Worth Knowing

• It has been a huge week in Gospel Music. Just in case you missed it, Legacy Five announced bass singer Glenn Dustin’s departure, and the Mark Trammell Quartet announced that Nick Trammell would be replacing Dustin Sweatman at the lead position.
• Former Hinsons drummer Tracy Richardson passed away last Sunday, July 8. He had a rare heart disease.

Worth Watching

Word has it that the upcoming Tribute Quartet will be their best yet. And if this is any indication…

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• The Dove Brothers have changed the branding and URL on their website from Dove Brothers Quartet to Dove Brothers Band. (Hat tip, Brandon.)
• The Dixie Melody Boys are issuing a limited-edition pressing of what may be Ed O’Neal’s first-ever recording, a 1961 album Introducing the Gospel Harmony Quartet.

Worth Reading

• Off-topic but worthwhile: By its very definition, “forgiveness” is giving up resentment or a claim to requital from someone who has done something wrong to you. Yet some preachers today claim a therapeutic value to “forgiving God” after something bad happens. This column tears that notion to shreds, calling anyone who has the audacity to tell someone to “forgive God” to repent for entertaining the notion that a holy and perfect God has done anything wrong!

Worth Watching

Here’s one of the first videos posted of the Blackwood Brothers with new bass singer Butch Owens:

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• The Ball Brothers reached their Kickstarter goal. Congratulations!
• Singing News has a photo of Nick and Jessica (Brown) Trammell with their first child, daughter Tessa.

Worth Reading

• Chris Allman’s songwriting blog is at a new domain, http://hooklinesandsingers.com/.
• Legacy Five calls fans who support their ministry with prayer “Ropeholders.” This morning, I happened across some interesting historical context regarding the origin of the term. William Carey was a pioneering figure in the modern missions movement. Andrew Fuller, a Particular Baptist pastor who was the General Secretary of the society (Baptist Missionary Society) that supported Carey twenty-one years, coined the term “ropeholder.” Fuller said, “Our undertaking in India really appeared to me, on its commencement, to be somewhat like a few men who were deliberating about the importance of penetrating into a deep mine which had never been explored. We had no one to guide us. And while we were thus deliberating, Carey, as it were, said, ‘Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.’ But before he went down, he, as it seemed to me, took an oath from each of us, at the mouth of the pit, to this effect, that while we lived, we should never let go the rope.” (Quite from this Fuller audio-biography; hat-tip to Friday Night Revival.)

Worth Watching

Here’s a rare video of Southern Gospel songwriter Dianne Wilkinson on the piano:

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• BMI handed out its Christian Music Awards earlier this week. Songs and songwriters were both honored; Kyla Rowland joined three CCM songwriters as one of the four “Songwriters of the Year.” Several Southern Gospel songs were honored as “Award-winning songs,” evidently a top-25 list of sorts:
• Did I Mention (Kyla Rowland / The Perrys)
• I’ve Never Known a Day (Van Mitchell / The Inspirations)
• Somebody Died for Me (Kyle Matthews and Christy Sutherland / Triumphant Quartet)
• This Old Sinner Testifies (Kyla Rowland / The Perrys)
• You Were Faithful Yesterday (Rodney Griffin / Greater Vision)
• Nick and Jessica Brown Trammell (of The Browns) had their first child Thursday morning—a daughter, Tessa. Congratulations to the parents (and the ecstatic grandparents, too!)
• The Freemans signed with Rivergate Talent Agency for booking.
• Sheila Heil (wife of legendary Gospel Greats host Paul Heil) had eye surgery yesterday. Prayers are requested for her recovery.

Worth Watching

Here’s a video of the Garms Family (who are SouthernGospelBlog.com contributors) singing “Tell Me the Story of Jesus.” It’s probably their best performance to make it to YouTube yet.

Also, here’s a ten-minute Gaither.com video interview with Ben Isaacs (about producing albums).

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Reading

• Here’s the official press release on Gordon Mote’s departure from the Gaither Homecoming Tour.
• Check out Brian Crout’s in-depth review of the Talleys’ album Love Won; he calls it “a must-have recording.”
• Steve Eaton has been running a fascinating SWOT Analysis (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) column for the last several weeks. This week, he took a look at the Mark Trammell Quartet.

Worth Watching

In a recent discussion in the comments, commenter Abe mentioned the Garment of Praise Quartet. This acapella Mennonite quartet’s lead singer, Daryl Petersheim, wrote the Kingdom Heirs song “The Empty Tomb Says it All.” Here’s a video of the group singing “Heaven’s Joy Awaits”:

Bonus: Here’s their take on the Kingdom Heirs’ song Going On with the Song.

Also, SGConcerts’ Diana Brantley has posted the first concert footage of the new Rebels Quartet. Here’s a video of lead singer Alan Kendall being featured on “He’ll Understand and Say Well Done”:

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• Jeff Steele’s family is requesting prayer for his health. Jeff, who led The Steeles until their retirement several years ago, fell down a concrete wall and down brick steps. He has been admitted to the hospital to determine if the fall was caused by a stroke. (Via Libbi Stuffle on Facebook.) (UPDATE, 2:04 P.M.) Jeff Steele is doing better enough that he posted this update on Facebook: “I have been in an information ‘black hole’ since Thursday evening when my incident took place. Doc said I could have this one chance. Thank you to Wesley and Trevor and Brad. You guys saved my life! I was talking to my friend Ashley Franks when she says my speech got slurred and I became incoherent! Ash I love you sweetie just DON’T tell em what I said!! LOL. Thanks to all of u who are praying for me. This is a lot more serious than I thought and I FEEL your prayers. Thank you so, so much. I love, love, love you all!! I am overwhelmed!”
• Aaron Swain recently went to see Promise in concert, recording quite a few videos, posted here.

Worth Reading

• Southern Gospel Critique terms the new Barry Rowland & Deliverance project as the best of the year, so far. Check out the review. (My review is scheduled for early next month, but this review touches on several areas mine doesn’t.)
• Whether you agree or disagree, Friday Night Revival’s case for a one-hour Compassion pitch at NQC is a must-read.
• Somewhat off-topic, but relevant to today’s culture: Randy Alcorn’s column on why we should not become desensitized to profanity in the entertainment we consume.

Worth Watching

Here’s a video of the new Kingsmen lineup, with tenor Chris Jenkins and lead singer Bob Sellers:

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• Tim Duncan’s son Breck, who was injured in a head-on collision last week, continues to recover. Tim posted a surgery update on Facebook yesterday evening: “Brecks surgery went well. He had broken every bone in is face plus his eye orbits. They were able to repair everything. The surgeons said everything fit back perfectly and they even took pictures of what they are calling thier masterpiece! They said they were shocked at how easy the surgery was! He does have his jaws wired shut. He isn’t happy but he said he is trying to keep a good attitude! I know it is God hearing all the prayers on his behalf! We can’t say thank you enough!!”
• Former Melody Boys baritone Steven Hickinbotham has joined Spoken 4 Quartet. Former baritone Jeremy Wilkerson, a founding member of Spoken 4, left at the end of 2011. J.D. Miller had filled in in the interim. (Hat tip, Lauren.)
• Blackwood Legacy has hired Paul Secord as their new tenor.
• Departing Dixie Echoes pianist Stewart Varnado is doing a clearance sale on his instrumental CDs at his website. [EDIT, 2/22/13: Broken link removed.] He is also selling quite a few Southern Gospel CDs and LPs he’s collected through the years (though you would have to contact him through Facebook or his website’s contact form for details.)

Worth Reading

• Greater Vision tenor Chris Allman has started blogging actively at Like I Wish I’d Lived.

Worth Watching

Here’s a video of the Collingsworth Family singing “That’s the Place I’m Longing to Go” last weekend:

(Here’s a video from the same event, “At Calvary.”)

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• The Gospel Music Association has announced that the Hoppers will be inducted into their Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be August 14th.
• Long-time NQC emcee Buck Morton’s wife Annette passed away last Saturday.
• Former Sego Brothers & Naomi member Lamar Sego, the last surviving Sego brother, also passed away last Saturday. In recent years, his sister-in-law Naomi Sego Reader has continued the group as Naomi and the Segos.
• Radio promoter Donna Beauvais King will be leaving Daywind at the end of the month to focus on the artists associated with her own promotions company, Vertical Sky. She will be replaced by Southern Gospel soloist Taj Rohr.

Worth Watching

Here’s an in-the-studio sneak peek of a new Mark Bishop song:

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• On Tuesday, Tim Surrett’s bluegrass group, Balsam Range, launched a new membership program, Balsam Nation.
• Paul’s Journey has hired Joe Kitson as their new lead singer. He has previously sung with the Dixie Melody Boys, the Toney Brothers, Statement of Faith, and In the Vine. The group has also hired Dodd Meadows to add vocals and instrumentation and help run sound.
• Scott Godsey, who produced Legacy Five’s recent “Ask Me Why” concept video, has launched a media and marketing agency, Godsey & Associates.
• Danny Funderburk’s father, Bill Funderburk, passed away on Wednesday. He was 82; his health had been declining for some time, and he had suffered a heart attack last month.
• Channing Eleton’s mother, Janice Eleton, passed away this week after a long battle with cancer (hat tip, DBM).
• Ryan Seaton’s quartet, Union Street, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to attempt to fund their debut album.

Worth Watching

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!

Worth Knowing

• Doyle Lawson’s mother passed away several days ago at age 96; the funeral was on Wednesday. On his Facebook page, Doyle commented: “I and my family thank you from the depths of our hearts. Mom was one of the most loving and caring people I have ever or ever will know. She would have been 97 in July. God gave a long life and I had her for 68 years. Lots of people are not so fortunate. The best part is that I know she crossed over to a place prepared for all who believe will share. God’s blessings be with you all.”
• Matt Felts has released a project of Civil War hymns, Angels on the Battlefield. He brought in Nashville studio musicians playing period instruments and an all-star cast of guest vocalists. It was released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the conflict, and is scheduled to be carried by National Parks across America, Best Buy, and Borders. More information (and several complete song previews) are here.

Worth Watching

Here’s a video of the Weatherfords in 1957, before Henry Slaughter came on board. (George Houston was at the piano.) Yes, that is a young Glen Payne on lead and a young Armond Morales on bass.

Worth Discussing

It’s open thread Saturday—you decide!