Gospel Supreme 2008 was indeed a night of Christian dignity and gospel elegance.
According to the founder and pastor of Christian Tabernacle, the Rev. Maceo Woods, “The idea was to start on time and do things with excellence...not to take away from the spirit...but I wanted to leave a legacy where people would have an appreciation for an evening that had been well planned,” Woods said.
This was the 46th year that this extravagant affair has been produced by the legendary musician.
“We were the first to go to the Arie Crown Theater before it burned down and they rebuilt. We continued after they rebuilt, and we were the first to take it (Gospel Supreme) to the Civic Opera House. We also went to the Auditorium Theater and the Bismarck Theater,” he said.
Reminiscing on his first Gospel Supreme event, Woods said, “We really started in 1963 at DuSable. The very first one…we had James Cleveland, Billy Preston and Mahalia Jackson, and that’s sort of where it started.”
This year’s musical lineup was quite impressive as well, featuring Sarah Jordan Powell, The Barrett Sisters, The Caravans, Douglas Miller and the Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir.
“The idea was ole’ school inspiration and new school education,” Woods said. “However, I told Deandre (Patterson)…he is the last of the old school, good equilibrium. A lot of youngsters are more into performance. Not taking anything from them. For them it’s more excitement, and as they mature, they become more experienced.”
Woods is proud of continued diligence in presenting the annual event that his organizing committee gives.
As the program continued to grow, the pastor and the committee expanded the event to include awards.
“We started giving out awards in 1992. Those we observed had labored in Christian work, and we thought the Gold Star Award would show appreciation for their labor,” Woods said.
This year, the honorees included luminaries such as Janet Sutton, Pastor T.L. Barrett Jr., William Smith, Jr., Roland Chapman, Paulette Bush, Rev. Dr. Stanley Keeble, Jerome Burke, Yvonne Wesley, James McCray, Janice White and the Rev. Dr. Booker Person.
And as Woods has labored in the ministry
and gospel industry, he has the faithful support
of an excellent musical staff including
Elder George Jordan who wrote the classic
"Jesus Can Work It Out."
Additionally, Doris Sykes, Feranda Williams Nero,The Carson Sisters (Linda, Sylvia and Marla) and the late Melvin Smothers. Also, missing from this year’s Gospel Supreme was Billy Carson who “was an integral part of Gospel Supreme, and he will definitely be missed. However, he has trained youngsters who are at the church to take on the role. Also, Mario Sanders worked with Billy and is now a consultant,” Woods said.
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On the hills of a recent divorce, Bishop Thomas Weeks III is launching an online reality show in search of a wife. Weeks’ divorce to Dr. Juanita Bynum was finalized just months ago after the couples’ six-year marriage ended due to a highly publicized alleged altercation. Bynum went on a campaign as a spokesperson for domestic violence and reportedly serves as a regular contributor on Divorce Court.
Supposedly, the idea for Weeks’s reality show came after he was flooded with thousands of e-mails and letters from people offering advice about what to look for in his third wife. Some even offered to be his wife.
“We will probably find in due time who is that perfect woman for me,” Weeks said. “This time I’m not going to limit it just to the local church. It’s a global ministry. We’ve got to have a global search. A lady from Belgium flew all the way here to meet him. She came to the campus. She wanted to be the next Mrs. Weeks like many others who have approached me about their strong desire to be Bishop Weeks’ wife.”
The 10 week webisodes start Tuesday on his Web site.
Effie Rolfe is a radio personality and religion entertainment columnist. You can contact her effie@theinspirationalcafe.com.
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