Series Production Begins in Atlanta Next Week

 

Contact: Jim Weiss, Gospel Music Channel, 770-692-4579, jim@gospelmusicchannel.com

 

ATLANTA, March 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- On-air personality Free, former host of BET's 106 & Park, will co-host the new Gospel Music Channel television network original series Bobby Jones Next Generation alongside the man who helped revolutionize gospel music as a creator, producer, director and performer, Dr. Bobby Jones, it was announced today. The series will begin shooting in Atlanta next week; those interested in being part of the live studio audience should visit www.gospelmusicchannel.com/bobbyjones/tickets.

 

Dr. Jones and Free will share hosting duties of Bobby Jones Next Generation, an hour-long emerging artist showcase of musical performances and interviews with up-and-coming "undiscovered" performers. Gospel Music Channel, Atlanta-based Kingdom Come Productions and Dr. Jones will produce the new series together. Bobby Jones Next Generation will be seen Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT with the series premiere set for Sunday, May 4.

 

"Free is the ideal choice to share the hosting role on our new GMC series," said Dr. Jones. "She is a seasoned television personality, brings a young demographic appeal, knows the new artist world well and is an emerging artist herself. She and I will compliment each other well and viewers will enjoy our pairing"

 

Before her career in television as host on 106 & Park, BET's number one rated show, Free began showing her talent as a budding rap artist in the early 1990's working with likes of the Wyclef Jean Refugee Camp, Lenny Kravitz, and Pras, and had record deals with Elektra and Motown records and also worked with Def Jam. Most recently, Free held the position of DJ on KKBT 100.3, The Beat music station in Los Angeles.

 

It will be a busy stretch for Free who, between co-hosting duties on Bobby Jones Next Generation, will release her first album later this spring. The album will be produced by award-winning producers Missy Elliott, Rockwilder, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Pharrell Williams, Chucky Thompson, Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson, Kanye West, Clark Kent, Bryan Michael Cox, Just Blaze, Karma Productions, Bink!, Soul Diggaz and Salaam Remi. The album will be a tribute to all her fans.

 

Dr. Jones has dominated Sunday programming as the host and executive producer of Bobby Jones Gospel, seen on BET since 1980. In addition to Bobby Jones Gospel, he is also the producer of Video Gospel, which debuted on BET in 1989, the first national television outlet for gospel videos. He is the host of the Bobby Jones Countdown, which has excelled in the radio syndication industry and can be heard in major cities throughout the country. Dr. Jones is a recipient of a GRAMMY Award, a Dove Award, a NAACP Image Award and multiple Stellar Awards.

 

Gospel Music Channel is the nation's first and only 24/7 all music television network devoted to the uplifting, inspiring and diverse music that is gospel/Christian music. Gospel Music Channel can be seen in nearly 40 million homes around the country on various cable systems around the country and on DIRECTV.