1 of 2 2 of 2
Unplugged Praise pres. by The Law Office of Richard Klein returns to Heaven 600 on February 28 and this month's performers are Dr. James Mable Jr and Bri Babineaux! The only way into this intimate experience is to win, so enter below or listen to Lee Michaels every weekday morning for your chance to win!
Being the youngest child of four with three older sisters (Alicia, Bernecia, and Crystal), Dr. James Mable Jr., who hails from Navasota, TX, has carried the mantle of being special since birth. He is the son of Pastor James Mable Sr. and Mary Harvey Mable. Growing up in the home of a pastor was not always easy, but it was definitely worth it! In fact, James gives credit to his parents for preparing him for the journey called life and introducing him to Jesus Christ!
Education was a priority in the Mable household, and Dr. Mable did not disappoint. He graduated with honors from Navasota High School in 2003 and enrolled in Prairie View A&M University. Within a six-year span, Dr. Mable received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. However, his doctorate degree almost cost him his life. One afternoon on his way home from class, James fell asleep at the wheel and got into an accident causing his jeep to flip seven times. The next year and a half was filled with struggle and determination as James continued to pursue his doctorate while being partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair with seven permanent screws in his left foot. He had to learn how to walk all over again at the age of 27! Nevertheless, Dr. Mable survived it all! His professional career includes being a music teacher in Waller, TX, a research assistant at Prairie View A&M University, an independent newspaper distributor for the Houston Chronicle, and advisor at Houston Community College-Downtown. Dr. Mable knows that his education along with God’s favor has opened and will continue to open doors for him!
When it comes to ministry, Dr. Mable knows the calling on his life- a special gift to the body of Christ. He has always been a songbird. At the age of 15, he taught himself how to play the piano. In 2000, his passion and love for music prompted his father to name him Music Director at his home church (Missionary Camp Baptist Church). Seven years later at the age of 22, Dr. Mable finally answered the call to preach. Meanwhile, he continued his passion for music by auditioning for BET's Sunday Best singing competition in 2009. Although he missed the show by bowing out in the tie-breaking final round, this experience served as a launching pad for his ministry. On the plane ride home, Dr. Mable wrote a song entitled “Dream The Impossible Dream”, which he released in March of 2015 and is available on all major digital outlets.
He soon realized that God's plans were not his plans. God was ordering his steps! In June of 2015, Dr. Mable accepted the offer to become the Youth Pastor at the Antioch Baptist Church in Beaumont, TX under the leadership of Senior Pastor, Dr. John R. Adolph. When Dr. Mable arrived at Antioch, the G412 Youth Ministry had only 22 active kids. Today, that number has grown into the hundreds.
In addition, his music career continues to flourish! Last year, he released two new singles entitled “Praise Him” and “Holy Are You Lord”. Both tracks are available on all digital outlets! In January of 2019, Dr. Mable inked his first deal with music industry legend promoter/manager Greg “Uncle G” Lyons and Uncle G Records! Dr. Mable has shared the platform with artists such Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Brian Courtney Wilson, Maranda Curtis, Zebulon Ellis, Leandria Johnson, Zacardi Cortez, Bishop Marvin Sapp, Bishop William Murphy III, Anita Wilson, Darwin Hobbs, James Fortune, Fred Hammond, Earnest Pugh, Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole, Pastor John P. Kee, Dottie Peoples, Shawn McLemore, Kelontae Gavin, The Walls Group and Gene Moore, just to name a few. In July of 2019, Dr. Mable released his first official single under Uncle G Records entitled "I'm Free". The song is available on all digital music outlets! In addition, the song charted on the Billboard Gospel Digital Sales Chart at #17 two weeks after it was released to the general public. Not to mention, I’m Free was considered for a Grammy award for Best Gospel Performance/Song for the 2020 Recording Academy! Only God could do something like this! In December of 2019, James released his first Christmas classic rendition of Joy To The World, which has gotten rave reviews!
Dr. Mable uses his gifts of ministry, music and education all over the globe to give God the glory! James has been floored by the favor of God upon his life, and he is simply enjoying the ride…
Bri Babineaux started her music career, in 2015, with releasing a live album,Keys to My Heart (2016), by Tyscot Records. This album charted on three Billboard Magazine charts. She was born on August 26, 1994, in Honolulu, Hawaii to a military father, who served in the Marines. Her father, Shawnta Babineaux, moved the family back to his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, when she was three months of age. She was raised by her mother, Shannon Miller, and her step-father, Louis Miller, who is a pastor at Life Change Ministries, in Lafayette, Louisiana. She began singing at three years old, eventually graduating from Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana as a member of their 2012 graduating class. While in high school, she was a member of the volleyball and track teams, earning a scholarship to McNeese State University, yet she only stayed one semester because her interest in athletics waned. Babineaux eventually settled on her music and academics, while changing universities to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she is majoring in criminal justice.
Her music career started in 2014, with her YouTube channel by posting videos of her singing, where they have received hundreds of thousands of views.She started professionally recording music in 2015, with her first live album,Keys to My Heart that released on March 25, 2016, from Tyscot Records. This album charted on three Billboardmagazine charts, while it placed on theBillboard200,Top Gospel Albums, and Independent Albums charts, where it peaked at Nos. 138, 1,and 9, correspondingly. (credit: Wikipedia)