LEADING BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT FEATURING LOUISVILLE’S NATIVE SON D’COREY ‘DC’ JOHNSON AND GOSPEL LEGEND HEZEKIAH WALKER
(Louisville, Ky) DC Entertainment Presents Derby City Gospel Explosion Workshop and Concert. It takes place in Louisville April 25th through the 27th.
There will be a workshop rehearsal from 6:00pm to 8:30pm on April 25th and 26th with early registration beginning at 5:00pm. This will take place at Kingdom Land Baptist Church, 1822 South 11th Street. The workshop is $30.00 per person. It includes a folder with lyrics to all the songs being performed during the concert. You must participate in the workshop to be included in the concert. For information about how you can be a part of the workshop, contact Dionte Colbert at 502-650-6309.
Then on Saturday, April 27th at St. Stephen Baptist Church, 1018 South 15th Street at 6:00pm with doors opening at 5:00pm you will get to witness the anointed voices of Grammy Award winning Gospel music legend Hezekiah Walker as the special guest for the evening. America’s Got Talent, Season 18 Finalist and Louisville native D’Corey Johnson will be the host for the event and will perform during the concert. Also, a part of the evening, Grammy nominated song writer Jason Clayborn will serve as the Clinician and Louisville’s own Daria Raymore will co-host with Johnson.
Hezekiah Walker is excited to come to the Derby City to worship and spread God’s love and mercy by saying “I’m still here, I’m still alive, I’m still blessed, on my way to destiny because the favor of God is on my life.”
D’Corey Johnson is a talent blessed by God and he wants to show his gratitude to the city that supported him from the beginning of his young career by sharing his growth as an artist by saying “Stop trying to live everybody’s lifestyle. Live your own, and don’t let anyone tell you different.”
The three-day weekend of praise will be a blessing that you do not want to miss. Signup to be apart of the workshop and then perform during the concert on the final evening. Come be blessed and be a blessing to others. Early bird concert tickets are $20 on Eventbrite and $30 at the door.
Please post our event on your community and church announcement calendars. To setup an interview, contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com.
The story and video that went viral of a nine-year old Louisville sensation with a special gift
By Sherlene M. Shanklin
Louisville, Kentucky
For the last few weeks, my story of DCorey (DC) Johnson has been truly an unbelievable journey. I was tagged on Facebook by several friends and family members because I do a segment for WHAS11 Television, ABC Affiliate in Louisville called The411. I highlight people and organizations who you normally don’t see on a newscast until I started doing it. I currently, have a new segment called “Your Story”. I thought he could talk to me about all of the attention he has received.
I watched the video of DCorey multiple times around 11:00 pm one night. Instead of going to bed I reached out to the Jefferson County Public Schools, (JCPS) public information office to see if I could get permission to go into Bates Elementary School to speak to the student and his parents.
The first story on DCorey Johnson before the world met this young superstar with a big voice. Sherlene Shanklin’s story #SherlenesStory
I had to move quick because I knew this child had a gift and I wanted to be the first to speak to him. I got the interview setup and was assigned a photojournalist to assist me with the story.
Everyone that knows me, know that I’m not a morning person. So, I had a hard time going to sleep. So, as I laid there watching the clock afraid that I would oversleep for the interview. I starting thinking about different scenarios. What if the third grader is actually shy and I can’t get him to talk. So, I considered a few alternatives just in case.
Well, I hate that I worried about it because there was no need to worry about this rising star what so ever. DCorey was full of personality and at one point I just let the nine year old go. He laughed, talked and one thing we all know children speak is the truth. He had no problem explaining to me who did and did not help him on his musical journey.
DCorey Johnson Photo by Sherlene Shanklin
DCorey gave me so much material to work with. I actually had enough for multiple stories. I was wrapping up the interview, I promised to follow the third grader on his journey.
As I drove home from the interview, I envisioned how the story would look and sound. Because of COVID-19 restrictions my photographer and I work from our homes but we had already discussed a game plan.
Once I handed off the approved script, I voiced the package. I sent it Phillip for editing. I felt great about the wording, my pacing and the interview itself. I knew Phillip would make it come to life.
Just a few hours later, we were ready for air. When the story aired on WHAS11, ABC Louisville my phone starting ringing from text messages, social media messages and people wanting to congratulate me on the story. I knew if I was getting that type of response I could only imagine what the Johnson family was getting.
I have a company that host events and someone texted me asking, “Don’t you remember in your KY Derby event that DCorey played young Michael Jackson in the tribute?” I remembered the amazing talent and I remember that a child received a standing ovation but I had not put two and two together.
As soon as I got a link to my story, I started to circulate. Within a couple of hours ABC contacted me and wanted to know who was this gifted child? Because I worked for an ABC affiliate tv stations all over the country were running my story. I have gotten calls Tennessee to Washington. The network used my video and script and made stories that aired on almost every show from World News Tonight to GMA3. I have received some of the craziest calls from professional sports venues to large scale prominent productions wanting me to help get in touch with the child’s parents.
I’m in contact with his mother and we touch base every few days so I can give her the messages and she shares with me what is happening behind the scenes. I hang up somedays saying “I’m witnessing the makings of a future star.” I cant wait to share more on DCorey.
You will be amazed if you watch other stations around the world use my wording and approach to the story. As a journalist and storyteller to see your work hit numerous media outlets and they keep its original form for three weeks is a testament to myself and Phillip’s work. Its hard to change when it was done so beautifully the first time.
The VIPP Report 