According to a recent news release, in a brief time, James Fortune has amassed more hits than some artists earn in a lifetime and 15 of those timeless tunes comprise the new CD, “The James Fortune & FIYA Story: Songs & Videos – Greatest Hits” (Blacksmoke Music Worldwide) that is in stores now.
The set boasts Fortune’s gospel and R&B crossover radio hits “The Blood,” “Encore,” “I Wouldn’t Know You,” “You Survived,” and his personal testimony of becoming homeless, “I Trust You” which spent 29 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.
Fortune’s most recent No. 1 smash, “I Believe” (featuring Shawn McLemore and Zacardi Cortez), is also featured. The latter is was recently nominated for a Soul Train Award as Best Gospel Performance of the year. “The James Fortune & FIYA Story: Songs & Videos – Greatest Hits” also features over two hours of music video footage. Among the clips are Fortune’s concept videos “I Believe” and “I Trust You.” There is also live concert footage highlighting cameos by Zacardi Cortez, William Murphy and others. Now that Fortune is established and moving into new career directions, Douglas is focused on making Earnest Pugh (No. 1 for five weeks with his smash “I Need Your Glory”), Zacardi Cortez (No. 14 with “One More Time” duet with John P. Kee), Bryan Wilson and Preashea Hilliard his next big gospel stars.
