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[remamamama]

Tomorrow!

Gospelfest salutes Whitney Houston

Some fans of the late Whitney Houston felt a bit of a void during the closed-to-the-public funeral for the singer in February.

That void will be filled at the 29th annual McDonald’s Gospelfest at the Prudential Center in Newark as the evening will feature a tribute to the late Houston. It will be a moment for fans to show their love for Houston, a Newark native and former resident of Mendham, and her family.

“It will be a moment in history,” said A. Curtis Farrow, producer of the Gospelfest who also helped organize Houston’s funeral service in February. “We, especially us who are from New Jersey and live in New Jersey, we’re proud of our fellow New Jerseyans. We’re going to celebrate the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, our sister.”

And daughter. The day will see the first public performance of Whitney’s mom, Cissy Houston, since Whitney’s passing. Houston’s brother, Gary Houston, will lead the tribute, which will be attended by the entire Houston family, including daughter Bobbi Kristina, Farrow said.

“It’s her first professional performance since losing her baby daughter,” said Farrow of Cissy’s appearance. “She’s doing two songs and then there’s a video tribute. The New Hope Baptist Church with Gary Houston will sing ‘Let The Church Say Amen,’ which is the last song Marvin Winans sang before (Whitney’s) ‘I Will Always Love You’ was played (at the funeral).”

In February, the experience of standing outside the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where he funeral was held, or watching and listening the proceedings on TV, radio and online, was too remote for some grieving fans. The service was rumored to have been held in the Prudential Center at the time.

“We’re not sure how that got out but it was never going to be there,” Farrow said. “It was always going to be at New Hope Baptist Church where Cissy Houston has been minister of music for over 60 years.”

“She wanted to send her baby home the way she wanted to.”

The theme of Gospelfest this year is “Honor Thy Mother” and Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Vickie Winans and Steve Harvey will also perform.

There will also be a Gospelfest at Gospelfest, and this year crop of talent features a large sampling of Central Jersey and Jersey Shore participants, including the Greater Central Jersey Community Choir of Plainfield in the adult choir field; Brielle and Sauniq of Rahway in the group field; Keith Bellamy, Asbury Park; Jimmy Frage, Avenel and Naziyah Walton, Neptune in junior; Kingdom Disciples, Plainfield and Calvary Baptist Praise Dancers, Lake Como in praise solo-trio; Darryl Gates, aka “SY-1,” Long Branch, in rap; Reginald Cain, Hillside; Sharmane Gilliam, aka “Quint Essence,” Asbury Park; Diella Thomas, Jackson and Zal Walton, Neptune in solo and the 100 Voices of Hillside, Hillside and the Macedonia Youth Choir, Neptune in the youth choir category.

They’ll go up against talent from the Tri-State area.

“New Jersey is a hotbed for gospel,” Farrow said. “It’s a gospel state.”

http://www.mycentral...&nclick_check=1

[Butterflyj30]

Awww I'm glad Krissy will be there surrounded by family and friends and won't have to be alone on Mothers Day

[remamamama]

[remamamama]

At Gospelfest, big tributes for Whitney Houston
By Tris McCall/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — Host Curtis Farrell wouldn't ask for a moment of silence.

"I'm a church boy," said Farrell, "and we believe in making noise."

As images of the Whitney Houston appeared on the Prudential Center video screens tonight, the capacity crowd at Gospelfest did just that.

It was an opportunity to say another loud, long goodbye to Houston, who always considered gospel the bedrock of her sound. Nobody at Gospelfest, the annual celebration of devotional music that has become a spring tradition in Newark, needed to be reminded of Houston's deep gospel roots or her local ties. But it was still gratifying to hear her sing "This Day," one of her most powerful spiritual recordings.

Then, in tribute, Gary Houston, Whitney's brother and a singer in his own right, led the New Hope Mass Choir in a rendition of "Let The Church Say Amen."

A poised but plainly emotional Cissy Houston — Whitney's mother, and a legendary church singer — had already moved the crowd with an aching rendition of the gospel standard "Deep River." Accompanied by a small choir, Houston floated from high note to high note as if lost in a reverie. Like so many of the songs aired at Gospelfest, hers was one of perseverance through an ordeal, and a prayer for deliverance from strife. Afterward, she thanked her listeners for their cards and well-wishes. She did not mention her daughter by name, and she did not participate in the tribute.

The devout Donnie McClurkin, spunky Mary Mary, joyful Fred Hammond, wisecracking Vickie Winans, and First Lady of Gospel Shirley Caesar all raised their voices to the rafters at this year's Gospelfest. Comedian Steve Harvey, riding high on the success of his latest movie, spent his set poking fun at Christian piety. But it was that celebration of the life of the late Whitney Houston, who died this February, that drew the most national attention to the Newark event. For a brief, flickering moment, the spirit of New Hope Baptist Church descended on the Prudential Center. It was at New Hope — the storied church on Sussex Avenue in Central Newark — where Whitney Houston first sang in public, and it was at New Hope where Cissy Houston became the minister of music. The world visited New Hope for Whitney Houston's funeral, catching a glimpse of the sort of righteous fire so characteristic of the church's services.

The Houston tribute followed the three-hour afternoon talent show and competition that is, for many attendees, the heart and soul of Gospelfest. Thousands of singers and rappers from all over the nation (but mostly from New Jersey and New York) had auditioned for a chance to offer praise on the Prudential Center stage. So many applied for a slot in the talent competition this year that categories had to be reinstated. Those few who were chosen shot the works, proving again how much vocal talent is tucked away in neighborhood congregations and regional choirs. The competitors aired plenty of traditional church music -- a fiery, uptempo version of "Amazing Grace" brought down the house — but also sang gospel-influenced pop songs by artists like Sam Cooke and Adele. The more emotionally effulgent and animated the performer, the more the crowd roared; Gospelfest is no place for artistic understatement. The teen solo competitors, carried away by their passion for the spirit, broke into a frantic impromptu dance. The members of the Joy Unlimited Youth Choir from Philadelphia literally ended up on the floor of the stage during their performance.

This was the 29th annual Gospelfest and the fifth in a row to be held at the Prudential Center. Prior versions of the festival featured appearances by Dionne Warwick, Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin and other gospel stars. Mayor Cory Booker, who made a brief appearance before the main sets, delivered a prayer of his own, calling Gospelfest a signature event in Newark.

[liz06]

Thank you for the pics. I tried looking for info on this yesterday. I wonder if there is any video of the tribute? I don't see BK though, I thought she'd be there, next to Cissy. Any word on if she was there or not?

That pic of Cissy looking at the screen breaks my heart....like hardcore. That reallly got me!

[truthspeaker06]

I wonder if theres any video of this yet. the pictures are kinda haunting

[dablack11]

Although that pic with Cissy does break my heart, I also feel power in her, she's a very strong powerful woman and I can just feel it.

[truthspeaker06]

dablack11, on 15 May 2012 - 05:15 PM, said:

Although that pic with Cissy does break my heart, I also feel power in her, she's a very strong powerful woman and I can just feel it.

Very much so, Cissy Houston has endured a lot in her life & she has always come through. She is such a strong woman, I don't think she even understands the kinda strength she has.