• SoGospelNews has announced the nominees for their 2010 Ovation Awards. While any one individual looking at an awards list will always find an occasional artist they think should have made the list but didn’t, overall, this is quite a strong list, perhaps their strongest list yet.
• Ryan Seaton has launched a website, www.ryanseaton.com, where you can sign up for his new email list. (Hat tip to North Ireland’s Phil on Southern Gospel for noticing this story.)
• The Collingsworth Family is leaving for 11th Annual Florida tour next weekend. One of the highlights of the tour will be a Special Evening concert featuring special guest Janet Paschal. The press release mentioned the concert but omitted the date; but a quick check of their schedule shows it that will be on Jan. 29.
• The Lesters recently announced that Jenny Revelle will be leaving the group. Seth & Jenny Revelle decided that the move would be the best for their family, with their daughter Emma Grace starting first grade in the local school system this fall.
• Kelly Nelon Clark was robbed in Jacksonville, Florida on Tuesday; the thief stole the money from the previous weekend’s CD sales as well as a debit card, which he used to steal $500 more from their checking account. Kelly stated: “You never realize how precious life is until something like this happens. I was terrified that this was it for me and I would never see my family again.  But once again the Lord completely surrounded me and God provided a way of escape. Thank you for all of your prayers and concerns.”
• Speaking of the Nelons, they will be releasing their Vine Records debut, Beside Still Waters, next month.
• Cross 4 Crowns lead singer Davis McCammon will leave the group to finish his teaching degree and assist his home church’s music program. He stated: “”My time with C4C has been nothing short of life-changing.  I have gained life-long friends and learned so much about ministry.  This group of guys has an integrity that guides their ministry that is seldom found.  I will cherish the memories and I wish them the richest of God’s blessings.” He will travel with the group until they can find a replacement.
• It’s official: Tribute Quartet is signing with Crossroads. It’s been semi-public knowledge since NQC, when their newly released CD had the Crossroads logo on its spine, but it is now official.
• Worth reading: John Scheideman’s review of a recent Liberty Quartet concert.

Photos

Via Rusty Golden, co-author of one of the songs on their upcoming record, here’s an in-the-studio picture of Golden, Lari Goss, and the Booth Brothers:

Upcoming Reviews:

• January 18: What You Hear is What You Get (Randy Byrd)
• January 25: Expecting Good Things (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
• February 1: Decennial (Dove Brothers)
• February 8: No Trace of Rain (Paid in Full)
• February 15: Songs You Know By Heart (Talley Trio)
• February 22: Jubilee (Legacy Five, Booth Brothers, Greater Vision)
• March 1: Heritage Hymn Collection Vol. 1 (Browns)
• March 8: It Just Started For Me (Cross 4 Crowns)
• March 15: Songs From the Old Path Vol. 3 (Old Paths)
• March 22: Simply Put (Soul’d Out Quartet)
• March 29: Having Fun (Gold City)
• April 5: Breakthrough (Ball Brothers)
• April 12: Hymns of the Homeland (Songfellows)
• April 19: Unclouded Day (Blake Bolerjack)
• April 26: Mercy Met Me (Calvary’s Way)
• May 3: DVD Review: The Best of the Jubilee Years (Dixie Echoes)
• May 10: Praise (Childress Family)
• May 17: For This Time (Tribute Quartet)
• May 24: Faithful (Rick Webb Family)
• May 31: Another Blessing (Three Bridges)
• June 7: Heaven’s Worth Waiting For (Watkins Family)
• June 14: God Is (Cavaliers Quartet)
• June 21 For Such a Time As this (Couriers)
• July 26: Something For Everyone (Voices Won)
• July 5: It’s All Good (Gold Harbor)
• July 12: Rescued (Harris Family)
• July 21: It’s Time (Dale & Cheryl Golden)

• Chris Allman has launched a site to mentor aspiring songwriters who pay a membership fee. There are different levels of membership ranging from $25 to $50 per month; the highest level includes demos of songs they decide to publish.
• Brian Free & Assurance is in the studio, working on a project slated for an April/May release. It will feature a mixture of new songs, hymns, and classics.
• It looks like the Nelons have picked up the title track from the Mark Trammell Trio’s 2004 CD Beside Still Waters. Here’s their rendition.
• A SouthernGospelForums.com member, Jeff_from_Kentucky was at Signature Sound’s first concert with Devin McGlamery. The review is an interesting read, if for no other reason for a hilarious albino porcupine reference.
• Speaking of Signature Sound, they’ve been in the studio working on Influenced Vol. 2. It should be out in about two months.
• Guy Penrod has officially signed a recording deal with Gaither Music Group. We have known for several months that he would be recording with them. I guess it’s official now.
• Worth Reading: Wes Burke’s mini-interview with Daniel Rileyt.

Upcoming CD reviews:

• January 18: What You Hear is What You Get (Randy Byrd)
• January 25: Expecting Good Things (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
• February 1: Decennial (Dove Brothers)
• February 8: No Trace of Rain (Paid in Full)
• February 15: Songs You Know By Heart (Talley Trio)
• February 22: Jubilee (Legacy Five, Booth Brothers, Greater Vision)
• March 1: Heritage Hymn Collection Vol. 1 (Browns)
• March 8: It Just Started For Me (Cross 4 Crowns)
• March 15: Songs From the Old Path Vol. 3 (Old Paths)
• March 22: Simply Put (Soul’d Out Quartet)
• March 29: Having Fun (Gold City)
• April 5: Breakthrough (Ball Brothers)
• April 12: Hymns of the Homeland (Songfellows)
• April 19: Unclouded Day (Blake Bolerjack)
• April 26: Mercy Met Me (Calvary’s Way)
• May 3: DVD Review: The Best of the Jubilee Years (Dixie Echoes)
• May 10: Praise (Childress Family)
• May 17: For This Time (Tribute Quartet)
• May 24: Faithful (Rick Webb Family)
• May 31: Another Blessing (Three Bridges)
• June 7: Heaven’s Worth Waiting For (Watkins Family)
• June 14: God Is (Cavaliers Quartet)
• June 21 For Such a Time As this (Couriers)
• June 28: It’s Worth the Wait (Dana Russell)
• July 5: It’s All Good (Gold Harbor)
• July 12: Rescued (Harris Family)
• July 21: It’s Time (Dale & Cheryl Golden)
• July 26: Something For Everyone (Voices Won)

• Collingsworth family soprano Brooklyn Collingsworth got engaged last weekend, to William Blair III of Zanesville, OH. She will remain in her position as soprano; he is earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and will travel with the group as the schedule allows. They are planning for a wedding this December.
• Brad Smith has resigned his position singing bass for the Blackwood Gospel Quartet. His plans (and theirs) are presently unknown.
• Ed O’Neal’s mother passed away Thursday morning. She was 97.
• Jerry Kelso, who most recently played for the Dove Brothers, is back on the road, this time with his old group, the Stamps Quartet. (Hat tip, Robert York.)
• Mike LeFevre’s Priority Quartet has landed a new tenor, Nathaniel Justice. His resumé is quite unusual for a Southern Gospel tenor, including gigs at Disney and Cedar Point.
• Wes & Andrea Hampton welcomed their fourth boy, Sutton Ashford Hampton, on Tuesday morning.

Upcoming Reviews:

• January 10: Then and Now (Olivia Collingsworth)
• January 18: What You Hear is What You Get (Randy Byrd)
• January 25: Expecting Good Things (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
• February 1: Decennial (Dove Brothers)
• February 8: No Trace of Rain (Paid in Full)
• February 15: Songs You Know By Heart (Talley Trio)
• February 22: Jubilee (Legacy Five, Booth Brothers, Greater Vision)
• March 1: Heritage Hymn Collection Vol. 1 (Browns)
• March 8: It Just Started For Me (Cross 4 Crowns)
• March 15: Songs From the Old Path Vol. 3 (Old Paths)
• March 22: Simply Put (Soul’d Out Quartet)
• March 29: Having Fun (Gold City)
• April 5: Breakthrough (Ball Brothers)
• April 12: Hymns of the Homeland (Songfellows)
• April 19: Unclouded Day (Blake Bolerjack)
• April 26: Mercy Met Me (Calvary’s Way)
• May 3: DVD Review: The Best of the Jubilee Years (Dixie Echoes)
• May 10: Praise (Childress Family)
• May 17: For This Time (Tribute Quartet)
• May 24: Faithful (Rick Webb Family)
• May 31: Another Blessing (Three Bridges)
• June 7: Heaven’s Worth Waiting For (Watkins Family)
• June 14: God Is (Cavaliers Quartet)
• June 21 For Such a Time As this (Couriers)
• June 28: It’s Worth the Wait (Dana Russell)
• July 5: It’s All Good (Gold Harbor)
• July 12: Rescued (Harris Family)
• July 21: It’s Time (Dale & Cheryl Golden)
• July 26: Something For Everyone (Voices Won)

• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound has launched a contest that puts any of mine to shame. Their prize will be for a trip for two to London, England to see their February 21, 2010 solo show. More details are forthcoming, but Haase’s preliminary post is here.
• Gold City’s announcement of a tenor, said to be shortly forthcoming as of earlier this week, has been delayed due to “finaliz[ing] details on additional developments.” If the intent was to spark speculation, they could hardly have chosen better wording!
• Voices of Lee, a choral group from Liberty Lee University (Edit: Wow, if that typo got so many comments, I should make typos more often!) that has appeared on numerous Southern Gospel videos, has been on NBC’s a capella vocal competition The Sing Off. David Bruce Murray has more details here. I haven’t posted more on this since one of the contests’ requirements is that the ensemble sing secular music.
• Interestingly, Gaither Music Group will be releasing Guy Penrod’s solo debut, breathe deep, to stores on February 23. It’s welcome news, since it should go a long way toward putting rumors of bad blood to rest.
• A group called Total Praise Quartet has acquired the Carolina Boys Quartet name from Ray Dean Reese. They’re online at www.carolinaboysquartet.com.

Upcoming Reviews:

• December 21: Peace On Earth (Mark Trammell)
• December 28: I’d Rather Have Jesus (Dixie Echoes)
• January 4: Grand Finale: The Ultimate Concert Experience (Crabb Family)
• January 10: Then and Now (Olivia Collingsworth)
• January 18: What You Hear is What You Get (Randy Byrd)
• January 25: Expecting Good Things (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
• February 1: Decennial (Dove Brothers)
• February 8: No Trace of Rain (Paid in Full)
• February 15: Songs You Know By Heart (Talley Trio)
• February 22: Jubilee (Legacy Five, Booth Brothers, Greater Vision)
• March 1: Heritage Hymn Collection Vol. 1 (Browns)
• March 8: It Just Started For Me (Cross 4 Crowns)
• March 15: Songs From the Old Path Vol. 3 (Old Paths)
• March 22: Simply Put (Soul’d Out Quartet)
• March 29: Having Fun (Gold City)
• April 5: Breakthrough (Ball Brothers)
• April 12: Hymns of the Homeland (Songfellows)
• April 19: Unclouded Day (Blake Bolerjack)
• April 26: Mercy Met Me (Calvary’s Way)
• May 3: DVD Review: The Best of the Jubilee Years (Dixie Echoes)
• May 10: Praise (Childress Family)
• May 17: For This Time (Tribute Quartet)
• May 24: Faithful (Rick Webb Family)
• May 31: Another Blessing (Three Bridges)
• June 7: Heaven’s Worth Waiting For (Watkins Family)
• June 14: God Is (Cavaliers Quartet)
• June 21 For Such a Time As this (Couriers)
• June 28: It’s Worth the Wait (Dana Russell)
• July 5: It’s All Good (Gold Harbor)
• July 12: Rescued (Harris Family)
• July 21: It’s Time (Dale & Cheryl Golden)
• July 26: Something For Everyone (Voices Won)

Worth reading: Burke’s Brainwork has another interesting entry in its recording oddities series. Tim Parton has been doing a commendable job of keeping the Legacy Five blog up to date with weekly (or better) posting. If you haven’t added it to your regular reads, it’s worth doing.

Upcoming CD Reviews:

• December 14: Home For Christmas (Mark Trammell Trio)
• December 21: Peace On Earth (Mark Trammell)
• December 28: I’d Rather Have Jesus (Dixie Echoes)
• January 4: Grand Finale: The Ultimate Concert Experience (Crabb Family)
• January 10: Then and Now (Olivia Collingsworth)
• January 18: Decennial (Dove Brothers Quartet)
• January 25: What You Hear is What You Get (Randy Byrd)
• February 1: DVD Review: The Best of the Jubilee Years (Dixie Echoes)

• Tribute Quartet started their career with close ties to the Beckie Simmons Agency; she did their booking, and they were on the agency’s in-house label, BSA World Records. In September, they released their first project on the Crossroads label, and now the other shoe has dropped—for booking, they’ve signed with the Harper Agency.
• Also in the news, Tribute is selling their motor coach.

Video of the day:

Here’s a video of Frank Seamans singing “Till We Meet Again” in one of his final performances with Legacy Five. (Next week is his last with the group, if I’m not mistaken).

Upcoming releases:

• December 7: NQC Vol. 9
• December 14: Home For Christmas (Mark Trammell Trio)
• December 21: Peace On Earth (Mark Trammell)
• December 28: I’d Rather Have Jesus (Dixie Echoes)
• January 4: Grand Finale: The Ultimate Concert Experience (Crabb Family)
• January 10: Then and Now (Olivia Collingsworth)
• January 18: Decennial (Dove Brothers Quartet)

• A Facebook exclusive: “Clayton Inman has joined the group Casting Crowns.” Indeed. (Gotta love Facebook!)
• Perrys pianist Bryan Elliot is busy putting together a Funeral Tribute to their lead singer, Joseph Habedank. Nothing like being ready in advance:

Upcoming Reviews:

• November 30: Just Stand (Legacy Five)
• December 7: NQC Vol. 9
• December 14: Home For Christmas (Mark Trammell Trio)
• December 21: Peace On Earth (Mark Trammell)
• December 28: I’d Rather Have Jesus (Dixie Echoes)
• January 4: Grand Finale: The Ultimate Concert Experience (Crabb Family)
• January 10: Then and Now (Olivia Collingsworth)
• January 18: Decennial (Dove Brothers Quartet)

At least that’s what I’ve been concluding the last few days. I’m not sure what exactly is wrong. All I’m praying is that it’s nothing that requires a doctor’s visit that could eat up my NQC fund.

A big thanks goes to Sony (who regularly contributes a Sunday devotional) for pinch-hitting and doing yesterday’s post. My finger felt so bad that I really didn’t feel up to typing at all. Great job!

There have been all sorts of stories I meant to get caught up on on Saturday, and the longer I wait, the longer the list grows. Since this one is in the spirit of my Saturday news roundups, I’ll categorize and number it with them.

• Legacy Five has audio clips up from their upcoming release, Just Stand. This could finally be their breakout project. More thoughts once I hear the whole thing. One other thought for now: They bring in several fellow groups on the song “Statement of Faith,” and Jacob Kitson’s solo at the end of verse two is unequivocally awesome. Listen to that, if nothing else.
• Aaron Swain is building his contacts as a blogger, and he’s been able to obtain a sneak peek of the new Cross 4 Crowns CD. It sounds good but rather different than their last project.
• Joseph Habedank has a video clip up from a new song he’s written with Matthew Holt, “That’s What I Love About Him.” It sounds like his songwriting skills keep getting better and better. Hopefully the Perrys will see fit to put a hold on this song before someone else jumps on the chance to cut it.
• On a lighter note, check out another video Habedank posted of Bryan Elliott paying tribute to Libbi Perry Stuffle.
• Via Burke’s Brainwork, Mike LeFevre’s Priority Quartet has a new website out, http://prioritymusic.net/.
• The Blackwood Gospel Quartet (Mark Blackwood’s group) has hired Dale Evans as their new tenor singer.
• Via Musicscribe, Johnny Minick has a fascinating video up about a singing duo in the Minick Family, the Minick Brothers.
• The Mike Bowling Group recently lost Chris Whitaker. In his place, they’re hiring Terah Crabb Penhollow and taking on the name of The Bowlings.
• And, for the record, I love it when performers bring their children out to sing a song or two. It’s even better when those children are great singers. (I was going to link to YouTube videos of Andrew Brown of the Browns and Olivia Collingsworth of the Collingsworth family, but I can’t seem to find videos of either right now.)

• Southern Gospel tenor singer Matt Felts (Cross 4 Crowns, Monument Quartet, and one or two other groups) and his wife Jennifer had a daughter, Abigail, born on Tuesday. Abigail had an infection and is in intensive care; the Felts family would appreciate prayers for her recovery.
• Kyle Boreing has a fascinating post on if Mark Trammell is the smartest singer in Southern Gospel. It’s an interesting case.

Upcoming Reviews:

• August 3: Pickin’ Praisin’ Singin’: Songs From the Mountain (Cody Shuler and the Pine Mountain Railroad)
• August 7: Classic DVD Review: Celebrating 50 Years (Melody Boys Quartet)
• August 10: Classic CD Review: One Nation Over God (Dave, Duane and Neil)
• August 14: Hold On (Dove Brothers)

• The Collingsworth Family announced that they will be releasing a new studio CD, The Answer, on August 15. The project, produced by Wayne Haun, will be their first studio project in over two years. Songwriters with cuts on the project include Chris Allman, Dianne Wilkinson, Kyla Rowland, Gerald Crabb, Darryl Williams, and Marty Funderburk. Phil Collingsworth will also have a song on the project; if I’m not mistaken, this is the first time (at least since the group has started on the professional Southern Gospel circuit) that they cut one of his songs. There are fourteen songs on the project, including two instrumentals.
• Wes Hampton posts his thoughts about the Gaither Vocal Band video taping in San Antonio earlier this week.
• Dan Keeton announced that his disbanded group, the Dan Keeton Quartet, is “re-banding for a three day weekend we will not soon remember.” Could he have meant “not soon forget”? At any rate, they will be doing three concert dates in Georgia this weekend.

Upcoming Reviews:

• July 27: This Must Be Glory (Shiloh Mountain Trio)
• July 31: Louisville Live (Booth Brothers)
• August 3: Pickin’ Praisin’ Singin’: Songs From the Mountain (Cody Shuler and the Pine Mountain Railroad)
• August 7: Classic DVD Review: Celebrating 50 Years (Melody Boys Quartet)
• August 10: Classic CD Review: One Nation Over God (Dave, Duane and Neil)
• August 14: Hold On (Dove Brothers)