By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Gospel dynamos Mary Mary will release their new CD called 'The Sound' on Oct. 21.

Led by the urban track 'Get Up,' this will be the sister duo's first offering since their holiday album, 'A Mary Mary Christmas,' was released in Oct. 2006.

"That song embodies what the whole album is about," said Mary Mary's Erica Campbell. "It asks people, 'Why are you waiting? Why do you care what other people think?' It reminds us that your beginning can be whenever you want it to be."

The 11 new tracks featured on 'The Sound' were produced by Warryn Campbell (Mario/Luther Vandross), who has overseen production along with Mary Mary on their previous chart-topping releases.

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Gospel superstar Kurt Carr will unveil his latest offering, 'Just The Beginning,' on Oct. 28 and the self-contained talent promises this CD will produce more music that will become staples in churches all over the world.

On June 9 in the BV Buzz ('Gone Global: Gospel Guru Kurt Carr Readies New Recording'), I ran a feature announcing Carr's plans to begin recording this CD, which has since become a double-disc. The one-time James Cleveland protégé told me then that his music always comes together just before his deadline approaches.

"My real juices and creativity start flowing at the ninth hour. I don't know why, but it just does. God starts to speak to me," he said.

I caught up with the self-contained talent – he's a singer, songwriter, producer and arranger – during a recent performance during Bishop T.D. Jakes' 'Pastors Conference' in Washington, DC and Carr told me that he's eager for gospel consumers to hear this new album.

"Its just good church music," he explained. "The [' One Church '] album was a thematic album; it was a stretch. We had bagpipes, accordion- sounds that have never been associated with Gospel music. The songs on 'Just The Beginning' are very singer-friendly, very congregational. This time, I'm going back to my roots."

'Just The Beginning' is being led by the first single, 'Peace & Favor Rest On Us,' an energetic tune bound to be a new church classic. (I had an amazing YouTube clip of the performance from Zomba Gospel's showcase during the Gospel Music Workshop of American last month in Nashville, but an overzealous digital watchdog at Zomba tried to cause some problems with YouTube over the clip so I took it down.)

Known for Sunday morning anthems like 'In The Sanctuary,' 'For Every Mountain' and 'God Blocked It;' in addition to penning hits like 'Presence of the Lord is Here' (Byron Cage), 'I Never Lost My Praise' (Tramaine Hawkins), and 'I'm Still Standing' (Bishop Paul S. Morton), Carr has also announced his new Kurt Carr Gospel label imprint through Zomba Gospel.

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New Jersey based gospel talent Lance Williams hosted his annual True Worship Conference at the Christian Pentecostal Church in Irvington, New Jersey from Sept. 11 through Sept. 13.

I attended the three-day ministry gathering that included participants like Richard Smallwood, Maurette Brown Clark , Myron Butler, Dewayne Woods, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, Nancey Jackson, Alvin Slaughter, Bob Sorge, Tye Tribbett, Bishop George C. Searight & Abundant Life Family Worship Church Choir and others.

While everyone was truly spectacular, I particularly enjoyed worship guru Slaughter, whose awesome delivery and exaltation really moved the capacity crowd.

I equally enjoyed Youthful Praise. They are one of my two favorite choirs in the industry (the other one is the Nashville Super Choir), YP they rocked the house with their energetic set of praise of worship songs.

The group also had a powerful soloist named Melissa Bell who sang the Judy McAllister song, 'Glory and Honor.' Bell 's execution of this song was immaculate and her effortless ability to belt out soprano notes that would make Mariah Carey sound like a tenor, sent the crowd into hysterics.

Additionally, YP featured another soloist David McClure on its mega-hit 'Incredible God,' a tune usually sung by the song's co-writer Deon Kipping. McClure's powerfully-unique delivery of the song brought a churchier feel to the number, taking the song to an entire different level.

The events, which include a combination of classes and services, culminated on Saturday with an afternoon service where Bishop Liston Page preached the closing message.

The True Worship conference is one of the most organized workshops I've attended and Williams' staff is knowledgeable, friendly and extremely attentive.

Williams himself is a class act and by far one of the nicest guys in the business

For more details on the True Worship Conference or to get details on Williams's current CD release, 'I Live To Love You,' visit them online at www.trueworship.org.

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Quick Hits: Gospel's "Songbird of the South" Dottie Peoples has released her first CD on her own label, DP Musik Group. The album, 'Do It,' follows Peoples' last CD, 'Live In Memphis,' which was released on Malaco Records. "Since the sale of AIR Gospel, I have decided that at this point in my life, I want to be in more charge of me," said Peoples. "Through this desire, I decided to form this label with the resources that God has blessed me with over the years. I am so excited about this new chapter in my life." For more information on Peoples or DP Musik Group, visit www.dottiepeoples.com.

Beloved gospel radio veteran Willie Mae McIver will serve as moderator for the 2008 R&R Convention Gospel Brunch in Austin, Texas this week. Panelists for the event include Jerry Smith (Radio One Gospel Operating Manager), Bishop Hezekiah Walker (New York's WLIB-AM), Sonya Blakely (Chicago's WGRB-AM), John Deadwyler (Washington, DC's WPGC-AM), and Brother Larry Jones and Marcus D. Wiley ('Yolanda Adams Morning Show'). There will also be performances by Candi Staton, Niyoki and James Fortune.

2008 'Gospel Dream' winner Melinda Watts has joined the 'Women of Faith 2008 Tour.' Watts, who won the Gospel Music Channel's 'American Idol'-inspired talent competition, will tour alongside Sandi Patti, Nicole C. Mullen, 'American Idol's' Mandisa, Ayiesha Woods and others on the 16 city jaunt.