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Daywind Records just announced the signing of Crabb Revival. The act is composed of Adam Crabb, Terah Crabb-Penhollow, and a band, and is the only group coming out of the Crabb Family with two of the Crabb siblings fronting the group.

This is an interesting move both for Daywind and the Crabbs. Most of Daywind’s headliner artists have stayed pretty solidly within the Southern Gospel genre, while everything I’ve heard from people who have attended Crabb Revival concerts indicates that they are more progressive than the Crabb Family. This move could help the Crabbs keep one foot solidly in Southern Gospel, while at the same time reaching out to new audiences.

Danny Koker, the original Cathedrals Quartet baritone, has passed away after a long bout with cancer. He lived in Las Vegas.

He sang with Glen Payne and Bobby Clark in the Weatherfords. In 1963, after Earl and Lily Weatherford left the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Akron, Ohio, Koker, Payne, and Clark formed the Cathedral Trio. This became the Cathedral Quartet the following year with the addition of George Younce.

Koker played piano, sang baritone, and did many of the group’s arrangements. He left the group in 1969 and had since pursued other business interests, including owning a Los Angeles TV station.

It seems to be a slow news day (so far) in Southern Gospel, so let me point you to today’s Must-Read of the Day: Bill Baize on Pronunciation.

Here’s a roundup of assorted news stories from the Southern Gospel scene over the last few days:

• Classic labels returning: It has almost reached epidemic proportions–first Homeland and Canaan, now Spring Hill. The label has returned under new leadership, signing Jason Crabb to a recording contract.
• Dan Keeton has updated his blog with an insightful post on song selection. It should warm the hearts of those who don’t want to see Southern Gospel lose its heritage of great music. It also shows that he’s picked up an unexpected lesson from Ed O’Neal: If your columns are interesting enough, people will check out your music, too.
• The Collingsworth Family will be taping a live video in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March. 8. The interesting aspect of the announcement, though, is that after they tape their main video, they’ll take a break, then start the cameras back up to tape Kim Collingsworth doing a live piano concert and taking requests.

The nominations for the 39th Annual Dove Awards have been announced. The Hoppers, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Karen Peck & New River, Brian Free & Assurance, Janet Paschal, the Talley Trio, and Jeff & Sheri Easter picked up nominations in the Southern Gospel categories (Southern Gospel Song and Southern Gospel Album).

But what particularly caught my attention were the nominations in two of the highest-profile categories, Group of the Year and Male Vocalist of the year. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound was nominated for Group of the Year, while Gerald Wolfe picked up a nomination for Male Vocalist. While it hasn’t been unknown for  a group like the Crabb Family or a Gaither artist to pick up nominations in the major categories, seeing Gerald Wolfe’s name on the list for Male Vocalist was a particularly pleasant surprise.

Granted, the general consensus is that Southern Gospel acts won’t actually win those awards, but being on the short list is a pretty impressive honor nonetheless.

The Rick Hendrix Company is sending “When I Cry” to Southern Gospel radio stations as the Gaither Vocal Band’s next single. It is a ballad, building to a big bridge before coming back down to a mellow ending. The song, off of their upcoming and (to my knowledge) yet-to-be-titled project, is one that has “radio-friendly” written all over it and should do well for the group.

Palmetto State recently announced that they will be adding a new keyboardist. Casey Martin, who has toured playing for secular jazz and Contemporary Christian music artists, as well as Southern Gospel performers Ivan Parker and Janet Paschal, will be playing keyboard accompaniment and a saxophone solo during Palmetto State concerts.

This will make Palmetto State Southern Gospel’s first interracial* group in perhaps 20 years. The last example that comes to mind was the mid-80s Gaither Vocal Band, with Larnelle Harris as their tenor. And, in fact, I can only think of one example before that–Sherman Andrus with the Imperials, although they weren’t exactly Southern Gospel at the time. This move should add a unique flavor to Palmetto State appearances and perhaps even open doors to new venues and opportunities.

EDIT: Commenters rightfully point out that I forgot the King’s Heralds, who are now starting to move into the Southern Gospel market, and the group Valor before it broke onto the national scene. I stand corrected. Nevertheless, among the big-name national groups that have led the genre over the past few decades, Palmetto State may well be the first traditional male quartet to integrate.

(*I use the term reluctantly, since technically speaking, there is only one human race, and different skin colors result from minor genetic variations. But I couldn’t think of any synonym.)

Why is it that tenors get to sing “Glory Road,” but basses have to sing “Lonesome Road”?

David Bruce Murray has the story. His analysis, including whether / how this could affect Singing News (owned by the same company), is right on target–today’s “must read.”

For the most part, I’ve been successfully resisting the temptation to steer this blog clear of any political discussion. But…I just couldn’t resist this one. After all, when was the last time you saw a Presidential candidate performing a Southern Gospel song?

This was from last Sunday’s service at Thomas Road Baptist Church, host to the (former) Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet.

All I can say is…if this Presidential gig doesn’t pan out, I heard the Kingsmen are looking!