Not In My Family: Songs of Healing and Inspiration Now In Stores

New York, NY – It has been said that a song will outlive all sermons in the memory. NOT IN MY FAMILY: SONGS OF HEALING AND INSPIRATION is a collection of music that will surely endure in the hearts, souls and memories of the African American community as it continues to battle the devastating effects of AIDS. The CD, a companion piece to the much-praised book “Not In My Family: AIDS in the African-American Community,” presents songs from powerful voices in Gospel music including Yolanda Adams, Byron Cage, Kirk Franklin, Natalie Wilson, Walter & Tramaine Hawkins and New Direction. New Direction’s “You Can Make It” was recorded specifically for this project and is an impassioned love offering to those personally affected by this disease.

“All of these songs speak to the collective emotions felt when faced with losing a loved one to this disease, or even living with this disease. They represent the role that faith and love must play in our lives to heal the physical and emotional scars of AIDS,” says Gil L. Robertson, IV, editor of the book and an executive producer of the CD.

Vicki Mack Lataillade, president of GospoCentric Records and an executive producer of the CD, says
“a project of this scope is long overdue, but has still culminated in God’s perfect timing. Gospel music has the power to change the atmosphere of all in its range. Gospel artists and those of us in the body of Christ are uniquely positioned to essentially speak life over situations that many would consider dismal, but we have yet to do that in a collective way as it pertains to the AIDS crisis. These songs of compassion, hope, faith and love were assembled to truly uplift and encourage those directly affected by this disease, and to change the atmosphere about AIDS and African Americans from detachment and fear to understanding, concern and action.”

Two artists with songs on the CD also contributed essays to the book. In her essay “Acceptance Is a Good Thing” Tramaine Hawkins writes “I admit that at first I was afraid, but I had a greater love for my friends who had AIDS and couldn’t ignore them. The Bible says, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for those shall see God,’ and I want to see God. So I’m not so concerned about what can happen to me. I believe these folks living with AIDS need someone to say ‘I love you, brother. How are you doing? I’m praying for you.’ I did that early on.”

Byron Cage writes…“The church is one place we look to for guidance that is without a doubt homophobic. It is unfortunate that the Black church has preached for many years that AIDS is a punishment for gay people. That’s just not the case. That’s like saying that heart disease is a punishment for obese people who overeat.” His essay is entitled “Back to the Basics.”

NOT IN MY FAMILY: SONGS OF HEALING AND INSPIRATION offers encouragement, hope and compassion to a community that has been ravaged by AIDS.

Track Listing for Not in My Family: Songs of Healing and Inspiration

• Byron Cage – Lift Him Up
• Natalie Wilson & SOP – Free
• Kirk Franklin – Always
• The McClurkin Project – Healing Grace (is this the McClurkin Project or Donnie McClurkin)
• Percy Bady – Gone But Not Forgotten
• Walter Hawkins & The Love Center Choir with Tramaine Hawkins – It’s Right And Good
• Rev. Jackie McCullough – Where I Belong
• Bobby Jones & New Life with the Nashville Super Choir – I Found It
• Yolanda Adams – Still I Rise
• Kurt Carr Singers – Hold On Be Strong
• Jon Gibson – Gone With You
• Papa San – Step Pon Di Enemy
• New Direction – You Can Make It