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Yesterday, Canaan Records and the LeFevre Quartet distributed a press release announcing that Canaan has signed the group to an exclusive recording contract. The group is currently working on its first Canaan release, set to come out this summer.

It might surprise some Canaan’s second signing was of a group that was not more established. Part of the explanation is that Canaan is billing the quartet as a new artist. The group has actually been recording for several years, on the Song Garden label; in fact, if I’m not mistaken, their lead singer worked with the label, handling its radio promotions. But Canaan’s publicity department describes the group in these words: “Mike continues to make his mark by forming the first group in several years to bear the legendary LeFevre name. Mike has prayerfully and carefully picked the members that make up the new quartet.”

Of course, it is far from the first time that Canaan has taken a chance on a new or lesser-known artist. While everyone talks about groups like the Inspirations, Kingsmen, and Happy Goodmans, Canaan’s roster also included Windy Johnson and the Messengers, The Four Galileans, Coy Cook and the Senators, and Rev. Cleavant Derricks and Family. And, of course, back in 1970, the Canaan label took a chance on a group that was struggling to make ends meet, just barely staying on the road–one “Cathedral Quartet.”

Though the Childress Family has been touring for over thirty years, for most of that time they have been known for what one of the original members became after leaving the group: Original member Shannon Childress was the Hoppers’ pianist and sometime producer from the mid-80s through the late-90s. This is unfortunate, because if this CD is any indication, the group is a pretty solid act on its own account.

All the group members are related; family patriarch and matriarch Ken and Marlene Childress are joined by daughters Carla Childress (soprano) and Teresa Childress Lutz (alto), as well as son-in-law Jamey Lutz (lead) and grand-daughter Courtney Lutz.

Though Shannon Childress has not re-joined the group, he did produce this project. The producer’s touch that helped propel the Hoppers to the top is in evidence on this project, especially on the soaring ballads “For What Earthly Reason” and “Who is He in Yonder Stall,” the project’s highlights.

Even though the project has several cover songs, the song placement gives the overall project the feel of a project of entirely new songs. Five of the new songs were written or co-written by family members (if two songs from Shannon’s pen are counted).

The album has a musical balance that reflects the variety of tastes within the family–ballads, convention songs, a piano solo, and even a few songs with a progressive feel. The songs with a more contemporary feel are the three on which granddaughter Courtney is featured; she brings vocal stylings reminiscent of a young Lauren Talley to songs like the cover of Natalie Grant’s “I Desire.” Though the range of styles present on the CD would suggest an artistic tension that is present to a minor degree, skillful song placement minimizes this drawback.

It seems odd to describe an ensemble that has been touring for over three decades as having potential, but that is the one word that this recording most brings to mind. Put another way, that the group is getting less recognition than the quality of this project suggests that it deserves. Granted, this project may not be quite at the level of a major-label high-budget release by a current top group. But it comes surprisingly close.

Rating: Recommended.

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound posted their summer tour concert dates a few days ago. It looks like some of their concerts will take them somewhat off the beaten path of the Southern Gospel circuit, with concerts in Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, and Iowa, and overseas in Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Word has it that Southern Gospel producer Wayne Haun will be moonlighting as their piano player for the summer tour. Also, based on reports from those in attendance, it sounds like they’ve started staging songs from their next project, to be released this fall, with “Reason Enough” getting particularly high reviews.

Featuring the #5 song of 2007 according to Singing News magazine, “He Chose Me,” the Freemans have put out another great recording with their latest release, Eyes on the Prize. ”

Larry Petree wrote three songs on this CD including the Freemans’ latest single, “Cast in the Sea,” “Cross Fire” (a great song about spiritual warfare), and “Rich As I Can Be,” featuring Darrell, Joe, and Caylon Freeman.

Gerald Crabb wrote “Put Me In That Crowd” and co-wrote the ballad “Grace I Remember” with Niles Borop.

Other songs include “Three Rugged Crosses,” “If God Doesn’t Have It,” and the old spiritual, “Eyes on the Prize,” which features Chris and Misty Freeman, Joyce Martin, Bo Hinson, The Dixie Echoes, and Jason Crabb.

I remember Darrell Freeman saying years ago that they would never put a “filler” song on one of their recordings and they have stayed true to that with this recording.

~Sony Elise

In Greater Vision’s most recent email newsletter, Gerald Wolfe announced his first solo vocal project in years. It will include Wolfe’s most-requested songs, including the 1986 version of “Land of the Living,” the 1992 version of “There is a River,” new renditions of “Champion of Love” and “Till the Storm Passes By,” and a song he describes as one “I’ve wanted to record for a long time,” “I Still Cling to the Old Rugged Cross.”

Until Now is set to be released this spring, and unless I’m mistaken will be Wolfe’s first vocal solo project in nearly two decades. There’s no word yet on whether it will be a major-label or a table release, but either way, it could end up being one of the most-anticipated recordings of the year.

Except for occasional dates, Mercy’s Mark frontman Garry Jones announced yesterday, the group will not be returning to the road. Jones sent out an email newsletter announcing his decision; oddly enough, as blogger Coomer’s Cove points out, he doesn’t exactly say who will be joining him at those dates. I wouldn’t be surprised if it includes a few former Mercy’s Mark members, most particularly Josh Feemster and Chris West, but we don’t know yet.

Jones intends to focus on producing and studio work.

It’s tough to keep a group on the road, and unfortunate that a group that started out with this much promise was one of the ones to bite the dust.

Singing News caught up with Josh Garner to check on the rumors that he’s joined a group. He denied the rumors, and said that he is actively working on starting a solo ministry. He does have a website and a solo projects, and intends to be focusing on his solo work…for now. (Those last two words were my addition.)

After the high rating I gave Liberty Quartet’s Timeless Treasured Hymns 2 project late last year, I have been curious to hear what they sounded like in a live concert setting. But since they tour almost exclusively on the West Coast, catching them in person hasn’t been feasible. So I did the next-best thing, watching their most recent DVD, Above and Beyond.

Since the group tours an area off the beaten path in our genre, it would probably be tempting to rely on the standard Southern Gospel jokes. But the group uses mostly original material, along with a few old standards, such as “old people like old music.” But even that line gets a unique twist, when baritone Doran Ritchey chides emcee/bass Royce Mitchell and tells him to apologize. Mitchell says, “I’m sorry–you’re old”–to another round of laughter.

This taping took place before Timeless Treasured Hymns 2 was released, and doesn’t contain any of the songs from that project. Most of the songs from There’s a Testimony, the group’s most recent project of new songs, are included. Interestingly, that project’s strongest ballad, “Near to the Heart of God,” is not one of the songs included. But “Glorious Tomorrow,” “Freedom,” and “I’m His” did make it onto the video.

The project also includes three songs each from their two previous projects. “Jericho Road,” “Walk Talk and Sing,” and “This World is Not My Home” come from Old Time Gospel Songs, Vol. 1. Meanwhile, Do You Know Him? (2005) is represented by its three strongest songs, “Wonder of His Love,” “Contagious,” and “He Had to Hold to Calvary.” The latter song is a powerful ballad; both the song and lead singer Dan Gilbert’s delivery are reminiscent of a big Kingdom Heirs/Arthur Rice anthem.

This group’s live presentation is on par with Southern Gospel’s biggest (non-Gaither) acts. The only thing holding them back from greater recognition in the genre is the fact that they tour the West Coast, where comparatively few of the Southern Gospel powers-that-be (and fans) can hear them for themselves.

Rating: Recommended.

The Charlotte (NC) Observer is reporting that the fire that destroyed the Whisnants’ office several days ago was likely due to arson. The building housed both the Whisnants’ office and a radio station owned by the family (Jeff, brother John, and father John Sr.), WCIS-AM (760).

Since the building housed both the radio station and the Whisnants’ musical group’s office, they also lost about 3,000 of the Whisnants’ CDs/DVDs in the fire. Fortunately, the building was insured; the Whisnants hope to get the station back on the air as soon as possible, maybe even by the end of the month.

That’s how Scott Fowler describes his group in a Bradenton (FL) Herald interview:

We push the envelope as far as what is considered traditional Southern gospel, but we don’t cross over into rock or inspirational. When this music first got started, it was a piano player and four singers and basically three chords to a song. It’s evolved, certainly, to include a broader range of influences and tastes.

While he could have been referring to future plans for the group, in all likelihood he meant the remarks in the context of comparing Legacy Five to (say) the Blackwood Brothers and the Statesmen. But that quote, and the rest of the interview, are pretty interesting either way.