Mike & Kelly Bowling added to NQC program A reader points out that Mike and Kelly Bowling now appear on NQC’s Tuesday mainstage program. Also of note, another reader points out that the schedule clarifies that it’s the original Couriers (Dave, Duane, and Neil) appearing on Friday night, not the modern-day Couriers, which recently became...

The Booth Brothers…live Especially after last year’s fan awards results, nobody questions that the Booth Brothers are among the hottest acts going right now in Southern Gospel. But since their music leans toward the progressive end of the spectrum, many of their fans haven’t seen them quite like this: Alan Kendall, who...

A Conversation with Wes Hampton I recently had the opportunity to interview Wes Hampton, the tenor for the Gaither Vocal Band. The group’s website is www.gaither.com; his personal site is www.weshampton.com. For a formatted version (including photos, courtesy of Hannah Lefchik), click here: southerngospelblog.com/features/200901.pdf....

Book Review: Southern Sounds from the North (Richard Doran) Available from: www.doranlovessoutherngospel.com. * * * Richard Doran has been singing baritone with a local Ohio group for over three decades. Over those years, he has accumulated a wealth of first-hand knowledge about Southern Gospel in Ohio. Ohio is sometimes thought to be off the beaten path of the...

Shelley Blackwood to leave Blackwood Singers Shortly before Christmas, Ron Blackwood announced that he would be launching the Blackwood Quartet, a full-time touring group featuring tenor John Rulapaugh, lead Josh Garner, baritone Tracy Trent, bass Trent Adams, and pianist Joe Cox. Ron Blackwood will be the emcee and a featured soloist on select...

Sony’s Thoughts: Embracing the Valley I was sitting in the concert, feeling extremely blessed to be there. When I attend a concert, I can’t help but get excited and this was no exception. I was singing along with every song I knew (which was all but two) and thanking God for allowing me to attend the concert. Another song started which...

A Hint: Guy Penrod to Return to GVB? Granted, this isn’t anywhere near as official as a press release, but the February Singing News Top 80 chart (subscribers-only link) lists the Gaither Vocal Band’s new single: “Jesus and John Wayne.” Not only does the song feature Guy Penrod, but also it’s so Guy that it’s...

CD Review: Easier to Live (Voices Won) Rating: 4.5 (of 5) Average Song Rating: 3.9 (of 5) Producer: Jeff Collins. Song List: Sweetest Sound; Fishing Trip; Happy; I Will Praise Him Forever; He Lived to Love the Lord; Inside of Me; Know That You Have Faith; Easier to Live; God’s Big Hand; Same God; New Start. Available from: Artist, Label,...

2008 in Review: News Stories What were the highlights of 2008 in Southern Gospel? We’ve looked at the year’s best albums and songs; now let’s look at the year’s biggest news stories. I’ll treat a group personnel change (one member leaves, another joins) as a single story. Here’s my top ten...

Sony’s Thoughts: Counting Down the Days Wow. Can you believe it is already 2009? Seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the new millennium and now almost a decade has past! It reminds me of the verse which says “Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be...