“As a true fan of their music for many years, this is one of the most exciting signings that I have made in recent years,” said Tommy Couch, President of Malaco Music Group. “I am very honored to bring these two stellar and respected artists to the Malaco Music Group family, and see nothing but a bright and prosperous future ahead. This new partnership represents for us the first of many steps toward building the Malaco Music Group into a major independent leader in the urban music world.”

Lionel Ridenour, Head of Malaco’s Urban Music Department, added: “We are more than excited about our partnership with BeBe and CeCe Winans, we are overjoyed. BeBe and CeCe Winans are international music superstars. They are pioneers of both traditional and contemporary gospel, as well as multi-platinum award-winning R&B music stars. We are very proud that BeBe and CeCe have chosen Malaco Music Group as the home for their new venture B & C Records.”

BeBe and CeCe’s 20 year career in music includes multiple platinum and gold albums in both the Gospel and R&B music genres, 5 Grammys, 8 Doves, more than 12 Stellar Awards, 2 NAACP Awards, 12+ charting R&B singles, and countless #1 Christian and Gospel radio singles.

Their debut self-titled album, released in 1987, nabbed both Grammy and Stellar noms and a Dove Award, only the second Dove Award to be awarded to an African American Group in the category “Group of the Year.” The single “For Always” from the album earned BeBe and CeCe their first Grammy. Their second album, Heaven, was the first Gospel album to reach #1 on the Billboard sales chart and gave us two hit singles, “Lost Without You,” and “Celebrate Life.”

“With the rich heritage of so many great gospel legends, such as the Reverend James Cleveland, The Caravans, The Major Mass Choirs from Savoy and Malaco, we are elated to continue the tradition with superstar artists BeBe and CeCe Winans,” added D. A. Johnson, Malaco Music Group’s Director of Gospel Music.

This long-awaited reunion album is a culmination of gained experiences over the last few years and promises to please the die-hard BeBe and CeCe fans and garner new ones as well.

For more information on Malaco Music Group, contact, Burton Doss, (601) 982-4255, bdoss@malaco.com

After auditioning thousands of hopefuls from around the country and narrowing down the top 20, BET’s gospel reality competition, SUNDAY BEST is close to naming this year’s winner. Finalists and single mothers Y’anna Crawley, 32, from the Washington, DC area and Jessica Reedy, 20, from Saginaw, Michigan will compete for a national recording contract, a 2009 Lincoln MKS, and the title of SUNDAY BEST during the Mother’s Day finale on Sunday, May 10 at 9:00 p.m.* The 10-week singing competition with multi-GRAMMY Award winners Kirk Franklin as host along with siblings Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and BeBe Winans as judges will allow viewers to vote for their favorite contestant and ultimately decide who will be SUNDAY BEST. Additionally, brother and sister gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans will reunite on the SUNDAY BEST stage for a special performance during the finale episode. Voting ends on Saturday, May 9 at 12:00 p.m. PT.

For more on SUNDAY BEST and how to vote for the winner, please visit www.BET.com/sundaybest.

*All times ET/PT

Photo credit: Darnel Williams/BET Networks

Exclusive question and answer with SUNDAY BEST mentor, gospel artist, songwriter and producer Donald Lawrence:
Q. Did you disagree with any of the judge’s decisions?
A. “I was torn with the decision between eliminating Zeb or Dontavious. Both are amazing singers, but I think Zeb just had a little more stage personality. But I loved Dontavious and thought he was an amazing singer.”

Q. Comment on Zebulon’s strengths and what he needs to do to win?
A. “Zeb’s strengths are that he is an amazing vocalist. Zeb also has a great personality that shows through when he performs. Zeb owns the stage. For Zeb to win the song choice is going to be really important. Zeb is going to have to own the song and the moment to win.”

Q. Comment on Latice’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. ” Latice’s strengths are not only is she an amazing singer, 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. For Latice to win, she just needs to keep doing her thing. Song choice will be important too.”

Q. Comment on Jessica’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. “Jessica’s strength is her tone! She has priceless tone. Her tone is so unique that the amount of range she has doesn’t matter. For Jessica to win she has to have a little more confidence. She has to be able to present and showcase the lyrics she is singing. And she must use her tone to her advantage.”

Q. Comment on Y’Anna’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. ” Y’ Anna’s strength is that she is just a singer. Singing is in her fabric. She owns every song that she puts her voice on. For her to win song choice will be important as well. She needs the right song to put her voice on to win it all. She also needs to make sure she doesn’t get vocally tired during the process.”

Q. Since you’re known for developing and featuring vocalists who go on to big careers, would you consider signing any of the contestants to your label or featuring on one of your projects?
A.” I think all the singers are amazing and I would work with any of them, but, if I had to choose one singer to work with it would be Latice. Not just because of her amazing voice, but again, because of the depth she puts in every song and every lyric.”

SOURCE: Torrence Glenn of BET.com.
On The Web: BET.com/sundaybest

The Associated Press reports that a “statement from a Los Angeles public relations company representing the family said he died at a Nashville hospice, where he had been since January after suffering a heart attack and stroke last October.”

Winans and his wife Dolores performed as Mom and Pop Winans, and were nominated for a Grammy in 1989 for their CD Mom & Pop Winans. The AP reports that the two had appeared regularly at Benny Hinn crusades and on The Trinity Broadcasting Network’s “Praise the Lord” program. Pop Winans was nominated for a Grammy in 1999 for his solo CD Uncensored.

Memorial services are planned for next Tuesday and Wednesday at Perfecting Church in Detroit where Marvin is the senior pastor.

SOURCE: GospelSoundCheck

“To be accused of these allegations, which arose out of a child custody right [sic] dispute and my desire to spend time with our children as court ordered, is nothing less than heart wrenching,” he said.

“Since I choose to say nothing negative about my children’s mother, I will make no comment other than to say the allegations are inconsistent with my character and the foundation upon which I was raised and I am prayerful that the matter is straightened out very soon for the sake of our children.”

Read entire story at CNN.com

More info at TheSmokingGun.com

Back by popular demand, Sunday Best returns for its second season this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Host Kirk Franklin and judges Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and BeBe Winans are all back together to find America’s next great Gospel singer.

Making stops in Atlanta, Chicago, and our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., Sunday Best kicks off the season premiere with a special episode dedicated to the inspiring, hilarious and even sometimes challenging audition process.

“The level of talent for the second season is going to show the world what we’ve been saying since the beginning of the series only on Sunday Best will you find true, honest talent that hasn’t been compromised,” said returning host Franklin.

Season two of Sunday Best will tape in its new home of Atlanta at Turner Studios. Each week during the hour-long competition, viewers will be treated to musical performances from the remaining Sunday Best hopefuls along with candid feedback from the all-star team of judges and surprise visits from an array of celebrity guests.

“We’re so excited about this season! The level of talent we saw was so amazing; which made it really hard to say no to some folks,” said Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary. “The viewing audience will be blessed, entertained and uplifted for sure!”

Sunday Best is executive produced by D’Angela Proctor Steed and Nia T. Hill of Strange Fruit Films, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, BeBe Winans as well as Brian Gadinsky and Arnold M. Preston of The G Group, and co-executive produced by Marilyn Gill.

The winner of Sunday Best will receive a 2009 Lincoln MKS as part of the grand prize package.

For more on Sunday Best, please visit www.BET.com/sundaybest.

SOURCE: EURWEB.com