellar Gospel Music Awards nomination for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this nomination,” says Crawford. “Sharing this project has meant so much to me and to know that it has made an impact with my supporters and in the industry is truly encouraging. To God be the Glory.” The 31st Annual Gospel Music Awards will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday, March 25th, 2017. Latice will be a featured performer at the Awards Pre-Show to be held the night before.
Crawford’s nominated project, Diary of a Church Girl, debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. Her new single, “Choose Me” is currently at gospel radio. “‘Choose Me’ is a song about our human need and desire to be accepted,” says Crawford.
“We live in a society that focuses so much on pointing out flaws, imperfections, and then using them as the basis for declaring each other as not good enough—not good enough to receive love, a job, and even respect. God’s acceptance is just the opposite.
There are countless stories of God extending His grace to men and women who didn’t quite fit in and then using them to do magnificent things—Moses, Esther, David, Joseph, and Jesus. God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.”
In addition to Crawford’s upcoming appearance at the 31st Stellar Gospel Music Awards Weekend, she will make appearances at the TCM 2017 Empowerment Convention in Atlanta, GA (Friday, March 3); Martin Crosswinds in Washington, DC (Saturday, March 18); Club His-Hop in Las Vegas, NV (Thursday, March 23), and other appearances to be announced in the coming weeks. Crawford’s BET performance will air on Joyful Noise on Sunday, March 5 at 9:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. CT. She is also a regular contributor for the Huffington Post.
Best known as the second runner-up of Season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, Crawford presents Diary of a Church Girl as the follow-up to her 2014 debut self-titled album, which entered on four Billboard charts and peaked at No. 12 on the Gospel Albums chart. Diary of a Church Girl is written by Crawford and produced by Bruce Robinson (Alexis Speight, The Showers, Justin Bieber, and Brittany Spears).
Gospel Artist Latice Crawford Shares Her Struggle with Social Anxiety Disorder - ESSENCE
"As a woman of faith, it was difficult to talk about suffering from this disorder because I thought the non-believer would think my God wasn’t real because he couldn’t or wouldn't heal me," writes gospel singer Latice Crawford.
It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since I first stepped foot on the stage of BET’s Sunday Best Season 2. It seems like yesterday when I received the call that I made it through the auditions and was on my way to Atlanta to compete nationally. As I look at how far I've come, and how different I am now from the girl that stood on that stage, it reminds me just how long it's been and how much I've grown in my music ministry and as a woman. I was afraid then and I struggled to function amongst all of the new people that were in my space. It was difficult for me to be in a new environment away from the things that made me feel safe because I was holding a big secret. The whole time I was hiding that I suffered from social anxiety disorder.
I remember how people would comment and say how it looked so easy for me, but the truth is I secretly had a panic attack before every performance. People often think that when you suffer from this condition that you are a mute or that you’re shy. But the truth is on a good day, I can be the most social person in the group, but on a bad day, I can be like a hermit hiding in a shell I’ve created for myself.
As a woman of faith, it was difficult to talk about suffering from this disorder because I thought the non-believer would think my God wasn’t real because he couldn’t or wouldn't heal me and that other Christians would tell me to pray about it because it’s the devil. Even now, as a mom, it’s scary when I have a panic attack as it causes me not to think clearly. During those moments, it’s easy for me to slip into a space where I have to shut myself off from my son because I'm too overwhelmed.
As a child, I saw many of my family members go through this and because of these same fears they didn't talk about it. I’ve learned that although it’s scary, it’s necessary to talk about it because one of the key elements to balancing anxiety disorder is have an outlet, to know your trigger points, to engage in things and live in the moment. I’m much more comfortable talking about it now. Sunday Best gave me that confidence.
Latice Crawford achieved a first in gospel music by landing her new EP on Billbaord's Top Gospel Almbums chart.
Gospel recording artist Latice Crawford will join honorary host, Dr. Bobby Jones, along with multiple award-winning gospel artists Melvin Williams of the Williams Brothers, Dottie Peoples, Brian Courtney Wilson, Micah Stampley, JJ Hairston, and others at this year’s Rejoice Musical Soul Food Festival on June 25th in Norfolk, VA. Later that week, Crawford will also perform at the upcoming ESSENCE Festival’s All-Star Gospel Tribute to The Clark Sisters, as well as other key events during the July 4th holiday weekend in New Orleans. In August, she is part of the concert line-up for Radio One’s Praise In The Park in Philadelphia.
Crawford’s new EP, Diary of a Church Girl debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. Her new single, “Author” is described by GospelPundit.com’s as “A vulnerable ballad featuring Crawford’s signature tone and passionate delivery, sure to resonate with audiences everywhere.” This week, “Author” was noted as a Most Added song at Gospel radio.
Best known as the second runner-up of Season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, Crawford presents Diary of a Church Girl as the follow-up to her 2014 debut self-titled album, which entered on four Billboard charts and peaked at No. 12 on the Gospel Albums chart. Diary of a Church Girl is written by Crawford and produced by Bruce Robinson (Alexis Speight, The Showers, Justin Bieber, and Brittany Spears).
For more information on Crawford’s Diary of a Church Girl Tour, please visit: http://www.laticecrawfordonline.com.
Diary of a Church Girl Links:
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/DiaryOfAChurchGirl
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_Amz
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_GPlay
http://www.laticecrawfordonline.com/
GWENDOLYN QUINN
*Gospel recording artist Latice Crawford releases forthcoming CD project, ‘Diary of a Church Girl’ on May 20th, 2016. The EP is available for pre-orders on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play (see links below).
Diary of a Church Girl will be released via an exclusive licensing partnership with EchoPark ARTS Entertainment and distributed by Caroline Distribution, the Independent Services division of Capitol Music Group (CMG).
The new single, “Author” is described by GospelPundit.com’s EJ Gaines as “A vulnerable ballad featuring Crawford’s signature tone and passionate delivery, sure to resonate with audiences everywhere.”
“Author” debuted on Billboard’s Top Gospel 100 Radio shortly after its release and is quickly moving up the chart. It is also amongst iTunes Top 30 Christian & Gospel Hot Tracks.
Latice Crawford
Best known as the second runner-up of Season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, Crawford presents Diary of a Church Girl as the follow-up to her 2014 debut self-titled album, which entered on four Billboardcharts and peaked at No. 12 on the Gospel Albums chart.
Diary of a Church Girl is written by Crawford and produced by Bruce Robinson (Alexis Speight, The Showers, Justin Bieber, and Brittany Spears).
“My desire is that this EP will inspire people and that my testimony is a relatable experience for their journey,” says Crawford. “I hope when they hear the songs of my own struggles and my desire to be accepted and loved in the midst of loss, I hope they too will find purpose and comfort—and ultimately finding all of that in God.”
The Diary of a Church Girl Promotional Tour kicks off on May 16th in New York City, followed by Rockford, IL (May 21), Chicago, IL (May 22), New Orleans (July 3), Newport, RI (July 16) and Philadelphia, PA (July 27). More dates will be added in the coming weeks, please visit:http://www.laticecrawfordonline.com
Diary of a Church Girl Pre-order Links:
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/DiaryOfAChurchGirl
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_Amz
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_GPlay
http://www.laticecrawfordonline.com/
source:
Gwendolyn Quinn
GwendolynQuinn@aol.com
Latice Crawford is tapped to open for the Brooklyn, NY installment of Kirk Franklin's "20 Years In One Night" Tour
(NEW YORK CITY, March 10, 2016) … Following the success of her 2015 feel-good song-of-the-summer “Look At Yourself Again” that spent more than three months charting on Billboard’s Top 100 Gospel National Radio Airplay Chart, BET “Sunday Best” favorite Latice Crawford announced the release of her forthcoming EP, Diary Of A Church Girl, featuring the second single, “Author”. Penned by the vocal powerhouse, ”Author” is a reflective, deeply personal ballad that chronicles a conversation between Latice and God. It’s the type of conversation that many people have had at one time or another when trying to navigate life’s rocky waters. “What started as a bit of a complaining session to God turned into me realizing that instead of asking him for life to miraculously get better, I really needed to be asking Him to help ME to become a better person, through Him and for Him,” Latice explains. “Life isn’t always perfect. He never promised it would be, but I'm glad to know that I can rely on Him, the perfect source. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).” The song, featuring a nostalgic fusion of R&B and rock, was produced by Bruce Robinson (Alexis Speight, The Showers, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears). Diary Of A Church Girl is the follow-up to her self-titled album in 2014 that entered four Billboard charts and peaked at #12 on the Gospel Albums Chart as well as #21 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. The EP releases in May, 2016, and “Author” releases on March 11 through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Apple Music and Spotify. For more information, visit www.LaticeCrawfordMusic.com.
Latice Crawford set to release second single, "Author" from her upcoming EP. Hits radio airwaves February and stores in March
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http://www.thegreenespace.org/story/video-webcast-soul-now-sings-musical-christmas-journey/
http://www.ajc.com/photo/news/september-12-2015/pCqcYp/
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Read Latice's Exclusive Interviews about her faith, music journey, and unique style with Fashion & Style - http://www.fashionnstyle.com/tags/latice-crawford and Elle Magazine http://www.thecomeback.co.uk/?p=3543
(NEW YORK CITY) June 1, 2015 – Sickle Cell Disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 Americans, including one in 12 African Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control.* In conjunction with World Sickle Cell Day on Friday, June 19, Billboard-charting artist Latice Crawford of BET’s “Sunday Best,” and a carrier of the sickle cell trait, brings her message of awareness and hope to patient families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® for a private concert.
"Sickle Cell Disease can go undetected if symptoms are overlooked or mistaken for another condition, which is why it is so important to take advantage of screening opportunities,” Latice explains. “We only get one body. It is important to be informed so we can manage it properly with the help of the medical community.”
In 1982, St. Jude became the first institution to cure sickle cell disease with a bone-marrow transplant. Although transplant is a cure for sickle cell disease, its use is limited because of the difficulty in finding a matched donor and the significant risks associated with transplant. Research continues to seek new approaches to bone-marrow transplantation to cure sickle cell disease. Today, St. Jude is one of the largest pediatric sickle-cell research center in the United States.
During a private concert for the children of St. Jude, Latice performed her new single “Look At Yourself Again,” an inspiring song dedicated to encourage listeners to embrace and love themselves amidst a world that too often tells us that we are not good enough.
In penning “Look At Yourself Again” Latice recognized that with all of the imagery from movies, TV and media outlets that promote a narrow definition of beauty and perfection, people sometimes lose sight of the fact that they are all perfect. She wanted to encourage people to embrace their unique features, and that even scars and imperfections are what make people who they are. The song is Latice’s first release after her self-titled Billboard-charting album in 2014.
(NEW YORK CITY) May 15 – Following the success of her self-titled debut album in 2014, Billboard-charting artist Latice Crawford, a star of BET’s “Sunday Best”, Season 2, is back with her new single, “Look At Yourself Again”, an inspiring song dedicated to listeners to encourage them to embrace and love themselves, in a world that too often tells us that we are not good enough. “Look At Yourself Again” is an uplifting song with a positive self-acceptance message about loving yourself and your body, regardless of what others say. The inspiration for the song was the result of Latice’s personal experiences and experiences with others suffering from low self-esteem, such as a chance encounter with a cancer-stricken woman she met while traveling who was ashamed of her hair loss and hid herself under a scarf and pair of sunglasses. “After hearing the woman’s story of how she’d lost everything most important to her, her family, her home, and now her own sense of the beauty of being a woman, I cut my hair as a symbol of solidarity with her and my belief in the inherent beauty of us all,” Latice explains. In penning “Look At Yourself Again”, Latice recognized that with all of the imagery from movies, TV and media outlets that promote a very narrow definition of beauty and perfection, people sometimes lose sight of the fact that they are all perfect. She wanted to encourage people to embrace their unique features, and that even scars and imperfections are what make people who they are. The song is Latice’s first release after her self-titled album in 2014 that entered four Billboard charts and peaked at #21 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. Latice also performed live at the national 2014 Stellar Awards and 2014 Essence Festival in New Orleans. “I am so happy about the reception to my first album, which gave me the chance to begin introducing listeners to what I had to offer musically beyond the style they came to be familiar with during my time on ‘Sunday Best’”, Latice says. “With this new single and upcoming album, I want to continue on that journey and share the same messages of God’s love, hope, and redemption while bringing a diverse sound. New music, new sound, same God.” “Look At Yourself Again” is available through all major digital media outlets and the lyric video can be viewed here. For more information, visit www.LaticeCrawfordOnline.com.
Latice Crawford's new single "Look At Yourself Again" will be available to the public on May 19th. The song is the first release from her new project "Diary of A Church Girl" slated to hit stores Summer 2015.
Fans can pre-order the single beginning May 2nd, 2015.
MISS NATURALLY CROWNED CAROLINA, founded December 2013, is Columbia, South Carolina's first natural hair beauty pageant. The 2nd annual pageant took place on April 11 2015 and was open to women ages 19-30 statewide. The highlight of this year's pageant will be a 5-minute business pitch competition for the top 5 qualifying contestants, all in the running for a $1,000 grand prize!
Latice Crawford partnered with the mission and vision of the pageant in celebrating the natural beauty of all women. Attendees were provided an exclusive first listen of the new single "Look At Yourself Again".
Learn more: http://www.naturallycrowned.com/
Latice signs with International Modeling and Acting Agency
Sunday Best Finalist Latice Crawford Talks Life After, New Music, Goal as a Singer, Family, More
DOMINIQUE CARSON WED, MAR 19, 2014
Latice Crawford is a "rising star" in the gospel landscape. Music lovers were impressed with Crawford's anointed and gifted voice during her finalist run on BET's Sunday Best. She says, "I testify to a beat." Even though she wasn't the winner on the gospel competition, Crawford's creative juices flow as an artist. She records music that will change people's lives within minutes. She also makes it clear to everyone that she will remain true to herself and she is NOT selling her soul for fame & fortune.
Along with her pathway to success, she met the love of her life, Jeff Spain, which she considers to be one of the biggest blessings in her life. Crawford is able to share her dreams, aspirations, and her love for God with her soul-mate. It is an important intricate for her since true love is so hard to find in the entertainment industry.
While Crawford was on tour with gospel recording artist, Marvin Sapp, Singersroom.com conversed with the singer about her love for gospel music, real love, RCA Inspirational, and more.
Gospel Music and Sunday Best: I grew up listening to gospel music; I was a preacher's daughter. My father was a pastor so it was around me all the time. It wasn't really my own personal choice. I was singing in church but I didn't want to go into ministry because it can be very demanding, causes headaches, and it's just a lot of responsibility for one person. But with the encouragement of my family and the ministers at church, they thought I should sing professionally. I had a conversation with my brother-n-law about Sunday Best and that's when I auditioned for the show. I went on the show as a way for everyone to get off my back about singing. My loved ones recognized my talent and I am just so grateful for that push. I didn't see it coming but they gave me the extra push to be where I am now today.
Overcoming Social Disorders: Growing up I wasn't really around a lot of big crowds because I used to have anxiety attacks. As I got older, they got worst and I dropped out of school. And then I was eventually home schooled. I just isolated myself from people and places. But, then one day I decided to take charge of my life and stepped out on faith by auditioning for Sunday Best. I felt like God used my voice to ease my way through this disorder. It was a way for me to breakthrough because it had to be done.
Collaborations with Other Artists: I don't have a specific line-up about which artists I want to work with but I want the artist's voice to speak to me when I work with them. Their music and persona has to cope with what I am trying to deliver as an artist. You can have one of the best voices, but if we are not meeting eye to eye, then we are not getting any work done. But, collaborating with other artists is definitely in the works for the future. I would like to work with my label-mate Darnell Davis, because his voice is incredible. He is very talented. Also, I would like for R.Kelly to write a song for me because he is an incredible writer. I mean he is a musical genius that has the ability to write a hit for any genre of music.
Read more: http://singersroom.com/content/2014-03-19/Sunday-Best-Finalist-Latice-Crawford-Talks-Life-After-New-Music-Goal-as-a-Singer-Family-More/#ixzz3M1f0C9Yp
Read more at http://singersroom.com/content/2014-03-19/Sunday-Best-Finalist-Latice-Crawford-Talks-Life-After-New-Music-Goal-as-a-Singer-Family-More/#vGIPqCufQqkOmYG2.99
PASTOR AND GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST MARVIN SAPP AND THE BLACK ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS PARTNER AGAIN TO PRODUCE “THE MARVIN SAPP SCHOOL OF CHOICE TOUR”
Gospel Artist Latice Crawford and Comedian Hen Sapp Join Marvin Sapp on 11 City Tour to Promote High-Quality Education for All Black Students
Free Tour Gets Underway on February 10, 2014 in Indianapolis
NEW YORK – February 5, 2014 – “A child’s zip code or the amount of money their parents make should not determine the quality of their education,” is the message gospel recording artist and pastor, Marvin Sapp and the Black Alliance For Educational Options (BAEO) will share during the second annual “Marvin Sapp School of Choice Tour.” Beginning on February 10 at the Mt. Zion Apostolic Church in Indianapolis, the 11-city free tour will feature musical performances by Marvin Sapp and his RCA Inspiration label mate, Latice Crawford. The Doctor of Comedy, Hen Sapp will also be onboard to deliver hijinks and fun all while mobilizing thousands of Black parents to advocate for their children’s education.
During the “Marvin Sapp School of Choice Tour,” Marvin Sapp will share the inspirational story of his late wife Dr. Malinda Sapp who had the vision to take inner city children from great to greater.
"I'm extremely excited about partnering with BAEO again and promoting school choice to urban communities,” said Marvin Sapp. “As the president and founder of Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology Charter School (GREAAT), it is my pleasure to lend my talent and support in effort to make parents aware of their options when it comes to public education.”
In addition to the performances, members of the Black Alliance for Educational Options will meet with major African-American influencers, elected officials, organization heads, clergy and media personalities in each city to discuss education reform for Black students.
“The Black Alliance for Educational Options looks forward to joining Pastor Sapp on tour as we utilize the concert platform as a vehicle to inform, inspire, and empower parents to advocate for high-quality educational options in their areas for their children,” said BAEO President Kenneth Campbell. “The status quo of failing schools just simply isn’t working for our students. We need sustainable proven changes. Our goal is to reach as many parents as possible through this tour.”
MARVIN SAPP SCHOOL OF CHOICE TOUR DATES
2/10—Indianapolis , IN—Mt. Zion Apostolic Church @7PM
2/11—Louisville , KY—Christ Temple Christian Life Center @7PM
2/12—Nashville, TN— Mount Zion Baptist Church @7PM
2/13—Chattanooga , TN— Olivet Baptist Church @7PM
2/14—Atlanta , GA— Morehouse College @7:30PM
2/15—Jacksonville , FL—Bethel Baptist Institutional Church @7PM
2/16—Huntsville, AL— Oakwood University SDA Church @7PM
2/17—Montgomery, AL— New Life COGIC @7PM
2/18—Jaskson, MS— Greater Bethlehem Temple @7PM
2/19—New Orleans, LA— Greater St. Stephens Ministries @7PM
2/20—Memphis, TN— Greater Community Temple @ 7PM
ABOUT THE BLACK ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
BAEO is an advocacy organization whose mission is to increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children by actively supporting transformational education reform initiatives and parental choice policies that empower low-income and working-class Black families. BAEO was founded in 2000 and champions parental choice policies and programs that serve low-income and working-class Black families, but is equally focused on promoting quality to ensure that Black students have access to high-performing schools. BAEO envisions a future where low-income and working-class Black families are empowered to choose a high-quality primary and secondary education for their children that enable them to pursue the college or career path of their choice, become economically independent adults, and engage in the practice of freedom.
ABOUT MARVIN SAPP
A passionate orator and biblical teacher, who desires to be a living epistle glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ both in word and in deed. Many say his voice is instantly recognizable, characteristically raspy ringing with power and authority as he masterfully illustrates with excellence the Word of God. Not only is his delivery exemplary but, his knowledge of the historical text brings to life the message of hope and healing. The Stellar Awards winning and Grammy nominated artist dominated both contemporary and gospel music charts with the 2007 smash hit single "Never Would Have Made It", which held the #1 position at radio for 43 weeks, maintaining the top spot longer than any artist in Billboard's history - including the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Sapp went on to release the chart-topping albums "Here I Am" and "I Win". Sapp is a pastor, father of three and chairman of GREAAT Schools, Inc.
ABOUT LATICE CRAWFORD
Make no mistake, the Queens, New York native is anointed. Blessed with a gift to sing and a distinctively characteristic package, Latice embodies the spirit of obedience and sacrifice. Deeply moved to shave her head bald after a chance encounter with a cancer patient struggling with self-esteem, the “Sunday Best” finalist is poised and prepared to fully walk in her unique anointing with the release of her RCA Inspiration, self-titled debut album, Latice Crawford. For Latice, the road to walk in her blessing has not always been apparent. Suffering from social anxiety disorder as a youth, Latice shied away from people and places. Taking a leap of faith one choice day in 2009, God began to use her voice to heal her condition as she stepped off the plane in Atlanta to audition for BET's gospel competition series “Sunday Best”. The result - Latice became a top three finalist during the second season of the series and her personal relationships began to shift and expand. She met her soul mate, fellow Sunday Best participant Jeff Spain. Jeff and Latice wed and produced a son, Joshua. Prepared to give back and share her gift with the masses, Latice Crawford is continuing on a divine journey. “I want people to know that I am someone who lives and walks what they say.” Passionate and purposeful, there’s only one Latice Crawford.
ABOUT HEN SAPP
The bible declares that laughter (a merry heart) does good like medicine and Hen Sapp has been dubbed "The Doctor of Comedy". Hen is an edgy Christian Comedian whom God has anointed, for such a time as this, with a gift to make people laugh. In 2004, he was a hit at his first comedy gig during a local wedding reception. Since then, he has continued to master his gift with the release of three live DVD’s: “Just What the Doctor Ordered” , “Best Kept Secrets” and “H2O – OMG, No They Didn’t”. In 2008, his wit and style landed him a finalist at the national, Heavy Hitters Christian Comedian Competition. He has performed and shared the stage with Chanita Moore aka Chocolate, Small Fire, Willie Brown and Woody, Marvin Sapp, Akintunde, Rod Z, Mr. Charles, Laughing Lenny, Cross Movement and many more. In late fall of 2009, he opened for his brother, Marvin Sapp’s live CD and DVD recording, “Here I Am”. 2010 started off with a bang, as he was granted the opportunity to perform at the 1st Comedy Game Show and Stellar Awards Pre-show luncheon that was hosted and produced by the 25th Year Stellar Awards, held in Nashville, TN. From there, his comedy has taken off to new levels, as recently, he was a part of the 1st and biggest West Michigan Comedy Festivals, entitled “Laughfest”, hosted by Gilda’s Club, which featured other comedians such as Betty White, Bill Cosby, Kevin Hart and Roy Woods Jr., just to name a few. In a world where much healing is needed, he doesn't just tell jokes, he ministers, and that is… Just What the Doctor Ordered!
Contacts:
Black Alliance for Educational Options
Tanzi West Barbour
202-253-6233
tanzi@baeo.org
RCA Inspiration
Tricia N. Newell
212-833-6640
Tricia.newell@sonymusic.com
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS
Latice Crawford Shows Church Roots in Debut
February 1, 2014
Singer and former reality show TV star Latice Crawford is set to release her self-titled gospel debut album
QUEENS, NY—“I don’t sing,” Latice Crawford once declared. “I testify to a beat.”
With the recent release of her debut album, the New York native and daughter of a storefront preacher is set to prove this statement true. Latice Crawford features the hit single, “There,” along with nine other brand new tracks.
Crawford, who began singing in her cousin’s church choir, is perhaps best known for her stint on the second season of the popular BET gospel music competition, Sunday Best. Although Crawford did not win the competition, she quickly established herself as a favorite with fans and celebrities alike.
Donald Lawrence, the popular singer and producer, said Crawford’s “strengths are not only is she an amazing talent, but she has great depth to her—depth in her personality, and depth that she puts into the lyric and the song. Latice really gets the lyric across when she performs.”
Not only did Sunday Best spark her gospel career, it also introduced Crawford to her husband, fellow singer Jeff Spain. Her relationship with Spain was documented in their own spin-off, Almost Married.
Crawford has said of her debut album: “I just want to do music that uplifts the kingdom and brings people back to the kingdom.
“I want something classic; something timeless. I want the old feeling of music back; real lyrics, real feelings that convict somebody’s heart and make them want to change,” she added.
Now available on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/laticecrawforditunes and Amazon http://smarturl.it/laticecrawfordamazon
ESSENCE FESTIVAL › SPEAKER › LATICE CRAWFORD
LATICE CRAWFORD
LATICE CRAWFORD
EMPOWERMENT
Sunday - 11:30AM: The Convention Center's Great Hall
Blessed with a unique anointing, Latice Crawford is a talented gospel singer and songwriter signed to RCA Inspiration. Dubbed as the “Whitney Houston” of gospel—the Queens, New York native was discovered on BET’s gospel competition, Sunday Best where she became a top three finalist during the series’ second season. Today, Latice is celebrating the success of her debut album, Latice Crawford (January 2014) and touring the country with gospel artists like Marvin Sapp.
January 9, 2014
Gospel music's biggest night will have an all-star lineup
With one week to go before Gospel music's biggest night, the 29th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards announced its star-studded lineup today, Jan. 9. The line is filled with veteran performers as well as new and emerging artists.
Mary Mary's Erica Campbell, Shirley Caesar, Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, Isaac Carree, Tasha Cobbs, Ricky Dillard, VaShawn Mitchell, Lexi, Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy and Jonathan McReynolds are the early notable names set to grace the stage.
A hallmark of the Stellar Awards telecast has become the powerful, stirring artist collaborations brought together by the show's producers. This year, The Canton Spirituals, The Gospel Legends and The Wardlaw Brothers will team for the Quartet Collaboration; while Erica Campbell joins Jekalyn Carr, Latice Crawford and Lexi for the Female Collaboration. The Male Collaboration will feature Jonathan McReynolds, Jonathan Nelson, Vashawn Mitchell and Zacardi Cortez. Kirk Franklin will perform a special tribute to the late Nelson Mandela and Ricky Dillard is set to close the show.
The 29th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show is hosted by "The View's" Sherri Shepherd and "Dish Nation's" breakout star Rickey Smiley. For the second time consecutive year, the Stellar Awards will air live on the UP Television Network from its new home at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 at 7 p.m. EST.
The Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication in over 200 television markets from Jan. 25 - March 22. The red carpet hosted by Tye Tribbett will air online prior to the telecast covering the glitz and glamour of the celebrity arrivals.
In addition to a new location, the show has launched a new online contest, the "Take Me to the Stellar Awards Emerging Artist Competition." Via a free downloadable app, aspiring singers and songwriters are invited to submit material to compete for a chance to win a trip to The Stellar Awards, walk the red carpet and to perform their winning entry live at an event during the awards weekend. The entry fee is $8.99 and entries must be received by January 10, 2014. For more information on the competition visit: http://www.takemetothestellarawards.com.
An annual highlight of the Stellar Awards is the acknowledgement of special honorees, which this year include Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who will receive the Thomas A. Dorsey Notable Achievement Award for her career accomplishments working on Capitol Hill and Hezekiah Walker will be honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the Gospel music industry. Reverend Maceo Woods will receive the Chevrolet Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, presented by its name sake.
Additional Stellar Awards presenters include Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price, David & Tamela Mann, Tye Tribbett, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Kierra Sheard and more.
Prior to the Stellar Awards broadcast,The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show will be held on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 at the Andrew Jackson Hall to announce winners of the non-televised awards categories. Tickets for this event are $10.00 for Sagma members and $12.50 for non-Sagma members, and can be purchased at tpac.org. The event will be hosted by Richard Smallwood and Michelle Williams, with performances by Earnest Pugh, Anita Wilson, Beverly Crawford and Kevin Vasser to name a few.
Additionally, The Stellar Awards Gospel Radio Award & Showcase will be held the morning of January 18 to honor the top radio stations serving Gospel music audiences. The cast of Bravo's hit docu-series "Thicker Than Water" will host the showcase. Ben Tankard, Jewel Tankard and the entire Tankard clan will be on-hand to help kick-off the Stellar Awards.
The live show at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium is open to the public and tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com) for all public events. Ticket prices range from $55 - $200. In addition, balcony seats are available for students for $35.
For additional details, visit the Stellar Awards website (www.thestellarawards.com). To join the conversation on social media and receive up-to-the minute updates on this year's show, "Like" The Stellar Awards on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/StellarAwards) and follow the Stellars on Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheStellars) and Instagram (www.Instagram.com/TheStellars)
Gospel Artists Raise Voices in National Singing Competition
December 23
2013
Gospel Artists Raise Voices in National Singing Competition
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Most Powerful Voices gospel singing competition, presented in conjunction with television network UP, returns in search of dynamic gospel performers who will raise stroke awareness particularly in the African-American community through the power of music.
The online competition is open to independent artists, groups and choirs who sing gospel, praise, worship and holy hip-hop. This is the fifth year of Most Powerful Voices and the fifth year the contest has been presented by UP.
Participants can visit mostpowerfulvoices.org and upload a video or MP3 file of their performance between now and March 2. Voting is live and fans have until April 28 to vote.
Public votes will determine the top 10 artists. Industry experts such as RCA Inspiration Artist Latice Crawford, A&R executives and a Roland Corporation musicality expert will review the top 10 and select the winner.
More than 100,000 African-Americans will suffer a new or reoccurring stroke this year, which is why those who register to compete or vote will receive potentially lifesaving stroke information.
"Stroke is a leading cause of severe, long-term disability and death for all Americans, and African-Americans are at increased risk due to higher prevalence of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and previous heart attack and/or stroke," said Dr. Rani Whitfield, a family practitioner in Baton Rouge, La., and an American Stroke Association spokesperson. "We need to reach as many people as possible to help them to reduce their risk and to know what to do in a stroke emergency to help improve stroke outcomes."
The winner will be announced May 23 and will receive:
A performance opportunity at a 2015 Stellar Awards Weekend Showcase (travel and hotel provided by RCA Inspiration)
$1,500 cash prize
$3,500 of vocal performance equipment from Roland Corporation
Personal coaching session with renowned RCA Inspiration Artist Deon Kipping
A Digital Download of the Week from UP
National recognition on UPtv.com
Most Powerful Voices is an initiative of the American Stroke Association's Power To End Stroke cause campaign aimed at African-Americans, who are disproportionately affected by stroke.
Contest participants must be 18 or older. For more information and to register, visit mostpowerfulvoices.org.
SOURCE American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
Gospel Artists Raise Voices in National Singing Competition
Posted in: Interviews, News, Stars
EXCLUSIVE: Latice Crawford Is Cooking Up Functional Gospel For Debut Album
Written by Kelley L. Carter
Posted 11/01/13
Tags: BET's Sunday Best, Latice Crawford, Latice Crawford and debut album, Latice Crawford and Sunday Best, Sunday Best
Since walking off that BET stage years ago as a finalist on hit show Sunday Best, gospel music fans have been craving music from Latice Crawford.
Dubbed as the Whitney Houston of gospel music, she’s made fans wait years for her debut album. Have a wee bit more patience, because it’ll finally be released in March of 2014!
But, for a Latice Crawford-fix, we checked in with the powerhouse vocalist to get an idea about what she plans on serving up on her RCA Inspiration debut album.
You mentioned that lyrics are important to you, more than beats …
I always wanted something that was full of strong lyrics. Donald Lawrence said something to me when I was on Sunday Best, he said that it’s not so much what people hear but what they feel. With the lyric of a song, you feel something. Like laughing, you remember that feeling that you felt when you heard a song. There are songs now that when I hear them I think about a certain memory where something may have happened at a certain time, and every time I hear that same song I think about that moment and that memory. Music creates long-lasting memories.
Gospel music can be a challenge. There always will be an audience, but the trick is getting it into mainstream ears. What’s your strategy?
See, I write about some circumstances. I’ve been in church all my life and I’m very much a firm believer that a lot of times people on the outside looking in think that church people don’t have the same problems that they do. People don’t think that we go through the same temptations or the same struggles. But we go through the same trials, the same temptations, the same struggles with friends, the same battles that the world goes through. We don’t talk about it … we always preach about or talk about how great God is and how amazing this is and how He did such great things for you. But we don’t really seem to talk about that time when we’re waiting for those blessings to come, and we’re frustrated and irritated and we try to do it on our own. I’m a firm believer there are a lot of people who do not go to a church, but they have a better relationship with God than a lot of people who sit in a church. There are a lot of people who pray, who live a great life and who live a very saved life … who live a more God fearing and saved-driven life than people who are in church every day do.
So is this album for those people?
Yeah. I wanted to definitely write something for people and not just the church, not just church people, but for people. To heal hearts, that’s my biggest thing. I’ve been in some really crazy relationships and crazy situations, and I feel like sometimes being transparent and talking about it with people is why four years after being on Sunday Best, why people are still listening and following what I do. I have songs that talk about those in between moments. I’ve had those in-between moments and I’ve been like, ‘OK God, I don’t know where you are, so you just stay right there and I’m a go try and handle it and see what happens.’ And when I tried it on my own, I realized, ‘OK, wait. I do need you. No, Lord, come back!’ I tried to write about those things. I write about a lot of relationships. So you know, I’ll kind of twist it and make it about God. I have a song that I’m writing right now called Back to You. It’s about a relationship that just … didn’t go well. I forsook God in that relationship. A lot of times, church people, we get caught up in our relationships. I have a different kind of gift, and sometimes when I got caught up in relationships and caught up in different things, I would lose my direction with God. And there felt like times, where God was just like, ‘you know what? You don’t get it so I’m a just have to leave you here in this wilderness until you get it.’
This sounds like very functional, everyday gospel music …
Yeah. Yeah. I would definitely say that. A lot of people are like ‘God’s so gentle with me. And, He just deals with me such sweet love.’ That’s not how God deals with me. God doesn’t deal with me in that gentle kind of way. It’s very much of a, ‘Look, I have something for you to do. Do it or, you know, hey you’ll just be stuck here or I’ll move on to someone else.’ You know? I haven’t had that story, so I don’t write those. I’m not saying that I don’t have any songs about joy … but for me it’s about finding joy. I always say this to people: ‘I’m afflicted, but I’m not affected. I would learn how to be in my situation but not be affected by it, not let it change me.
Fantastic! But we have to wait until March to get this album?
Yeah. It’s coming some time in the beginning of the year. We’re still working on it, we’re still trying to get it completely right. I want it to be something people can relate to everyday. That’s what gospel is supposed to be about, it’s supposed to be about telling the good news of God. I always try to share my experiences so that people can overcome. I didn’t go through those things for me. I went through them to heal and save someone else. I hope that it does that.
Latice Crawford signs with Verity Gospel Music Group
April 5, 2012
Latice Crawford is perhaps best known as a finalist in the second season of BET’s highly successful gospel music talent search, Sunday Best. Today, James “Jazzy” Jordan, executive vice president, Verity Gospel Music Group, announced that Latice Crawford-Spain has been added to Verity’s roster.
A crowd favorite with a small frame and a big voice, Crawford-Spain left an indelible mark in the Gospel music industry since being introduced to the nation as a contestant on Sunday Best in 2009.
About her new deal with Verity, Crawford-Spain says “I’ve waited to be here for three years, Verity was always the place that I wanted to be once I accepted the whole singing as a career thing…I’m super excited.”
“We’re looking forward to great things from Latice,” says Jordan. “She is the total package, she has an outstanding voice, she is a true worshipper, and she is a gifted writer. Latice has a clear vision for where she wants her music ministry to go, and we look forward to working with her to get there.”
“I think Latice is one of the strongest female vocalists in Gospel music. She has great tone, she’s a great song stylist, but she also has a captivating stage presence that makes her unforgettable.”~Stanley Brown, former Sunday Best music director, and Senior Director, A&R, for Verity Gospel Music Group
Crawford-Spain says that her experience on Sunday Best propelled her to pursue singing professionally. “I never wanted to sing; the effect of Sunday Best hit me after the show began airing. I would get approached by people who were transformed by Sunday Best and who talked about how certain performances effected their lives. Music is a life changer, and those stories made me want to do this for a living; they made me want to walk in my calling.”
Crawford-Spain says of her debut, “I definitely want this CD to be an uplifting album for women and girls – women are so materialized in society, I want to reiterate who we are in Christ. We have ministries and we have callings just like everyone else does. I just want a kingdom album, I don’t want it to be classified as church music, etc…I just want to do music that uplifts the kingdom and brings people back to the kingdom. I want something classic; something timeless. I want the old feeling of music back; real lyrics, real feelings that convict somebody’s heart and make them want to change.”
The daughter of a preacher, Latice Crawford-Spain grew up in the Bronx and Queens, New York. She is married to Jeff Spain, another Sunday Best season two contestant. The two met on the show. Crawford-Spain currently splits her time between Atlanta and New York and occasionally leads praise & worship, along with with her husband, at Wisdom Chapel International in the Bronx.