::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

NASHVILLE — William Ray “Bill” Hearn , a highly admired and revered music industry executive who led the Nashville-based market-leading  Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG)  as its Chairman & CEO, passed away yesterday at age 58 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Hearn successfully combined an unwavering vision, a commitment to excellence, and an arsenal of exceptional talent to make CCMG the leader in the Christian/Gospel music industry.  Hearn was instrumental in the formation and leadership of that company, having played a leading role in the sale and highly-successful transition of family-owned Sparrow Records – founded by his father, Billy Ray Hearn –to EMI Music in 1992.    Through multiple acquisitions, Hearn evolved Sparrow into EMI Christian Music Group where he was appointed CEO in 1996.  The company was renamed Capitol Christian Music Group 2013.  He led the company to unprecedented success by developing and maintainin...

buzzz worthy. . . Funeral services for Joe Ligon, the legendary lead singer of gospel qaurtet the Mighty Clouds of Joy, will be held in Beaumont, TX today, Dec. 28. Rev. Jesse Jackson will perform the eulogy with Bishop Neal Roberson officiating. Mr. Ligon died at the age of 80 in Los Angeles on Dec. 11. Location and Time of Homegoing Service Antioch Missionary Baptist Church - 11 AM 3920 West Cardinal Drive - Beaumont, Texas Gifts and condolences may be sent to: Mrs. Peggy Ligon  c/o Calvary Mortuary   (  www.calvarymortuarybeaumont.com  ) 1225 South Seventh Street  Beaumont, TX 77701  Phone:  (409) 838-0159   Fax:  (409)838-0551 Along with The Clouds, Ligon was a man before his time .  He helped usher in a more contemporary sound in gospel music.  The group's biggest hit "Mighty High" introduced their style to mainstream and held its appeal to non-church goers largely due to Ligon's rock star performance qa...

buzzz worthy. . . Joan Rivers died on Sept. 4, 2014. Joe Behar called Joan Rivers the anti-thesis to political correctness in a  Good Morning America interview a day after the legendary comedian died.   She said the comic felt that being "PC" (politically correct) was killing comedy.   Rivers would let nothing kill her passion, which was to enjoy the freedom to  speak her mind.  The first woman to host a late night talk show made a career in comedy taking shots at anyone with a name.  No individual or subject was safe from her brash wise cracks.  The zingers she  hurled at her targets hurt their feelings, embarrassed them beyond the moment, zapped their egos and left even them laughing helplessly.  Joan Rivers was one funny mean girl. Ironically, on the outside she was such a lady with a decidedly feminine fashion sense. But on the inside, a ship full of cursing sailors couldn't hold a candle to the New York born comic's untamed tongue...

buzzz worthy. . . Air Force One departed through the steel Washington, DC sky en route to Johannesburg, South Africa this morning for the Tuesday funeral service of Nelson Mandela. Along with President Obama and the First Lady, on board were former President George W. Bush and former First Lady  Laura Bush , former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and the Attorney General, Eric Holder. A small U.S. Congressional delegation is expected to arrive separately. DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton will be among them. President Obama will speak at the funeral after Mr. Mandela’s family members. Other officials expected to speak on the program are United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Cuban President Raul Castro. President Obama joins more than 50 world leaders who will come together to pay their final respects to Mandela, an international symbol of peace and freedom. The members of the press gagg...

The entire gospel industry is mourning with one of their own, Pastor Marvin Sapp whose beloved wife and manager MaLinda passed away of Colon Cancer a week ago.  Today in Gospel Music Heritage Month, we celebrate the life and contributions to the gospel music industry of First Lady MaLinda Sapp.   As the executive producer on several of her husband's early recordings, some have regarded Mrs. Sapp as the backbone of Marvin Sapp's career. Today the Celebration  of Life service for  First Lady Sapp will be held in Grandville, MI and streamed live on line beginning at 12 PM Eastern.  Click here ( http://www.lighthouseflc.com/ladymalinda/ ) to view the home going service. Please continue to keep her parents, husband, and three young children lifted in your prayers. Respectfully, Mona Austin