ELDER EARNEST PUGH, the twin brother of Lansing resident Ernestine Rodgers, has released a new live-recorded gospel CD titled A Worshipper’s Perspective. This Howard University Divinity School graduate is a “modern day minstrel whom God has trusted with a word in due season to empower, encourage and edify the Body of Christ”.

He is an ordained minister, psalmist, actor, and first-tenor-5-octave range vocalist who has appeared on BET Bobby Jones Gospel, the Trinity Broadcast Network and has toured the U.S. with gospel stage plays “Love The One You’re With”, “Real Men Pray” and “Crazy Love”. Pugh also serves as Director of Worship for the Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Maryland under the direction of Min. Byron Cage.

The twins, Earnestine and Earnest grew up in Memphis where they attended Noah Chapel. “Music runs in the family” said Earnestine. “Our mom, dad and aunts all sang. Everybody knew he could sing even our cousin Yolanda (Adams). Our great grandmother often said Earnest was blessed with a soothing voice”.

While in the Army, “he did a concert in Washington, Byron Cage heard him, and that’s how he got to Ebenezer AME Church. It seems like he has always sung, always had a song and was always into the music”. He sang in competitions as a youth and later joined a Washington gospel-singing group called, O’landa Draper & The Associates. Some have compared his voice to other vocalists such as Darryl Coley and Smokie Norful. Vickie Winans says Pugh is a “Bad boy...watch out for this one" and BeBe Winans says "Earnest is a REAL singer."

Pugh recorded the live CD (EPM Music Group) in April at Ebenezer AME Church where Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Jr. and Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning are the pastors.

The website gospelcity.com describes the CD as a mix of contemporary and traditional gospel. Pugh co-wrote seven of the 17 songs and says, “This CD is very close to my heart because it ranges from high praise to corporate worship and even flows prophetically at one point”.

The selection So Much is a hand clapping, upbeat collaboration between Byron Cage and Pugh. If you like I Need A Word from the Lord by Yolanda Adams you should enjoy Speak to Me Lord. Praise Him in the Meantime lets you know that God can deliver no matter what so you ought to stomp your feet, clap your hands and do your dance. If You Never and Father I Worship You are also good.

Other songs include, He’s There; Holy Spirit; Holy, Holy, Holy; Just For Who You Are; Everybody Praise ‘Em; Come Bless His Name; Call Him ; All I Need and I Need Thee.

To quote vocalist Byron Cage, “You rarely find a male singer who possess vocal prowess AND anointing but Earnest combines the two. This one’s a winner!”