Michael English & Marabeth Jordan
Ian
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AP: >Singer Quits; Affair Reported Fri, 6 May 94 20:50
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The bombshell from Michael English came
a week after he won gospel music's highest award. He said he was
quitting Christian music, and an industry official said it was
because he had an extramarital affair.
``I feel it is necessary to announce my withdrawal from the
Christian music industry because of mistakes that I have recently
made,'' English said in a statement released Thursday.
He didn't elaborate, but Gospel Music Association President
Bruce Koblish told The Associated Press that English had told him
he was involved with another gospel singer, MaryBeth Jordan. Both
English and Jordan are married.
``The truth is not something we're happy about,'' Koblish said.
``Still, it's important to confirm what's out there ... to get the
parties along with healing their lives.''
Jordan's band, First Call, announced Friday it had replaced her.
It did not say why.
Calls to Jordan's home were not returned Friday.
On Friday, English gave back the four Dove Awards he won last
week, including one for gospel artist of the year.
The developments left the Christian music community reeling.
English's record label stopped promoting his music Friday and some
Christian radio stations stopped playing it.
``In Christian music, listeners consider an artist to have a
responsibility not only as a singer but also as a minister,'' said
Mark DeYoung, station manager at WNAZ in Nashville.
``When they do something like that, they're not practicing what
they're preaching,'' said DeYoung, who pulled English's songs from
his station's play list.
English and his record label weren't talking Friday. The
singer's phone at his Franklin, Tenn., home had been disconnected
and Warner Alliance spokesman Chris Hauser did not return calls.
Koblish said the organization would meet next week to discuss
whether it should add a morals or character clause to its Dove
Awards competition.
Baptist Bookstores said it would continue to sell English's
materials at the 64 outlets it operates in 24 states, at least
until it knows more about his situation.
``Clearly the reaction from the Christian community as a whole
is a sadness, and a marked concern over how this is all going to
unfold,'' said Jim Gilliland, Baptist Bookstores' marketing
director.
AP: >English Returns Gospel Awards Sat, 7 May 94 6:10
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Michael English returned four gospel
music awards, including the industry's highest honor, as a top
gospel official confirmed the singer had an extramarital affair.
Gospel Music Association President Bruce Koblish said Friday
that English told him he was involved with another gospel singer,
Marabeth Jordan. Both English and Jordan are married.
``The truth is not something we're happy about,'' Koblish said.
``Still, it's important to confirm what's out there ... to get the
parties along with healing their lives.''
English gave back four Dove Awards that he won last week --
including one for artist of the year -- to the Gospel Music
Association.
Koblish said GMA would consider returning the awards to English
next week since the Dove Awards have no morals or character clause.
English and Jordan had been touring together on the Mercy Tour
to raise money to build a home for unwed mothers. Jordan's band,
First Call, has replaced her, but hasn't said why.
Calls to Jordan's home and the First Call publicist were not
returned. English's phone at his Franklin, Tenn., home had been
disconnected. A spokesman for his record label, Warner Alliance,
did not return calls.
Sexual affairs may be taken for granted in most of the
entertainment industry, but the standards are different for
Christian music.
After English announced his withdrawal from Christian music
Thursday he was dropped by his record label. Radio stations debated
whether to stop playing his songs, and some bookstore managers
considered emptying their shelves of his products.
Mark DeYoung, station manager at radio station WNAZ in
Nashville, took English's music off his playlist.
``Listeners consider an artist to have a responsibility not only
as a singer but also as a minister,'' DeYoung said. ``When they do
something like that, they're not practicing what they're
preaching.''
AP: >Gospel Star Can Get Award Back Tue, 10 May 94 10:40
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- If Christian music star Michael English
changes his mind about returning his Gospel Music Association
awards because of an extramarital affair, the awards will be
waiting for him.
English shocked the gospel music community last week when he
returned his Dove Awards -- gospel music's equivalent of the Grammys
-- and said he was quitting his singing career. He cited only
``mistakes that I have recently made'' for the decision.
Gospel Music Association President Bruce Koblish confirmed what
a number of industry sources said was English's mistake: that he
had an affair with fellow gospel singer Marabeth Jordan, who also
is married.
On Monday, the association said English won the awards fairly,
so they would be held for him to reclaim if he wants to.
``The Gospel Music Association is not a policing organization,''
the association board said in a statement. ``The recent events that
have taken place in no way invalidate the voting process nor the
April 28th results of the Dove Awards winners.''
English won or shared six Dove Awards, including top
entertainer.
Neither English nor Jordan has been available for comment.
English's telephone was disconnected and calls to Jordan's home
were not returned.
Jordan's group, First Call, announced Friday it was replacing
her. English's record label, Warner Alliance, announced it would
drop marketing, promotion and distribution of his music.
The turn of events came as English climbed to the top of
Christian music popularity. In addition to the top entertainer and
male vocalist awards, his album ``Holding Out Hope To You'' was
named inspirational song of the year and his album ``Hope'' was
awarded best contemporary album.
English's R&B-flavored sound has been compared to pop singer
Michael Bolton. English was a member of the Gaither Vocal Band
until last April, when he left to concentrate on his solo career.