(March 21, 2023) - "The song, it's especially for Black History Month, they're still deciding on the first single for the album," said Emmy winning Earnest Pugh about the "Keep Hope Alive" single when I asked if it was the first single off his upcoming album on the Shanachie Entertainment imprint. "I heard about them (Shanachie) for a while. It's an artist label....they treat everyone equal too, as far as marketing."

Shanachie, the home for three-time Grammy winning Soweto Gospel Choir, saxophonist Kim Waters, Grammy winning guitarist Paul Brown and recently Keke Wyatt, is also a distributor for a impressive number of independent record labels.

"I thought it was time for a change," Pugh said when I mentioned his label EPM Music was once distributed by EOne before he signed with Shanachie. "They switched too, they were distributed by EOne...they (Entertainment One) have different leaders now with different goals."

The best selling author said his new album off of the Shanachie label will include the current "Keep Hope Alive" single, some of his hits and some new material.

"This album brings the songs performed at live concerts together," he told me. "It will have my hits...and also new songs."

Earnest explained that his fans, at concerts, always want more of his hits performed and sometimes he has to tell them, "I only have 20 minutes!"

"It features some of my best artists. Dr. Jamal Bryant does Spoken Word. Some of my mentors and friends are on it too," he said about the upcoming project that also features his artists Zacardi Cortez and Nakitta Foxx.

"It's a hard record. I tell you, it will be ‘the very best of Earnest Pugh'," he laughed a little.

Earnest Pugh, a living legend in the Gospel music realm, is an Army veteran who served 15 years in service and five years in the reserve. He is also the worship leader at The Church Without Walls in Houston.

The Billboard chart-topping, BMI Award winner's new album is to be titled "The Very Best of Earnest Pugh." www.Shanachie.com www.EarnestPugh.com