We’re back…as a blog! In May, I tried switching from a straight blog format to a more news website-based format. The response was mixed but leaned negative.  So I’ve had in mind that once I had the time I would eventually switch back to a “real” blog format. Here it is. We’re back! I decided that since I...

Tracy Crouch leaving Dixie Echoes The Dixie Echoes announced today that Tracy Crouch is leaving. I hate to see him go but I can’t blame him; his baby will only be little once. On a side note, I think he’s the first performer I’ve interviewed to go off the road. I wish you the best,...

GC featured in Grand Rapids Press Gold City was recently featured in this article in the Grand Rapids Press. The Gold City ensemble spent much of the past year finding itself. “We kind of figured out who we are, musically, and then let that shine through our style,” baritone singer Daniel Riley said of the Southern gospel group....

Random Thoughts: Variety Recently, a friend who listens to a wide range of music, including some Southern Gospel, encouraged me to try a little more musical variety. With all due respect to him–he had the best of intentions–I can find all the variety I want in Southern Gospel. There are ministering and entertaining...

Good News from Canaan Last time I posted news about Word’s re-launch of Canaan, it didn’t sound as though Word was putting much effort into getting Canaan back off the ground. A sales rep at CBA’s International Christian Retail Show said that Canaan was in talks with no new artists and that it was quite unlikely...

Revamping the Fan Awards? Periodically, fans on the Singing News Message Board throw out ideas for revamping the Fan Awards. I thought Jeff from Kentucky’s idea here was a different enough spin on the topic to make it worth mentioning. The gist of it is that after a singer wins an award for a set number of years, say five, they...

Songlist for Gaither Hymns DVDs There has been more buzz about the Gaither Hymns DVDs than any other Homecoming in recent memory. With 200+ singers present, there were more musicians on this set than any other in recent memory–possibly ever. There has been some speculation over what the final songlist would be–which songs would...

Brian Free & Assurance schedules last-minute XM appearance tomorrow Here’s the XM announcement: A last-minute stop has been added to Brian Free & Assurance’s concert schedule – a stop in the Nation’s Capital for a musical performance in XM Radio’s Performance Theater. And, it can be heard live on Friday morning, July 27th, beginning at 11 AM Eastern Time...

An unlikely Rumor refuted: George Younce and “Yesterday” The other day, a pseudonymous commenter on Averyfineline said this: And I am sure that some of the singers who have already passed away got credit for songs they did not write. I understand that sometimes they just bought the rights to the songs – such as George Yonce and “Yesterday.” Well, there...

Random thoughts: Signature Sound and Workout Videos Daniel Britt recently posted an interview he did with Ernie Haase. In the interview, Haase mentions that he’s been interested in the idea of a Southern Gospel workout video that fans can exercise along with. That’s a great idea, but I have this feeling that if anyone tried following the moves on...