Saturday News Roundup #32
There were actually a number of stories I didn’t get to this week:
- N’Harmony is now officially back on the road. Their first tour to Ireland went well; lead singer Shane Dunlap stated: “The people there are very warm and truly enjoy southern gospel music.” They are working on plans to return next year. They are booked by the Dominion Agency and recently launched their website, www.nharmonymusic.com. (See photo on right.)
- Everett Reece, former member of the Junior Blackwood Brothers, Prophets, Harvesters, and Singing Americans passed away on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. His funeral is today at the Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home in Branson, Missouri.
- Southern Gospel artists got three nominations in this year’s Grammy Awards. The Booth Brothers’ Room for More, Karen Peck & New River’s Ephesians 1, and the Gaither Vocal Band’s Lovin’ Life were all nominated in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album category. This didn’t really merit a post of its own since the Grammy voters generally tend to be fairly disconnected with the Southern Gospel industry. (The Dove Awards are a little better, so I often give their SG categories more prominent mention.)
- Roy Webb signed a recording deal with Song Garden Music Group. The press release said Webb will be working on a hymns project, to be produced by Lari Goss, coming out next spring. Everything Lari Goss puts his musical touch on turns to gold, so this will be worth waiting for.
Worth Reading:
- Wes Burke landed an interview with the Gaither Vocal Band’s Wes Hampton. Read it here.
- In the humor department, check out this article. Did you know that Bill Gaither was “gospel’s most successful unknown performer”? Or that the original Homecoming video featured about a dozen Gospel legends and was 4 minutes long?
Upcoming Reviews:
- date not set: NQC Live Volume 8
- December 9: Treasure (Janet Paschal)
- December 12: December (Mercy’s Well)
- December 16: Hymns from Chigger Hill (Chigger Hill Boys & Terri)
- December 19: Destination Heaven (Melody Boys Quartet)
- December 23: Hymns of the Faith (Hayes Family)
- December 26: Ain’t Nobody (Soul’d Out Quartet)
- December 30: The Gospel Sessions (Oak Ridge Boys)
- January 2: Easier to Live (Voices Won)
- January 9: Classic CD – A Tribute to the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither
- January 16: Pensacola Live (Dixie Echoes) – review of CD only for now
- January 23: Classic CD – With Feeling Live (McKameys)
