Greater Vision’s Memories Made New Available
GMA Gospel Music Hall Of Fame To Induct Lari Goss and Others
The Blackwood Gospel Quartet Speaks Out On The “Super Group”
You guessed it... we think they're super. In other news, Happy New Year. We celebrated the new year while flying over to Texas for some early January dates. What a great way to kick off 2009, 70 degree whether, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and I think there were even little birdies chirping to the tune of Louis Armstrong's, "What A Wonderful World".
New Years Eve was a blast as well. We got to share the stage with Sunday Edition at River of Life Assembly of God in Smyrna, Tennessee. We'd like to thank Johnny Minnick for putting together, what was, a wonderful night. His church choir did a fantastic job and he ran the concert lighting himself. This added a very first class touch to everything and made it an evening to remember. It was a fabulous night of singing and fellowship and we look forward to being there again real soon.
The next, big thing on our agenda is our trip out west, which will take us to places such as New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. It's been nice getting in a good, Christmas vacation with our family and friends. However, it is indeed time to get back to work. Fortunately, we all love what we do.
Remember, our newest project is very close to being released. Keep a lookout for our first single to radio entitled, "Put The Candle Back." This particular album will be different from pretty much anything we've put out before and you won't want to miss it. Make sure to swing by a concert when we're in your area and pick one up.
Well, that about wraps things up for this month. Hope to see you on the road somewhere.
God bless,
David Mann and The Blackwood Gospel Quartet
http://www.bgqmusic.com
TaRanda Greene Sings To 22,000
Happy New Year !!! FRESH START.
Well we made it one more year I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a good time celebrating the New Year.
We all at one time or another get to a place where we just want to say, I can’t wait for the New Year so I can have a fresh start. I have said that a few times myself, life is so full of ups and downs, but these are times we can grow in our walk with the Lord if we lean on Him. If we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He is our help. God does not keep a record of our mistakes and failures, we do that but, God puts it in the past and leaves it there.
Let us start this year of 2009 with a clean slate, read Psalms 130: Cry out to God let him cleans your heart and wipe the mistakes of 2008 clean and put it in the past and you leave them there.
Start Fresh this year 2009, and make it a point to walk closer to the will of the Lord and strive to read His word more and get closer to the one who loves you the most. God is Faithful and His Mercy and Grace never fails, and His Love endures forever.
Don’t let this world get you down, the Lord is in control so let us sing the songs of Zion and Praise the Lord with our whole heart this year. Until next month be blessed and Trust in the Lord for He is our Help…..
Love ya all
BEV
http://www.bevmccann.com
Zion Music News - Jan 09
Psalm 119:33-35
33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of they statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
I love this passage! This is my prayer to God! I want to have an obedient heart…but not to just obey but as the scripture said….to do so with my whole heart. That enthusiasm must get God’s attention! Serving God is easy when your priorities are right and your heart is thankful!
What a joy it is to support the artists we represent! As we begin this New Year, our wish is that you keep the Artists who sing and minister every week in your prayers! We have a big world to reach and together we CAN!
Zion Compilation #42 has includes: The McGruders, The Dunaways, David Patillo, The Crossmen, Tim Thomas Trio, Melinda Hand, The Gardners, Randy Swift, The Cupps, Sonny Schambeau, Cherise Perkins, Lorna Brittany Macey and The Dartts!!! It is jam packed with incredible music for your listeners. You can also download the compilation online at http://www.zionmusic.com (look for the link at the bottom of the home page).
If you need assistance with Sound and Video production for your event, contact us at 1-800-883-1772. You can also check out our website at http://www.nashvilleteleproductions.com . For information regarding all Zion artists go to http://www.zionmusic.com . If you would like to contact me directly, you can email me at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
For information regarding recording, contact our website at http://www.oakvalleystudio.com or call the office at 1-800-883-1772. We would love to discuss your recording needs and how we might be able to assist your ministry.
Until next month, keep a song in your heart!
Beverly McManus
http://www.zionmusic.com
SGMG Announces New Executive Board
Records . . . Got Vinyl?
The economy has been the primary topic of conversation in America’s living rooms and in the media. Sales are slumping in nearly every industry. Many people are finding themselves in the unemployment line. The music business is no exception. It has been feeling this financial crunch for several years now. In 2007 CD sales decreased by nearly 50 percent. Last year, sales numbers fell another 50 percent from there. Despite horrific music sales, there were two areas of growth: paid downloads and vinyl record sales.
Most people are aware of the growth of digital music downloads. At this point in time, downloads are not a major source of revenue in gospel music. If trends continue as they have, this may likely change over the next 10 years.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) just released a figure stating that vinyl record sales doubled in 2008. Existing record shops in major metropolitan areas found vinyl record sales soaring and in response had to open new stores to meet the demand.
Audiophiles have long argued that vinyl sounds better than CDs and MP3s. Many secular artists are releasing albums on vinyl with a coupon for downloadable MP3s. This allows customers to have the vinyl record for home and a digital copy to burn on a CD or to load on a MP3 player.
However, vinyl does have its drawbacks. Records warp, are not easily portable and with every play, degrade slightly in quality. These limitations are minuscule for those who appreciate the aesthetic value and “fatter sound” a CD does not offer.
People listen to vinyl differently than CDs or MP3s. It is an active listening experience as opposed to an experience that is passive in nature. A vinyl record offers larger artwork and liner notes than a CD. Most MP3 downloads don’t even include artwork. If they do, it’s in a digital PDF format. iPods and other music players are convenient (and convenience sells), but they have changed the way we listen to music. iPods tend to provide background music for listeners during workouts, commutes and chores around the house. Listening to a vinyl record requires participation. After four or five songs, the record needs to be flipped over. The listener does not have the ability to make a 40 song playlist of favorites.
Record players are showing up in stores across the country. It has never been easier to transfer an old vinyl collection to CD with the USB equipped record players that have recently infiltrated the market. Teenagers are trading in iPods for their parent’s old record collections.
If this trend continues, it could be a great thing for the entire music business. Not only because the listening experience of vinyl is more interactive, but also because they are extremely difficult to pirate. There is much evidence that shows music consumption is higher than ever, however, the population as a whole is only purchasing about 50 percent of what it consumes. The rest is either traded or downloaded illegally. Will the vinyl trend continue? Let’s hope so. Maybe people will stop viewing music as a background for the mundane and realize the joy and satisfaction that comes with putting an LP on a turntable.
Steve Allen
http://www.squareonestudios.com
Dove Brothers Earn #1 Song of the Year According to SoGospelNews Top 40 Weekly Chart
The English Family Continues to Break Through at Southern Gospel Radio
Diamond Awards Online Ballot Now Available
Prayer Requested For Frank Seaman’s (Legacy Five) Son
Guess Who For Lauren Talley
The Kingsmen Celebrate a Year of Honors
The Glovers - Jan 09
A lady in our Bible study once said, “I think we are all worn out from pretending to be perfect.”
Last month we told you of the years in which Adam and I pretended to be fine; all the while our marriage was falling apart. This month, I would like to tell you my personal story. I'm Kathy Glover. Adam and I have been married 14 years, blessed with four children with one on the way.
August 2003, I remember sitting in our bedroom, pregnant with our 4th child, reading a book entitled, “Tilly.” This powerful fiction about the post-abortive woman, made me realize how much guilt and shame I was carrying from my own sinful past. These deep, dark secrets were not only destroying me as a woman, but they were destroying my marriage and my ability to be a good mother. The worst part was that my husband of nine years then, didn’t have any idea that abortions were a part of my past before Christ. I was scared to death of what he might think of me. Besides that, we were already in the midst of completing recording on another CD about God’s mercy and grace that I hadn’t fully accepted myself.
God spoke to me during this dark time in my life and placed my family and me on a journey we never thought possible. After nine months of post-abortion counseling, God is now using our past to minister to those sitting in the church today, “pretending” to be perfect and failing miserably. Please visit http://www.thegloversonline.com and listen to the song “Saving My Life,” written by Zane King and myself right after those nine months.
Next month, Adam will share his story and you will be blown away by the amazing way God has put the two of us together.
In the meantime, call us at 270-886-4833 or visit our website to have us come share our story and music at your church or event.
Don’t’ forget to call your favorite southern gospel station and request our new single, “Mercy Came Down.”
The Glovers
http://www.thegloversonline.com
Enlisted Welcomes New Members
Taj Rohr
Happy New Year! I trust you had a wonderful Christmas season. It is a time of rejoicing as we step into a fresh new year. It was a lot of fun here in West Virginia just kicking back with family and friends, sharing our favorite Christmas stories, and enjoying an endless array of Christmas goodies. This beautiful season, full of lights and love, makes this time of year very special and full of memories.
I am amazed as I look back over the past year to see how God has blessed and used this ministry. He has opened doors that I never saw coming. As we continue to pray the prayer of Jabez to “enlarge our territories” over Taj Rohr Ministries, the year 2009 looks like an even greater year full of vision, expectation, and advancement for the ministry. Currently, I am finalizing plans to launch my brand new website, http://www.tajrohr.com, and I am very excited to announce that I have just signed with Rick Hendrix Company to do my radio promotions.
Anyone interested in learning more about my music ministry or helping expand Taj Rohr Ministries by scheduling a concert or event may contact my office and speak with Mary Ann at 304-489-2132 or 304-481-6188 or e-mailing me at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
God Bless You In 2009.
Taj Rohr
http://www.tajrohr.com
It’s A Mystery To Me - Me? Adversity? Surely Not!
Wow! Can we remotely grasp that another year has come and gone? As I reflect back I remember much but it all seems like yesterday instead of a years worth. Anyway here we are to begin another year with new goals, new ideas, and new resolutions. Some I am sure we will keep and others we will not. This year I am going to try something a bit different. I am going to try to.....keep my resolutions, just kidding. No seriously. I want to offer whatever assistance I can give to those who can use, want and/or need my help.
I heard years ago David Ring ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I have thought a lot about that and I want to ask a similar, yet different, question. Maybe you have asked the same question. Why am I going through this, God? We all know the story of the man blind from birth and the people asked what sin he committed to cause his blindness. The disciples asked was it this man or his parents’ sin that caused him to be blind Those people thought, from their perspective, that somehow his blindness was a sign of the judgment of God. Those people asked the same questions that many of us ask today. Why did that person or loved one have to die? Why is my world falling apart? Why did I lose my job? Why is all of this happening to me? Why, Why, Why?
First we need to know it is alright to ask why. God can handle us asking why as long as we remember Romans 8:28: All things work together....! You know the verse. When adversity comes we tend to think, This is God's way of paying me back. Or it is my punishment for something I did. If that were God's purpose then no one would live for Him. Thinking too narrowly about adversity sets you up for needless guilt. Jesus said this about the blind man. It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him, John 9:3. There was a purpose to this man's blindness and there is a purpose for our adversities.
Adversity can be our greatest motivation for spiritual and personal growth or our deadliest means of discouragement. The difference depends on our understanding of God's purpose in adversity.
First, adversity is God's way of getting our attention. Jeremiah 35:14
Second, adversity is God's call to “self examination”. 1st Cor. 11:31, 32
Third, adversity is a reminder of our weaknesses. Psalm 103: 13, 14
Fourth, adversity is our motivation to cry out to God. Psalm 34:17
Fifth, adversity is evidence of the spiritual and personal warfare we all face. Ephesians 6
Sixth, adversity is a signal to re-evaluate our priorities. Psalm 107:20
Seventh, adversity is God's way of testing our friendships. Proverbs 17: 17
Finally, adversity is our preparation to comfort others. 2nd Cor 1:3,4
We cannot really know how to comfort someone until we have been in a place of pain. Adversity is the process we go through in order to reach out to others in their painful times. God's purpose, if you allow adversity to work, will produce a person that God can use for your good and His Glory! God loves you the same before, during, and after your time of adversity. One of my favorite verses of scripture, Isaiah 41:10. If you read it, I believe you will find strength and assurance.
I have been in much adversity this past year as many of you have. I have found, however, that no matter how difficult I may have it, if I look over my shoulder there is someone in a more difficult shape than myself. But, if we will apply these 8 principles of adversity, put them to use, and stand on the promises, we can make 2009 a better year for others as well as ourselves. There is a bit of a dissertation on our Myspace page about each of these eight principles … one new one each week. Please follow up.
I welcome your comments since this is truly just one man's opinion. Until we meet again let's continue to boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel together, Ephesians 6:19
Ed Crawford
Mystery Men Quartet
Reflection, Evaluation And Anticipation
Well it's that time of year once again, a time to reflect on the blessings of 2008, evaluate the impact of our efforts for the ministry of God, while being excited with anticipation at the wonderful things in store for 2009. As we reflect on 2008 we realize that we have witnessed first hand the fact that God is still performing miracles today. This was never more evident to us than when we learned that our very dear friend George Curnutte was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma cancer in November. While attending the National Quartet Convention in Louisville this past September, George became aware of a growth on his back and upon returning to his home in Gahanna, OH, he proceeded to explore the condition through numerous medical examinations which resulted in the before concluded diagnosis. Needless to say, we were all very concerned and alarmed with this news but our concerns resulted in our own personal prayer vigils and adding his name to countless prayer chains across the nation, the internet and churches. I am thrilled to report, however, that we have learned, just this week, the last week of 2008, that he is cancer free at the end of three different surgical procedures. We are elated at this news but we're not surprised, our faith never wavered in our petitions to the Great Physician, praise God, He is still performing miracles today. You'll see George with Three Bridges in 2009, he'll be the handsome guy in the back of the auditorium, giving us the signals to increase or decrease the volume for our listeners.
There are many more happy, fun-filled reflections for Three Bridges in 2008 but the one that brings a particularly large smile to both my face and my heart comes as a result of the wonderful week we spent in Shipshewana, Indiana. Our performances at Mel Riegsecker's beautiful Blue Gate Restaurant and Theatre were wonderful but I was privy to indulge in activities of gargantuan proportions that are of exceptional interest to me. My love for horses is no secret to anyone who knows me well, or to anyone who doesn't know me well, as well, if anyone were to exchange in conversation with me for any degree of length, they will surly be made aware of this fact. While in Shipshewana I was fortunate to meet Elmer and Margaret Schwartz and their wonderful family. Their children's names are Mervin, Willis, Jolene, Heidi and my main man Brian age 5. What a pleasure it was to spend time with this precious family. They are employed by Mel and their job is to play with his big black and dapple gray babies, his numerous teams of beautiful Percheron Horses. For those of you who are jumping ahead as to why this was such a wonderful experience for me, let me go ahead and confirm your suspicions, yes I spent three days driving two different teams of those beautiful animals, while being entertained by one of the sweetest families I have ever met in all my travels. Thank you Mel and thank you Schwartz's for a most memorable and enjoyable stay in Indiana. May I suggest to anyone who has never experienced Shipshewana, IN, be sure you do, when you consider a vacation spot or a weekend getaway, incredible experience. To step outside day or night and hear the clip-clop, clip-clop of horses hooves on the pavement was music to this ol' Texans ears.
Our new recording is complete and we are happy for our endorsement and signing with the new Homeland Label. It is great to be working with Bill Traylor once again after having worked with him when I was with the Speers. Bill is one of the most gifted marketing individuals I have ever known and to be endorsed by him is very flattering to say the least, I know it is going to be a wonderful experience to be connected with him once again. Another advantage to being signed with the new Homeland effort is to benefit from the leadership and knowledge of Bob Jones who is heading up the management team. Bob's credentials and history, his abilities and accomplishments in the music industry speak for themselves and it proves to be an insight for us as to what we can expect to glean from the plethora of wisdom he provides. The loss of Bob Jones to the Zondervan Company, Benson music and Samick Musical Instruments is our gain through Homeland Records. Last but certainly not least, it is great to be working behind the scenes with my friend Nick Bruno once again. I have had the privilege of working with Nick on a number of projects in the past and it was always an enlightening experience as well as a lot of fun. Conclude all of the afore mentioned benefits and add to them our association with Eric Melton and his heart for Gospel music and the ministry of Gods message through the medium of music and you have a perfect fit for the vision and desire of Three Bridges.
Our new single was just released to radio and it is our first release through Homeland. It is entitled, simply, "I Get To". The message in this song is so powerful that it is going to connect with every listener who hears it. I know how it ministered to my heart the first time I heard it and I promise the message will be preached my many ministers when they hear it. This song will change the perspective of thought by everyone when considering all the things we don't have to do but the things we GET TO DO. Thank you God that I GET TO continue singing and writing and witnessing of your love, your grace and mercy along side Elliott and Scott in 2009. My prayer is that we see a harvest of souls unlike anything we've ever witnessed before when we reflect on His blessings at years end of 2009.
We're looking forward to seeing you in our travels this new year.
From Elliott, Scott and Eddy, here's wishing you the happiest new year ever.
Eddy Bolton / Three Bridges
http://www.threebridges.net
SG History 101 - Henry Slaughter
This month we take a look at the life and career of a gospel music artist who knew early on what he was called to do, and whose life and career were a logical application of that calling, and in so following that calling has blessed scores and scores of people, in bygone years, and to this very day.
Henry Thaxton Slaughter was born January 9, 1927 in Roxboro, NC into a relatively simple world where people built and nurtured their families based on a belief and trust in God and time-honored and proven values. Young Henry learned the value of hard work and basic trust in God to provide for one’s wants and needs in life.
Early on, he learned about the power of music as well…how it could inspire and move people to embrace the most important things in life…and simultaneously provide meaningful and enjoyable entertainment for people led to make and listen to it.
And at a very young age, when Henry chose to commit his life to serving Jesus Christ, he had developed enough talent and interest in music to realize that his life’s calling was to sing, play, and make music that expressed his deepest core beliefs, i.e., to glorify God and make people aware through music that giving one’s life to faith in God was the way to go for all people.
Growing up where he did then, it was only natural that Henry was drawn to the gospel quartet music that was quickly becoming the “rage” for God fearing people in his part of the world, and most of the American Southeast at that time.
It was during his teenage years then that young Henry Slaughter wrote a letter to the Lone Star Quartet, a group affliated with the famous Stamps-Baxter Company in Dallas, Texas. In response, the famous singer and publisher Frank Stamps wrote to Henry about a couple of singing schools sponsored by the company, one in Dallas, and another in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since Chattanooga was closer for him, Henry determined that he would attend that school, and demonstrate that he knew how to sing and play(on the piano)the music well enough that he would be able to go into professional gospel music and “set the world on fire”.
What Henry found out quickly was he wasn’t as ready as he thought, not quite yet.
Since the Stamps-Baxter schools were run by experienced teachers and by professionals with considerable experience, it was soon apparent to Henry just how far he still had to go before he could take his promising potential out to the world. But the teachers there, particularly Henry’s piano teacher, pianist Herschel Collins of the Lone Star Quartet, and voice teacher W.W. Combs, were patient with Henry as he strove to learn the ins and outs of the gospel quartet genre.
Finally, the school ended…and Henry emerged more confident, more skilled, and more determined to make his mark in gospel music than ever. And after a brief stint in the Army, he came home ready to make his mark in professional gospel music.
That career began in 1947 with a piano job with one of the better quartets of the period…the Stamps-Ozark Quartet. Henry played with them into the 1950s.
Along the way, Henry happened to meet a very attractive young lady named Hazel, and ten months after they first met, in December 1952, they were married. Hazel would prove to be an outstanding companion for Henry in more ways than one in the subsequent years. But for the time being, the two began to start a family of their own, eventually bringing three children…sons David and Mike, and daughter Amanda into the world, where they would eventually bring children of their own to multiply the Slaughter family.
As the 1950s continued, Henry would segue to Tulsa, Oklahoma and join one of the more colorful quartets of the day, the Tulsa Trumpeteers, who were perhaps best known for their famous tenor who would later become a part of the famous Statesmen Quartet, “Rosie” Rozell. Henry’s stay with the Trumpeteers wwas not that long, but it was a rewarding one.
 Henry with the Weatherford Quartet
Koker was one of the finest pianists around…an accomplished player, arranger, and singer as well. But Henry was starting to become quite adept at all that as well…and now he was joining a quartet in the Weatherfords that was working for a church. The Weatherford Quartet was the official quartet for Rex Humbard’s fast growing Cathedral of Tomorrow church in Akron, Ohio…and this would expand Henry’s musical reach even farther than ever, for he would work with the church’s choir as well as the quartet. But this was also a culmination of one of Henry’s boyhood dreams…to use his talent for music in the service of the church.
More and more, Henry was writing songs that were recorded by the country’s top quartets…and it was about that time when he wrote a song called “What A Precious Friend Is He”…which not only became a veritable theme song for the Weatherfords at that time, but the song is still sung today in the Weatherfords’ performances. It has become a gospel music standard.
At that time(the late 1950s)the Weatherford Quartet had its’ most famous lineup with Payne on lead, Earl Weatherford on baritone, Armond Morales as bass, and Earl’s wife Lily singing the male tenor part. That lineup achieved a vocal blend that has seldom been duplicated, and Henry took advantage of the vocal skills of his quartet mates to create some of the most noteworthy and famous arrangements ever used in gospel music.
It appeared as if Henry’s career was established for life. Certainly the Weatherfords were among America’s top gospel quartets…especially after their classic 1959 RCA LP “In The Garden”, an album many gospel fans feel is one of the best of all time to this very day…and one that has the musical touch of Henry Slaughter all over it, in the piano stylings and in the vocal arrangements.
But if anything in gospel music is certain, it is change…and change hit the Weatherford Quartet in 1963. A rift was growing between Earl Weatherford and Rex Humbard…Humbard wanted the quartet more involved in his church, while Earl wanted to make more money doing concerts, as most of his gospel music peers were doing. Earl felt tied down by the church, and it got to the point where Humbard issued an ultimatum to each member of the Weatherford Quartet…either work for him and be at his call, or take your chances out on the road, as the other gospel quartets were doing.
Faced with that choice, Earl, Lily, and Armond Morales opted to take the Weatherford Quartet on the road…while Payne, tenor Bobby Clark, and Henry opted to stay with Humbard. Payne and Clark eventually formed the Cathedral Qusrtet, a group that became one of the most illustrious ensembles in gospel music history.
As for Henry, he stayed on to direct the Cathedral’s choir, apparently feeling that his place was to serve the church. But again, that “change” thing came up, and Henry was about to enter another defining phase of his career.
For in mid-1963, the Statesmen Quartet’s famous lead singer, Jake Hess, decided the time was right to form his own quartet, a longtime dream of his. But befitting his stature in gospel music, he didn’t simply want to start at the bottom and work up. No, Hess wanted the best possible group he could put together in his quartet/
The first person Hess recruited for his dream quartet was Henry…Hess knew that Henry could provide him with the musical expertise a quartet like he envisioned would need. He also wanted Henry to help him choose the singers he needed for this “super” quartet.
 Henry with the Imperials
Some of Henry’s best known compositions, including “Lonely Mile”, “If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side”, and “I’ve Never Loved Him Better Than Today” were written during that period. And for the next two years, Henry’s outstanding piano playing and arrangements made the Imperials one of the genre’s outstanding and accomplished quartets.
Henry began to follow the lead of his talented piano predecessors such as Jackie Marshall and Lee Roy Abernathy and began offering courses on how to play piano as well as getting into music publishing. All this activity made Henry extra busy…to the point that he left the Imperials in 1966 to concentrate on his other activities…and just as the Imperials were on the verge of making it really big in the quartet world.
But Henry was not nearly done with performing gospel music, not by a long shot. In the 1970s, Henry began touring with his wife Hazel, going all over the United States and Canada and becoming one of the more successful touring acts in gospel music, During the 1970s, Henry won five Dove awards as the gospel music Instrumentalist of the Year. And in 1980, Henry published an autobiography, “In Search Of The Pearl Of Great Price”, which was critically acclaimed, and is the best place to go if one wants to know more about Henry Slaughter than this humble article can go into.
In more recent years, Henry was one of the first inductees into the Southern Gospel Piano Roll Of Honor in 1996, and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association in 2006.
 Henry with his wife of 56 years, Hazel
As one of the most dignified representatives of alltime great gospel music, and also a revered elder statesman of the genre, Henry Slaughter can well be considered an example of what can be accomplished with the right combination of musical talent, perseverance, faith, and complete dedication to one’s craft.
Henry Slaughter is one of the most illustrious gospel music personalities of all time. He has been an unqualified success as a pianist, writer, arranger, singer, and publisher…and thus is worthy of being spoken of as one of the most esteemed and productive gospel music artists ever.
Blackwood Gospel Tenor Weds
The Bridge Ministry Host Candlelight Service For 400 Homeless
Monday - January 5, 2009
Top 40 Weekly Chart
| TW |
LW |
#WK |
TITLE |
ARTIST |
PEAK |
1 |
1 |
14 |
I Want to Thank You |
Karen Peck & New River |
1(3) |
2 |
4 |
20 |
You Would Think He Would Learn |
Dove Brothers |
1(6) |
3 |
2 |
14 |
I Want to Know That You Know |
Greater Vision |
1 |
4 |
3 |
14 |
What Salvation's Done For Me |
Booth Brothers |
1 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
Life Goes On |
Talley Trio |
5 |
6 |
5 |
19 |
Three Rugged Crosses |
Freemans |
2 |
7 |
6 |
19 |
Big Mighty God |
Mike LeFevre Quartet |
6 |
8 |
8 |
23 |
I Cast My Bread Upon the Water |
Gold City |
1(5) |
9 |
10 |
6 |
Stand By the River |
Greenes |
9 |
10 |
9 |
26 |
That's When God Steps In |
HisSong |
2 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
Strength |
Aaron & Amanda Crabb |
11 |
12 |
16 |
8 |
Jesus & John Wayne |
Gaither Vocal Band |
12 |
13 |
15 |
19 |
Between a Rock and a Hard Place |
Driven |
13 |
14 |
14 |
22 |
Reason Enough |
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound |
9 |
15 |
13 |
23 |
A Miracle Today |
Mike & Kelly Bowling |
1 |
16 |
12 |
13 |
Loving the Lamb |
Mark Trammell Trio |
10 |
17 |
18 |
17 |
Eternity Has Two |
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver |
13 |
18 |
19 |
29 |
When God Ran |
Kingsmen |
5 |
19 |
20 |
10 |
Lift Up the Cross |
Crist Family |
19 |
20 |
21 |
13 |
I'll Do the Miracle |
Ivan Parker |
20 |
21 |
25 |
17 |
Cinderella |
Misty Freeman |
15 |
22 |
17 |
8 |
Through the Valley |
Isaacs |
17 |
23 |
23 |
16 |
The Dove |
Hoppers |
22 |
24 |
24 |
16 |
He Never Sleeps |
Mark Bishop |
16 |
25 |
26 |
17 |
I'd Walk This Valley Again |
Sharron Kay King |
25 |
26 |
37 |
3 |
I Know It Was the Blood |
Perrys |
26 |
27 |
29 |
8 |
Absolutely Free |
Sunday Edition |
27 |
28 |
31 |
15 |
The Past Is a Promise |
Whisnants |
28 |
29 |
34 |
4 |
Celebrating Resurrection Morning |
Cross 4 Crowns |
29 |
30 |
30 |
4 |
I Stand In Awe |
Crystal River |
30 |
31 |
27 |
5 |
Be Still & Know |
Tribute Quartet |
27 |
32 |
32 |
4 |
The Blood of Jesus |
Collingsworth Family |
32 |
33 |
36 |
20 |
Joshua's Song |
Jeff & Sheri Easter |
17 |
34 |
33 |
8 |
I See a City |
2nd Generation |
30 |
35 |
22 |
8 |
It's a God Thing |
Browns |
19 |
36 |
38 |
10 |
Gospel to the World |
Kim Hopper |
34 |
37 |
35 |
4 |
I'm Movin' Out of Here |
Skyline Boys Quartet |
35 |
38 |
39 |
3 |
What I Still Believe |
Austins Bridge |
38 |
39 |
40 |
15 |
Count It All Joy |
Shiloh |
20 |
40 |
28 |
13 |
God Knows |
Southern Brothers |
25 |
| TW - This
week on the chart |
LW - Last
week on the chart |
#WK - Number
of weeks
on the chart |
#1 For
the Week |
| Indicates
1st Week on chart |
Greatest Gain
on Chart |
On
chart the longest |
Highest
on chart after dropping off |
Off to a flying start, pt. 2
Off to a flying start
Janet Paschal - Treasure
Skyline Drive - Skyline Drive
Three Bridges - Another Blessing
Mark Trammell Trio - Always Have A Song
Inspirations - How Great It Is
The Southern Gospel Music Artists Association
This may not be the time of year to be thinking about baseball – especially since this is Super Bowl month. I like football, I do, but I love baseball more. I love the New York Yankees. I know that some of you don’t love them and don’t love that I love them. That’s OK. You love your team and I’ll love mine. The game of baseball itself is what we love – no matter whom you’re cheering for.
Last year, I was able to attend my last game at the “Old” Yankee Stadium. It was a nostalgic time for my family and me. The Yankees are moving into their new stadium this year. I can’t wait to attend a game. Since I grew up in New York City, there’s always a connection. There’s always a family member or friend who knows someone who knows someone who can get me really great seats at Yankee stadium. In fact, I could get the best seats in the house on opening day at the NEW Yankee Stadium, front row box seats, and be sitting next to George Steinbrenner himself. We’d look around and admire the new seats, the new field, and the shiny new dugouts. That would be wonderful…but the truth is that I came to see the players. The new stadium will cost around 1.6 billion dollars, but the only reason I would make the effort to get there is because, eventually, I want to see someone play baseball. What is Major League Baseball? It is the players. There is no MLB without the players.
Southern Gospel Music Is About The Artists
In the same way, there is no Southern Gospel Music without the artists. I could get the best seats in the best concert hall in the world, but the bottom line is that I want to hear someone sing Southern Gospel Music. That’s why I’m there. This is an important element that seems to be getting buried in all the activity we call Southern Gospel Music.
Take a look and notice that:
The purpose of the National Quartet Convention is to make money for the owners.
Radio Promotion is designed to make money for the promoters.
Custom Recording companies exist to make money from the artists.
All of our magazines and periodicals sell advertising to make money.
Promoters promote concerts to make money.
Is any of this bad? Not necessarily…it is the free market system at work.
But we need to remember that it’s the Southern Gospel Artist that is the center of all we do. It’s the local groups and the national groups. It’s the soloist traveling for love offerings and the big name artist with a huge staff of people.
Now take the artists out of the picture and what do you have? NOTHING!!!
No NQC, no radio promotion, no recording, no magazines, no SG radio, no concerts…you have NOTHING…ZERO…NADA…ZIPADEE-DOO-DA!
Now here’s where I get confused:
If SGM is nothing without the artists…why aren’t the artists running the show?
Isn’t this a classic example of the tail wagging the dog? The artists in SGM have little to say about the direction THEIR industry is taking.
For example, in 1965 major league baseball players formed the Major League Baseball Players Association. The primary objective was to bring an end to the reserve clause, which bound players to their respective clubs. This clause put the control of the players in the hands of the owners. In 1970 the players negotiated the right to arbitration to resolve grievances, and in December 1975, the players finally won the right to free agency, which is why a player in 2008 can sign a contract for the obscene amount of 180 million dollars.
While I agree with most of you that 180 million dollars is way too much money to play baseball, the flip side is that if the owners are making a cajillian dollars by using the talent of the players, and are willing to pay exorbitant salaries, then I say “ Dear Lord, please give my grandson Garrett a 100 mph fastball and power to hit 100 homeruns a year from both sides of the plate.”
I want to state clearly that I am not a proponent of unionization but I do believe in the principles of fairness and equality. And it is true that in many cases unions always seem to take things too far in strong-arming companies and owners, which results in higher prices for the consumer.
This is what happened in MLB and many of the discrepancies between the players and the owners had to be settled in a court of law. Please understand that I am certainly not suggesting such an adversarial relationship between artists and industry leaders. We are, after all, first and foremost, brothers and sisters in Christ, but there are situations where like-minded individuals should band together to protect their interests.
THE SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC ARTISTS ASSOCIATION (SGMAA)
The concept of a group of individuals banding together as a group to insure that their interests are not overlooked is something that I believe those of us who love Southern Gospel Music might consider.
You see, we all rant and rave about changing this and that and wax eloquent on how to improve SGM…all of which makes for good blogging and commentaries but really does nothing to improve anything.
It’s time for SGM artists to unite and take control of the industry. The time is right for the Southern Gospel Music Artists Association…the SGMAA.
We’ve had other associations, still do, but they have always been comprised of industry personalities, (record label heads, producers, radio promoters, booking agents etc.) and have been and still are impotent when it comes to moving SGM forward. They are all talk and no do. They meet about this and meet about that and talk about this and talk about that and at the end of the day nothing gets done.
Artists who are united can make the difference.
It’s time for a SGM Pension Fund.
Great SG artists who have devoted their lives to SGM should not have to grovel about for a living in their golden years, or die penniless like my lifelong friend Jim Hamill.
It’s time for SGM artists, all SGM artists, professional and amateur, to have access to health and life insurance.
It always breaks my heart to hear about having benefit concerts to help SG artists who suffer medical calamities and don’t have health insurance or surviving spouses who are destitute because there is no life insurance.
It’s time for SGM artists to have a funeral benefit so families don’t have to go in debt just to bury them.
It’s time for SGM artists to have the support of fellow artists in exposing churches and promoters who fail to adequately pay them.
How many times have we heard of SG artists being ripped off by churches and even promoters? If we had a national database identifying these churches and pastors and promoters we could put an end to it.
A well-organized SGMAA comprised of ARTISTS and led by ARTISTS could do all these things and more.
To many of you this may sound like a pipe dream, but I assure you, I have never been more serious. Imagine the things that can be accomplished when all SGM artists are united.
We are dealing with a fragmented industry. Every different segment is out to get all they can. Each segment (Radio, Recording Companies, Magazines, Promoters, Booking Agents etc.), goes about their business with reckless abandon and total separation from each other in a frantic attempt to out do the other.
The end result is that the Artists take it on the chin.
We can discuss all the things that are wrong with SGM. Everybody in America can write articles ranting and raving about this, that or the other. But nothing will ever change until the artists take control of their own destiny.
In the SGMAA every artist, from the most popular professional group to the newest “Newbie” will be on equal footing.
All it will take to get this started are a few artists who are willing to get together and get the ball rolling. It will require finding a good attorney who is well versed in this area and who has no interests in SGM.
There are lots of details such as elections, fund raising, a code of ethics and guidelines and rules, to name a few. All these things can be worked out in due course as artists begin to convene and discuss these matters.
Trust me folks, we have some top-drawer artists with lots of smarts who can get this set up.
The important thing is to open the dialogue and get the ball rolling.
I’ll be glad to serve as point man at first and help in putting the right people together, or in any other capacity, but at the end of the day it will have to be you artists who breath life into this organization.
For anyone who doesn’t know how to reach me, my email is (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I want to hear from you artists, pros, weekend warriors, newbies, soloists, doesn’t matter. There are lots of good ideas out there and I want to hear them. This will work. All we have to do is do it!
As always, I welcome your comments,
God Bless You,
Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com
2008: A Year In Review
That Elusive Blend
Much has been said and written about vocal blend, but very little has been said about how to obtain it. We have all known groups through the years, who have a wonderful harmony and blend, and there are others we can recall, who have little blend at all. And then, there are those who claim that a family group has a better blend than does a group made up of non-family members. There may be a grain of truth to that, but probably not for the reasons one might think, more on that later.
Some of the great groups with tight vocal harmonies and blend, are groups like the Jordanaires from the 1950’s, the Plainsmen, the Imperials, (especially with members Jim Murray, Terry Blackwood, Roger Wiles and Armond Morales). And more recently, groups such as the Booth Brothers, the Ruppes and the Gaither Vocal Band, could all be said to have a great blend. But, how do they achieve that great blend? Ah, that is the million-dollar question.
The single one ingredient that begins the process of obtaining a great vocal blend is having everyone on the same stylistic page. In other words, everyone must be in agreement on the approach for a certain song and/or the arrangement. From there, the vocal blend can begin to come together. But even still, it is a long way from actually blending well.
DYNAMICS
I hear many gospel singers today sing full throttle, 100% of the time. They don’t have a clue how to back off and sing easy. You see when you sing very hard, your vocal chords not only produce the desired note, but they also produce odd harmonics that show up as sounds out of tune with the key, or with the harmonic centers of that key. It is very much like a trumpet played hard, when one begins to hear the bell of the horn break up, or distort. Your vocal chords can distort as well, and when this occurs, you produce harmonics that are not pleasing to the ear. Having three or four singers all singing to the top of their lungs will give the audience a full set of odd harmonics, none having any relationship to the other. When the audience hears this kind of performance it is often referred to as being “hard”, “harsh” or “edgy”. My own group calls this “hard as a brick”. This is the very artifact we are referring to. Learning to back off the power and sing with great dynamics can not only tighten the blend, but it can also give your performance a greater depth. As a test for yourself, try singing a line in a song with you face toward a wall. At first sing the line easy, and then sing the same line with as much force as you can muster. You will readily hear the difference in well-rounded tones and those that are in fact, distorted. The least amount of these odd harmonics you can inject into the total, the better. Beside, saving the loud and proud sections for the times they are needed, gives you a place to go. Many groups don’t sing dynamically very well at all. That is a shame for they shorten their singing careers as well as give a one-dimensional performance to their audience.
PARTS are PARTS
So often I hear Southern Gospel groups singing the wrong notes to the chords being played, and the inverse of that is a piano player or a band playing a different chord than what the singers are singing. You may say, that sounds like the same set of problems presented in two different ways. Maybe, but not always. Lets say the band, or the track is playing in the Key of C and there is a transition chord from the first chorus to the second verse that the group is singing across. This chord in this case is an F with a G bass, or expressed in Nashville numbers as a 4/5. So many times I hear Southern Gospel groups make the mistake of having the bass singer sing the low F, when instead he should be singing the G. or the 5 to the chord. The note is not technically wrong, since the F is in the chord. But musically, the 5 or the G, would be the better choice, and would tighten the blend. You see the F the bass singer is singing, is in the wrong octave and it rubs against the G or the 5 that the band is playing in the lower octaves. The result is a strident transition from chorus to verse rather than the far more musical approach.
WARBLE or WOBBLE
Another problem I hear that simply drives me crazy is groups with one singer using far more vibrato than another in the group. Or worse yet, one singer who sings with no vibrato at all while the other two or three sing each with different intensities of vibrato. With these conditions in a group, the vocal blend will never jell. This gets back to having each member on the same stylistic page. Blending together is as much art form as science, and some singers can naturally find the best balance of vibrato or straight tones, while others never understand the vast differences in human voices.
For instance, I sang in the studio a few years ago with Terry Blackwood. He had an incredible knack for knowing how to place a note in his throat or mouth, and what vibrato to use, or not use as the case might be, to close the blend. He is the finest example I know of a singer who knows how to blend. In my humble opinion, he is the best I have ever worked with in this regard, bar none.
Having vibrato in your voice is not a bad thing, as long as the average center is in pitch. Jake Hess once told me about a particular singer, “He sings in the middle of the note very well”, and I think this was what he was talking about. Having a vibrato that is non-uniform in pitch deviation, or speed, is a disaster. You cannot blend with a singer who does not have strict control of his vibrato. Having variations in cycle speed and pitch while holding a note, will make blending with that person virtually impossible. Controlling your vibrato is a huge part of having voice control. Knowing when to change from a pure sustained note to a slight vibrato is however, an art form. However, having no vibrato can sometimes be almost as bad. For example, I worked for some 14 years for Ronnie Milsap as his chief engineer. Ronnie is one very fine musician and singer, who could sing virtually any style and do it well. However, his voice, having no vibrato at all, would make any shaded note, either flat or sharp, stand out like no other voice I have ever worked with. Lets face the facts, a little vibrato can cover for slight pitch deviation, whether that be vibrato from a human voice or a violin.
Now we all know the operatic style voices with huge, wide vibrato, and many of these singers are the most trained singers in the world. Is it no wonder they all sing solos? Rarely does one hear a duo or trio, or heaven forbid, a quartet with these style voices. Aunt Martha singing in the church choir is another type of this very wide, intense vibrato….and we will leave that to your imagination.
FAMILY BLEND
Alright, now we get to that elusive quality called family blend. We have all heard “You simply cannot beat that family blend”. There is some truth to that. In families we most often have individuals who have similar sounding voices, all raised in the same household, who sing very much alike from a stylistic point of view. Even the tone of their voices has similar attributes. But, even so, they must be together both musically and phrasing to have a great blend. I work occasionally with a mixed group out of Kentucky who I personally think is the best, mixed group on the planet. This is the Childress Family. The group is made up of Mom, two sisters, one daughter and the husband of one of the girls. Their harmony and blend is the best I have heard since the days of Armond, Terry, Roger and Jim of the Imperials. But is their family blend a function of family or talent? I grant you family has its benefits, as they all live close together, and it is a simple thing for them to rehearse together. But, I tell you this, they are very talented, and know music inside and out, and they know how to sing. The one non-blood related member is Jamie, and he blends with them like he was a brother rather than a husband. So how do they manage to obtain that great blend with a non-related member? It is talent above and beyond all else.
I don’t care how tight your family is, if you sing the wrong musical parts, pronounce your words differently, and sing with differing styles, you will not blend regardless of blood ties. In other words, family will not overcome lack of musical knowledge and talent. Whereas, great musical knowledge and talent can very well overcome the lack of family similarities. The Imperials I mentioned above are a prime example. There has never been a group before nor since that had that kind of blend.
SO….HOW DO WE GET THERE
The old adage practice, practice, practice is a good place to start. You might add to that, study, study, study as well. For nothing fixes bad habits like good old-fashioned training and hard work. Groups that come to me for advise I tell to stop practicing with a sound system, and each time I get the blank, eyes blinking response that I am sure many of the readers are giving me right now. Standing around in a circle, listening and singing together is the quickest way I know to iron out vocal differences in a group. And never, never, practice with ear monitors, unless that practice is for the sole purpose of getting accustomed to using the things on stage. It is a terrible way to learn to sing together. It is a great way to learn how not to sing together.
Now, while you are standing in that circle, facing each other, and singing together, take the time to have each member sing their part by themselves. Take notice of the subtle differences in phrasing and accents from member to member. Take the sentence, “George just bought a new car.” Now say that line over to yourself again and again, each time accenting a different word. The implied intent of the sentence changes with each word chosen to emphasize. If you can get everyone in your group to phrase and accent together, you will go a long way down the road to achieving that elusive vocal blend.
Until next time,
Ben Harris
http://www.southernsoundquartet.com
Finding Things In Common
I just love cooking. I love watching Martha Stewart. I dream of being so organized “when I grow up” and think it must be true when she says something is “a good thing”. I also love to watch shows on the Food Network and fell in love with Paula Dean the first time I heard her southern voice say “now you take yur spatchular...”
Jim, on the other hand, only finds cooking interesting when someone else is doing it and he gets to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I’ve tried to interest him in cooking. There’s a Viking Store not too far from where we live and I’ve even dragged him there for a few cooking classes. I can say he enjoyed the food at the end of the lesson, but the rest of it, he could live without.
One day, when I was talking about going to another class, he said “Rather than us go to ONE class together, why don’t you go to TWO classes and I’ll just stay home?” I laughed, but I got it, cooking just isn’t his “thing.” His “thing” is music. So now I go to the cooking classes with friends while he goes to write a new song or do something else equally musical.
Recently, we sang a concert together in Michigan. The following day, we headed toward home with the plan that somewhere, toward evening, we would meet the Booth Brothers so Jim would get on the bus to sing the weekend. In the meantime, we would make a “date” of it. We stopped whenever and wherever our whims led us, we got Starbucks whenever we wanted and took time to shop at the mall in Indianapolis. It was a day filled with fun!
At the mall, I found a new kitchen store, a franchise I’d never heard of before, and just HAD to go in to see what gadgets might await behind it’s inviting doors. Jim graciously joined me. Maybe he was so easygoing because I had just given him the rest of my Starbucks...
As we browsed, there were many tasting stations where you could sample things they sold in the store. We were at one of the tasting stations when Jim looked at the picture of the celebrity chef on the package, looked at me, snapped his fingers, yelled “SNAP!” and then grinned like he had just done something really special. I was clueless. I laughingly asked him WHAT he was doing. He looked again at the celebrity chef on the package and asked “Isn’t he the one who says SNAP?” I tried not to laugh too hard as I explained to him that Emeril Lagasse doesn’t say “SNAP” he says “BAM!”
I’ve gotten a few good laughs over this incident, but there’s a moral to this story. The point is that Jim tried to find something in common with me. Even though cooking stores don’t interest him, he wanted to go with me and get involved in something I enjoy. His confusion of “SNAP” versus “BAM” will always make me laugh but, more than that, it will remind me of his love and desire to be a part of my life and, for that, I’m grateful!
I want to encourage you to do the same with your loved ones. Look into their lives, see what interests them and get involved. You’ll be finding new ways to show you care and your love will be evident in your actions.
The Vocal Coach - Jan 09
I want to pick up where I left off last month about singing.
I mentioned that the Bible lists that Birds Sing (Ps. 104:12);
Trees Sing (1 Chr 16:33); and Mountains Sing (Is. 55:12).
After those things that sing in nature, I listed some beings that sing before God, and for God, to bless Him and all who hear them. I want to talk a little bit about two scriptures where beings sing for God, and what these scriptures mean to you and I.
1. Believers sing in Eph. 5:19. this scripture says:
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
The verse before this speaks about being "filled with the Spirit" This passage is speaking about the way we continue to be filled with the spirit of God. It is not setting apart here anything about the initial filling with the Spirit that we receive when we are saved, nor is it speaking about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. What it is saying is that singing is a way to keep your spiritual cup full. It says to us to speak to ourselves in psalms, (songs) , hymns (songs)
and spiritual songs (songs) , singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.
Therefore we are to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody in our hearts.
We could say that THIS IS THE HOW TO for what Paul said in the previous verse "Be filled with the spirit". The word BE means a state of being. So singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs changes your state of being from worry, fret, and other problems of the world to a state of being filled with the spirit, and we know that is what God wants of us. This is why gospel singing is so important. It helps people's spiritual lives, when they hear it and when they do it. These are the songs of THE BELIEVER. The ones that tell about Jesus and His love. The ones that lift His banner high. The ones that are living in the heart of the believer who is sold out to God. These are the songs that start men on the path toward God, and keep him going strong in the midst of every trial, temptation, storm and upheaval of life. Praise God for Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs.
Psalms, of course we understand to be like the Psalms of the scripture. Their themes can be praise, or adoration for God, or telling of ones trials and victories when talking to God.
Hymns , can have similar themes to Psalms, and generally are used in worship to God. We are all familiar with the Hymns that we sing in church.
Spiritual songs, are songs that lift one up or in general tell of victory that we have by serving the Lord.
So let us set forth to sing un |
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