SouthernGospelBlog.com

I was sent the following press release to post:

Bladenboro, NC - The Dove Brothers Quartet “appeared” on a recent airing of the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS television.  In a segment of the program devoted to Small Town News, a promotional poster of the group was shown.  In typical David Letterman style, of course, the joke was presented as to how it is that FIVE people make up a quartet.

“I guess there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” McCray Dove stated with a chuckle.  “This does, however, present a way to help spread the news about Southern Gospel music to a broader audience.  Wouldn’t it be great if folks from across the country logged on to the CBS.com website and let them know they want to see Southern Gospel really featured?  What better place is there for a song like “Get Away Jordan” to be performed?”

The Dove Brothers have recently released two new projects and will be kicking off their “I Can Pray” tour in 2007.  For more information about the tour and the Dove Brothers, please visit www.dovebrothersquartet.com.

From all I am hearing, Greater Vision might be making an important announcement at some point in the next few weeks. I won’t say what it is, but I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything official.

When Bill Traylor appeared on a recent edition of Paul Heil’s The Gospel Greats, he announced that he was going to bring Homeland Records back. Homeland had been a major label for eighteen years until Todd Payne, another of the major players in the label, left to form Cathedral Records and took several of Homeland’s biggest artists (including Legacy Five and the Florida Boys) with him.

Traylor announced that Homeland is coming back and should have several albums out early next year. He did not, however, announce which artists he has signed.

Crossway will be appearing on the Grand Ole Opry this evening at 7 PM Central Standard Time. This live performance will be broadcast on WSMOnline, both at 650 AM for those who live in Nashville and on the radio station’s website.

The Dixie Melody Boys are presently finishing up three albums, all of which will release in January. The press release states:

Fayetteville, NC - Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame member, Ed O’Neal and his talented Dixie Melody Boys have been in the recording studio in recent weeks, working on vocals for not one, but three, new recordings. The popular quartet plans to have all three new projects available shortly after the first of the new year. “I’ve been wanting to do this for 40 years,” states veteran Dixie Melody Boys’ leader, Ed O’Neal. “Two of the recordings contain classic quartet songs, and one recording is all hymns. Two of the projects have just the four-part harmony with the piano and bass guitar accompaniment, but the hymns recording has the four vocals with a piano only, just like we used to sing them in church. I think the folks who love traditional, quartet singing will really enjoy these recordings.”

All three recordings are being produced by talented producer/vocalist/musican Wesley Pritchard, who admits that he’s never heard The Dixie Melody Boys sound any better. “This is the best quartet Ed O’Neal has ever had, and that’s a major statement,” Pritchard states. “Some of the finest singers in Gospel Music have, at one time or another, been a part of The Dixie Melody Boys. I’m talking about guys like Rodney Griffin, Devin McGlamery, Harold Reed, McCray Dove and Ernie Haase. He’s had some fantastic singers, and has always had a good quartet, but this group is the best combination he’s ever had.”

The current group of young men joining O’Neal, which Pritchard is referring to, includes tenor Dan Keeton, baritone Andrew King and the newest member of the quartet, lead vocalist Bryan Walker. Although Walker has only been a member of the group for a brief period of time, he has close ties to the quartet. Walker’s dad, David, traveled with The Dixie Melody Boys in the mid-1980s, and later with The Anchormen and The Kingdom Heirs.

According to O’Neal, Dixie Melody Boys’ fans can look for these three new releases in January, just in time for the group’s annual trip to the West Coast. Visit www.dixiemelodyboys.com to view the group’s touring schedule and to pre-order your copies of the Dixie Melody Boys at their finest.