PREACHING LEGEND JASPER WILLIAMS JR.
CELEBRATES BIGGEST BILLBOARD CHART DEBUT
OF HIS CAREER WITH FIRST MUSICAL
CD
IN 20 YEARS ,“LANDMARK”
Down Home Gospel CD Enters The Chart At #6 This Week
Atlanta, GA: This is proving to be a landmark year for Pastor Jasper Williams Jr. in many ways. The legendary Atlanta pastor and disciple of C.L. Franklin’s hooping style of preaching, celebrates 60 years of sermonizing this month (47 of them at Salem Bible Church in Atlanta) and he also celebrates the success of his first musical album in two decades, Landmark (Church Door Records). Fueled by the a cappella radio smash “Down Through the Years,” the new CD has debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums sales chart – Williams’ first chart entry since 1985’s Good Soldier album.
He’s been called the Son of Thunder for his electrifying, sermons. From the `60s through the `80s, Jasper Williams Jr., recorded two-dozen best-selling sermon LPs such as 1986‘s I Fell In Love With A Prostitute and a handful of memorable gospel music albums. Williams is a preaching heir to Aretha’s daddy, Rev. C.L. Franklin (The Man With the Million Dollar Voice), and he discovered songbird, Dottie “On Time God” Peoples. After a 20 year sabbatical where he focused on the growth of his church, Williams is back into music on a national level.
“Down Through the Years” is a throwback to the old fashioned, Sanctified Pentecostal church services of yesteryear. After just being released a few short weeks ago, the song has stormed into the Top 100 most played songs at gospel radio. “Every time I normally preach, I hit that song and everywhere I go people cling to it,” Williams smiles. “When I sing it, they grab it.” He’s been singing the foot stomping song of gratitude with rugged field hollers and exhortations all of his life. The album is a celebration of William’s musical heritage. Amid gospel standards such as “Born Again,” “Calvary,” and other classics arranged by Salem’s Minister of Music/Producer, Kelvin A. Manson, are new songs with an old school feel by Dorinda Clark Cole’s tunesmith Derrick Starks, Bishop Means, Malcolm Williams, Morris Mingo, and Oscar Williams. In the meantime, Williams is pleased with the buzz on the album. “If I leave this world now,” he says. “I feel that God has given me a fullness of life for which I’m proud and pleased and this would be a great exit for this album to hit and make it.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bill Carpenter at (202) 506-5051 or carpenterbill@me.com
ATLANTA’S LEGENDARY “HOOPING” PREACHER
JASPER WILLIAMS JR. CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
OF PREACHING AND HIS FIRST GOSPEL CD
IN TWO DECADES WITH LIVE CONCERT/CD SIGNING
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
At Salem Bible Church in Atlanta
He’s been called the Son of Thunder for his electrifying, sermons. From the `60s through the `80s, Jasper Williams Jr., recorded two-dozen best-selling sermon LPs such as 1986‘s I Fell In Love With A Prostitute and a handful of memorable gospel music albums. Williams is a preaching heir to Aretha’s daddy, Rev. C.L. Franklin (The Man With the Million Dollar Voice), and he discovered songbird, Dottie “On Time God” Peoples. Now, the legendary sixty-six year old hooping pastor is celebrating 60 years of ministry (He began preaching at the age of six) with a CD release concert for his first gospel CD in two decades, Landmark (Church Door Records).
The release concert takes place Tuesday, July 20, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Salem Bible Church, 2283 Baker Road, Atlanta, GA 30318. Some of William’s famous friends and colleagues are expected to attend the big event. Williams’ new radio single “Down Through the Years” is a throwback to the old fashioned, Sanctified Pentecostal church services of yesteryear. After just being released a few short weeks ago, the song has stormed into the Top 100 most played songs at gospel radio. “Every time I normally preach, I hit that song and everywhere I go people cling to it,” Williams smiles. “When I sing it, they grab it.” He’s been singing the foot stomping song of gratitude with rugged field hollers and exhortations all of his life. “I told my producer `Let’s do it the old way with no music.’” It’s one of those infectious, feel-good, sing-a-long songs that radio audience will be snapping fingers and clapping to all year long.
“Down through The Years” is one of thirteen songs comprising Williams’ July 20th CD release, Landmark (Church Door Records). The album is a celebration of William’s musical heritage. Amid gospel standards such as “Born Again,” “Calvary,” and other classics arranged by Salem’s Minister of Music/Producer, Kelvin A. Manson, are new songs with an old school feel by Dorinda Clark Cole’s tunesmith Derrick Starks, Bishop Means, Malcolm Williams, Morris Mingo, and Oscar Williams. In the meantime, Williams is pleased with the buzz on the album. “If I leave this world now,” he says. “I feel that God has given me a fullness of life for which I’m proud and pleased and this would be a great exit for this album to hit and make it.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bill Carpenter at (202) 506-5051 or carpenterbill@me.com
20 YEARS SINCE HIS LAST GOSPEL ALBUM
LEGENDARY HOOPING PREACHER JASPER WILLIAMS JR. MAKES MUSICAL COMEBACK WITH “DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS”
New CD Landmark Hits Stores July 20, 2010 On Church Door Records
He’s been called the Son of Thunder for his electrifying, hooping pulpit proclamations. From the `60s through the `80s, Jasper Williams Jr. recorded two dozen best-selling sermon LPs such as 1986‘s I Fell In Love With A Prostitute and a handful of memorable gospel music albums. The pastor of the Atlanta-based Salem Bible Church is now back on the music scene with his first new musical recordings in twenty years.
The radio single “Down Through the Years” is a throwback to the old fashioned but never out-of-style Pentecostal church services of the early 20th century. After just being released a few short weeks ago, the song has stormed into the Top 100 most played songs at gospel radio. “Every time I normally preach, I hit that song and everywhere I go people cling to it,” Williams smiles. “When I sing it, they grab it.” He’s been singing the foot stomping song of gratitude with rugged field hollers and exhortations all of his life. “I told my producer `Let’s do it the old way with no music.’” It’s one of those infectious, feel-good, sing-a-long songs that radio audience will be snapping fingers and clapping to all year long.
A dozen radio station music directors started playing the song as soon as they received it. It’s getting heavy rotation on R&B stations such as WJUC 107.3 FM in Toledo and WHUR 96.3 FM in Washington, D.C. to traditional gospel stations such as KOKA 980 AM in Shreveport, LA. "Down Through The Years is a timeless, spiritual message that takes me right back home to my country church," says program director Percy Davis at WOAD 105.9 FM in Jackson, MS.
Down through The Years” is one of thirteen songs comprising Williams’ July 20th CD release, Landmark (Church Door Records). The album is a celebration of William’s musical heritage. Amid gospel standards such as “Born Again,” “Calvary,” and other classics arranged by Salem’s Minister of Music/Producer Kelvin A. Manson, are new songs with an old school feel by Dorinda Clark Cole’s tunesmith Derrick Starks, Bishop Means, Malcolm Williams, Morris Mingo, and Oscar Williams. In the meantime, Williams is pleased with the buzz on the album. “If I leave this world now,” he says. “I feel that God has given me a fullness of life for which I’m proud and pleased and this would be a great exit for this album to hit and make it.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bill Carpenter at (202) 506-5051 or carpenterbill@me.com
