In the news|June 11, 2012 04:08 EDT
Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago’s Hit Anthem “Awesome” Jumps to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song Chart
Inspired People/EMI Gospel recording artist Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago's hit praise and worship anthem, "Awesome" enters at #1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Song chart. Jenkins is a GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter, and the writer of "Awesome." He is also the senior pastor of the historic and legendary Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. In only four short weeks, the single, jumped from #7 to #4 and now to #1. The #1 radio hit and church anthem is the first single from the Charles Jenkins Presents Fellowship Chicago: The Best of Both Worlds CD, which will be released in stores and online tomorrow, Tuesday, June 12. The single also entered at #1 as the Best Selling Christian/Gospel Song on Amazon. In May 2012, Jenkins' label, Inspired People and EMI Gospel signed an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement.
"Pastor Charles Jenkins and the Fellowship choir are an amazing gift to the body of Christ," says Tracey Artis, CEO and President of I Hear Music, a full service, marketing, radio and promotions company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. "'Awesome' is one of the fastest moving singles that I ever had in my career. I have worked with some of gospel's greatests: Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Byron Cage and Kurt Carr. In less than six months, this single has resonated with choirs, gospel lovers and consumers all over the world. And I am honored to be a part of this movement. Charles Jenkins is a forced to be reckoned with and we will hear from him and the Fellowship choir for years to come."
Today, Monday, June 11, Jenkins presents "The Awesome Experience Album Release Concert," featuring GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter and recording artist Charles Jenkins and the Fellowship Choir, along with special guests Karen Clark Sheard and Bishop Paul S. Morton. The event will be held at the House of Hope, 752 East 114th Street, Chicago, IL 60628. This CD project continues the long musical tradition at Fellowship, which released 25 albums under the leadership of Jenkins' predecessor, Reverend Clay Evans.
With the highly-anticipated radio success of this record, a diverse list of retailers are fully stocked and loaded for the release of Best of Both Worlds, including Wal-Mart (Chicago, IL) and FYE (Durham, NC); two key independent retail stores: Jaz Sound (Philadelphia, PA) and Serious Sounds (Houston, TX); and two key Christian bookstores: Potomac ABC (Washington, DC) and God's World (Detroit, MI), among various others.
On May 18, Jenkins kicked-off the promotional tour for the CD at the I Hear Music Conference at the Aronoss Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. To date, Jenkins has made promotional visits in Atlanta, GA and Chicago. Jenkins will return to Atlanta for the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Conference on Wednesday, June 27, and then head to the ESSENCE Music Festival on July 6th, 7th and 8th in New Orleans, LA. Other key promotional dates include Houston, TX (Tuesday, June 12); Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC (June 13); Philadelphia, PA (Thursday, June 14); New York, NY (June 15); back to Chicago for an in-store live performance and autograph signing at Wal-mart (Saturday, June 16); Atlanta, GA (Wednesday, June 27); New Orleans, LA (Friday, July 6, Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8); Indianapolis, IN (July 13); returning to Philadelphia on Thursday, August 2; and returning for the third time in Atlanta on Saturday, August 4.
