Athens/Malakoff Welcomes Gospel Super Star
By: Delanda S. Johnson
Guest Writer
In a joint event, Allen Chapel AME Church (Athens) and Johnson Chapel AME Church (Malakoff) come together to bring Gospel Super Star Recording Artist James Bignon to hold its 1st Annual East Texas Gospel Music Workshop.
The workshop is schedule for
To support the workshop if you love singing and praising the Lord, you may register on the opening day of the workshop or you may pre-register. The registration fee is $25.00 per person. You may call Chris Baker, Music Director (903-519-9034) or Delanda S. Johnson (903-489-2329) for more information.
As both churches prepare to host James Bignon, all efforts
are being made to make his visit in
“Through the course of my career, I have worked with several
African Methodist Episcopal Churches, but this is my first visit to
James Bignon, who is from Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the countries most respected and accomplished choir leaders and has been a powerful force in traditional gospel music for more than 17 years.
As a workshop clinician, Bignon’s workshop consist of Vocal
Techniques, Conducting Techniques, Directors of Music & Relationships,
general sessions preparing choir for concert, and much more. It was James Bignon in 1995 that led the
10-member ensemble of the original cast of “River dance” representing
the
In 1990, his final album with the Georgia Mass Choir, “Hold On Help Is On The Way” earned a Grammy nomination.
Before organizing his own The Deliverance Mass Choir in 1991, he was one of the key elements of the world renowned Georgia Mass Choir of which he became Director of Music in 1983 at the request of it’s founder, Rev. Milton Biggham.
In 1996, “What A Mighty God We Serve” with a recording choir 400 voices strong proved to be another incredibly successful project for Bignon on Atlanta International Records. His fifth release on AIR Gospel and his first studio project, “On The Other Side Of Though” was an immediate hit. Bignon worked with the Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass Choir writing and recording, “He’ll Make Everything Alright” in 1991and “God Knows How Much You Can Bear” in 1993.
The new millennium (Year 2000) brought yet another great album entitled, “Miracle” on Zhana Records label, which was a large mass choir LIVE recording done in Atlanta and this project is still in great demand. His last release “God Is Great” remained on Billboard Gospel Charts for 26 consecutive weeks.
When classifying his music with today’s gospel artist and how he has seen gospel music change over the years, Bignon stated the “Praise & Worship has become the more favored style of music today. I have seen the transition from traditional to contemporary and now, “Praise & Worship.”
The music industries support “Praise & Worship’s popularity because is has touched so many lives and greatly increased the number of people wanting to sing the songs in churches and desiring to become Gospel Recording Artists. Traditional with a touch of the contemporary flavor maintaining it’s primary purpose like all styles of gospel music and that is, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.
Bignon stated, “ My music changing peoples lives has been confirmed countless times through the Years from one on one conversations (testimonies of encouragement, people accepting Christ, rededications to Christ, their churches, choirs, etc., letters, e-mails, and the list goes on. My music has changed and is changing lives today; that is one of the major driving forces behind what I do.”
Bignon encourages people to seek God for what His will is for your live. Study to show yourself approved. Do not be jealous of the gifts of others, love, help and respect each other.
“Be serious in your church work, music ministry, have patience with others whom skills are not developed as yours, but must of all this is God’s business. You are not singing, playing, directing, etc., for man’s sake, but you are doing it all to glorify God. Remember, take care of God’s Business and He will take care of YOURS,” said Bignon.