Southern Gospel View

Update on Musicscribe

2009-03-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

I purposely left my last post at Musicscribe unlinked here at Southern Gospel View, and it appears to have gotten some of the best response of any post I've done thus far. This shows me that my initial worry of people missing my blogs is not a problem.

As of today, I will no longer be funneling my posts from Musicscribe to here. I am going to post a permanent link to Musicscribe from here, and leave my previous posts online for everyone to read, but I will no longer be actively posting on this site.

As stated before, I want to thank everyone who has followed this site thus far, and I invite everyone to join me and the rest of the gang at Musicscribe.

"Something To Say"

2009-03-05T17:36:00.001-08:00

http://www.musicscribe.com/blog/wordpress/?p=1376

A Country Quartet

2009-03-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.musicscribe.com/blog/wordpress/?p=1355

Roger Bennett on SG piano/bass combo

2009-03-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

http://www.musicscribe.com/blog/wordpress/?p=1346

Joining forces with Musicscribe

2009-02-26T17:14:00.001-08:00

I am please and excited to announce that I will be joining David Bruce Murray's site, Musicscribe, as a regular contributor. David has been one of my major influences since I first started my own blog two years ago, and I am honored that he would think enough of my site, my writing, and my approach to invite me to join forces with the likes of not only DBM, but also Daniel Britt and Chuck Peters on such a reputable site as Musicscribe.

What does this mean for Southern Gospel View? Well, this site is not going away just yet. As I post on Musicscribe, I will add links to my posts here, and all of my previous posts will remain here for your viewing. I have no immediate plans of shutting down this site, and from time to time, I will post some "exclusives."

I want to thank everyone who has been so kind and supportive of my work since I've started this site. The only goal I ever had when I started posting was to offer my own opinions and viewpoints on an industry that I so dearly love in hopes that it would make an impact. I have seen this goal accomplished many times, and with the "merger" with Musicscribe, it is my hope that that impact will continue to grow.

I invite everyone who visits this site to join David, Daniel, Chuck, and myself over at Musicscribe as the site continues to grow. And don't worry, I'll still be floating around here as always!!

Perrys update

2009-02-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

In what could possibly be the shortest trial period, Troy Peach has been named the new baritone singer for the Perrys. Troy had been a sound engineer previously, and occasionally shared the stage, most notably during Nick's matrimonial absence last winter.

Nick Trammell leaves Perrys

2009-02-23T14:16:00.001-08:00

I can't say that I am entirely surprised to hear that Nick Trammell is departing the Perrys. With his recent marriage to Jessica Brown, I figured it'd only be a matter of time. Not that I blame him; I just expect to hear in the near future that he will be joining The Browns. I could be wrong, but one just has to wonder....

Eat your heart out, SandyPatti

2009-02-23T06:57:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION QUARTETS....if you have the time and funds to teach this gentleman English, I would suggest you call him and hire him IMMEDIATELY on tenor!!

It happens to the best (?!) of us

2009-02-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know we all get a lot of material from the infamous Kurt Young clip, but to take the spotlight off of him a little, here's another example of "vocal misfiring" (and for the record, I'm not talking about the EXTREMELY nasal performance....even Doug would have to admit that this makes Archie sound like David Phelps!!).

Your first OFFICIAL look at the new GVB in action....

2009-02-19T21:13:00.001-08:00

Gaither Studios has posted the first official clip of the Gaither Vocal Band in action with all five members. I must say, I am definitely intrigued!! My favorite part, so far, is hearing Mike singing the solo towards the end of "Let Freedom Ring." I like the sound!!

Anyway, here it is!!

Progress is (slowly) being made

2009-02-17T22:13:00.000-08:00

For the four or five of you who are interested, I think I've finally nailed down the songs for my new solo project (my first in three years). As always, it's subject to change (since I have a tendancy to find new songs while I'm recording, or more often than not, realize that I simply can't do certain songs justice!), so I'm gonna wait to post the song list for now, but rest assured, there are gonna be some favorites, as well as some brand new songs from some top-notch writers (and one or two by yours truly....).

As for what I CAN divulge, here are some "official" details that can be made public: it will be released by Wavemakers Media, a Cincinnati-based multimedia company that I have a long-standing relationship with, and the scheduled release date is September, 2009.

I have a photo shoot coming up in the next couple weeks, and once I get the artwork back, I'll pull a "Talley Trio" on everyone and let you help me pick the cover.

Stay tuned....more to come!

Interesting comparison

2009-02-16T03:38:00.000-08:00

In light of the new Oaks DVD coming out, here is a clip of both "Jesus Is Coming Soon" and "I Know," as performed by the Oaks in 1971 at the peak of their gospel popularity, just after they won a Grammy award. The line-up at this time consisted of Willie Wynn, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, and Noel Fox.

Big changes for N'Harmony

2009-02-15T19:36:00.001-08:00

A fresh press release from Shane Dunlap announces some BIG changes for N'Harmony....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

N'Harmony Announces New Lead Singer
Nashville, TN - N'Harmony is pleased to announce the addition of fan favorite Josh Feemster as the new lead vocalist for the group. "We are honored to have Josh joining us in our ministry", states Shane Dunlap. "He is one of the finest singers in gospel music today and we look forward to working and traveling with him."

With the addition of Josh at the lead position, Shane Dunlap will be assuming the baritone vocalist position. Feemster's first concert with N'Harmony will be held at Temple Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC on Good Friday April 10, 2009.

To learn more about N'Harmony's touring schedule, please visit www.nharmonymusic.com or www.dominionagency.com.

This is a HUGE announcement, considering the number of fans that Josh had built in his relatively short time with Mercy's Mark. It'll also be interesting to see how the arrangements work with essentially two very able lead singers in one group (Josh and Shane). Add the fact that Josh and Brent Mitchell already have singing time together, this seems like a natural fit.

I was anxious to hear this group initially....now I'm full-blown excited!! I can't wait to see this group live.

Dottie Rambo Home Going video now online

2009-02-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

Not sure if this is official or not, but someone has taken the liberty of posting clips from Dottie Rambo's memorial on YouTube. If you'd like to check it out, here is the link.

A week of Oaks stuff

2009-02-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

The new stuff keeps coming for The Oak Ridge Boys....this was posted by Joe Bonsall on the Oaks' message board, and I must say, it's looking quite awesome!! This is for their much-anticipated release, The Boys Are Back, produced by David Cobb. Everyone who has heard this project thus far says that it is definitely unique, taking the Oaks in a brand new direction. I can't wait to hear it!!

Preview of Oaks DVD

2009-02-10T15:30:00.001-08:00

Looks like Gaither has learned the value of YouTube after the hype he built for the GVB Reunion DVD's. And he also likes driving me nuts.....

I will say this....I am SO GLAD he is using The Mighty Oaks Band - Ronnie Fairchild, Donnie Carr, Chris Golden, Jimmy Fulbright, Rex Wiseman, and Jeff Douglas - instead of trax!! There's history just in that band - William Lee Golden's son, Chris, is playing drums, and the Oaks' long-time keyboard player, Ronnie Fairchild, literally grew up in Gospel music, playing with groups like the Blackwoods and the Downings (that, and there's the whole Tommy Fairchild-is-his-daddy thing!).

The DTV issue

2009-02-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

David Bruce Murray seems to be quite irritated, er, interested in the upcoming DTV switch. The latest news it that the previous deadline for the final switch, February 17th, has now been extended to June to allow for the lazy people to get their TV fixed for the conversion.

What the ordinance really states is that TV stations must cease analog transmissions by a certain date, since the frequencies that they broadcast on are being reassigned to other users (such as cell phones). What the ordinance does NOT state, however, is that TV stations must continue an analog broadcast up to that date.

I personally think that stations that are ready to make the switch should just go ahead and do it. Once the people who are dragging their feet see that they can no longer find out if the 15th guy tested is the father on Maury, they'll be the first ones in line to get their converter boxes. If they don't have an incentive, they won't make the switch!!

An interesting flea market find....

2009-02-08T23:33:00.000-08:00

Digging through a record basket at the flea market today, I came cross an interesting LP - trio by the name of Couriers Unlimited. Astute historians will remember that this is the group that Mike English sang with briefly in 1984 after the Goodmans officially disbanded and before rejoining the Singing Americans.

This particular album includes English, along with Ray Boling and Steve Wilson as members. Research says that he was only with this group for six months, so I'm guessing this is the only album that he was a part of. There is no copyright date, but the fashion on the cover just SCREAMS early 80's (pastel suit jackets, and those KILLER suspenders!!), and there's no label associated with the record, so this is apparently an independent/custom release.

This self-titled project includes the following songs:

He Will Meet My Needs
The Army Of The Lord
If All I Know Is Love
Now that I Know Your Love
You Can't Stand On Promises
Build The House
What I Believe
Let The Whole World Sing
Have You Died

Once I get a chance to listen to it, I'll post a review, and later today, I'll post the cover pic for ya (although, some quick searches on Google will turn up a picture of it as well).

And the Grammy goes to....

2009-02-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

....the Gaither Vocal Band for Lovin' Life. This is slightly surprising to me, considering some of the reaction to the album. Fans seem almost split on the project; some love it, while other hate it, and I've yet to find an in-between crowd. Apparently, the RIAA comes down on the "love it" side.

WHOO HOO!!!

2009-02-08T22:07:00.001-08:00

April 21 is the official date, according to EMI-CMG's website....

You can bet your sweet what-have-you that I'll be banging on the doors when this is released! Here is the playlist....

1. Jesus Is Coming Soon
2. I Know
3. Didn't It Rain
4. Thank God For Kids
5. Elvira
6. The Baptism Of Jesse Taylor
7. Jesus Is The Man For The Hour
8. Because He Lives
9. Did I Make A Difference
10. Jonah, Job And Moses
11. An American Family
12. Closer To Home
13. I'm Gonna Live With Jesus
14. Loving God, Loving Each Other
15. Where The Soul Never Dies
16. Have A Little Talk With Jesus
17. Hold To God's Unchanging Hand

Interview with Steve Ladd

2009-02-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

For nearly 3 decades, Gold City has been at the forefront of Gospel music, both in quality and innovation. While they, like any group, has endured changes over the years, their commitment to quality and class has not wavered.

Gold City is also one of my all-time favorite groups. While I have followed them since childhood and have been enjoyed each line up, for me, today's incarnation of the group is by far my favorite.

So you can imagine my excitement when tenor singer Steve Ladd agreed to an interview for Southern Gospel View! While I've been blessed to be able to interview several industry leaders, I admit that the fan boy in me came out when I got to conduct this particular interview.

So without further ado, here is an interview with Gold City tenor singer, Steve Ladd....

What was your first exposure to gospel music?

My father is an evangelist, and my family (The Ladd Family) sang all the music for his revivals. We used to go to the concerts at Dayton Memorial Hall in Dayton, Ohio. That is where I first heard Gold City. I sang with my family until about a year and a half before I joined The Anchormen.

When did you realize that you wanted to be a gospel singer?
I knew at about 9 years old that I wanted to sing gospel music for the rest of my life. I credit my mother and father for instilling the love of gospel music in me.

What was your first gospel music "gig"?
I traveled with a local group in North Carolina for about 6 months when I got a call to audition with the Anchormen. I went one night and tried out and was hired that same night.

You spent quite a few years with the Anchormen. How would you describe your time with them?
I spent 8 years being an Anchorman, and that is where I learned to be a quartet man. I learned what life is on the road, and it prepared me for being with Gold City. I have so many great memories with them and made lifelong friends. I wouldn't trade my time with the Anchormen for anything.

When word first came out that Jay Parrack was leaving Gold City, who approached who about you singing tenor? Did you immediately jump at the opportunity, or did they come to you?
When I heard that Jay would be leaving the group, I immediately called Beckie Simmons and told her I wanted to call Tim Riley. They didn't approach me; I made the first call. I had always wanted to be with Gold City.

When I was a kid I would play their music and dream about singing tenor for them. It was a no-brainer, I WANTED THAT JOB!! haha

Obviously, following such a well-known singer as Jay must've been nerve-racking. Did you have any apprehensions about filling his spot?
Jay was (and is) very popular and a great tenor singer! I knew it would take some time to win over his fans....and I still haven't. I guess it was more nerve racking to think of the legacy of the group and to be a part of that tradition while having my own identity. To think that in 28 years, there have only been 3 tenors - Brian Free, Jay Parrack, and me Steve Ladd! That is a lot to live up to!!

With the last two albums, it seems that Gold City has been expanding their horizons musically. Is this a conscious effort by the group, or is it just a natural progression?
I guess its a natural progression. Each version of Gold City has always had their own sound. They have always (in my opinion) been ahead of the game in their style. Listen to Pillars Of Faith - totally different than any other quartet sound of that era. Then with Jay, Jonathon, Mark, and Tim, they had their own style that was different than the years before. We knew with the vocal talent that's in the group now we could pull off this sound. We wanted to have our own sound and yet still be true to the legacy of Gold City.

One song that seems to be getting a lot of response from Moment Of Truth (that really gives you a great feature) is "When Jesus Saves." Who found the song, and what was the reaction initially from the group?
"When Jesus Saves" is a great song. I had so much fun recording it. Danny, along with our producer, Michael Sykes, and Ken Harding first heard the song and Danny brought it to me. He knows I am a closet rocker!! I love the 80s style rock and we wanted to kind of bring that style to this song. Danny said, "Go for it," and I ran with it. Everyone was pleased with how it turned out. We get requests for it from all ages.

What's your favorite song from the new album?
I love every song on this album! This is the first time I can truly say that. My favorite would have to be "When Jesus Saves."

Recently, fans have been treated to a lot more of Gold City "classics" on stage, such as "In My Robe Of White," "John Saw," and "One Scarred Hand." What's your favorite GC "classic"?
My favorite G.C. classic that we currently sing is "In My Robe of White."

Being a tenor singer, I'm sure your voice gets quite a work out each night. Is there anything in particular you do to ensure that your voice stays strong?
I warm my voice up before every performance (very important!). It kind of gets on all the guys nerves but it works. I drink a lot of water. When you sing, you can tell if its there or not, so if I'm having an "off" night, I just try to take it easy and take the low road.

In three words or less, describe the other members of Gold City....

3 words? Well... Friends, Crazy, Great singers/musicians

If you could do anything other than sing gospel music, what would you do?

Not sure what I would be doing. I had no other goal in my life growing up other than to sing.

What have been some of the highlights of your career?
Being with G.C. is definitely a highlight. Singing at the Grand Ole Opry was awesome! Singing "Preach the Word" for Jerry Falwell a few months before his passing is something that I will never forget!

Any hidden talents?
I play the bass guitar and a little harmonica.

And the million dollar question: Is Daniely Riley easy to work with?
No!! He is very hard to travel with and to work for!!!!! (just kidding!) Danny is so easy to work for. He is a great guy and a great singer. I only have good things to say about Danny.

Readers can check out Gold City online at http://www.goldcityqt.com/. Thanks, Steve, for taking the time for this interview!!

The battle was still raging....

2009-02-01T21:15:00.001-08:00

In light of the current GVB line up, this was just TOO FUNNY to pass up!!! Kudos to the creator of this video.

Cathedrals Tribute project on hold

2009-01-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

According to Ernie Haase, the planned Cathedrals tribute project by Signature Sound has been put on hold for the time being. Ernie explains the whole situation here.

Happy Birthday, Dad

2009-01-27T22:28:00.000-08:00

The single biggest influence on my passion for southern gospel music is my dad, James. Growing up, Dad had a stack of gospel records that he would play at home. He would copy them to cassette to listen to in the car, as well, which meant that many road trips were spent listening to Dale Shelnut belting out "In The Prayer Room" or Archie Watkins singing, "When I wake uuuuuuuuup.....to sleep no more."

Over the years, what began as something to listen to on long rides became more of an interest, then a passion, and the entire time, Dad was there to encourage me. Whether it be teaching me parts, giving suggestions on recordings, or driving me to gigs, he's always been a helping hand. He's never had any real experience in gospel music himself (save for a church group he sang and played with); but he does what he can to help me along.

Today, January 28th, marks his 66th birthday. I just want to take a minute to wish him a Happy Birthday and thank him for all of his support.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!

More changes

2009-01-27T22:03:00.000-08:00

According to SoGospelNews.com, Jeff Snyder, who most recently sang with Mike and Kelly Bowling, is now a member of another family group, the Greenes. This would explain why Mike and Kelly are holding open auditions for a new singer, but this leaves me confused; unless I've been completely oblivious over the last year or so (which is entirely possible!), hasn't Paul Lancaster been singing with the Greenes (part of the reason that Everyday Driven disbanded)? What is Paul doing now?

Blogs on Facebook

2009-01-27T20:31:00.000-08:00

You can now follow these blogs on Facebook....

David Bruce Murray's Musicscribe
Daniel Mount's SouthernGospelBlog.com
Adam Edwards' Southern Gospel Critique
Aaron Swain's Swain's Musings

and of course, yours truly with Southern Gospel View, both here and here.

This is a great way to get to know some of our readers, too.

Why go solo?

2009-01-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

For the last two years, I have been involved in a group in a some form, be it a local band or a gospel quartet. When I left Acclaim last year, I did so on good terms with the understanding that traveling every weekend (at this time) just was not feasible for me. I still talk to the guys in the group (in fact, I talked to Gaylen and Dave just today), and I still count them among my dear friends.

After I left Acclaim, I started playing with some local bands, first on keyboards and later on drums. I was still involved in music, was keeping my musical chops up, and (with maybe two or three exceptions) was in my own bed every night. I have been doing this up until now. Last week, however, I let the band I'd been playing with know that I would be leaving as a regular member. I am staying available to them should they need a fill-in at some point, but as far as routinely playing, I am retiring for now.

Now, for the first time in two years, I will be strictly a soloist. It is not an ego thing (I actually am not too thrilled about the idea of being on a stage alone) and it's not part of a "big plan" to make a name for myself. It's simply a matter of convenience. I want to be able to book myself when I can, and when I have other plans, not have to worry about whether or not it's gonna conflict with a group's schedule.

Some soloists became such after a falling-out with other group members or group owners. Some are the result of necessity after a group disbands. There are those who are seeking to make their own music outside the style of the group they're singing with and there are those who simply want a change of pace.

Me, I do it so I can be the boss, so to speak. Rather than have to adjust my schedule to the group's (and vice versa), I am choosing to let both them and myself have a little more flexibility. In the end, they'll be able to book more dates, and I'll be able to make plans with the family and book dates that are convenient for me to work.

Given the recent (and apparently uncontrollable) speculation regarding Guy Penrod's leaving the GVB and his decision to pursue a solo career, this might provide at least SOME insight as to why artists walk away from a successful career with a group.

Triumphant's "Everyday" preview

2009-01-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

I'm especially excited about this, since "Everyday" was a big hit for the Oaks back in 1984 (and even won them video of the year), and Triumphant is one of my favorite groups today. I hope Rick Hendrix does a good job pushing this song....

http://www.myspace.com/triumphantqt

New Photo of the Gaither Vocal Band released

2009-01-26T18:03:00.001-08:00

After the admittedly "hideous" photoshopped publicity photo slapped together to announce the newest members of the Gaither Vocal Band, Wes Hampton has released a TRUE publicity photo, the first to be released to feature all five members together....

(just kidding!!! THIS real one....)

It's not even the end of January....

2009-01-25T21:28:00.001-08:00

....and already the curveballs are flying!! First the Gaither Vocal Band overhaul, and now news comes that, after only three months, Matt Felts is leaving Cross4Crowns (a group I picked as one to keep an eye on this year). Over the last year, C4C has seen three tenors come and go; let's hope they can pick up someone else and keep charging along. I DID find it a little strange that the press release came from Felts directly, and not from C4C. I guess Matt decided to avoid the Guy Penrod speculation circus and just come right out saying, "I'm leaving."

One can only imagine what February holds in store....

Recording over the years

2009-01-23T03:51:00.001-08:00

A funny story from Duane Allen....

In 1979, the Oaks were set to release their third country album for ABC/Dot records. Their first single, "Sail Away," had a release date, and they were under some pressure to meet a certain deadline. They finished their vocals and left on a tour on the west coast.

While out west, Duane got a call from their producer at the time, Ron Chancey. He found a mistake in one of the lines. The third verse was supposed to start with, "Then a smile comes upon me," but when Duane was recording the lead vocal, he sang "BUT a smile comes upon me," which caused the line to not make much sense. It was impossible for Duane to make it back to Nashville in time to rerecord the line before their deadline with the record company, and shipping it to the coast and fixing it in a studio out there was also out of the question due to time constraints.

The solution? Duane told Ron, "Just sing the line yourself." Chancey went into the studio and did his best Duane Allen impression and put the words "then a" on the beginning of the verse, blending it with the rest of Duane's vocals, creating a virtually seamless edit. Now, keep in mind, this was 1979, and recording technology, while versatile, was still somewhat laborious.

Compare that to 2005, when Duane received an e-mail while on tour in the midwest from a TV station....Richard Sterban's bass vocal on a song they'd shot was completely absent; the recording equipment either never picked it up or it was somehow deleted after it was recorded. Either way, they had a television performance for "Elvira" that was missing it's signature "oom papa mow mow"!!

Duane had the station e-mail him the tracks for the song that they had. He called Richard's room, and they set up a microphone in a hotel room. Richard resang his vocals for "Elvira" right there in the room, they recorded it, and e-mailed his part back to the TV station. Within a couple hours, a potentially disastrous flaw was corrected, and with relatively little pain.

Recording technology has come so far that virtually anyone can record, edit, mix, and master a project from just about anywhere. Ernie Haase once noted that some of his and George Younce's vocals for the Cathedrals' Faithful project were recorded at a hotel in Pigeon Forge. I dare you to figure out which ones.

No wonder there's an overabundance of gospel acts today; if you have a laptop and a microphone, YOU TOO can record a CD!!

Signature Sound's Cathedrals Tribute

2009-01-23T03:27:00.001-08:00

Ernie Haase has been posting video clips of Signature Sound practicing songs for an upcoming Cathedrals tribute album. The clips seem to be working as far as getting fans excited about the idea. They will be shooting a video for the project this summer, as well. The songs that have been seen in the video clips so far are:

Movin’ Up to Gloryland
Life Will Be Sweeter Someday
Wonderful Grace of Jesus
I’m Gonna Live Forever
This Ole House
I Thirst
God Delivers Again
Champion of Love
Mexico

When Scott and Roger first started Legacy Five, the first project they did was a Cathedrals-based album. My biggest complain with Songs We Used To Sing, however, was that (with two exceptions) they simply recycled the original Cathedrals tracks and replaced the vocals. On songs where Roger or Scott were featured, you basically got the same song as before with new BGV's.

What excites me about EHSS's project is that, from what I can tell, every song gets a fresh recording, and they're not just carbon copies of the original tracks. I am especially impressed with what little I've heard of "Champion of Love;" Ryan Seaton gets to take the notoriously-challenging lead, and the arrangement sounds a lot smoother than the original track.

I'm hoping we can hear more samples of this project in the near future....if these clips are any indication, this should be quite a project!!

Reba McGuire sues driver of Dottie's bus

2009-01-23T01:54:00.000-08:00

According to Yahoo! News, Reba Rambo McGuire is now suing Pyramid Coach, the company that leased Dottie Rambo's bus, DC Investments Leasing, a subsidary of Pyramid, and James Meadows, the driver of the bus on the night that Dottie died.

I'm no lawyer, but I don't really see how this lawsuit would stand up, given that the crash that took Dottie's life and injured everyone else on board was ruled accidental due to weather conditions, but then again, that hasn't stopped people before from seeking compensation....

OT: "The Dark Knight" snubbed for best picture

2009-01-23T01:21:00.001-08:00

Despite being tied with "Milk" for the most Oscar nominations (and Heath Ledger's posthumous nomination for Best Supporting Actor), the second-most-successful movie of all-time, The Dark Knight, was NOT nominated for Best Picture or Best Director for Chris Nolan by the Academy. Apparently, comic book movies will NEVER be considered "serious entertainment." I'm not sure why this is the case, unless the Academy simply views comic book movies as "children's fare;" my response is, what is so childish about the murder of Harvey Dent's fiancee, his horrid scarring, and his subsequent psychosis?

Next you're gonna tell me that Adam West is the best Batman ever....

Everybody Wanna Go To Heaven

2009-01-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

Anybody else heard this new Kenny Chesney song? It's basically a reggae song with a steel guitar, and the main hook is, "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now." The idea is that, sure, we all wanna go to heaven, but we're having too much fun down here on earth to go right away. There's always time to make up for it later.

I'll admit, the song has a catchy beat, and if it weren't for the message in the song, I'd probably enjoy it, but I just can't get into a song that goes against what I believe. It has the same affect on me as Brooks & Dunn's "God Must Be Busy."

It seems like some country artists have the idea that, as long as you mention God, Heaven, Jesus, or whatever, then you have a hit. Carrie Underwood proved this with "Jesus Take The Wheel," which, while still light years ahead of "Everybody Wanna Go To Heaven," always felt like it was stretching to make a point.

Either way, if you're looking for a strong, theologically-sound gospel message, I would suggest avoiding this Kenny Chesney tune.

A little humor

2009-01-21T05:09:00.000-08:00

From November until last week or so, Barack Obama would hold press conferences at a podium that bore a sign stating, "The Office Of The President Elect." Below is what that podium looked like:

Now that he's sworn in, he obviously no longer needs that sign....but oh, what to do with such an elegant piece of cardboard....er, I mean, artwork?? I KNOW!!!!

YouTube strikes once again....

2009-01-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

The first time I heard Frank Seamans sing with Legacy Five, I was satisfied, but not necessarily blown away. After a few projects with them, I reserved myself to the fact that, while a more-than-able tenor singer, he wouldn't necessarily be one of my favorites, and would be just another tenor on the list.

Then I saw this clip.....

I rescind all previous thoughts. This is downright AWESOME!! Frank never strays out of his comfort zone, yet still knocks it out of the park. Notice how he shows some restraint and doesn't go too showy on the second verse, saving the sky-high notes until the very end, giving it a most-appropriate climax. He also gives his phrasing just enough "free-style" ad-libbing to give it a truly soulful sound without oversinging his part. A truly impressive performance.

In closing, all I have to say is....Kirk who???

More Cathedrals History

2009-01-20T03:22:00.001-08:00

Another clip from around 1982/83, from their Greater project. Love those matching, open-collared leisure suits!! Now, here's another question for the historians out there....I know that the Catherdals used a drummer during their last tour on occasion (I believe George's son-in-law), as evidenced on their Faithful video, but did they travel with a drummer during the era below, or was this one of those cases where a drummer from another group sat in with the Cat's? He seems to know the song pretty well.

Inauguration

2009-01-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

If I turn on the radio, I hear special coverage of the inauguration. My local TV station has a headline on their website, "WCPO-TV, ABC Offering All Day Coverage Of Inauguration." Cable outlets have been celebrating all week with TV specials. People are wearing t-shirts, ball caps, jackets, buttons, and tacking bumper stickers on their cars. I can even order a commemorative plate from a TV commercial....heck, I buy the plate right now at Walgreens!!!

I am not making light of the inauguration of our 44th president, and I am not taking a political stance in any way, shape or form, but Barack Obama is just now being sworn in, and already I'm sick of seeing him EVERYWHERE I GO!!!!

A cute song with a hint of sadness....

2009-01-19T22:08:00.000-08:00

"The Dream," as song by the Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet and Gold City, is fun to listen to, given the novelty (two bass singers having a sing off, with the obvious winner being Tim Riley), but one can't help but think, in hindsight, just how sad it really is.

The premise, as seen below, is that the OTGHQ and GC did a show together and decided to get something to eat afterwards. Tim, being the butt of the joke, was driving the GC bus and wasn't paying attention when he smashes into the OTGHQ's "new" van, killing everyone involved. The result is that, once in heaven, God tells both Christian Davis and Tim that he only has room for one bass singer, but he IS in need of a soprano, so they have a contest to see who can sing lowest, and the loser gets his voice raised significantly.

What makes this so sad, though, is that, a few years later, Tim's son, Doug, lost his life when he lost control of his truck and smashed it into a utility pole late one night on his way to the group's studio. The police report indicated that Doug was killed upon impact. Hearing the line (and even seeing the video) about being crushed from behind just kinda makes one squirm a bit.

On a side note, the sight gags are kinda fun to watch, especially Mark Trammell's chihuahua....

For the Record

2009-01-15T23:14:00.001-08:00

Steve Allen has made some interesting points regarding what seems to be a renaissance of the vinyl record. It's been noted that several gospel artists have been releasing limited numbers of vinyl editions of their recent projects, and the novelty seems to be working. Steve's article is definitely worth reading for those who miss the days of the turntable.

For what it's worth....

2009-01-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

It appears that Little Anthony and the Imperials will be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame on April 4th. For those of you unfamiliar, this is the group that actually owns the name "Imperials," which caused quite a headache last year....

Um, okay.....

2009-01-13T21:42:00.000-08:00

Another for the "wow" file....

The New/Old/Revamped Gaither Vocal Band

2009-01-13T20:51:00.001-08:00

Bill Gaither has often said he chose the name "Vocal Band" so the group would not be limited to strictly quartet work. 20+ years later, he finally made use of that decision. The Gaither Vocal Band is now a quintet.

You've by no doubt heard the news by now, but just to be safe....the now-current lineup of the GVB consists of David Phelps, Michael English, Wes Hampton, Mark Lowry, and Coach Bill. The long-speculated (and apparently not-that-surprising) permanent departure of Guy Penrod became official today in a press release from Gaither. According to the PR, Guy is finally going after a country career (something he mentioned he had always wanted to do on the Best of Guy Penrod DVD a couple years back).

What IS surprising to a lot of people, however, is that Marsh Hall is also out. The press release states,

[Marsh] is a talented singer and producer, as well as an experienced worship leader, who will undoubtedly enjoy a solid future building on the experience gained during his five remarkable years with the Gaither Vocal Band.

....which implies to me that, as of right now, Marsh has no plans, and also implies that his departure wasn't necessarily voluntary. I had always felt that Marsh would have a successful run with the Vocal Band, especially since he wouldn't be killing his voice by singing the baritone part, but then again, I've been wrong before!!

The return of David Phelps doesn't entirely surprise me. Rumor has it that he is no longer with Word Records, and he seems to be enjoying himself in the footage that has been posted on YouTube recently. Mark Lowry and Mike English coming back, however, was a little bit of a shocker. Mark's been quite successful with his tours with LordSong and Stan Whitmire, and I figured he enjoyed the freedom. Mike just released his big return to Contemporary Christian music last winter and finished a Christmas tour with Casting Crowns; I would've figured he was ready to take on CCM again.

Mark even said in his e-mail newsletter,

I've only known about this for a few days, so I'm still sorta speechless....

which means that this hasn't really been something that's been in the works for a while, although initially I suspected that the Reunion DVD may have been an impromptu tryout for former members....

The most head-scratching move to me, though, is keeping Wes Hampton around. Granted, Wes is more-than-capable as a singer and has filled the void during Guy's absence by switching to lead quite a bit, but with three Vocal Band members filling all essential parts, it seems like Wes' presence would be more to just fill an occasional overdub, kinda like a piano player would.

Anyway, I am anxious to hear what Bill has planned for this group. Some have speculated that it may be "one last hoopla" for the group before Bill finally retires the group, while others have wondered if Bill plans on just stepping down and letting the other four singers take over. It wouldn't be too much of a strech, considering the GVB has pretty much been just three tenors and a baritone for much of its existence anyway, but still, one just has to wonder.

For the record, the photoshopped publicity photo is cool looking, but you'd think someone would've darkened David's shot just a bit so it matched the rest of pictures....

UPDATE: Here's a more detailed press release from Michael English's website:

January 13, 2009

Meet The Brand New Five-Member
Gaither Vocal Band!

Today Gaither Music Group announced plans for a radical transformation of the Gaither Vocal Band, including the departure of long-time GVB lead singer, Guy Penrod, and the group's baritone since 2004, Marshall Hall.

As Gaither has stated at various times of transition, "You never replace a group member� you simply find a fresh, new direction." And with that philosophy at heart, Bill Gaither has gone far beyond simply replacing his long-time lead singer. He has completely recreated the Gaither Vocal Band, now expanding the size of the group from four members to five and bringing back an all-star cast of voices from the Vocal Band's rich legacy of talent.

Effective immediately, the new roster for the five-member Gaither Vocal Band will be: Bill Gaither, David Phelps, Wes Hampton, Michael English and Mark Lowry.

Bill Gaither states, "I am so excited about the sound that this particular group creates together. There are few groups, if any, that have the advantage of having two fine tenors like Wes Hampton and David Phelps at one time! Their sound together is like liquid gold� truly stunning. Together, they will share the demands of the high tenor part and offer a sound we've never heard from any previous Vocal Band. David has been extremely gracious to rejoin the group while also pursuing his solo career, and I have to say that I am enjoying his contribution more than ever."

"Having Michael English join us is also very exciting for many reasons. Today Michael is a very different individual than the young man who traveled with us back in the early '90s. I am seeing a grateful, restored individual who had every reason to believe his singing days were over a few years ago. Throughout his recovery, I have watched him grow healthier spiritually, emotionally and physically� and I now firmly believe his best days are yet to come. What a joy to welcome him to this powerhouse line-up."

"And Mark Lowry� what a defining influence he has been! It is impossible to imagine bringing back an all-star group without Mark. His energy and his unique gift for communication really round off this new direction for the group. Audiences love him and we love him."

"This line-up has energy and vocal power that will blow your mind. And the most exciting part is� their hearts are in this. This announcement grew out of unexpected change, but I've learned to pay close attention when God starts shaking things up. He always has plans that are better than our own."

During this transition Michael is committed to fulfilling as many previously scheduled solo appearances as he possibly can and will do whatever possible to make sure everyone is satisfied. He will continue to do solo dates in the future as his schedule allows.

The public's overwhelming early response to the January 20th release of The Gaither Vocal Band Reunion DVD, as well as the group's 2009 Grammy nomination, has already begun what could be the group's most unforgettable season yet.

The first live concert of 2009 will take place January 29 in Huntsville, Alabama, and tickets are still available. For more 2009 concert dates visit www.gaither.com and click on the 'Tickets' banner.

"A Picture Of Grace" single edit

2009-01-11T21:38:00.001-08:00

Listening to the half-static signal of a southern gospel station out of Falmouth, Kentucky, I heard the Gaither Vocal Band's first single with Marsh Hall (and winner of Gaither's 2004 songwriting contest), "A Picture of Grace," being played. As I started to sing along, however, I was thrown a curveball when I realized the song was HEAVILY truncated, resulting in almost half the song being edited out. Although the verses were left intact, the first chorus was cut in half, and the second chorus skipped directly to the tag during "Where once was a portrait....", which was somewhat akward, considering the key change and the fact that David Phelps' lead just seemed to go on and on. I'd never heard this version of the song before, and was curious as to if this was something the radio station did, or if there really was an official "single edit" of "A Picture of Grace" released. I am pretty sure when I heard the song on enLighten or Solid Gospel, it was the complete album cut from the Best Of The Gaither Vocal Band 2-CD set.

Prayers for Frank Seamans, Jr.

2009-01-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

According to an announcement on SoGospelNews.com, Frank Seamans, tenor singer for Legacy Five, is asking for prayer for his son, Frank, Jr. The Seamans family recently found out that Frank, Jr., has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Please keep the Seamans family and Legacy Five in your prayers.

Another YouTube find

2009-01-05T23:25:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've ever seen Kirk Talley playing bass before, let alone doing it with the Cathedrals while Mark Trammell sang lead. This had to have been one of Mark's first clips with the Cathedrals; I believe that "Cherish That Name," which is where this song came from, was one of Mark's first projects with the Cathedrals.

YouTube Find of the Day

2009-01-05T23:10:00.001-08:00

A Family Affair

2009-01-02T19:00:00.001-08:00

Here's a video for everyone to enjoy (hopefully!) this weekend. This was done on Easter Sunday, 2005, with my three brothers.

Top Picks for 2009

2009-01-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

A lot of people have been listing what they felt were the best songs, albums, groups, etc., of 2008, so I'm not gonna add to the list (and duplicate a lot of them); instead, I am gonna post my "watchlist" for the new year. Here is a list of groups I think will be worth watching in 2009, based on what I have seen in recent months:

Gold City - They have been rebuilding over the last few years, and I feel, with the reintroduction of the Band of Gold and with Bruce Taliaferro on lead, they are poised to make a MAJOR comeback. Just one request: single "I'll Walk On"!!!

Cross4Crowns - I first met these guys in the fall of 2007, and I was impressed then. I have been even more impressed over the last year or so, as they continue to make an impact on SG. If they can keep the current lineup, I have a feeling we'll be seeing them quite a bit in 2009.

Greater Vision - Since Jacob Kitson joined on tenor, GV seems to have a new vigor (and with all due respect to Jason Waldroup, a more solid upper range), and Gerald would be VERY smart to feature him as much as possible.

N'Harmony - Shane Dunlap is bringing the group back that he and his father started some years back. It's been several years since there has been an N'Harmony group, and this new incarnation is made up of singers who have been around the industry for a while, even if they are brand new to this particular quartet. The reason I pick these guys is from the attention that Brent Mitchell has been getting with his amazing rendition of "He Loves Me." I also know what Shane is capable of as a producer, so I am VERY anxious to hear a full-blown production from this group....

The Gaither Vocal Band - Given Guy Penrod's indefinite sabbatical (and the mystery as to whether or not he will eventually return to the group), not to mention the interesting timing on the GVB Reunion video, one has to wonder just what Bill has up his sleeve for the Vocal Band.

Off-topic: DVD rights

2008-12-31T01:57:00.000-08:00

When a film is released that includes copyrighted material, rights must be obtained to include that material before the film can be released. Songs, archive footage, even cultural references often require separate permission before the final project can be put out to the public. Those clearance rights are often translated to video releases, but sometimes, they aren't....

The first time I noticed this was when I bought a DVD for A Muppet Family Christmas. At least half of the songs used in the original TV broadcast of this special were omitted from the DVD release (often quite conspicuously), resulting in uneven performances and edits. Another Muppet release, Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, originally featured narration by Kermit The Frog throughout. The original DVD release of this TV special kept most of this intact, but for the "special edition" DVD, all traces of the famous green one were removed due to the fact that Disney now owns the classic Muppet characters and refused to license his use to HIT Entertainment for the DVD release.

It's not just children's releases. National Lampoon's Vacation originally included two instances of the Pointer Sisters' classic, "I'm So Excited." For the DVD release, these were removed and replaced with "Little Boy Sweet," which was only used once in the theatrical (and VHS) releases of the movie. I don't really see any reason for this edit, as "I'm So Excited" is used quite often in other productions.

The most recent example of this, I found on the upcoming DVD release of the George Lucas bomb Howard The Duck (considered by many to be one of the worst movies ever made....to me, it's just a guilty pleasure!!). Clips of Daffy Duck originally used in the theatrical and VHS releases are included here, but his voice (played by Mel Blanc) has been removed.

A common connection with each of these films is the fact that they were originally released BEFORE DVD's became the industry standard for home entertainment. Perhaps these older productions included copyright clearances that included VHS releases, but failed to include any future technological advances, resulting in separate clearances needed before the DVD versions can be released. Changes in management at different companies between then and now can cause the original decision makers to be completely absent from current negotiations, which means that the person who originally said "Yes, you can use it" is probably long gone, leaving someone else who has little-to-no interest in whatever project is in question to grant or deny permissions.

Regardless of the politics and legalities involved, the end result is a production that is less than what the original directors and producers intended and cheats the viewers out of what they initially enjoyed, no matter how subtle.

To tie this into SG, it would be the equivalent of Word Records releasing "Step Into The Water" with a different tenor singer dubbed in because Kirk Talley disputed the use of his voice on the original track....it just wouldn't be right.

Who is that bass singer?

2008-12-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

I am curious....listening to the GVB's "Still The Greatest Story" CD, I simply cannot believe that Bill Gaither is singing the bass on some of those songs. "Reaching" in particular has a much fuller, solid-sounding bass singer in the mix. If it is indeed Bill (and ONLY Bill), then why does he sound so much different both before and after this album? Any ideas?

The Gospel Music Stock Exchange

2008-12-26T04:50:00.000-08:00

Given our current economic "crisis," talks of bailouts, bankruptcy, foreclosures, and recessions, an interesting thought hit me. What if gospel music acts could be traded publicly like a stock market? What groups would have the highest shares? Which ones would be the most likely to make the most profit? What groups would be the "gospel Googles" (groups you wish you would've invested in early on and watch their profits soar)?

I have my opinions on what the obvious ones would be, but I wanna see what everyone else can come up with first, then I'll share mine....

A year-end observation (or several)

2008-12-22T22:14:00.000-08:00

I don't track my readership on a daily basis. I have a counter on the site that I check probably once every two-three weeks just to satisfy my own curiosity. I don't even remember when I started keeping track of site stats, but for what it's worth, here's the totals I have to date:

Total Visitors: 27,821
Total Hits: 31,631

The majority of the site hits are results of Google searches (since Blogger, my site host, is run by Google, that's not a big surprise), followed by personal bookmarks from repeat readers. I also see a lot of visitors coming from enLighten's website for News & Views (shout out to Marlin and the gang!!). The rest of the referring sites vary from week to week, although I do repeatedly see some common pages (I often see Averyfineline on the list, as well as Swain's Musings).

I can sincerely say that I am repeatedly humbled and honored that so many people would take the time to see (or even care!) what I have to say on this form of music that I hold such a passion for. I do not take a single reader for granted, whether they linger, comment, e-mail, or just take a peak to see what is going on. Through this little site, I have made some good friends, gotten the opportunity to speak directly to artists, producers, and other "insiders" in the industry, and I'd like to think, made my own little impact on SG music, no matter how small it may be.

So, as another year comes to a close (and unless a huge, earth-shattering piece of news comes to light in the next week and a half), I plan on taking a small break from the blogging world to enjoy Christmas with my growing family, celebrate the birth of Christ and thank God for all of the blessings He has sent my way. Thanks to everyone who has allowed me the opportunity to have my voice be heard, and rest assured, I'm not going far and won't be gone very long!!

Christmas download #3

2008-12-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

For all of you last-minute shoppers (especially the dads who like to wait until Christmas Eve on their way home from work to do their Christmas shopping), here is the final download from my Christmas project. "Gotta Find That Gift" was actually written during the summer, and sat around for several years before it finally surfaced on Spirit Of Christmas.

http://www.wavemakersmedia.net/Kyle/gottafindthatgift.mp3

Hope you have enjoyed these special downloads, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"God Walks The Dark Hills"

2008-12-18T21:22:00.000-08:00

This is one of my all-time favorite performances from the NQC. This was a part of the Remembering The Greats DVD that was recorded in 2006 (I believe that was the year). I don't know if the acapella ending was spontaneous or rehearsed, but either way, it is amazing. Thanks to dannyfunderburkfan for posting this clip!

"When God Ran" hits #1?

2008-12-18T02:25:00.000-08:00

It's been reported that "When God Ran" by the Kingsmen has hit #1 on the Singing News chart. If so, this is quite an interesting occurrence - a song that came from the contemporary field has hit #1. Has there ever been another time that a song from CCM has been covered by a SG group (and subsequently charted at #1)? This may just be a first for the Singing News....

Song Of A Lifetime DVD

2008-12-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

This past NQC, Phil Cross hosted a showcase called "Song Of A Lifetime." The showcase is now available on DVD. It looks like an intriguing production with a lot of top-notch writers and songs, not to mention some of today's best artists.

Below is a preview Cross has put together:

For more information, visit http://www.philcrossmusic.com/.

The Standouts of 2008

2008-12-15T21:47:00.000-08:00

As another year reaches an end (15 days left!!), I thought I'd have a mini award ceremony of sorts. I'm not gonna do a best album, best baritone, best bus driver, best truck stop, etc.; instead, I just want to know one thing:

What artists, songs, labels, events, etc., stood out for you during 2008?

This can be anything from a memorable performance to a landmark recording to....whatever!! If it truly stands out in your mind from the past year, it qualifies!!

I will say that Gold City, as a whole, has stood out to me over the last year. They have been seeing quite a bit of change over the last several years, but 2008 saw a new lead singer AND the return of a live band, if only in the trial stages. Since Tim Riley's retirement, GC has been going through a rebuilding period, and they seem to be doing all the right things, and if 2008 is any indicator, I think they're set to come back in a big way.

I have more nominations, but let's see what you have to offer first.....

Singing News site errors

2008-12-15T04:58:00.001-08:00

Has anyone else been having as hard of a time accessing the Singing News site as I have lately? In the last week or so, I've had more server errors than I've had successful hits on the site.

HD Preview of GVB Reunion

2008-12-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

Below is a preview of the GVB Reunion project. If you click on the video clip, you can go to YouTube and watch it in HD. I don't care what people feel about the abilities of each singer today, this is easily one of the most anticipated Gaither titles in recent history, and with a release date of January 27th, it will make for quite a birthday present for me (my b-day is the 30th).

SG branching out

2008-12-10T02:40:00.000-08:00

The Kingsmen currently hold the #2 slot on the Singing News Top 80 chart with a cover of the Phillips, Craig & Dean song, "When God Ran." In 2006, Gold City had a popular album cut with another PC&D hit, "Mercy Came Running." Both songs were recording rather faithfully to the original cuts; some could even argue that the only real differences between the originals and the covers is the addition of a bass vocalist.

Elsewhere, Brian Free & Assurance are at #14 with "I Believe God," a song that could easily fit on K-Love with it's overly-slick production and heavily-processed vocal mix. This may even be part of Daywind's plan for the group, as a recent press release indicated that they consider BFA among the more contemporary-sounding acts on their label.

Other artists within the top half of the chart include the Booth Brothers, the LeFevres, and Karen Peck & New River, all groups who have been pushing the boundary ever-so-slightly toward more progressive music within SG (and getting high praise for their efforts). Could this be a sign that Southern Gospel music is, little by little, adjusting itself to reach a wider market, or is today's SG audience more into the modern sounds than previous generations?

More important than talent

2008-12-09T02:01:00.000-08:00

Every now and then, I like to browse through the Jobs sections at different sites to see what's available in what areas. It seems the most popular job postings are for tenor singers, with bass singers a close second (understandable, as those two are probably the more unique voices compared to a lead/baritone singer). The majority of these ads can be summed up as follows:

"Looking for versatile, solid singer who can hear harmonies, can travel every weekend, and is willing to work for pennies."

Granted, some higher-profile gigs have been listed from time to time, but more often than not, the jobs posted are for local or regional groups who can barely afford the gas to get from date to date. I guess for the young, ambitious start-ups, this is not a problem, but if you're looking for something other than a hobby, it's gonna be hard to find something worth while on some of these postings.

One in particular caught my eye, and I think it's a sign of just how far gospel music has come, for better or worse:

"Ministry minded a must. More important than talent."

I am NOT saying that a mind and heart for ministry is not essential to a successful gospel group. The whole point of singing the gospel, at least in my mind, is to minister to those who have come to hear you; it's what separates us from the secular music. What ALSO separates us from secular music, unfortunately, is the severe lack of quality and talent. If you are lacking in talent, then I would think that your ministry would suffer as a result.

Just think....if you went to see The Weekend Warriors at a church and their tenor singer gave a wonderful testimony, followed by a hack job on "Somebody Touched Me," what do you think people are gonna remember? If you say his testimony, I have two words for you....

Kurt Young.

Grammys (or is it Grammies?)

2008-12-07T23:14:00.000-08:00

Last year, a non-southern gospel artist (Ricky Skaggs and the Whites) walked away with the Grammy for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel album. This year, we have the following nominees....

Room For More, Booth Brothers
Lovin’ Life, Gaither Vocal Band
Steps To Heaven, Charlie Louvin
Hymned Again, Bart Millard
Ephesians One, Karen Peck & New River

That's 3 full-time SG artists against 2 "outsiders." Bart Millard's lead singing duties with MercyMe may give him an advantage with the RIAA, and Gaither's name alone could be the weight they need to get the Association's attention, although I am surprised that Lovin' Life made the cut while other projects (i.e. Gold City's Moment of Truth) didn't, but then again, I'm not a voting member of the RIAA, so that explains THAT!!

I DO notice, however, that two of the nominees are Daywind artists, and if I remember correctly, KPNR was nominated last year (I don't know if the Booth Brothers were or not, but I don't think they were), which means that Daywind must be REALLY sinking some money into promoting their artists! Millard is on Curb/Word, a subsidary of Warner Music Group, so they've got plenty of push already, and Gaither's empire is far from invisible, so to see TWO Daywind artists nominated is quite impressive!!

UPDATE/EDIT: Thanks to Chris Unthank for updating me....Bart Millard (and MercyMe) are on INO Records, which is currently distributed under the Provident-Integrity (which itself is under the massive Sony/BMG umbrella). What I was thinking of is the fact that INO Records was previously distributed by Word, and in fact, Curb Records issued a commercial CD single of "I Can Only Imagine" back in 2002. Since that time, INO has switched distribution and is now with Provident/Integrity/Sony/BMG. Either way, Millard has a massive company behind him, which is my original point.

Christmas Download #2

2008-12-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to this week's download from my Christmas project, Spirit Of Christmas. This is a different take on a classic carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Click on the link below to download this song, and as always, comments are welcome!!

http://www.wavemakersmedia.net/Kyle/merrygentlemen.mp3

N'Harmony's debut in Ireland a success

2008-12-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

Looks like N'Harmony is off to a good start, according to the press release below....

Friday, December 5, 2008
N'Harmony Completes Successful Northern Ireland Tour

NASHVILLE, TN (Press Release) – N'Harmony recently appeared in Northern Ireland as part of their first tour in over six years. While in the UK, N'Harmony enjoyed 3 great nights of concerts and were even given a personal tour of the Northern Irish Parliament in Belfast. Also appearing on the concerts was Rev. William McCrea, who was debuting his latest release "In Christ Alone" produced by Shane Dunlap.

Shane stated, "The Emerald Isle has always been near and dear to my heart." He continued, "The people there are very warm and truly enjoy southern gospel music." All of the members of N'Harmony left feeling the same way. Plans are already underway for a return trip in May of 2009.

N'Harmony is booked exclusively by the Dominion Agency. Call 910-484-6996 to schedule a concert in your area. For more information, please visit www.dominionagency.com or www.nharmonymusic.com.

Congrats guy!! Here's hoping that 2009 is even more successful.

The Baritone

2008-12-01T21:40:00.000-08:00

"He sings baritone, a tone nobody can bear!!" - Duane Allen

A discussion on another forum brought up an interesting point regarding group members and their importance within a quartet. The topic started out as "unenviable positions;" group members who leave a "larger than life" legacy when they depart from a gig and the ones who have the unenviable task of taking their place. The obvious ones were posted, such as David Phelps, Danny Funderburk, Michael English, Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Jim Hammil, etc., but what I found quite interesting is that, with maybe one exception, no one mentioned a baritone singer!

Everyone jokes (well, half-jokes) that a quartet is usually based on their "bookends," meaning the tenor and bass singers. Next in line is that "great lead singer" who can sing the pretty melodies, rock the uptempo spirituals, and belt out the power ballads with their amazing range. Very rarely, however, does one mention the "glue" of the group. When was the last time someone said, "Man, he sure was a great baritone!!"?

The first name that will probably come to mind for everyone is Mark Trammell. Mark served as baritone singer for the Cathedrals for nearly a decade, and later spent several years doing the same for Gold City. Mark had (and still has) a range that belies his position, and more often than not, would sing well into the lead/tenor range during his Cats years, but it was his solid blend that helped define the sound of both of these groups during his tenures with each.

Whenever someone mentions the "glory days" of Gold City, they always name the same four singers: Brian, Ivan, Tim, and Mike LeFevre. Mike was probably not the greatest soloist, and more often than not played a support part for the other three "stars," but he could blend with a rainbow checked shirt on shag carpet (yes, I just made that metaphor up!!), and he was NEVER showy. When it was his time to sing, he'd step up, get the job done, and head back to his spot. When Mike left, he was replaced briefly by Steve Lacey, then Trammell (after Stacey moved to the lead position for a short period). Lacey had a better solo voice, and could still easily blend with the group, but he also seemed to want more of a spotlight, whereas LeFevre just seemed to be happy doing what he was doing.

One of the best baritones (and most often overlooked) was Glenn Allred of the Florida Boys. Glenn joined the group in the 50's and was a mainstay until the group's retirement last year. Even in his last years with the group, he still had an amazingly strong (and solid) voice. When other singers his age began to show their miles, Glenn was keeping up with the young'uns, as evidenced with the FB's a capella rendition of "Stand By Me." VERY few singers can have that kind of longevity and still keep their voices intact!!

There are others, of course, who deserve to be on this list (the first that comes to mind is Doy Ott), but I am going to leave it to the readers to add to this "baritone tribute."

Special Download for Christmas

2008-12-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Wavemakers Media (my production company), I will be offering an exclusive, full-length mp3 from my Christmas project, Spirit Of Christmas, each week until Christmas to everyone who visits this site!! You don't have to register for anything, and you don't even have to give your e-mail address; all you gotta do is click on the link and start listening. All I ask is that you give your comments on the songs after listneing to them (if you feel so inclined). And if you like what you hear, you can download the song digitally at the bottom of this page, or you can order your own CD copy by e-mailing kyle@wavemakersmedia.net.

The first song available for download is my rendition of "Go Tell It On The Mountain." Click on the link below to start the download.

http://www.wavemakersmedia.net/Kyle/gotellit.mp3

Why I'm Thankful

2008-11-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

Three years ago, my mom and dad's Thanksgiving dinner consisted of Jello and hospital cafeteria food, as my dad had just had a heart attack the day before. The next fall, Dad had to have quadruple bypass surgery and spent the next Thanksgiving finishing up his recovery. Then, last year, Mom found out that she had breast cancer and began her first surgeries during Thanksgiving break.

Needless to say, Thanksgiving hasn't quite been what it should be the last few years.

I am thankful beyond words that this year, I sat down to my Thanksgiving dinner across from Mom and Dad, both with a relatively clean bill of health. Mom has been cancer free for a year now, and Dad hasn't had any more problems with his heart. The only problem they have now is that they don't have any excuse for someone to be waiting on them hand and foot!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone....and BRING ON CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Not just a voice

2008-11-25T20:46:00.001-08:00

Aaron Swain posted a clip of the Cathedrals singing "This Ol House" with Kurt Young (and not the infamous Dove Awards clip) that sounds pretty decent. Aaron, who is apparently impressed with the video, seems to think that Kurt could have "easily been one of the best tenors the group ever had...." under different conditions.

DBM, however, counters with his own argument, which in a nutshell, states that Kurt displayed too many technical flaws to be considered a "top tenor." While true, I offered my own thoughts that such flaws could have been due to lack of confidence, which seems to be the consensus of most comments. I'll let you check out the post for yourself, so as not to rehash the entire thing.

This brings up an interesting question....can a singer's confidence outweigh their ability? Can one's performance cause audiences to overlook the fact that their singing is less-than-perfect? Sure, showmanship is something that is important to ANY live performance, regardless of genre, but when does it take the front seat to talent?

Case in point would be the early clips of Ernie Haase with the Cathedrals. There are times where it seemed that Ernie was straining to hit some of those notes (which he still does today), but he seemed comfortable on stage. He had confidence. Whether each note was a bullseye or not, he was throwing at the target knowing that there was a reason he was there.

Kurt, on the other hand, always had this look on his face as if to say, "Oh boy, I hope I don't mess this up!!" He rarely moved and seemed stiff as a board, giving a whole new meaning to the term "flat-footed singer." Even on a song like "I've Just Started Living," which is meant to evoke excitement, he just kinda swayed back and forth and sprayed pitches throughout the verses.

When Danny Funderburk joined, the first record they did included "Who Am I," which had a bit too much screaming, even by Danny's standards, but at least the guy was confident.

O Holy (?) Night

2008-11-24T00:09:00.000-08:00

There is a recording that circulates through the SG industry of an absolutely horrid rendition of "O Holy Night," that pretty much epitomizes the term "budget recording." It sounds like someone bought a Christian World track on a clearance rack, popped it into a karaoke machine, and did their best impression of a dying mule (especially at the beginning of the final chorus).

I first heard it when a songwriter friend of mine forwarded it to me. He said he'd received it from another group who forwarded it to him. We didn't know if it was for real or if it were a joke, but either way, I was rolling on the floor (as was anyone else within earshot).

Then last year, while working a convention in Pittsburg, I heard the recording again. Someone in another group had a copy of it and we were all huddled in a van listening to the atrocity and laughing hysterically. I also heard someone say, "That's Steve Mauldin!!"

Now, I have heard a couple others say the same thing on separate occasions, so it's possible that it is indeed Steve Mauldin singing (what I assume to be) a purposely awful rendition of one of my favorite Christmas songs. I have yet to confirm this 100%, so I will say that at this point, I believe it's Mauldin, but can't be sure.

Either way, the recording is an absolute riot!!!

Hidden Treasures

2008-11-20T23:08:00.000-08:00

Nearly every group has, at some point, recorded a project (or several) of cover songs. They are easy to record and usually serve as a "filler" project between mainline releases. Sometimes they're "classics" that everybody knows, other times they're covers of popular songs from the last 20 years or so. As a result, songs like "Beulah Land," "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary," and "Midnight Cry" have been recorded by more artists than even the songwriters can count (partly due to the lack of royalties from some groups, but that's another post altogether....).

What I'd like to see, however, is a list of songs that a group today could cover that hasn't already been sung to death. Gold City did it with "Turn Your Back," which has been covered a couple times, but hasn't really been done a lot since the original Cathedrals cut back in 1982. The Gaither Vocal Band has been doing it a LOT with Imperials songs lately, as well.

So, let's have a little fun....pick a song from yesteryear that you think is ready for a fresh recording, and name the group you think it would fit.

I'll start with a couple ideas of my own:

You Can Walk On The Water (originally the Cathedrals, cover by the GVB) - it's got that cool beat, and I think Wes Hampton could really tear this one up
I Won't Walk Without Jesus - (originally the Hinsons, cover by Gold City) - with GC's leaning more toward straight country arrangements, I think this would fit Bruce Taliaferro nicely

Mission Statement

2008-11-20T21:25:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I've written an in-depth post that didn't include a YouTube posting of some sort. With a couple other bloggers feeling the need to post their mission statements as of late, I figured I'd take a stab at doing so myself.

I write when I feel I have something meaningful or relevant to say. Often it's related to Southern Gospel Music, directly or otherwise. Sometimes, it's a personal note, sometimes it's completely off the wall. I try to keep things on a consistent track so as not to turn off the few dedicated readers I have.

I have seen other bloggers post statistics on their sites. While I do occasionally check the stats on my site, I don't really put a lot of weight on them; I stand nothing to gain from a large number of readers other than a bunch of people knowing what I'm thinking. Sure, I have links on my page to my music, but I can honestly say that I haven't seen one single sale based on readers to this site, so rest assured, my goal is not to sell anything or to turn a profit somehow.

Some may ask, "Well, why even have a blog? What's your reason behind it?" The answer is simple: it's a place to let my thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc., known to the general public with the hope of making even the slightest impact on an industry that I love dearly. I'm not claiming to be the next Hovie or JD or Gaither; the odds of me having even close to the kind of influence these people have are slimmer than Nicole Richie. I just like knowing that my passion can be shared by others and that, just maybe, people will look back and say, "that was a good idea."

YouTube is addicting.....

2008-11-20T00:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I work third shift and have a lot of time to float around YouTube. Below is an interesting glimpse at Guy Penrod at the beginning of his GVB tenure. It's quite interesting to watch, as I think this may have been one of his first tapings with the group (based on the rather stiff performance). Needless to say, he's definitely come a long way....

A tragic story....

2008-11-19T04:45:00.000-08:00

Many of you remember "Little Steve" Sanders from the Gospel Singing Jubilee. He released multiple gospel albums from the age of 6 well into his teenage years, often backed by the Florida Boys, as well as appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, a Broadway production of "The Yearling," and even a film role along side Faye Dunaway and Burgess Merideth in "Hurry Sundown." He was an amazing talent, to say the least.

In his late teens, he left gospel music for the rock scene, joining Mylon LeFevre in Europe and eventually joining a group called Pyramid. Starting in 1982, he began touring with The Oak Ridge Boys as their rhythm guitarist and as lead singer for their band's stage feature until 1987, when he stepped into the vacancy left by William Lee Golden. Steve continued to sing baritone with the Oaks through 1995, when mounting personal issues led to his leaving the group.

After he left, he retreated to Florida for a couple years, and reports say he had been considering a comeback in Nashville. Those plans came to an abrupt end when he died from an apparent suicide in June of 1998.

Below is footage of Steve as a teenager on the Jubilee, backed by the Florida Boys. A great talent lost way too soon.....

Goodbye Monument?

2008-11-19T03:15:00.000-08:00

The grapevine states that Monument may be leaving the road. If true, this could be an interesting lesson in "crossover appeal." Monument is one of the few groups that made a conscious effort to broaden their audience by singing "clean country" songs, ala the Statlers or the Oaks. They even stated that they were trying to fill the void left by the Statlers by playing the state fair circuit and naming their tour "Faith and Family."

The problem with such a move is that by the time the Statler Brothers settled into the state fair, Americana genre, they already had years of success behind them, much of which was due to the assistance of Johnny Cash.

To their credit, Monument took a BIG gamble, and it seemed to be working at a glance, but if the end is really here for the group, it apparently was a gamble that didn't pay off....

New GVB single??

2008-11-18T03:42:00.001-08:00

Unless it's just an album cut making waves, it looks like "Jesus and John Wayne" has been released as a single by the Gaither Vocal Band.

I find this to be a rather strange choice given the current absence of Guy Penrod. When Lovin' Life was released, all of the publicity toted "Jesus and John Wayne" as virtually written for Guy (and given the fact that it's a Gaither family composition, that very well may be the case!). Guy does seem to enjoy singing the song, and it was featured on the Country Bluegrass Homecoming DVD series. Why then, with Guy taking an indefinite leave from the GVB, would the latest single be a song so strongly associated with him??

Maybe they want people to know that Guy's break isn't permanent. By featuring Guy on the new single, perhaps it's way of saying, "Don't forget, Guy is still a member of the GVB and he WILL be back....at some point....."

Personally, if that were the case, I would've gone with "Prisoner of Hope." I like that song MUCH better than "Jesus and John Wayne," but that's just my opinion, which is why I love blogs!!!

Well, how 'bout that?

2008-11-18T00:15:00.001-08:00

In what I figured was just another one of my YouTube show-and-tells, I inadvertently came up with a response to Doug Harrison's double threat post, which was brought to my attention via David Bruce Murray. Funny how that all works out, huh??

I can see DBM's point. Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives are pretty much a four-piece band consisting of two guitars, a bass, and a drummer. All four musicians also sing. Knowing Marty Stuart, I would assume that he is a stickler for quality, which means each musician who sings must be able to do both with great ease. Proof that it CAN be done.....

A lot of the argument AGAINST singer/musicians in SG is the idea that a lot of secular artists who sing and play an instrument are only sub par and one. Complaints of, say, Keith Urban's singing compared to his playing run rampant at Averyfineline. This is a valid argument to an extent. There are plenty of fantastic musicians who can, at most, carry a song on pitch or, at worst, scream through it desperately.

I would say, my argument FOR such a novelty would be, obviously, Marty Stuart and the FS, and groups like Diamond Rio, and the pioneers in the "singing country band," Alabama. Even if the question of the singing drummer comes up, the solution has already been solved by putting the "fifth member," normally a pianist, at the drum kit.

And just for fun, below is a clip of the country group, Exile, showing off their ability to play and sing simultaneously. The lead singer in this clip, Paul Martin, is also the bass player/singer featured in the Marty Stuart clip I posted yesterday; he not only plays guitar and bass, but also drums, keys, steel, and just about anything else under the sun....AND SINGS!!! Not to mention, he kinda has that Guy Penrod hair going in this clip.....

The Unseen Hand

2008-11-17T02:03:00.000-08:00

Marty Stuart is a walking encyclopedia of country music. He can quote song lyrics, name singers, dates, awards, you name it. Not only that, he has a HUGE collection of country music memorabilia, such as suits, guitars, and such from stars that even the artists themselves have forgotten about. On top of that, he is also an avid gospel music fan, having taken part in two different Gaither tapings.

Below is a clip of Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives singing at the famous Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. Three singers harmonizing around one mic while an electric guitar accents the performance. Why does this seem so much more "alive" than anything gospel has to offer today??

My thoughts on the GVB Reunion Clip

2008-11-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

Most people have posted their thoughts on the upcoming GVB reunion video by posting the clip recently found on YouTube (the clip is found here....)

Now, just for fun, let's see what it sounded like when it was first recorded.....

Granted, Terry Franklin's absence is felt, but overall....well, you decide!! It appears that in the last 14 years, Mark still hasn't quite mastered those breaks....

Gold City - "A Gold City Christmas"

2008-11-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

With Christmas coming, I figured I'd focus on Christmas projects for reviews. This is actually the second Christmas album I am reviewing thus far, with several more to come. I always love listening to Christmas music. It's almost like rediscovering forgotten treasures each year when pulling out the different CD's.

In the case of A Gold City Christmas, I must say that it is one of those "sleeper hits." It was originally released independently (then distributed by Cathedral Records) in 2003, then reissued in 2005 by New Haven Records. I was actually pleasantly surprised when I found it while stocking shelves at Family Christian Store, as there was little-to-no publicity regarding its re-released (save for an ad in the Singing News).

What makes this album an interesting treat is the mixture of personnel. The group lineup at the time it was originally recorded consisted of Jay Parrack on tenor, Jonathan Wilburn on lead, Danny Riley on baritone, and Tim Riley on bass. When the reissue was produced, however, some minor (and some major) changes were made. First of all, by 2005, Jay had left the group and Steve Ladd was making a name for himself as tenor, so Jay's lead vocals were replaced by Steve; some of the harmony vocals were also replaced by Steve, but there are still songs where Jay can be clearly heard in the mix. Secondly, featured on the cover is Bill Lawrence, who had a short tenure with the group on bass. However, all of Tim's previously-recorded vocals (including leads) are left intact (I guess being owner of the group has its perks!). The only songs to include Bill are "Silent Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," which were added to the project for the reissue. As a result, you wind up with at least three different lineups on one project.

Personnel aside, however, I must say that this album is by far the best of those produced by the late Doug Riley. The arrangements are fresh and enjoyable and the production is reminiscent of the Garry Jones era. The Band of Gold (which, at the time, consisted of Doug, Adam Borden, and Channing Eleton) were just as good as any standard studio musicians (and their familiarity with the singers probably was a huge plus). Also, given the fact that the final product included several changes and two new songs, the album plays as smooth as any. Unless you're listening for them, you'd be hard pressed to pick out the differences, which I believe says a great deal about Doug and Danny's work as producers. It's a real shame that Doug left us so early....he could've easily made the transition to in-demand studio producer.

The song selection includes 11 tracks of Christmas standards and one newer cut. As mentioned above, the standards are given fresh approaches, so they don't sound rehashed. "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is given an up-tempo, hand-raising gospel arrangement. "Let It Snow" and "Winter Wonderland" are both jazzed up, but without abandoning the quartet feel. Jonathan Wilburn sure seems to have fun with them, too (I've always found it interesting when gospel acts include these two songs, as they are essentially secular love songs with a winter theme as opposed to actual Christmas songs). GC doesn't seem afraid to sing about the "holiday" aspect of Christmas, including songs like "It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas" and a medley of children's favorites about Santa. Far-right religious figures view this as compromising the birth of Christ; I look at it as playing into the fantasy of a child's Christmas holiday.

The two a capella songs are top-notch. The album kicks off with "Angels From The Realms of Glory," and right off the bat, the group sounds as tight as ever (and that Tim can still rattle any subwoofer). "The First Noel" takes the singers into the stratosphere with amazing range. What I really appreciate about these two cuts is the fact that the voices weren't stacked to the point of sounding like a choir. The vocals are full, but do not sound overdone, which is lacking in quite a bit of a capella studio recording (and in some cases, live performances!!).

My favorite cut on the project has to be "I Have Seen The Light" (big surprise, since I recorded the same song with the same basic arrangement the following year myself!!). While the rest of the album pretty much sticks with the classics, this song takes the listener into a different direction, making them actually listen to the true Christmas meaning, as well as witnessing to the deity of Christ, something that is often lost when listening to what are often too-familiar carols and standards.

When stocking up on Christmas music for this season, keep your eyes peeled for A Gold City Christmas. I highly recommend it!

N'Harmony - initial thoughts

2008-11-05T22:06:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to hear N'Harmony's re-debut project, and so far, two people have reviewed it, so I am going to refrain from adding to that list. Instead, I am going to give my initial thoughts on the group itself, using the project as reference.

First of all, judging by singing and blend, this group has the ability to go places. They have the talent to establish a distinct and solid sound....they just need the time and experience to get comfortable with each other's strengths and play to that, which they seem to be working on with a couple songs on here.

This project, Favorites, was recorded relatively quickly from what I understand, so the songs are familiar ones that the group could easily pull out on the fly. I feel that, with a little time and experimenting, N'Harmony could easily find their niche. They easily have the talent.

If Gospel artists were politicians....

2008-11-05T21:46:00.001-08:00

...and no, I'm not talking about Rick Hendrix. I'm talking about, if you could pick your leaders in Southern Gospel like you could with government offices, who would be the candidates, and who would you vote for?

I have a feeling that one of the candidates would be Nick Bruno. His regular articles basically tell about the many ways he would improve the industry. Eliminating (or reforming) the singles charts, calling out the many "labels" and "promoters," and establishing distinct levels of talent and ability would probably be his main campaign points.

Another up for the top spot would be Bill Gaither (no big surprise there). His ticket would include modernizing the genre, bringing it up to date with current trends and making it relevant to today's market place. His experience as a leader is indisputable, and his vision has changed the face of southern gospel as we know it. He's also responsible for giving the spotlight to the hottest quartet to hit the stage today.

On the other end of the spectrum would be Roy Pauley, running on the conservative ticket. I have a feeling his policies would see the elimination of "unnecessary" instrumentation, resulting in a four-voices-and-a-piano act, as well as strict dress codes and appearance codes. Jake Hess's birthday would become a national holiday, too.

Then we have the SG Congress, which would consist of the Singing News Senate and the House of SoGospelNews. Various amendments, bills, laws, etc., would come from these two houses, with majority votes ruling. That in itself would result in an all-too-familiar battle between houses....

Of course, the National Quartet Convention would be the Supreme Court, deciding which groups to hear and which ones to throw out. Their final ruling stands, although decisions have been known to be overthrown (such as the absence of Gaither & Co.).

Okay, the elections have obviously fried my brain, so I'll leave it to you to carry on this fun idea....

New Layout

2008-11-03T22:07:00.001-08:00

Yeah, I've had the same layout since day one (with some minor cosmetic changes here and there), but I think I like this template a little better. It's a little easier on the eyes and a bit more "defined" than my previous layout. Maybe I'll do a new banner....haven't decided that one yet. But anyway, here's the new look!!

Can you tell that I'm slightly sleep-deprived??

An Interview with Joe Bonsall

2008-11-02T22:42:00.000-08:00

Joe Bonsall is well-known in the music industry as the energetic tenor and emcee for The Oak Ridge Boys. Aside from his singing duties, Joe is also a diligent student of the banjo and a critically-acclaimed author, having written a series of children's books (Molly the Cat), the most recent Oaks biography, An American Journey, and a moving tribute to his parents, GI Joe & Lillie. On top of all of that, Joe has been a dear friend for many years. He was the first to really introduce me to the music industry and has been one of my biggest personal supporters and influences.

This past October marked Joe's 35th year with the Oaks. To help commemorate this milestone, I asked Joe to take part in a special interview - one that goes a little deeper into not only the Oaks' gospel career, but Joe's personal faith and experiences. He was more than gracious and has gone into quite a bit of detail, as you can see below. I want to thank Joe for taking the time for this interview, and I hope that everyone enjoys reading it as much as I did preparing it!!

First off, in the book you wrote on the Oaks, "An American Journey," you dedicated a section to talk about the faith of the group and how each Oak was a dedicated, born-again Christian. What was it that led you to Christ? What was your first exposure to gospel music?
Actually both answers are relevant to one another. When I was at a huge crossroads a unique chain of events transpired. First some kids in the neighborhood from Christian Endeavor talked me into going with them to a Gospel Concert in a Philly suburb. I went because there were a few good looking girls going and one guys named Bunky had the coolest Buick convertible. I saw the Courier, the Eastmen Quartet and the Blackwood Brothers with J D Sumner. It blew me away. Something inside of me right then and there told me that somehow this was all in my future. The same kids did not let me down with this so I went to a few more concerts with them and eventually went to a camp meeting and accepted Christ around a campfire while everyone sang Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. I did JUST that and he has guided me until this day. I guess you could say I was lead to Christ through a BUICK!

What made you want to become a singer, and on the same note, what got you singing in gospel groups?
After my life changing spiritual experience and my father’s subsequent stroke (I was 15) I really felt that I wanted to sing. I had performed a lot while when I was little and I was also very sickly when I was little and somehow singing always made me feel better. It still does today. After realizing that no big time quartet was ever going to call me on the phone and inform me that their lead singer died and I had the job… I figured I had better start my own group. So I did!

Who were some of your musical heroes?
All of the great quartets of the day....Blackwoods, Statesmen, Couriers, and I also loved the doo-wop groups and Elvis!

Tell us a little about your time with the Faith Four and the Keystones. How long did you spend in these groups, and how would you describe them?
I was germing around the records racks and bothering every singer in every group from the Harvesters to the Goodmans when I met another young man who was doing the same thing. His name was Ron Graeff and I found out he loved this stuff like I did and he lived just 18 blocks from my house in Philly. I started going over to his church and we started singing together and eventually we found some other guys and became the Faith Four. This was right out of High School. We booked churches every weekend and worked during the week. Another strange part about that night in Harrisburg was that I heard a 19 year old singing bass with the ORIGINAL Keystone Quartet out of Bristol, PA. Eventually we became friends and it was through Richard that I joined the Keystones full time right after my 19th birthday. I refer you to the book An American Journey for more details!!

How did you get to know the Oaks before joining them?
The Keytsones who had moved to Buffalo New York promoted Gospel Shows all over the North. We used to book the OAKS. After Richard left to join the STAMPS we turned ourselves more into an Oaks farm team. Hired a full band and went with more of a rock approach. Duane Allen produced a bunch of albums on the Keystones in those days and we worked a lot of dates together. Richard joined the Oaks in 1972 and I followed in 1973. Been here ever since

Before the Oaks, had you ever been offered (or tried out for) positions with any other groups?
No, Not a one! Not even a BANJO JOB!

When you joined the Oaks in 1973, you were following Willie Wynn, a fan-favorite and, at that point, the longest-running Oaks member. What was it like stepping into that position?
It was huge. I loved Wilie just like everyone else. The thing I knew that I had to do was just be myself. I did not sing like Willie and looked NOTHING like Willie. I figured if I just worked hard at being myself I would eventually make a place for myself. I never did try to replace Willie… I just sang it my way and it worked. I STILL love WILLIE! We see him quite often in Florida.

What was the deciding factor that led you to join The Oak Ridge Boys?
I prayed long and hard about it and it just seemed like God said this was what I should do.

You came into the group just as they were starting to make a transition out of gospel music. Did that play into your decision to join them?
Well that was not really the case. We were still singing the Gospel ciruit quite exclusively when I joined. I had no idea when I joined the group that we would keep morphing like we did.

You speak often about "the gray years" during the mid-70's (and the Oaks' move out of gospel music) where things seemed very bleak for the group, including a lot of criticism from other groups. Being as you were the last one to join at that point, did you ever feel like you may have made a mistake during that time, before things started to turn around?
No!! Not ever! I always believed down deep that things would work out for this group. It was all too special to ever fail. IT STILL IS!! I say that with humility and giving GOD the honor and Glory. I am juts one part of all that goes on here. We are very blessed and have been for a long time. I might ad that even in the bleakest of times we always enjoyed the music and have ALWAYS had a lot of fun!!!!

Within 5 years of joining the Oaks, the group was an established country act. what was it like, going from a struggling gospel act to a top-tier secular act?
Well again, it did not happen overnight. It was a slow transition. When we sat at the ACM awards in 1978 with a Best Group and Best Album award sitting in front of us it hit me that we were actually on our way to doing some great things.

Was there ever any hesitation to make such a move?
No, at that time I was tired of the restraints and the narrow minded attitudes of southern Gospel. It was time to go. Besides, had we stayed we would have starved. The promoters and such just did not like us anymore and the feeling was pretty mutual. Vowed that people would NEVER walk out on us again. They never have!

All through your country career, the Oaks always incorporated gospel music into their shows, and in the processes, were reaching audiences with God's word that full-time gospel groups couldn't reach. Was this part of the plan when making the trasition out of full-time gospel music?
Not part of a plan. Just doing what came natural. In our hearts we are a Gospel Quartet. THAT has never really changed. We just had musical ideas that were ahead of their time. Not like today where if you look at the Dove Awards it is like a big Rock and Rap concert. I never could have called THAT in the mid-seventies. Back to point… Southern Gospel is the address of our roots and our heritage so we still sing Gospel and love to do so. I DO think that we HAVE reached a a lot of people with our Gospel songs and that is a Blessing!

At the peak of your country success, did you ever think to yourself, "What if I had stayed in gospel music?" On the same note, if you hadn't joined the Oaks, do you think you would've stayed in gospel music, or gone in a completely different direction?
Hard to say but I would guess NO and NO. I have always followed my heart and what I perceived was God’s Will for my life. I certainly have not ALWAYS got it right but for the most part I feel just fine about how I have handled my pathways and opportunities. I really would not change a thing!

After more than two decades of country success, the Oaks returned to their gospel roots with "From The Heart." What was it like to be singing a full album of gospel music again after so long?
I loved every second of it and Duane and William and Rich did as well. The timing seemed right and it was a Blessing to get to pay tribute to where we came from. Let’s face it. Each OAK was affected by southern Gospel as a very young boy. It is STILL our first love!!!

With "From The Heart" also came your first appearance on the famous Gaither Homecoming series, singing in front of gospel artists that at one point were against the Oaks' move from gospel music. Was it strange being around these people after all those years? Were there any hard feelings?
For the most part it was a blast. Some of the older artists at that thing were a bit wary of us but all the young kids loved and respected us. I think a few of the older ones were afraid we were coming back!!

Having been in the industry for so long, there are young acts today in all kinds of genres who list the Oaks as an influence. Signature Sound even went to far as to perform a tribute medley during a recent ceremony, and this past year, you shared a bill with Gold City. What's it like after all this time to see and hear young gospel groups paying tribute to the Oaks?
Well, like I said before, the young kids all seemed to be darn happy we were around. So many HAVE shared their own story of how the OAKS and our music had become an influential part of their lives and man that means the world to us. Young Country acts say the same things. Just recently I heard Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins talking about the Oaks as visionaries and pioneers. Quite an honor for the four of us to hear things like that. It reminds us that the hard work and honesty and integrity have payed off. We are not finished either. A new CD in 2009 and a full date book. God has been good to the BOYS!

This past month marked your 35th anniversary with The Oak Ridge Boys. If you could go back in time and talk to yourself in October, 1973, what would you tell yourself about the last 3 and a half decades?
Hang on tight Joey. You have quite a ride ahead. Stay focused and put Christ first and you will be singing for a long time. You will write a book or two and even one day take up the BANJO. Joey would have said… “HUH?”

For more information on Joe Bonsall and the Oaks, visit the following links: http://www.josephsbonsall.com/
http://www.oakridgeboys.com/

Democrat or Republican?

2008-10-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

In light of the ever-increasing lunacy that is known as the Presidential Election, I post the following (thanks to Ban-Joey!!!):

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a bass boat below. She shouted to him, 'Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.' The man consulted his portable GPS and replied,

'You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude,
and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.'

She rolled her eyes and said, 'You must be a Republican .'

I am,' replied the bass fisherman. 'How did you know?'

'Well,' answered the balloonist, ' everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no i dea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me.'

The man smiled and responded, 'You must be a Democrat.'

'I am,' replied the balloonist. 'How did you know?'

'Well,' said the bass fisherman, 'you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault.

GVB "Bonus Cut"

2008-10-29T04:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a good friend, I got a chance to hear the "bonus cut" on the new Gaither Vocal Band Christmas project, "Fear Not." I must say, this track is much closer to what I was expecting from the GVB. It's a modern country arrangement, has a classic quartet 4th modulation (wherein the tenor takes over the lead vocals), and closes with convention-style choruses (wherein each singer has a separate melodic line). For good measure, an encore is tacked on. I only wish the rest of the project was along the same lines, as opposed to the Charlie Brown jazz.....

Blu-Ray

2008-10-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

I'm surprised, with the release today of the new Signature Sound CD and DVD, Dream On, that Gaither hasn't chosen this particular project to be the debut of the Gaither Gospel Series on BluRay. Then again, that would mean he'd have to start releasing the rest of his projects on BluRay....and do we really wanna see some of those people in HIGH DEFINITION?!

The Art of Theater

2008-10-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

A rather heated debate (big surprise) at Averyfineline begs a question that I've often had: Is there a such thing as Christian theater?

The biggest issue in question is regarding a "miraculous" healing of Vestal Goodman, which is said to have been nothing more than an elaborately-staged introduction that was often repeated. The Goodmans were always known for their stage presence and flashiness, but people seem to have a problem with the idea of a gospel act "faking" a healing in order to work a crowd.

I am not defending or condemning the idea of a flamboyant show; the goal is to get an emotional response out of an audience. The question is, what is the difference between a "performance" and "blasphemy"? When an artist cries on cue or "suddenly" regains strength to finish a song, is it using the Holy Spirit to further self, or is it the simple act of "working the audience."

A musical performance, just like any other show, is exactly that: a performance. Artists will travel the country putting on the same performance (or very similar) night after night. Just because it's southern gospel doesn't mean that it's exempt from the stage factor. How is crying through "Amazing Grace" any different than crying on cue during, say, an Easter play? The idea is to evoke a response from the audience. The only difference is, instead of reciting lines, they're singing songs.

He's back....

2008-10-27T09:04:00.001-07:00

Dave Mann, that is. My buddy from Stamps-Baxter (and now member of the Blackwood Gospel Quartet) has brought his blog back. Check it out here.

Chris Golden - "CenterStage"

2008-10-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

Chris Golden is a part of a massive musical legacy. His brother, Rusty, is a critically-acclaimed songwriter who has been finding recent success with cuts by Signature Sound, the Booth Brothers, and the Kingsmen, among others, and his father is the famously-bearded William Lee Golden of the legendary Oak Ridge Boys. Chris himself has been playing drums for the Oaks for the last 12 years after touring extensively with Rusty as The Goldens throughout the 80's and 90's. His connections throughout the gospel world are immense; even though he is recording country music, his gospel background has a strong presence throughout his singing and playing.

His latest effort, CenterStage, is a prime example of what happens when you let an artist do what they do best. The entire project was either produced or co-produced by Golden himself, and at 17 tracks total, you are bound to get something you're going to enjoy. Granted, this IS a country CD, so you're gonna get some secular themes, but even then, they do not sink into the typical cheating, drinking, depressing country songs. The entire project is upbeat and very family-friendly.

Anyone who has caught Chris or The Goldens singing in the past will recognize several songs on this project. "Keep The Faith" was a moderate hit in the early 90's and a staple of their stage show; "Columbus Stockade Blues" was performed by Chris during the Oaks' 1998 television series, and "Three Verses" was previously recorded on Chris' first solo project, The Kiva Tapes, recorded at his father's studio. All of these songs are given updated, modern arrangements that don't come across as just recycled (the Oaks even sing backup for Chris on "Three Verses"). Another song that should be well-known (although not from Chris) is "Sixteen Tons," which gets an updated arrangement, but is still reminiscent of Tennessee Ernie Ford's popular rendition.

Of the new songs, the selection is wide enough that there is something for every fan, but not so much that each song sounds like a completely different style. There are moving ballads, some relaxing mid-tempo ventures, and some hand-clapping boogies. What makes the project so enjoyable is that, regardless of the song, there's a soothing, relaxing feel to it. While it's by no means reserved, it's not in your face, blasting you through the next room. The overall feel of the album harkens back to the mid-to-late 80's country - modern enough to be enjoyable today without going overboard with fancy production tricks and gimmicks.

Key tracks include "Terminal of Life," an interesting look at people departing and arriving at an airport in Anytown, USA, "Isn't It Always Love," a syncopated mid-tempo tune about the ups and downs of relationships, and "Walk These Hills," one of those songs that could either go in the direction of a lost love or someone who has passed away (it's these types of songs I like the most, as they can be adapted to whatever the listener feels).

The only problem I really have with the entire project is the fact that it is an independent release. The quality of this album is easily comparable to any major label release today (I'd venture to say that it's better than a lot, considering production quality today requires compressing songs to the point of distortion). The mix, levels, and overall flow of the recording should serve as a standard for mastering engineers. Not only that, but the packaging is also top-notch in a digipak cover full of complete credits and photos. No pennies pinched there!

I hope that someone at one of the "big boys" on Music Row gets a hold of this album. It deserves to be heard by the masses. Job well done, Chris!!

You can purchase this project by visiting http://www.chrisgolden.net/

Gaither Vocal Band - "Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style"

2008-10-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

I had actually gone into the store looking for another CD when I noticed that the GVB had released their new Christmas CD, so having no luck on my original quest, I purchased it. Their previous effort, Still The Greatest Story Ever Told, is one of my all-time favorite projects, so I was anxious to hear what they had to offer with this album; it also set the bar VERY high for my expectations. I will try to get the comparison out of the way early in this review, as it is inevitable.

Right off the bat, before I ever got the shrink wrap removed, I saw two big differences between the two projects. The first is the song selection. Story included only one "classic" Christmas song (two if you count "Mary Did You Know," which has become a modern standard). There were covers of other songs, but for the most part, they were more recent songs that hadn't been done many times before. On Style, 8 of the 11 tracks are what you would call Christmas "standards."

The second difference between Story and Style is the producer. Story was produced by Michael Sykes at a time when both he and the Vocal Band were beginning to reach their full potential, resulting in one of the best albums the group ever recorded. Style was produced by Russell Mauldin, a name that is not necessarily new to the GVB (he has done all kinds of orchestration and arranging work for their albums over the years), but is quite new under the "producer" credit for them.

Now, on to the review!! I actually had started a song-by-song review for this CD, but I found myself repeating a lot of the same things for each song. This may seem like a shorter review than I usually do, but in reality, I can't really find a whole lot to say about this album.

It seems as of late, the Gaither Vocal Band has been leaving their "powerhouse" sound behind in favor of smoother, lighter vocals and arrangements. This is extremely evident with Style. Rather than belting out super-high harmonies and blowing the roof off, they are crooning smooth jazz-flavored carols and a capella numbers. There are only a few spots where they really seem to let loose. Part of this could be due to the current line-up's abilities (and the absence of David Phelps who, regardless of how you feel about him, is undeniably a freak of nature with his tenor voice), but I can't help but wonder if the years of strain on Guy Penrod's voice has finally taken it's toll (the recent announcement of his sabbatical makes me think the latter is more the case).

Russell Mauldin's arrangements abandon the modern country sound for tracks that sound like something you might hear in a fancy lounge at 1am. With very few exceptions, I kinda felt like I was listening to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (although that may have been part of the goal). There are country-flavored songs on here ("Come And See What's Happenin'" and "Christmas In The Country"), but for the most part, it's less "southern" and more "smooth jazz." If that is your cup o' tea, then you should enjoy what the Vocal Band has to offer, but for the fans of the more up-to-date sound, you may be disappointed.

From a song stand-point, you're gonna find a lot of standards here. Of them, I'd say that "O Holy Night" is the most Gaither-esque, in that it has the epic ballad feel and high-vocal ending. The rest of the "classics" are mellow arrangements that you could easily play in the background while you're having Christmas dinner, but probably wouldn't be jamming out to in the car. Even the newer songs like "Come And See What's Happenin'" and "My Heart Would Be Your Bethlehem" come across as bland and uninspired (somewhat like the CD title).

There are a couple a capella arrangements included, as well (harkening back to their 2004 A Capella album) that sound quite good. The "Carol Medley" is self-explanatory, but their rendition of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" is beautiful (thanks in part to the chord structure utilized).

To be fair, I have not heard the bonus cut that is only available through Gaither.com. I have been told that the style of "Fear Not" is fairly different from the rest of the album, but unless you order online directly from Gaither, you won't get this song included in the package.

I can't help but feel like this album is more of a novelty release than the GVB's previous Christmas project. Instead of setting out to record a top-notch, southern gospel-flavored Christmas album, we get what feels more like something they did almost as an afterthought. It's a shame, because the jazz-style tracks actually do sound quite good; it's just so much of a departure for the Gaither Vocal Band that it left me scratching my head as to what the ultimate goal was.

The other side....

2008-10-21T11:24:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Dean Adkins for posting this redeeming video of Kurt Young during his tenure with the Cathedrals.....

This performance shows that Kurt actually did have quite a bit of control and range. He sounds spectacular on this song with his smooth tenor. The problem, however, is that the Cathedrals were just coming off of a 6-year run with one of the most powerful tenors in gospel music, and it appears that, while Kurt obviously has a wonderful tenor voice, he simply couldn't keep up with the songs the Cats were doing at the time.

She said YES!!

2008-10-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I made a trek to Rising Sun, Indiana, to catch The Oak Ridge Boys at Grand Victoria, bringing my girlfriend, Emily, along to catch the shows with me. The first show was great as usual (their new material is quite interesting, I must say!!), and I told Emily I had a surprise for the second show - I was gonna sing a song with the Oaks.

That in itself is not all that unbelievable, as I used to do a song with the Oaks every now and then when I was a teenager. My first experience on stage was with the Boys when I was 13. Since that time, all of the Oaks, band & crew included, have become some great friends.

Come time for the second show, I sat in my seat with my arm around Emily, heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. I'd planned beforehand with Joe Bonsall as to the exact point in the show I would take the stage, and I was counting down the songs to that point.

Sure enough, Joe slows down (the best that Joe CAN slow down, that is!!), and he begins his introduction as I get up and walk up toward the stage. As I make it to the stage, though, he stops and said, "Hey, bring Emily up here, too!!" Needless to say, she was NOT expecting to join me.

Joe gave me Duane Allen's mic and said, "I think Kyle has something he wants to say...." I turned to the audience and said, "Well, Emily thinks that I'm up here to sing a song with these guys, but I actually had something a little different in mind." I pulled a ring out, and the crowd went wild. I dropped to one knee right there on the stage, and in front of everyone, asked Emily to marry me. Sure enough, she said yes!!!

So, now we are officially engaged. No exact date set just yet, but it should be soon. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated.

MONEY QUOTE - Just seconds before the show starts, William Lee Golden stops me and hollers, "What if she says no??"

Benson Bootlegs??

2008-10-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

A few months back, I found a CD of the "Cathedrals Collection," a 10-song compilation from the Benson years, at a booth at the flea market. I was kinda suspicious when the insert looked like an ink jet print off, but I bought it anyway for the songs. Sure enough, when I got in the car, the CD was actually a CD-R, but the songs were intact.

Fast forward to this morning. While running some errands, I spotted a small Christian gift store, so I stopped to see what they might have music-wise. I've always found that the smaller, mom-and-pop stores seem to have a larger selection of older CD's that have been out of print for a while. Today was no exception.

As soon as I walk in, I spot Gold City's "Renewed" CD on the shelf. Fans will recognize this album as the first to include Jay Parrack and Mark Trammell, as well as the official (if not short-lived) switch to lead for Steve Lacey, who joined GC as baritone on their landmark "Pillars of Faith" project.

Again, the insert looked slightly cheap, but I couldn't tell for sure. Since I'd wanted this project for a while anyway, I took a chance. I get in the car, and - you guessed it - another CD-R and ink-jet insert. I must say, however, that the CD and insert artwork appeared to be pretty much a direct copy of the original artwork, and all of the credits and liner notes (even fonts) were intact.

Now I HAVE seen some CD-R's come from Daywind (the last pressing of the Singing News 30th Anniversary CD set I saw was a CD-R), and I see performance trax on CD-R all the time from multiple companies, but I have to wonder....has Benson sent out cheap prints, or am I just that good at finding bootlegs?

Anyone else have any early-90's Benson CD's like this??

Singing News chart survey

2008-10-09T05:21:00.001-07:00

Daniel Mount has an interesting survey on his blog regarding the Singing News Charts from 1983 compared to 2003. Here is a link to his site to better explain the survey (and to take part).

Quote of the Week

2008-10-09T04:20:00.001-07:00

This one comes from everyone's buddy, Doug Harrison over at Averyfineline.com. While describing Steve Ladd (who anyone will say has grown by leaps and bounds vocally over the last few years with Gold City), Doug says:

It comes from hard work and careful, searching, often painful self-examination and study. There's not enough of that in sg.

I couldn't agree more!!!

Guy Penrod takes a break

2008-10-09T03:47:00.001-07:00

According to SoGospelNews.com, Guy Penrod will be taking a sabbatical from the Gaither Vocal Band. I guess after 14 years, Guy finally earned enough vacation time to take a few weeks off.

What surprises me about this is the length of the break. Guy is only taking a "few weeks off," according to the press release, which hardly amounts to a "sabbatical." I have noticed over two most recent projects, the Vocal Band has refrained from the skyrocketing vocal arrangements they made their name by; Guy's voice has also started to sound somewhat strained, so maybe a break is what he needs to recoup.

Aside from Bill himself, Guy is the longest-running member of the GVB in the history of the group (beating Mark Lowry, who previously held the record at 13 years). With that kind of longevity in a group that one doesn't own either shows one's dedication, or just how good Guy really has it, in which case, a few weeks off is well-deserved. I only hope that it's not something that becomes permanent.....

So much for the theater gig?

2008-10-07T05:06:00.000-07:00

According to DBM, the theater that the new Florida Boys had booked as a steady gig closed all of a sudden (VERY sudden from the sound of the article). While events like this are not necessarily the norm, things DO happen and businesses DO close without notice. My question is, how solid is this new incarnation of the FB that they may be able to bounce back?

A steady theater gig not only keeps the members paid, it also gives them a place to learn and grow and gel together as a group (Triumphant is a perfect example of this). Charlie Waller probably saw the gig as an opportunity to really fine tune the group without running them to death in the process. Now that the theater is closed, will they bounce back with another theater to play in, or will they bite the bullet and hit the road?

Digital Rights Management

2008-10-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

David Bruce Murray has an interesting post on Digital Rights Management (where songs you download are coded with a lock that prevents you from listening to said songs anywhere else but where you originally downloaded it, making the experience of blasting your favorite songs through your car stereo at ridiculously-loud levels all the more difficult). While the following quote actually refers to movies and OnDemand, the same principle applies, I believe....

As much money as Hollywood makes on DVD (and now, Bluray), there's one thing about it they still hate. Namely, the fact that you get to watch your copy over and over again without paying them again each time....Even worse, you can loan your disc to a friend, without your friends paying to see it. Or, you can sell it back to some record store that deals in used DVDs. It's like highway robbery!

[snip]

They hate it so much that they've been trying to devise a system that will lure the consumer away from, you know, actually owning movies and watching them when it's convenient, to a system where the consumer pays, every single time, to watch the movie, at Hollywood's convenience.