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01 Aug 2004
The Frosts “Have Arrived!”
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 Family groups have always had a place in the Southern Gospel industry. Groups like the Speer Family, LeFevres, Happy Goodman Family, Rambos, Hinsons, and more recently, the Hoppers, Crabb Family and Greenes have and are making their presence very much known. There is yet another group that is starting to come to the forefront of the myriad of groups that dot the Southern Gospel landscape. That group is called the Frosts. Consisting of Michael Frost, Candie Frost-Tunnell, and Brenda Cornett-Livesay, the history of the Frosts goes back beyond the current group to the early 1980s as a family band traveling and singing in churches and campmeetings throughout their local area. The current group has been together since April 2002. Michael shares how the current group came together, “Candie and I are double-first cousins and we grew up singing together. For years, we sang with our relatives as The Frost Family. Along the way, we met and became good friends with Brenda Cornett-Livesay. Brenda and her family sang as the Cornetts for years. The group released a few projects and had some chart success as well. The Cornetts eventually stopped traveling and singing when they decided to pursue other interests, but Brenda still felt a strong desire to sing. Only God could have known then that someday we would cross paths and become what the group has become today. We were actually recording a project at Brenda's home studio when our other relatives decided to stop singing. Candie and I prayed about what we would do, and we asked God to put us with the right person if our singing ministry was to continue. Then one week later, we got a tape in the mail of our new recording, and surprisingly, a third voice had been added, and it was Brenda's. A phone call later, and we were a newly formed trio.”
The group's current recording, “Through His Eyes”, has been a surprising hit for the Frosts. As Michael states, “This was actually a budget project that we released independently, so we have been pleasantly surprised by the response to the songs. When Candie, Brenda and I were gathering material for this CD, we would meet at my house and just sit at the keyboard for hours working out the arrangements. Then, we worked long hours in Brenda's studio putting together demos of the songs. We recorded the project at Church House Studios in Middlesboro , KY. The results were songs like “Three Words, Three Nails, Three Days," "There's An Army of God," and my personal favorite, "If You Could See Yourself (Through My Eyes)." We felt very good about the songs we had recorded, but had no idea they would have such an impact. "Three Words, Three Nails, Three Days" became a charting single for us and five of the songs on this project have been picked up and recorded by other groups! We truly feel blessed by the overall response to this recording.” Speaking of “Three Words, Three Nails, Three Days”, Michael says, "For a while, I had felt compelled to write a song about Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, but I was searching for a way to write it that would inspire listeners to think about it a little more; a way that it would stick in their minds. When I re-read the story in the Bible, it struck me that "three" is a prevalent theme…three words, three crosses, three nails and three days. When I sat down to write it, the lyrics just seemed to flow. I must give credit to Brenda and Candie for helping come up with the musical arrangement for it. We're very proud of that particular song and it's been amazing to see God work through it. It has also become a charting song for the group HisSong. The Beene Family also included a great version of it on their latest project.” Michael has been writing for several years. As mentioned, the Beene Family and HisSong have recorded Michael's songs as well as Heirline, who was the first national group to record one of his songs. Even now, many other groups are beginning to recognize that there is some great music coming from the pen of Michael Frost. “I have tried to write songs since I was a kid”, Michael says, “but I guess like most songwriters, I just didn't feel that I was any good at it. It wasn't until I went through some hardships in my life that I really began to understand my relationship with God, and from that point writing songs become more than a craft, it became a way for me to express a testimony. One day I began writing this line, "looking back, do you wonder how you've made it this far? That's God.” Of course, that became the opening line to the song, "That's God," which was recorded by Heirline. I don't write a lot, really. It's just something that has to happen when I feel inspired. I've always been drawn to artists who write their own songs, because I believe it allows them to make a stronger connection with the listeners.”
Along with the new recording, the group is also excited about their Homecoming concert coming up on September 3 in Rogersville , Tennessee at the Rogersville Middle School . The line up includes Heirline, Sons Family and the Montgomery's. Michael and the group are very excited about this night, because it's more than just another concert for the group. “We are very excited about the line-up” Michael shares. “What will make this night special for us is the fact that Heirline will be singing some of my songs, including the title cut of their forthcoming project, "Alive In Christ." The Sons Family is recording one of my songs entitled, “There's Room in Heaven for You” and Amy Belisle of The Montgomery's wrote "I Want to Be That Way" that will be on our forthcoming project. So we're going to have a great time sharing each other's songs and we're expecting to just have church right there in the auditorium!” Tickets for the concert are $5.00 each and can be purchased at the door or through the groups website at www.frostfamilyband.com or by calling or writing the group at: The Frosts So, what is this group really about? Michael says it's very simple, “To minister to the best of our ability by sharing with people how God has worked in our own lives; To encourage and uplift others through the message in our songs; To share the plan of salvation with as many people as we can; and to give God the praise for it all!” The group's current radio single is the bluegrass/country flavored, “Shining Light” . Shane Ferrell of Lighthouse Promotion is the group's radio promoter and he had this to say about the group, “ I love working for new artists that have a burning desire to uplift Him and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I have been with the Frosts in many services and I love watching them minister. Michael connects with the people instantly during his song introductions and through his singing. Michael is shaping up to be one of our top songwriters in Southern Gospel Music. Candie is about one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met, and funny too! I have been a fan of Brenda Livesay's since I was a kid! What a huge voice! I am so proud of the Frosts and what all they have accomplished just in the last year. They have a bright future ahead of them.” It does appear that the Frosts have arrived! The door of blessing seems to have been opened for them and great things are happening. When you tune in the radio and hear a little trio from eastern Tennessee with a big sound, make no mistake, the Frosts have arrived and you'll know when you've heard them! Reader Comments
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The Frosts “Have Arrived!”
 Written: 08/01/2004  Author: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Category:
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Drawing from a number of musical influences, their basic sound could be defined as Southern Gospel with a black/campmeeting flavor. As Michael says, “The three of us bring such different influences, that it's almost a melting pot of sorts. My voice is tinged with a bit of bluegrass/country gospel, as I grew up listening to Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and The Isaacs. Brenda brings the influences of The Rambos, Andrae Crouch & The Disciples and The Happy Goodmans, and also adds that touch of "Pentecostal" to our sound. Candie has a mellow alto voice, and her influences range from the Isaacs to Sheri Easter.” 
Riding on the heels of their current success, the group has signed a publishing and recording deal with Eddie Crook . Michael shares, “Eddie first approached us about a year ago after Heirline recorded, "That's God" . Our first project on the MorningStar label is now in production. I wrote about 20 songs over the past year, and once again Candie, Brenda and I spent a lot of time working out arrangements and putting together demos for each of them. We narrowed it down to include eight of those songs on this project, which will be called "The Arrival." Some of the song titles include "That's How A Miracle Feels," "Whatever Your Cross," "There's Still My Joy," and my personal favorite, "The Altar," which has an emotional story behind it. We also included a great song by Brenda's mom, Jean Cornett titled "Paint A Picture" and a song by Amy Belisle called "I Want to Be That Way." Once again, we feel really good about the songs we've chosen. If things turn out the way we think they will, a song called "All Hail the King" will probably be the first single. We've been singing that song in churches with just a piano, and it has been very well received. We've also been singing "The Altar" and "There's Still My Joy" for congregations, and they too, have been well liked by the people.”
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