Workshop Facilitators
Pastor Prentiss E. Lewis, founder of Grambling Gospel Music Worksop is a native of Grambling, LA and the son of the late L.C. and Peccolia Lewis. As a young man, he was inspired musically by his father, who was a popular gospel quartet singer. His father also saw his musical potential and began developing and grooming him to sing gospel music. Pastor Lewis began singing publicly at the age of five. He attended Grambling High School and at the age of 15, he competed in the Tri-State High School Vocal Competition winning “Tri-State Vocalist of the Year.” His father dubbed him “The Songster”: A singer sings. A Songster interprets the songs and makes it his own. Prentiss was called by God to Preach the Gospel and he accepted the calling. In 1991, he was called to Pastor the Greater Starlight Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. In 2000, Pastor Lewis released his first album, “A Mellow Christmas”, under his independent ministry label, Treasures of Grace, Inc. Pastor Lewis’ debut Gospel Album, “Songs in the Key of Salvation”, was released in 2005. In December 2010, he released the Christmas single, “He’s the King of Kings” (which he wrote and produced). Two of his most recent songs, “Ordinary Man” and “Lord, You Are Evermore Faithful” were introduced as part of his live recording in Grambling, LA, June 2012. “Because He Loves Me”, one of the most loved songs from “Songs in the Key of Salvation”, was also penned by Pastor Lewis. In 2006, Pastor Lewis was awarded the “Gospel Entertainer of the Year Award” by the City of Carson Chamber of Commerce. He has received honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees from St. Thomas and St. Stephens Bible Colleges in recognition of his many years of outstanding service and leadership in the areas of Christian Education and Evangelistic ministry. Pastor Lewis acknowledges the grace of God in allowing him to express his deep confessions through lyric and melody.
Brother Ricky Bruce Davis, the elder of two sons, was born in Arcadia, Louisiana to Mr. and Mrs. Elson and Georgia Mae Davis. Both parents are now deceased. Brother, Randy Curtis Davis, lives in Houston, Texas. He is the father of one son, Marcus Trevino Davis.
Brother Ricky was reared in a “Christian” home environment, brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He was trained as a child in the way he should go by his parents, grandparents, extended family and the community. The influence of his early training has remained center stage in his life.
He received his Elementary and Secondary School training in Arcadia at Crawford High School and Arcadia High School. His college education included Louisiana Tech and Grambling State Universities and did further study attending additional classes and workshops.
He sang with Revis Archie and the Gospel Voices; joined the original Gospellettes in 1965; played for the Goree Gospel Singers in 1968; played for the Pilgrim Rest and New Friendship Baptist Churches in 1965; served as Music Director for 13 years for the Louisiana Leadership Training School and Monroe District of the CME Church; organized the Arcadia Community Choir in 1980 along with Mrs. Faye Millican; also organized the first Black Gospel Choir at Louisiana Tech University in 1971; organized the first City and Area Wide Choir in 1974 and has worked with it for 37 years; worked with the Gumsprings Association Mass Choir for 31 years; worked with the Springhill Baptist Church Choir for 40 years and the Zion Traveler Baptist Church for 45 years; and currently works with the Second Chance Church which is an outreach prison ministry sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Arcadia.
Some of his accomplishments and honors include: listed in Outstanding Young Men of America in 1986; received Certification in Shape Note Music from Bi-State Singing Convention of Louisiana and Arkansas, instructed by Professor Robert White; Grambling State University Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Community Service in 2001; and the Golden Globe Award in Minister of Music for Outstanding Contributions to Lincoln Parish in 2005. Brother Davis has served as musician for various mass choirs, singing conventions, weddings, funerals, wake services and special programs.
Ricky is employed by the Pine Belt Head Start as Itinerant Music and Drama Teacher in Red River, Winn, Jackson and Bienville Parishes. He is known as the “Traveling Musician and Storytelling Teacher.”
This loyal, faithful and humble servant of God exemplifies love, kindness and respect to all in his daily living. “He can walk with Kings and still not lose the common touch.” He serves God through serving his fellowman. He is a dynamic, renowned, powerful spiritual speaker and teacher.
Mr. Davis’ words to live by are: Longevity and Faithfulness
Pastor Calvin B. Rhone: has been ministering in word and song for more than 40 years throughout the United States and abroad. He acknowledges that he is passionate about music; yet purposed for ministry. He began his professional singing career at the age of eight and has shared the stage with possibly every major gospel artist from the 60’s to the present.
Many of his compositions have been performed by such notables as Rev. James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Cassietta George, Tramaine Hawkins, Daryl Coley, Bishop Walter Hawkins, Los Angeles Gospel Messengers, GMWA Mass Choir, Wilmington Chester Mass Choir, Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Mass Choir, Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers, DeWayne Woods, and many others. Congregations sing his songs throughout the country and abroad. During the 90’s, as a national recording artist on the now defunct CGI record label, he penned and performed musical works such as “Live In Me Jesus”, “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah”, “I Really Love You”, and many others. Previously, he had been recognized for such original contributions like “New Jerusalem”, (Rev. James Cleveland), “Praise The Name of Jesus”, (Tramaine Hawkins), “I Can’t Tell It All”, (Daryl Coley), and received a Dove Award with Daryl Coley for “Real” (Urban Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year). Most importantly, he is the organizing Pastor-Teacher of Hope of Glory Christian Center of Los Angeles, CA where he has served for 34 years. “I strive to stamp out biblical illiteracy and spiritual ignorance…developing people who will exhibit the glory of Christ in daily living…” is his motto and mission. Pastor Rhone has and continues to travel the country and abroad, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and song, conducting workshops, seminars, revivals and concerts. “There is no slowing down or quitting…only pressing forward to enlighten the 21stCentury with the saving, healing and delivering power of Jesus Christ!”
Minister Marquise V. Brown was born in Los Angeles, California to Minister Vernon and Gloria Brown. At a young age, he loved to sing and play music. He began playing the piano at the age of 12. He came to Grambling State University in the Fall of 2002 and began one of his life’s most important journeys as a musician and minister. He returned home in 2008 but came back to GSU in 2014. Determined to achieve one of his life’s goals, he received his Bachelors of Music in 2016. At present, he’s working to complete his Master’s Degree in the Fall of 2018.
Marquise has played for a host of churches and ministries. He has been blessed to open up for Toni Braxton. Along with his group, Gifted, he has performed with the likes of Mariah Carey, Ellen Degeneres, and recorded with Norman Hutchins, just to name a few. He currently serves as Minister of Music at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Grambling. He believes in doing all things with a spirit of excellence and with an humble heart, so that people may see God’s light in us, and therefore be attracted to Him, and not us.