[Video] Gospel Singer JOE DOUGLASS: Featured Artist Of The Week
Oakland, CA – Gospel singer/songwriter Joe Douglass is the Spectacular Magazine Featured Artist Of The Week for the week of May 25, 2020. Joe Douglass, recording artist, producer, songwriter, and student, resides in Oakland, California. He has always had the gift of captivating the hearts of people. In 2009 he began as a music promoter bringing multi-cultural and multi-denominational concerts, seminars, and conferences to the San Francisco (CA) bay area. His vision was to always think outside the box and to reach beyond the walls of the church.
Joe continued working with some of the biggest names in Gospel music and further answered the calling to launch his own ministry – Spirit of Praise. In 2011 Joe Douglass & Spirit of Praise (SOP) became a full-on ministry movement through music and culture igniting a reviving trend of young people being led to Christ.
In 2014 Douglass & SOP recorded their first album, The Great I Am, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Gospel Chart and remained in the Top 25 for 9 weeks. Douglass & SOP have returned in 2020 with an all-new live album Journey To Glory.
Journey To Glory is produced by Michael Bereal (Earnest Pugh, Dave Hollister, Marvin Sapp, Mary Mary, Norman Hutchins) and features songs written by Douglass, Todd Galbreth, Deon Kipping, and the late Edwin Hawkins. Featured guests on the album include Lisa Page Brooks, Y’Anna Crawley, and KJ Scriven.
Douglass & SOP remake the classic hit “Praise Him” which was written by Edwin Hawkins over 50 years ago. “Praise Him” features Shelene Huey-Booker on lead vocals and is the first single from Journey To Glory.
“My desire for this album is to connect with other songwriters and pull from their journeys to create a collective Kingdom sound,” Douglass shares. “The legacy of the lead single ‘Praise Him’, from the Hawkins family, lives again 50 years later through a new generation which is Spirit of Praise.”
Listen To “Praise Him”
Douglass continues, “To have Edwin Hawkins witness, hear, and support the revamp of ‘Praise Him’ before he passed away only confirmed my desire to push forward and release this new music to the world. This album honors Gospel music history and also ignites a new sound of music from the northern California region.”
Check out the new release Journey To Glory :
After listening to “Praise Him” and Journey To Glory, we wanted to learn more about Joe Douglass.
Yimisa Brodie: In what ways has your music changed since you first got started?
Joe Douglass: Since 2011 my music, and the ways I approach creative, are more intentional now; there is a different level of confidence in being sure of the Sound God is giving me. Vocal dynamics and sounds have matured also with the experience.
What is your motivation for your art?
My biggest motivation for art would be people. There is nothing like being apart of someone’s life in a positive and meaningful way that alters the day or path to their own journey the way music can.
Who are your musical or artistic influences?
My musical influences are Donald Lawrence, The Hawkins Family, Richard Smallwood, and Tye Tribbett.
Are there any artists with whom you would like to collaborate? Why?
There are so many amazing voices I have admired for so long. To name a few I would be honored to one day work with Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong.
Do you have any upcoming projects, shows, or appearances? What are your next steps?
In June, I will host a virtual worship night with fellow Bay Area Artist K-Ross. A virtual Music Video, and once traveling is safe again the group will be able to tour in various states to continue promoting the new music.
What are your social media handles?
Twitter: @JoeJJDouglass
Instagram: JoeJJDouglass
Facebook: Joe Douglass
SOP-Facebook Fan Page: Spirit of Praise
Journey To Glory is available now on all digital music outlets and is released by Dream Label Group, Dream Gospel, Capitol Christian Music Group, and The Platform Agency.