SouthernGospelBlog.com

The Grammy nominations are in for Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel album. Nominees include albums by Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, the Del McCoury Band, the Gaither Vocal Band…and Kenny Bishop’s self-titled solo debut.

What on earth were they thinking?

Despite the fact that Bishop had publicly announced his comeback, and had started regularly performing concerts, he wasn’t even named in the top 10 soloists in this year’s Singing News Fan Awards. (The top 10 were Mark Bishop, Mike Bowling, Michael Combs, Tony Gore, John Lanier, Cricket Lee, Randy Miller, Ivan Parker, Dottie Rambo, and Garry Sheppard.)

Kentucky.com has a story on Bishop’s reaction to the nomination. Bishop was completely shocked, and I don’t blame him.

He started his solo career with instant name recognition, but thus far that has not translated into any major successes in radio airplay, album sales (to my knowledge), or choice concert venues. He has kept his day job and just sings on weekends.

Does anyone know how this could translate into a Grammy nomination for one of the two Southern Gospel slots this year?

Clarification: Just in case I have any readers who are big Kenny Bishop fans, I am not saying that the album did not deserve the nomination. I haven’t heard it yet. I’m just completely puzzled as to how it got this nomination.

A sharp set of eyes on Signature Sound’s message board noticed this page giving marketing information on Signature Sound’s upcoming Get Away Jordan DVD release. The thing that most caught my eye (besides the starburst on the cover, which never fails to catch my attention) was the TV marketing schedule. The Gaither television special that features music from the DVD will be aired on no less than fifteen different channels on January 20, including PAX, GAC, TBN, Daystar, and INSP. Add to this a February interview on Dr. James Dobson’s program and a May appearance at the White House, and that equals a lot of publicity.

If Ernie Haase can maintain the same pace and the same personnel for several more years, Signature Sound will be well on their way to being Southern Gospel’s next mega-group.

Chuck Peters at Southern Gospel Reporter has the scoop: Loren Harris is going to make what is (to Peters’ knowledge) his first concert appearance since leaving the Perrys earlier this year. Troy Peach (of First Love), Ricky Atkinson, and Harris all sang together in the Wilburns in the 1990s, and Peach persuaded Harris to appear with them to be a “special surprise guest.” Well, I guess that once he told Chuck Peters, the secret was out!