Several months ago, the Collingsworth Family recorded and released two DVDs; one featured songs from their recent Christmas release (reviewed here), while the other featured songs from their 2011 mainline release, Part of the Family (reviewed here). 

Five of the songs they recorded for these DVDs are not available on any of their CDs. Limited Edition features the live renditions of these five songs. Two are vocal; three are instrumental. The two vocal performances are the opening hymn (“Since Jesus Came Into My Heart”) and an a cappella rendition of “God Bless America.” Of the three instrumentals, one (“The Prayer”) is a violin duet between sisters Brooklyn and Courtney Collingsworth, and the other two are Kim Collingsworth piano solos. “When We All Get To Heaven” shows that though Kim may not play the classic convention-style piano solo every night, she can play that style with the best of the male quartet pianists. “Battle Hymn of the Republic” is a show-stopper, in the tradition of her now-classic renditions of “How Great Thou Art” and “It is Well With My Soul.”

Especially due to the fact that there are only two vocal performances, this isn’t the CD you would want to use to introduce a new Southern Gospel fan to the group’s music. On the other hand, especially if you’re a fan of Kim Collingsworth’s piano playing, it’s definitely worth picking this title up for the two piano solos alone.

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Singing News announced the top 10 nominees for the 2013 Fan Awards yesterday afternoon. Among the most notable narratives to emerge this year are the emergence of the Old Paths and, carried over somewhat from last year, Tribute Quartet as new leaders in the genre. Also notable are the new names we see by Songwriter being split into two categories and Horizon Group category being broken into four.

Here’s a 2012/2013 comparison of all the categories (except for radio DJs):

Favorite Artist
2013: Collingsworth Family, Mark Trammell Qt, McKameys
2012: Hoppers, Inspirations, Legacy Five
Both: Booth Brothers, Brian Free & Assurance, Greater Vision, Kingdom Heirs, Ivan Parker, Perrys, Triumphant Quartet

Traditional Quartet
2013: Old Paths
2012: Blackwood Brothers
Both: Brian Free & Assurance, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gold City, Inspirations, Kingdom Heirs, Legacy Five, Mark Trammell Qt, Tribute Qt, Triumphant Qt

Mixed Group
(no change)
Both: Browns, Collingsworth Family, Crist Family, Diplomats, Hoppers, Isaacs, McKameys, Perrys, Talleys, Taylors

Trio
2013: Red Roots, Three Bridges
2012: HisSong, Pfeifers
Both: Booth Brothers, Bowling Family, Greater Vision, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Karen Peck & New River, Nelons, Sisters, Whisnants

Soloist
2013: Michael Combs
2012: Janet Paschal
Both: Mark Bishop, Adam Crabb, Jason Crabb, TaRanda Greene, Marshall Hall, Ivan Parker, Squire Parsons, Guy Penrod, Charlotte Ritchie

Favorite Male Singer
2013: Eric Bennett, Guy Penrod
2012: Scott Fowler, Mark Trammell
Both: Michael Booth, Ronnie Booth, Jason Crabb, Brian Free, Joseph Habedank, Ivan Parker, Arthur Rice, Gerald Wolfe

Favorite Female Singer
2013: Connie Hopper
2012: Charlotte Ritchie
Both: Lauren Talley Alvey, Peg McKamey Bean, Sheri Easter, Karen Peck Gooch, TaRanda Greene, Kim Hopper, Libbi Perry Stuffle, Debra Talley, Susan Whisnant

Young Artist
2013: Daniel Ashmore (Old Paths), Michaela Brown, Olivia Collingsworth
2012: Adam Brown, Phil Collingsworth, Luke Vaught
Both: Riley Clark, Morgan Easter, Eli Fortner, Trey Ivey, Amber Thompson, Austin Whisnant, Jordan Wilburn

Tenor
2013: Riley Harrison Clark, Jeremy Peace
2012: Ernie Haase, Jodi Hosterman
Both: Chris Allman, Michael Booth, Brian Free, Gus Gaches, Jerry Martin, David Phelps, Eric Phillips, David Sutton

Lead
2013: Nick Trammell
2012: Dustin Sweatman
Both: Ronnie Booth, Gary Casto, Scott Fowler, Joseph Habedank, Clayton Inman, David Ragan, Arthur Rice, Bill Shivers, Gerald Wolfe

Baritone
2013: Mark Lowry
2012: Steve French
Both: Jim Brady, Jon Epley, Rodney Griffin, Scott Howard, Scott Inman, Derrick Selph, Josh Singletary, Mark Trammell, Bryan Walker

Bass
2013: Matt Fouch
2012: Glenn Dustin
Both: Pat Barker, Eric Bennett, Jeff Chapman, Anthony Davis, Mike Holcomb, Jeremy Lile, Ray Dean Reese, Tim Riley, Tracy Stuffle

Soprano
2013: Kelly Bowling, Shelly Brown, Mary Jane Carter
2012: Jackie Crist, Kim Ruppe Lord, Jessica Trammell
Both: Lauren Talley Alvey, Brooklyn Collingsworth, Connie Fortner, Karen Peck Gooch, Kim Hopper, Amber Thompson, Sonya Isaacs Yeary

Alto
(unchanged)
Both: Peg McKamey Bean, Kelly Nelon Clark, Courtney Collingsworth, Sheri Easter, Sheryl Farris, Connie Hopper, Susan Peck Jackson, Libbi Perry Stuffle, Debra Talley, Susan Whisnant

Musician
2013: Bryan Elliott, Matthew Holt
2012: Dennis Murphy, Stewart Varnado
Both: Kim Collingsworth, Roger Fortner, Trey Ivey, Gordon Mote, Josh Singletary, Jeff Stice, Andy Stringfield, Kevin Williams

Band
(unchanged)
Both: Dove Brothers, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, Inspirations, Isaacs, Jason Crabb Band, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Kingdom Heirs, McKameys, Primitive Quartet

Songwriter
2013: Sheryl Farris
2012: Dianne Wilkinson (but see non-performing songwriter; this category isn’t quite an apples-to-apples comparison)
Both: Mark Bishop, Jim Brady, Gerald Crabb, Phil Cross, Rodney Griffin, Joseph Habedank, Ronny Hinson, Scott Inman, Kyla Rowland

Album
2013 artists represented: Perrys, Hoppers, Mark Trammell Quartet, Brian Free & Assurance, Gaither Vocal Band, Old Paths
2012 artists represented: Legacy Five, Inspirations, Libbi Perry Stuffle, Gold City, Triumphant Quartet, Kingdom Heirs
Both: Booth Brothers, McKameys, Greater Vision, Tribute Quartet

Non-Performing Songwriter
2013: Chris Binion, Lance Carpenter, Ricky Free, Marty Funderburk, Marcia Henry, Barbara Huffman, Joel Lindsey, Mosie Lister, Rebecca Peck, Dianne Wilkinson

New Traditional Quartet
2013: Canton Junction, Carolina Boys, Common Bond Qt, Keepers of the Faith, Old Paths, Paul’s Journey, Providence Qt, Rebels Qt, Sanctuary Qt, Union Street

New Mixed Group
2013: Allen Family, Bontrager Family, Harper Family, Heaven’s Mountain Band, Littles, Mylon Hayes Family, Southern Raised Bluegrass, Sneed Family, Taylors, Williamsons

New Trio
2013: 11th Hour, Barry Rowland & Deliverance, Beyond the Ashes, Declaration, Erwins, Freedom Trio, Hyssongs, Porter Family, Promise Trio, Red Roots

New Soloist
2013: Anita Davis, Bethany Ellis, Randall Garland, Chris Hester, Billy Hodges, Steve Ladd, Michael Lee, Tim Livingston, Abby Paskavan, Angela Primm

Song of the Year
2013 artists represented: Whisnants, Kingdom Heirs
2012 artists represented: Inspirations, Kingsmen, Karen Peck & New River, Gold City (12 nominees in 2012 due to three-way 10th-place tie)
Both: Tribute Quartet, Greater Vision, Perrys, Brian Free & Assurance, Legacy Five, Booth Brothers, McKameys, Triumphant Quartet

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Past the Press Release is an interview series featuring a new member of a professional Southern Gospel group. It’s a chance to look past the standard “excited to be here” press release comment and learn a little more about them. In years past, you may have met Paul Harkey at an Anchormen or LeFevre Quartet concert, but today, he is the newest member of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Let’s get to know him a little better!

Daniel J. Mount: What inspired you to want to sing Southern Gospel? 

Paul: Well I grew up in church. It was one of those “every time the doors were open” situations. My parents are some of the most amazing people I know. My mother was the church pianist/organist so I grew up hearing all of the hymns not only in church, but also at home when she would practice. I did my first solo when I was around six years old. I got so nervous. I was supposed to sing the song through twice, but once through was quite enough for me! 

It wasn’t until I went to the Homecoming Texas Style in Ft. Worth in 1995 that I truly fell in love with Southern Gospel music. That was when I first saw George Younce and the Cathedral Quartet. Not only did I know I wanted to sing, I knew I wanted to sing bass! It was the greatest thing I had ever heard!

Daniel: Has your voice tended toward the bass end of the spectrum since your teens, or is the ability to sing bass one that you discovered more recently?

Paul: I was classically trained in college as a baritone but bass singing was always the part I leaned toward any time I heard a quartet singing…which is still what you would hear if you rode around with me in my car.

Daniel: What bass singers have you studied (or studied with) to develop your vocal technique?

Paul: Of course, George Younce though I never got to meet him. Jeff Chapman has been my biggest personal mentor. He also happens to be a great friend. I have also had the opportunity to study from Tim Riley (Gold City) and Joe Brown (The Diplomats). All absolutely wonderful, and coincidentally, hilarious men of God.

Daniel: Glorious Day, releasing on April 2, is your debut recording with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. What are some of your favorite moments on the project?

Paul: There are so many great moments! It’s really hard to choose just a few. All of the orchestration and instrumentation headed up by Wayne Haun is breathtaking! We did a live acoustic version of “Sometimes I Wonder” as well and it is quite a moment!

Daniel: Most of my readers have seen EH&SS at some point, but for some, it’s been a few years. How would you compare the Signature Sound live experience today to what it was five years ago? What’s new or different, and what’s the same?

Paul: Well besides the obvious member changes, I think that the goal is still the same…JOY! We all want to spread God’s love, hope, and joy to as many people as God puts in our path. Here more recently, if you come to a “Siggy Sound” concert, you will get an intimate look at our hearts and truly what we are about in this wonderful ministry with which God has blessed us. Your spirit will definitely be lifted and there will be a song in your heart!

Daniel: Thank you!

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Song Snapshots is a column featuring the stories behind new and classic Southern Gospel songs.

Ideas for songs often come from decidedly unusual places, and the inspiration for “Applause” is no exception. Of all things, it was inspired by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

It’s a show that songwriter Ben Storie enjoys watching. He particularly loves the moment, toward the end of each show, when a bus sitting between the family and their house is moved, and they are shown their remodeled house. “I think at some time in our lives,” Storie shares, “everybody should have a crowd cheering and encouraging and responding to you like those families did. I love the idea of these families who’ve been through so much pain being received by this crowd. It actually kind of makes me choke up.”

He pivots to apply the emotion of the moment to Heaven: “I think that if I had a concept of Heaven, what it’s like when we finally finish this journey, with this great cloud of witnesses that are receiving us into God’s presence—it’s not this quiet, hushed, somber thing! It’s this celebration, this pandemonium breaks out that another child has made it home! I just wanted to write a song about that moment.”

He wrote a chorus and several versions of verses, but he didn’t think any of the verses were as strong as they needed to be. So he approached another songwriter, Lee Black, with the idea. “I had met him at a writers retreat. I had never written with him, but I was a fan of his writing style and his talent, so I asked if he would work with me on it.”

Black recalls meeting Storie at a songwriter’s retreat. “We had nametags,” he recalls. “We would drop them in a box and draw out one or two names for a co-write. I met Ben there; our names never ended up getting drawn out of the hat, but I got to know him there, and at the end of the day, we would kind of get together and just share the songs that we had written. I remember thinking, ‘Man, that guy’s a really good writer; I’d love to write with him.’ So we stayed in touch from there.”

“Applause” was the first time they wrote together. They didn’t finish it at once; they worked on the verses over several sessions. They wrote most of the lyric over the phone, and met at Daywind one night to work on the melody. “Together, we molded the verses into what they are now,” Storie recalls, “and then he helped me make the melody pop a bit more than what it had when I was working on it solo.

Black lived in Alabama at the time. He took the song back home and recorded a demo at his home piano; that was the version that got pitched to the Talleys. The Talleys recorded it on their final album as a trio, Stories and Songs, and even selected it as a radio single. It hit its peak at #2, staying at that position for two months (on the August and September 2011 Singing News radio charts).

The first verse of a song speaks of a missionary’s sacrifices. Storie recalls that it was inspired by Lottie Moon, “a missionary that I’ve heard about all my life.”

The second verse takes an unexpected turn, speaking of the faithfulness of a husband and father who lived a very ordinary life. “I liked the idea of taking it in a slightly different turn,” Storie recalls. “Some of us will be vocational ministers and do the obvious things. But I do think that we’re going to be really surprised when we finally get into eternity and see that there were a lot of things that mattered that we didn’t value like we should have, or that we didn’t notice. I think those folks are going to be just as valued, and maybe more so in some places. Plus, I didn’t want to make it this grand thing that you’ve got to be a missionary to be received joyfully into God’s Kingdom.”

Black adds, “We wanted to start with the obvious one, but then say, ‘You know what, serve the Lord where you are, even if you’re not a missionary in Africa. Serve the Lord well by running the grocery store or working at the post office or being a nurse or fireman. Whatever you do, do it unto the Lord and honor Him in that.’ We wanted to approach it in that way.”

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