SR Gospel: Franklin, Mary Mary Earn Dove Awards, Timothy Wright Memorial, plus Gospel Top 10

Kirk Franklin's "The Fight of My Life" earned top honors at this week's anticipated 40th Annual Dove Awards.

"The Fight of My Life," Franklin's 10th studio album, picked up Urban Album of The Year where it faced competition from Deitrick Haddon's 2008 effort "Revealed".

Franklin, also host of BET's 'Sunday Best', shared the stage with show judges Mary Mary who picked up an award for Urban Recorded Song of the Year ("Get Up").

Other noted Dove winners include The Blind Boys of Alabama (Traditional Gospel Album of the Year) and Martha Munizzi (Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year).

The 2009 (40th Annual) Dove Awards aired Live! on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC) April 23.



In sobering news, Rev. Timothy Wright, known to many as the "godfather of Gospel," passed this Thursday after battling injuries resulting from a fatal car accident last year that also claimed his wife and grandson.

According to Bishop Jamison, the following services will take place in memorial of Wright:

Public viewing for Rev. Timothy Wright
Grace Tabernacle Church of God in Christ
Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Saturday, May 2nd, 12noon to 8p.m.

Sunday, May 3rd, 1 pm to 5 pm
A Nightly Musical Tribute to Rev. Timothy Wright

Sunday, May 3rd @ 7 pm
Pleasant Grove Tabernacle Fulton & Howard Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Bishop Albert Jamison, pastor

Home going Service for Rev. Timothy Wright
Monday, May 4th @ 10am
Pilgrim Cathedral Broadway & Gates Avenue Brooklyn, NY, 11221
Bishop Roy E. Brown, pastor



This Week's Top 10 Gospel Singles
(according to the weekly Gospel National Airplay chart)

1. "Souled Out" Hezekiah Walker & LFC (six weeks at no. 1)
2. "Back II Eden"  Donald Lawrence & Co.
3. "Peace & Favor Rest On Us"  Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers
4. "I Trust You"    James Fortune & FIYA
5. "Praise Him In Advance"  Marvin Sapp
6. "It Ain't Over (Until GOD Says It's Over)"  Maurette Brown-Clark
7. "Get Up" Mary Mary
8. "God In Me"  Mary Mary feat. Kierra Kiki Sheard
9. "Praise Him Now"  Kierra Sheard
10. "Justified" Smokie Norful


Inspirational Song of the Week: Smokie Norful "Justified"

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