Notes About New York & More!

Updates about my trip to New York City & the latest updates to the YouTube channel.

Hello everybody!

I’m back from an incredible (and very packed) four days in New York City, doing research and conducting interviews for the book. I hit the ground running and accomplished everything that was on my “to find out” list, learned A LOT, and had incredible fellowship with some amazing souls. I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who is either a paid subscriber here or who contributed to the GoFundMe for the book. This trip would not have been possible without you!

Early Friday morning, my brother Dr. K.L. Askew and I took a drive out to the Calverton National Cemetery to find the resting place of Rev. Louis R. Grant, pastor of Harlem’s First Tabernacle of Deliverance (and, later, Newark’s St. Paul Tabernacle) and spiritual advisor to the New York Community Choir. Rev. Grant’s voice is the first one you hear on the choir’s 1970 debut album, Faith Will Survive. (That song, “Pray For Peace,” is under the photo)

There’s much more to share from the trip, but I am still decompressing!

I also wanted to share a few of the new additions to the #GodsMusicIsMyLife YouTube channel which is exploding! In just over a month, people have watched just under 2000 hours of these classic gospel clips. It makes me happy to see how much people are enjoying being reconnected with these moments from the past that carried and continue to carry so much weight. I wanted to share a few favorites from the last week’s worth of content—some of which connect to some of the work I’ve been doing here.

Don’t miss the late Emily Harris of Bobby Jones & New Life (then made up of Francine Belcher, Johnny Whittaker & Robin Johnson) leading “Stand Up,” from the group’s 1985 album Another Time.

I was present at this Gospel Explosion in 1994 when Albertina Walker, Timothy Wright and Ruby Terry took the stage with Dr. Jones & New Life to sing a few songs together. These were the kinds of moments that made the Gospel Explosions so incredibly special. Be sure to stay tuned to the end for Albertina’s testimony!

One of my major focuses outside of the New York Community Choir has been the incarnation of Bobby Jones’ New Life featured in this video. Kyla Jade and I have been working feverishly since 2020 to capture the stories of this important group of women: Angela Primm, Beverly Crawford, Emily Harris, Francine Belcher and Nuana Dunlap. In this clip, you get to see one of the reasons they captured the hearts of views around the world. They are joined by Vickie Winans on Myrna Summers’ classic, “God Gave Me A Song.” Click here to see my conversation with the women of New Life from last fall.

I will see you all again next week! Thank you for loving the music!