POLITICAL | URBAN | ENTERTAINMENT | GOSPEL | HISTORY & CULTURE

  Essay by Mona Austin  Packaging, Streaming, and the Staying Power of The Clark Sisters Used bookstores hold the history of collectible music. In 1983, compact discs reached American consumers, and a smaller medium set off a revolution in audio recording. Through every change in packaging since, the sound of The Clark Sisters has endured. This is a Slice tribute to their staying power and a look at how the presentation and consumption of music have changed over four decades. One afternoon, to the dread of my allergies, I stepped back in time, facing the dust-laden, stale air inside a used bookstore to browse the CDs. I was searching for nothing in particular when I wandered into the music section and spotted a piece of vinyl treasure. I quickly scanned the area to see whether anyone else was eyeing the jewel I'd found. I snatched up the LP, the medium that predates the CD, with a quiet "eek" and a slightly louder "O-M-G." I gawked at the cover of the 1980 reco...

  the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) and Washington National Cathedral announced the virtual presidential inaugural prayer service on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Then-President Joe Biden will join the virtual event hosted by the National Cathedral and the service will be livestreamed at   bideninaugural.org/watch   and  cathedral.org   with closed captioning and ASL interpretation  provided. The diverse program will include prayers, readings, blessings and hymns from faith leaders, celebrated artists and other inspiring voices who will come together to mark the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together and creates a path to a brighter future. “The national prayer service is an important tradition for our nation and for President-elect Biden, who has always been a man guided deeply by his faith. The program announced today will honor the role of faith in our country and provi...

That's Kiki Sheard, speakig prophetically in the hit lifetime movie, The clrk SIstrs, the Frit Ladies of Gospel."  SHe play hr mothr, Karen Clark Sheard, ofthe fame Detroit gospel group. Their story  i the The Grammy-winning  Clark Sisters have gone from breaking music records to breaking TV records.  Their movie, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel was Lifetime's  highest rated film  in four years.  The biopic drew 2.7 million viewers, becoming the television event of the year. Known as singer's singers, the film was by Queen Latifah, Mry J. Blige and Missy Elliott. Quick review. . . The pros Aunjanue Ellis as Dr. Mattie Mass Clark was a God-send.  Her portrayal of the legendary COGIC Music Director was exceptionally accurate.  Kiki Sheard said that Ellis captured her grand-mother's spirit so well  three ere times she wold go to her dressing room to cry. Her performance dominated the movie.  Despite being in the music ...

Caesar, Franklin and Morton honored at EMF By Mona Austin Church fans, devotion, an overflow room, spirit-lifting preaching and an all star gospel music line up: It’s Sunday Morning worship a la Essence Magazine's 16 th Annual Essence Music Festival All Star Gospel Salute (EMF) .   Gospel music sometimes gets pushed to the sidelines of major events, but here it had headline status, adding sparks to the fest's Independence Day activities. After two days of empowerment and partying, thousands packed an exhibit hall in the New Orleans Convention Center to praise. The program had the feel of mega church with world class gospotainers in tow to pay tribute to the legendary  Shirley Caesar , gospel music innovator Kirk Franklin and founder of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship , Bishop Paul S. Morton and his wife Deborah. Kirk Franklin’s words were filled with emotion as he accepted the honor with his wife, children and in-laws on the stage. ...