With Sparkle and "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," Whitney Houston may not have regained her voice, but she reclaimed her gospel youth, her class and an appearance of pained but persistent dignity.
"There's a lot of ways to do a live album; you can just record a few shows and throw a quick mix on it and throw it out there and if the playing is good enough, it'll hold up."
It's impossible to decide which was the biggest love-in of the day: 99-year-old Lionel Ferbos singing "When You're Smiling" or John Boutte who wrote HBO's Treme theme song.
Gospel singers of the past were not saints and their lives did not always conform, privately or publicly, to conventional standards of Christian piety. The same can be said for today's singers.
We took a lot of time picking the keys to get them in the right keys. We wanted to do some of the slower songs low because my voice over the years has become lower and richer.
I experienced the rebirth of the hope, excitement and magic of this holiday -- and of all places, where it came together for this resurrection was at the Wafi Mall in Dubai.
As I scope out Denver's upcoming concerts, checking the calendar for any hint or mention of an act associated with blues, jazz, gospel or old school soul, I am left feeling a bit stranded.
A comprehensive set of holiday music recommendations from Dog Ears Music, including Otis Redding, Spike Jones, The Klezmonauts, Keith Richards, Run-DMC, Dolly Parton, The Beach Boys, and many more.
He wanted to live to see Barack Obama elected President of the United States. What a shame that Studs didn't make it. But like Moses, he took us close to the Promised Land.