Phillip Carter

Stellar Award Winner Phillip Carter has been keeping busy as an artist, songwriter, producer and record label and studio owner. His expertise in gospel music has been noticed by those in the U.S. as well as overseas. He will be facilitating the 2012 Frederica Gospel Workshop to be held in Denmark from Saturday, March 10 – Sunday, March 11. The event will take place at St. Michaels Church in Frederica and will also include the talents of Polish gospel pianist Szymon Markiewicz. This is the second trip for Carter (and his fourth to Europe) who is thrilled to be sharing his knowledge of American Gospel music with other countries.

In addition, Carter has been blogging about his insight into music ministry with tips for those who head and work in those ministries within the church. Recent topics include “Praise & Worship vs. Hymns”, “Losing A Generation of Church Musicians”, “The Gospel Music Industry vs. The Gospel Music Ministry”, “My Top 10 Gospel Pioneers”, and “Hell In The Choir Stand”. Readers are enjoying Phillip’s candid and informative writings and have been giving the writer kudos on topics rarely spoken of in the church. Comments like “Spot On!!!” and “Great Blog!” have been the type of feedback Carter has been receiving. The Phillip Carter Blog can be viewed by logging on here: http://www.thephillipcarterblog.blogspot.com/.

An industry leader, Phillip Carter formed the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance in 2009 to strengthen the independent label owner and artist through the power of networking and trade. In 2010, Sounds of Victory Ministries, in partnership with Earl Bynum Ministries, presented the first Independent Gospel Artists Alliance Conference. The annual small business conference focuses on the needs of Independent Gospel, Christian, and Inspirational Artists helping them manage their business, their career, and their music through education and networking. The Independent Gospel Artist Alliance Conference is sponsored by Sounds of Victory Ministries, Earl Bynum Ministries, LLC, The Mount, NEBO Publishing, Prayze Fest Gospel Hour, Excellence In Christian Music Awards, Rejoice America Radio, 3HP Records, CJBRadio.com, Gospel News Now and Yes Lord Radio. This year’s event will take place from July 19 – 21, 2012 at The Mount located at 215 Las Gaviotas Blvd. in Chesapeake, VA. For more information or to register, log on to www.indiegospelalliance.com.
- uGospel.com

Stellar Award Winner Phillip Carter and Stellar Award Nominee Earl Bynum joined forces a few years ago to form the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance. With the goal of educating and inspiring independent gospel artists, the Alliance brings artists and industry together to empower the indie community and to give them the tools to enjoy a successful career in gospel music. The Independent Gospel Artists Alliance’s premiere event is the IGAA Conference. This year’s event will be held Thursday, July 19 – 21, 2012 at The Mount in Chesapeake, VA. The 3rd Annual Conference touts some of the most experienced and respected in the genre.

Classes on every aspect of the music industry are being held including: Distribution (Thomas Rollins, New Day Distribution; Roderick Jemison, Central South Distribution/Jemison & Associates), Marketing (Ike Owens, The Adonai Music Group), The Best Practices in E-mail Marketing (Gina Watkins, Constant Contact), Artist Branding (Benita Bellamy, The Bellamy Group), The Power of Publicity (Andrea R. Williams, Tehillah Enterprises, LLC), Structuring Contracts and Licensing & Royalties (Garrett Johnson, Esq.),. Small Business Setup/Independent Label Operations (April Washington-Essex, Habakkuk Music), Artist Management (Pastor Jerome Bell, The Bell Group & Ministries), Radio Relationships-Internet (Simone Henry & Kevin James, CJBRadio.com; Reggie Richardson, Rejoice America Radio), Radio Relationships-Terrestrial (Mike Chandler, Rejoice Musical Soulfood; Wanda Patterson, WCGL Radio; Brodric Purvis, WLOU/WLLV Radio; Reggie Richardson, Rejoice America Radio and Andre’ Montell, AMIR/Omega Corp.), Promotional CD/Artwork Design (Kendall King, kkproductions), Performance Do’s and Don’ts Panel Discussion (Led by Phillip Carter, SOV Inc.) and Balancing Church Ministry & Music Career (Earl Bynum, Earl Bynum Ministries, LLC).

Conference organizer Phillip Carter is thrilled about the facilitators he’s gathered for this year’s event. “We have assembled a group of Gospel Music Industry power players who have a vested interest in educating the Independent Artists on how to navigate in and out of the Gospel Music Industry," says Carter. "For $80, no one can get a better education. Our facilitators give of their time and energy to come to this conference and pour out a wealth of truth and knowledge to our attendees".
For the first time this year, the conference will award two indie artists distribution deals with New Day Christian Distribution and Central South Distribution. Featuring 3 power-packed days of workshops and seminars, the conference will also include CD Project Reviews, Nightly Showcases, the 2nd Annual Gospel Blue MIC Achievement Awards and more. Additional details can be found at www.indiegospelalliance.com.
- uGospel.com

In order to be successful in today’s musical landscape, gospel artists need to have the necessary tools to navigate the industry. The Independent Gospel Artist Alliance, founded by Stellar Award Winner Phillip Carter and Stellar Award Nominee Earl Bynum, was started to empower, educate and motivate gospel artists. The highlight of the alliance is its annual Independent Gospel Artists Alliance Conference. This year’s event will take place from July 19 – 21, 2012 at The Mount located at 215 Las Gaviotas Blvd. in Chesapeake, VA.

Featuring 3 power-packed days of workshops and seminars, this year’s conference will tackle topics such as Distribution, Marketing, The Power of Publicity, Structuring Contracts, Licensing & Royalties, Small Business Set-up, Independent Label Operations, Artist Management, Radio Relationships, Promotional CD/Artwork Design and Performance Do’s and Don’ts. The conference will also feature CD Project Reviews, Nightly Showcases, the 2nd Annual Gospel Blue MIC Achievement Awards and more. To register, log on to the site’s website, www.indiegospelalliance.com.

- Examiner.com

Gospel artist and composer Phillip Carter has released a single of a holiday song written while he was a teacher at Parkdale High School, the Music Industry News Network reports.

Carter said he penned the tune — "Christmas is a Special Time of Year" — in the 90s while preparing for a concert at the school.

"I wanted to write a song that expressed the joy of sharing during Christmas while keeping the original meaning intact," Carter said.

The song is available for download through Amazon and other online music services.

Carter, who runs his own record label and is the founder of the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance Conference, won a Stellar Award in 2010 along with his Sounds of Victory ensemble.
- Riverdale Park-University Park Patch

::ALBUM REVIEW::
by J Matthew Cobb
Posted: July 14, 2009

With only a few appearances at the Gospel Music Workshop in his repertoire, D.C, native Phillip Carter has a lot to give and a whole lot to prove. The Washington-Baltimore area continues to rise as one of gospel’s prominent hot beds with the upsurge of artists like Jonathan Nelson (who has since relocated to Miami, Florida), Richard Smallwood, Maurette Brown-Clark, Byron Cage, Earnest Pugh and Stephen Hurd. Carter and his fleet of singers, Sounds of Victory (S.O.V.), hope to keep the tradition alive with their new project Songs from the Storm. The presentation features an interesting set of somber worship ballads (“Praising”), pop-enhanced untempo cuts (“A Great Day”, “Trust and Obey”) and the occasional ol’ school traditional workouts (“Ride Out Your Storm”). The main attempts at hurting the album’s credibility is how each song segues into the next. No, it doesn’t sound like a mix tape but the occasional fade-in and fade-out would have buffered up the experience some. Still, it’s a live recording and the attention should directly focus on the power of the songs - and this is where Carter and crew shine the most.

On “Lord We Worship,” the sweet sax echoes and the caring chorus done in Donnie McClurkin’s formulaic worship style provides easy listening. “Eternal Life,” with punchy synths and a soulful Sunday morning drive, elevates the album into a stirring worship experience ready for radio blasts. “Put Your Trust” mingles with John P. Kee’s traditional sampling and animated Chicago-seasoned gospel on the song’s closing. And what seems so unprecedented for such a young freshman, the spirit of the late Donald Vails leaps on the traditional Roberta Martin-styled, hymn-like “Ride Out Your Storm” and offers up a sincerity for the classics. But the album reaches an impressive crest with the arousing churchy sounds of “I Love the Lord.” With a quartet spunk, sparring synths and a delightful sing-a-long chorus, Carter may have found the perfect song to thrust his presence into the gospel field. While it ticks at a radio-unfriendly six minutes, the song holds the attention, sparks a Holy Ghost two-step and times the instrument breaks and ad-libs just right.

There is a glimmering jazzy element adapted into the album that resembles Anita Baker’s ‘80s productions like on the ‘80s gospel power ballad “He Cares” and the smooth, adult-contemporary flavor of “Praising;” which lyrically and melodically borrows Christopher Cross’ 1980 hit “Sailing.”

The excellent thing about Songs from the Storm is that Carter allows the vocalists to handle lead duties and definitely prove to be great leaders out front. He doesn’t hog the live recording and talk over the project like some ego-manic worship leaders and he isn’t one to bludgeon his style into one specific category. He’s comfortable writing and performing soulful material and energetic upbeat contemporary gospel - and is equally crafted in both areas. And with the healthy mix of friendly traditions and a few praise-and-worship ingredients, Carter has established a sound for himself that not only fits well on him and his aggregation, but will most certainly become a beloved addition to diehard gospel collectors.


- PRAYZEHYMNONLINE.COM

TBGB selected Phillip Carter & SOV’s latest single, “He’s God,” as its Pick of the Week for June 15 because it’s a moving, reverent performance, a “lushly orchestrated ode to the staying power of God.” It’s tagged on near the tail end of an otherwise buoyant, energetic project called Songs from the Storm by the Upper Marlboro, Maryland-based ensemble.

Songs from the Storm is Carter and Sounds of Victory’s fifth CD. The project is principally praise and worship-oriented, but the group delivers everything from P&W to traditional to contemporary in its collectively huge, robust voice. A fascinating milepost along the journey is Carter’s reworking of Chris Cross’ 1980 smash hit “Sailing” into “Praising.” “Praising” is a two-parter that will capture the attention of listeners because of its clever and liberal use of Cross’ ubiquitous melody.

Besides “He’s God” and “Praising,” Carter and SOV’s traditional performances are the highlights on Songs from the Storm. The up-tempo and sanctified “Eternal Life” is a church wrecker, complete with a Ricky Dillard-esque special section. “Ride Out Your Storm” is a bluesy testimonial to faith and persistence with harmonies straight from the O’Neal Twins’ charts. “Put Your Trust” is a traditional shouter, showcasing one of many lead vocalists who make the project all the more interesting.

The ensemble wraps up the project with an exciting handclapper called “I Love the Lord." It's a medley of classic hymns, including a couple from Doc Watts, sung in congregational style and backed by a quartet kick beat.

Songs from the Storm is an appealing listen that will resonate with P&W fans with enough trad energy to attract enthusiasts of old-school (e.g., 1980s) choir singing.

Posted by Bob Marovich - THE BLACK GOSPEL BLOG

“I Love the Lord”
Phillip Carter & SOV
From Songs from the Storm (2009)
www.sovministries.com

On “I Love the Lord,” Phillip Carter & his fifteen-member ensemble SOV from Maryland combine “Amazing Grace” with a couple of standard Doc Watts congregational songs. Instead of lining them out like wizened Baptist deacons, however, they deliver them with handclapping “choirtet” fervor and enthusiastic call-and-response. For their part, the musicians – especially the bassist and drummer – provide the classic quartet-style backbeat.

The single comes from the group’s fifth CD, Songs from the Storm, a compilation of praise and worship and traditional gospel. SOV stands for Sounds of Victory.

Posted by Bob Marovich - THE BLACK GOSPEL BLOG

“He’s God”
Phillip Carter & SOV
From the forthcoming CD Songs from the Storm (available July 2009)
www.sovministries.com

“He’s God,” the second single culled from the forthcoming Songs from the Storm, Phillip Carter & Sounds of Victory’s fifth CD, is a lushly orchestrated ode to the staying power of God.

The fifteen-member SOV ensemble contributes to the track, but the performance belongs to lead vocalist Phillip Carter. Carter emotes in hushed solemnity and with a heartbreakingly smooth, rich resonance, like Phil Tarver and Micah Stampley in ballad mode.

Carter and SOV are based in Maryland, where Carter serves as minister of music at Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, and is on the ministerial staff at Breath of Life Ministries in Palmer Park. He is the host of “Real Talk with Phillip Carter” on Henry Harris’ Internet radio station, www.SpiritCo1.com.

“He’s God” is a praise and worship ballad wrapped in a marvelously simple and lovely mantra-like melody. It’s a musical peppermint with a message and musicality aimed at lowering the high blood pressure of life. - THE BLACK GOSPEL BLOG