Keith Johnson is ‘Wonderboy’ of Black Smoke Music

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, James Fortune, Evelyn Turrentine Agee, Ernest Pugh and The Brown Boys are just a few of the country’s most recognized gospel recording artists. Kerry Douglas of Black Smoke Music in Houston is the mastermind behind t

“Last year Billboard ranked us the No. 2 most successful record label with spin count. The only company that beat me and had more spins was Verity,” said Douglas.

The CEO of Black Smoke and publisher of a religious magazine shared his winning strategies, which have garnered his label and artists enviable name recognition.

“In 1998 we started World Wide Gospel, (then) Gospel Truth Magazine about 15 years ago. My vision was to take independent artists and their careers and allow them to become household names. When I got started God gave me the plan to put it together and I used the magazine as a marketing tool for the artists. We started out doing 150,000 copies and the magazine contained a CD sampler that promoted the artist on our label,” Douglas said. With much prayer and persistence, “they became hits.”

The 40-something former car salesman, turned concert promoter, turned music mogul said, “The relationships that I built back then opened up the way for my new artists today like James Fortune and Earnest Pugh. It was a God-given gift for me to accomplish the things that I’ve accomplished.” Douglas was also ecstatic to mention that Fortune’s I Trust You was No. 1 on the charts for 30 weeks and Pugh’s Rain On Us for two weeks.

“I am the only independent label with a No. 1 song for 30 week. I Trust You Testimony just re-entered the charts this week and the phones are going crazy all over the country,” said Douglas. With over 2 million records sold, the gospel guru had plenty of advice to share with up and coming gospel artists, as well as, independent record labels.

“I look for artists that have a product together, who is working, traveling and they need me to take them to the next level. I don’t develop artists, I take them to the next level. I think record companies are the marketing end and they make a household brand,” Douglas said.

“We are living in a digital world and if we are to survive in this business and move forward we definitely must specialize in the digital age. In order to survive, we must specialize in digital. … On the physical side as far as gospel, we need to market products through the church book stores. If the gospel community wants to continue to receive music, we must create a new gospel channel and its distribution must be laid through the faith based church.”

Douglas’s most recent project is a CD compilation and DVD of the Kerry Douglas Show, which is available at Walmart.

“Content is king-is our message. We develop content and figure out how to get it to the masses-music, ministry or whatever,” Douglas said.

Gospel diva Pam Morris recently retired from city government and is rewired with her company, Morris & Associates. The radio personality and CEO is preparing an “An Evening of Inspiration” Sunday featuring Andrea Morris with special guests including 12-year-old Denzel Talison, John Morris and Sheryl Sawyer McGill. The event takes place at the Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church, 600 E. 35th St., at 6 p.m. The admission is free and proceeds from donations will benefit Morris & Associates “Inspired to Learn” Educational program.

Happy birthday blessings to Donald Lawrence and national talk show host and attorney, Warren Ballentine.

“Remember you are Blessed by the Best!”

Effie Rolfe is a radio personality and the religion entertainment columnist for the Chicago Defender. Email her at effie@theinspirationalcafe.com.