Many remember Michael Buie from his tenure with Robert Blair and The Fantastic Violinaires. More recently, Mr. Buie has become an Actor and Producer. He still sings. However, he is really focused these days on producing quality gospel music videos.

He and James A. House have formed Platinum Productionzz, LLC. Mr. House is a nationally renowned Director, Playwright and Actor. Mr. House is also the founder of H.O.U.S.E Theatre of the Arts Group. Together, these gentlemen are committed to producing “from concept to Site Shoot to Studio Editing and Post Production, a style of Gospel Music video RARELY seen in the Gospel Music world.”

They have produced two (2) concept videos on The McShaws. The McShaws are a husband and wife duo from Oxford, North Carolina. The songs that are the subject of the videos are “Waiting For My Child” (by The Consolers) and “I Know He Can.” The videos really capture and embody the message being conveyed by each song. If you remember the Consolers’ Waiting For My Child, you know there it contains the lyric “I’ll be there on that early morning train.” Well, on the video you actually see a train. You can feel the mother being ready to board the train.

Buie and House have also done a concept video of the song “Peace In The Valley” with Lil Blair & The Violinaires. This video, along with others by Platinum Productionzz can be found at YouTube. However, the quality of the videos on YouTube does not compare to that of the video you put in your player. So, the best way to enjoy these videos is to obtain a copy from Platinum Productionzz.

Buie and House did not cut corners on putting together the videos. Their work definitely enhances the story being told by each song. If you are contemplating doing a video, we suggest you contact Platinum Producitonzz. Their prices are reasonable and you cannot beat the quality of the final product.

Mr. Buie also hosts a gospel music video program on a local cable access television station in North Carolina. Anyone interested in having their video aired on the program should contact Mr. Buie.

The Singing Stars are still “doing their thing.” With the death the legendary Tommy Ellison, there was a serious question of what would happen to The Singing Stars. Well, from a conversation with Sam Williams today it was clear that the guys recognized they had to regroup and bring in new members to still be a ‘national’ group in gospel music.

They called up one of the original members of The Five Singing Stars, Billy Hardie. For many years Mr. Hardie was the second lead singer for Tommy Ellison & The Five Singing Stars. After leaving the group, he recorded the very popular CD Call On Jesus as Billy Hardie and The Gospel Soul Brothers. He has returned as one of the lead singers for the current line up of The Legendary Singing Stars.

Guitarist Dennis Bowers also shares lead duties. Rhythm Guitarist Sam Williams is the glue that keeps it all together. He is joined by Franklin “Big O” Hardnett on the Bass Guitar, Joe Dawkins Jr. (Drummer), Dennis Da’Quan Bowers (Lead Guitar), Justin Mickens (formerly of Rev. Mathew Mickens & The New Highway Travelers) is another guitarist, and Joseph Ricks Horns (keyboard). All the musicians contribute to the background vocals.

Notice that there is now a keyboard player in the group. This addition represents a big step forward for The Legendary Singing Stars. We have often said Williams, Big O and Dennis together sounded like you were listening to a ten piece band. They had developed the right ‘plucks’ to make 3 guitars sound like a huge band section. Now with the addition of the keyboard player and a fourth guitar one can only imagine that the group’s on stage performances will be taken to another level.

According to Sam Williams, the new musicians bring youthful energy to an already energetic group and “we are blessed to have them.” The group is also working on new material. It is safe to say that by 2011 there will be many new songs from The Legendary Singing Stars.

When we received the MultiPac, How Sweet It Was, the DVD was immediately placed in the player. That started an afternoon of being mesmerized by some of the finest music from the Golden Age of gospel music. The MultiPac comes with a 32 page encyclopedia (described as a booklet). We chose to watch the DVD before reading the encyclopedia.

So, it was an afternoon of hitting the reverse button on the remote, with comments like – “Wait a minute is that Charles Johnson with the Nightingales?” “That’s James Davis, Beachy Thompson, and William Bobo.” “Jimmy Outler singing lead – wow.” “The Raymond Rasberry Singers – play that again!” Hold up – that’s Clarence Fountain, George Scott and Johnny Fields.” Notice that although many of those mentioned have transitioned to the other shore, they were being mentioned in the present tense.

The project really brings the performers ‘to life’ in a manner that is rare for vintage recordings. Yes, there are clips abound on YouTube and other video sites online, but they cannot compete with How Sweet It Was.

There are 27 performances on the DVD. Among them are The Consolers (The Grace of God), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air), Brother Joe May (Must Jesus Bare The Cross Alone), Inez Andrews and The Andrewettes (Let The Church Roll On), and Professor Alex Bradford (I’ve Been Dipped In The Water -What You Gonna Do).

The CD contains 26 songs. None of the songs from the CD are repeated on the DVD. On the CD there are artists like Sam McCray and The Fairfield Four (No Room At The Inn), Mahalia Jackson (Medley: Going On With The Spirit/Didn’t It Rain), Reverend Robert Ballinger and The Gospel Chimes (John Saw), The Georgia Peach and Lois Russell (I’m Waiting For Jesus), and Imogene Green And The Famous Davis Sisters (Stand By Me).

There is even the very rare duet with Dorothy Love Coates And The Original Gospel Harmoneettes and Claude Jeter and The Swan Silvertones singing “Coming Home.” Ms. Coates and the Harmonettes really work this song, with their signature yell, shoals and screams. Then for the last 2 minutes of the song Reverend Jeter, with vocals in the stratosphere, and the Swans’ awesome woos in the background, brings the song home.

If you have an interest in the history of quartet gospel, this project is for you. If you have never seen (with clarity) many of the groups and singers of the Golden Age of Gospel Music, this project is for you. And, if you just want to appreciate some of the best gospel singing ever, then this project is for you.

And by the way, we mentioned the booklet that accompanies the MultiPac. The 32 page historical lesson by Anthony Heilbut, a gospel music historian, serves to elevate your listening and viewing pleasure of the entire MultiPac.

There are numerous compilation projects about the Golden Era of gospel music. But, none that we have seen that matches the depth of talent and raw performances represented by How Sweet It Was.