HOPE FOR A HIP-HOP ARTIST… DcTalk’s non-profit E.R.A.C.E. Foundation recently donated $6,000 from its Nate Tait Fund (named after band member Michael Tait’s late father) toward medical treatment for Gotee artist DJ Maj, who suffered a hip injury as a child and was unable to afford treatment. Maj grew up living with his injury and has walked with a limp throughout his life.  The physical disability was considered a pre-existing condition by insurance companies, so Maj was unable to get medical insurance.  A fellow band member wanted to do something to help and approached E.R.A.C.E. with Maj’s story.  As a result, E.R.A.C.E. has also established the Hip of Hope Scholarship Medical Account, which will assist with special medical needs in the future.  For more information on The E.R.A.C.E. Foundation, check out www.erace.com.

WEAVIN’ DOWN THE AISLE… We did a little snooping down in Mobile recently and found out that there’s more afield for Big Daddy Weave than their new album, "Fields of Grace," which lands at Musicforce.com on September 29. It seems Jay Weaver (one half of the band’s namesake) will be the first Weaver brother to tie the knot when he weds Emily Broxson on December 6 in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Jay told us that he will definitely not be working or singing at the wedding; he’s leaving that up to friends. Speaking of "Fields of Grace," the first single and title track is one of the most added new songs on the Christian AC charts and one of the “highest gainers” on the CHR Advancers charts. Look for the Big Daddies on the “Ready to Fly” tour with FFH and Warren Barfield beginning September 11. Jay will have his cell phone, Bible and PlayStation 2 — three things he says he never hits the road without.

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN… At this point in his career, multi-GRAMMY and Dove Award-winning artist Kirk Franklin has achieved more than just about any other gospel artist of any generation. But the more he achieves professionally, the more he seems to understand about the power of music to heal. On Sunday, August 31, Franklin headlined "A Night of Healing with Kirk Franklin" at the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Ft. Worth, Texas. The vision for the event, which drew thousands, came at the funeral of community leader and friend Gregory W. Spencer who was murdered on June 25. “This is my home, my city, my people," Franklin told the crowd. "There's crime, drugs and murder. You know the story. But there's peace in the midst of the storm." The event also included comedian Steve Harvey, former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders and R&B singer Brian McKnight. Look for Franklin to hit the road for a 20-city tour with tobyMac in October.

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