ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Get ready for an uplifting evening of praise as MWR hosts the "2013 United As One" Gospel Concert Tour at the APG Post Theater, Sunday, Jan. 27.
This must-see ensemble of talent features gospel recording artists James Fortune & FIYA, Le' Andria Johnson, VaShawn Mitchell and Zacardi Cortez and is hosted by Shuckey Duckey.
Doors open 4 p.m.; show begins 5 p.m. This event is open to the public.
Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase by walk-in or phone charge only at the APG MWR ticket offices in the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center, Bldg. 3326, 410-278-4011; or the APG South (Edgewood) recreation center, Bldg. E4140, 410-436-2713.
All seating is reserved. Advanced tickets can be purchased with military ID card (active duty/retiree/government civilian/government contractor/Family members) for $20; advanced tickets for non-ID card holders is $25; day-of-show price is $25 for all.
There are a limited number of free tickets for active duty military. For more information, visit www.apgmwr.com.
James Fortune & FIYA
James Fortune & FIYA's highly anticipated debut CD "You Survived" was released in September 2004. Fortune was honored at the 19th Annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards for his hit single "You Survived" off the same album. The song also peaked as the #2 most played Gospel song in the country. Fortune received a 2006 ASCAP Writers Award and his FIYA singers have been nominated four years in a row for the Texas Gospel Youth & Young Adult Choir of the Year. FIYA has opened for artists such as Kim Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Albertina Walker and many others.
Fortune hails from Texas where he is the choir director at Higher Dimension Church in SW Houston. Membership has grown from 29 members in 1999 to more than 12,000 with 10 operative lead ministries and a host of sub-ministries that cater to the needs of children, youth, men, women, couples and singles.
Le' Andria Johnson
Johnson is a Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer-songwriter from Orlando, Fla. and winner of the third season of Sunday Best, a singing competition on TV's BET hosted by Gospel legend Kirk Franklin. Her song "I Shall Leap Into My Destiny" entered the Billboard Gospel charts at #1. Her first album, "The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson," released in 2011, debuted at # 1 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums, # 3 on the U.S. Billboard Independent Albums and #24 on the Billboard 200. The album's second release in February 2012 included seven new songs and earned her a 2012 Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. She is the first Sunday Best contestant to receive a Grammy Award.
A native of Orlando, Fla., Johnson was born into a musical family and was singing in her father's church by the time she was 2-years-old.
With the success of her first EP, Johnson became the first Sunday Best winner to release two more projects. She released a self-titled, Christmas EP in November 2011, and a second project, "The Evolution of Le'Andria Johnson," in February 2012.
In addition to her second EP, a 14 song album, "The Evolution of Le'Andria Johnson Deluxe Edition," also was released the same month.
Her top-selling singles include "Jesus" and "It's Gonna Be Alright."
VaShawn Mitchell
Six-time Stellar Award winner and Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Vashawn Mitchell soared to the top of the charts after the release of his mega-hit single "Nobody Greater" from his award-winning album "Triumphant."
In 2011, Mitchell received 11 Stellar Award nominations, the most received by a single artist that year. Billboard magazine declared "Nobody Greater" the #1 most played Gospel song of 2011 and Mitchell was named Billboard's #1 Gospel Radio Artist of 2011. Mitchell also received two Grammy and two GMA Dove Award nominations for the album and the song. His latest work, "Created 4" contains 11 songs, all of which he wrote or co-wrote. A native of Harvey, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, Mitchell recently was honored by his hometown when they named the street where he grew up "VaShawn Mitchell Street." His top-selling hits include "My Worship is For Real" and "Trouble Don't Last."
Zacardi Cortez
Cortez began his career singing with his family, The Cortez Singers, in his native Houston, Texas, but is best known for his strong vocals with James Fortune's FIYA singers. His solo album "Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction" debuted in May 2012. The single "I Believe," featuring Cortez, Shawn McLemore and James Fortune & FIYA, remained #1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart for 14 weeks. You Tube videos of "The Blood" have racked up more than one million views and made the song one of Cortez's most requested. When not recording he tours with Fortune and Gospel music guru Earnest Pugh.
Shuckey Duckey
Shuckey Duckey is the stage name of comedian Cecil Armstrong, a native of Dallas, Texas. He has appeared on "Def Comedy Jam" and as the ringmaster of UniverSoul Circus. He is known for his catchphrase, "Shucky Ducky, quack, quack," which he describes as meaning disappointment or excitement.
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