Dorothy Norwood 2012 Recipient Of The Ambassador Bobby Jones Legends Award

Nothing short of a living legend, The World’s Greatest Storyteller , Dorothy Norwood has been entertaining, preaching, uplifting, mentoring, writing, and producing for more than fifty years.

On January 14, 2012, Ms. Dorothy Norwood was the recipient of the prestigious Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Awards at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN during the 2012 Stellar Awards taping.

For decades, millions have been blessed by her classic, “Victory Is Mine; arguably, one of the greatest congregational hymns of all time which still appears in national commercials and Hollywood feature films such as “The Help”, 5 time, 2012 Golden Globe nominated and Oscar buzz motion picture.

On March 20, 2012, Dorothy Norwood returns with her latest and possibly the best recording of her illustrious “God’s Been Just That Good.” Ms. Norwood’s signature voice is backed by the young, bright, fresh sounding voices of Isaiah Thomas & EOP (Appears Courtesy Of Good Fellas Music Group) and the result is truly a heavenly mix.

The debut single, “Just That Good”, Ms. Norwood pays tribute to her best friend and mentor, The Queen Of Gospel, The Late Albertina Walker. Upon listening, you will be drawn into worship and your hands will go up in praise.

Dorothy Norwood officially began her gospel career in 1956, singing with Mahalia Jackson, Reverend James Cleveland, and with one of the greatest female gospel groups of all time, The Caravans. In 1960, she launched her solo career with Savoy Records, recording her first album, Johnny and Jesus in 1964. This release was quickly followed by Denied Mother in 1965, earning Norwood the title, “The World’s Greatest Storyteller.” Both projects certified gold. All total, five albums reached gold status. 1971, she recorded Live with the GMWA Mass Choir of Northern California; Live reached #1 on the Billboard Charts. To her credit, she has also had three top ten gospel albums and been in the top forty fourteen times (Billboard).

In 1972, she became an unlikely opening act for the Rolling Stones’ national tour with Mick Jagger. By 2000, Ms. Norwood was nominated for the Lady of Soul Award for her album, The Lord is a Wonder. She followed that nomination with two more at the 2001 Dove Awards for Ole Rickety Bridge (Traditional Album of the Year) and “There’s Got To Be Rain” (Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year).

In 2005, Norwood won the Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for “Stand on the Word,” and was inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame twice; for her work as a solo artist as well as with The Caravans. The American Quartet Hall of Fame also inducted The Caravans in 2006 and Norwood reunited with the group to produce what would become a Billboard chart topping album, Paved The Way (Malaco). Paved The Way also garnered nominations in every major industry award group including the Grammy’s, Doves, Stellars, and Soul Train.

For nearly every year of her professional career singing gospel music, Dorothy Norwood has recorded an album.

Dorothy Norwood truly can testify that “God’s Been Just That Good!”

Sounds Of Blackness Nominated For Two NAACP Awards

The MALACO Music Group congratulates The Sounds Of Blackness for their two NAACP Nominations for Outstanding Duo Group or Collaboration and Outstanding World Music Album for their current, CD "The Sounds of Blackness" available in stores & online.
The 43rd NAACP Image Awards will air live Friday, February 17, 2012, on NBC from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET.

Please visit http://www.naacpimageawards.net for the complete listing.

MALACO SIGNS LEXI

The Malaco Music group is proud to announce the signing of Alexis Allen professionally known as “Lexi.”

Singing in her grandfather’s church since she was old enough to hold a microphone, Lexi has always understood that singing praises to God was what she was born to do

Lexi’s heart for singing led her to land a small stint as a background vocalist for the late Gerald LeVert, Fred Hammond, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong, before realizing her own destiny to have a musical ministry of her own.

Lexi met and married Michael Allen, a music producer, who helped develop her writing and vocal skills to create her own unique sound. This joint effort brought three national recording projects to date on boxing champion Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal record label making them the first gospel music act to sign to label. Her most critically acclaimed project, “A Praise in The Valley,” garnered her a Stellar Award nomination.

Lexi’s world changed with Michael’s untimely death. Having their son, Lexi was, without her husband, without focus, without direction, but she wasn’t without God.

In early 2006 an opportunity presented itself in which Lexi became the “face” of the television channel, The Word Network. The birth of the “The Lexi Show”, a one on one style talk show, became Lexi’s new endeavor. The Lexi Show proved to be a groundbreaking success for the network. Some of Black Hollywood’s elite and gospel music A-List artists have shared intimate conversation with Lexi on screen. Lexi has been featured on the BET shows, "Lift Every Voice", and co-hosted “Bobby Jones Gospel”, which now runs in syndication on the BET Networks. Currently, she can be heard reporting the latest news on Radio One’s syndicated program “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show” every week.

D.A. Johnson, Executive Director – Gospel Division for the Malaco Music Group states, “I’ve witnessed Lexi”s music ministry from afar, during her early recording years. Since that time, she has overcome tremendous personal adversity and her maturation as an artists, a woman of God, a radio correspondent and television personality is just nothing short of amazing. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to present her music to the world. Fans of her television show will be pleasantly surprised when they are finally introduced to her music. I’m excited to see what God is going to do in this season of her life”

Lexi says, “I am humbled to be a family member of the iconic recording label Malaco Records. I am honored to have the opportunity of continuing in the legacy of great singers, musicians and music.”

Lexi’s debut Malaco CD, entitled “Phenomenal,” produced by Marcus Cole (of the famed Gospel group Commissioned) will be released Spring / Summer of 2012.

The fifth season of the Lexi Show currently airs every Saturday at noon (EST) on The Word Network.