12-10-07
SCOOP-Karen Peck and New River Receives Grammy® Nomination
Los Angeles, CA
During a press conference held early this morning in Los Angeles, CA, the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. Daywind Music Group recording artist Karen Peck and New River was nominated for their Daywind debut release, Journey of Joy, in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album category.
“We are elated and thankful to the Lord for this honor,” exclaimed Karen Peck Gooch. “We are living proof that even after 17 years of serving, dreams do come true and things do not happen overnight.” Gooch, along with her sister, Susan Peck Jackson, and Devin McGlamery make up Karen Peck and New River.
Produced by GRAMMY® award winning producer, Bubba Smith (Crabb Family, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar), Journey of Joy, features the #1 Singing News hit, “Last Night.” “What a thrill it is for me to hear that Karen Peck & New River have been nominated for a GRAMMY® award for Journey Of Joy,” stated Smith. “Knowing that their peers nominated this record makes this extra special. I am so honored to have been a part of working on this wonderful project with Karen, Susan and Devin."
“We want to thank our producer Bubba Smith, Ed Leonard, Norman Holland, Rick Shelton and Michael Turner for helping us choose the songs for this project,” said Gooch. “It was truly a team effort.”
The GRAMMY® Awards will be celebrating its “Golden Anniversary” of music recognition at the February 10, 2008, ceremony, to be held at the Los Angeles' Staples Center, and will broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
12-10-07
SCOOP-Buford Light Exits
Brothers Forever
CHURCH HILL, Tenn. – Up and coming quartet Brothers Forever has announced the retirement of Buford Light from the group and Southern Gospel music.
Due to some health complications, Buford felt it would be best to stay home and relax and work at his home church, Free Will Baptist Church of Church Hill, Tennessee.
“Our hearts were saddened when Buford told us of his plans to retire, but we want him to stay as healthy as possible and wish him well in this retirement,” mentioned Curtis Hagy of Brothers Forever. Buford had been singing bass for Brothers Forever for the last couple of years. Brothers Forever will not be seeking a replacement as they will officially remaining a trio.
Brothers Forever’s new release will be available in January 2008 and will feature one song with Buford – “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”. Curtis continued, “We wish Buford the best, and he will be singing with us on special occasions and any local dates in our home town.”
Brothers Forever’s current single has made a strong impact at Southern Gospel radio. The group was recently greeted with the news that their current single has charted on several of the industry’s leading chart.
The song, titled “I Feel a Blessing Coming On” became the group’s first Top 40 hit from their upcoming release. The song reached #37 on SoGospelNews.com Top 40 Weekly Chart.
In addition, the song is currently charting at #51 on the PowerSource Magazine Southern Gospel Top 100 for the November 2007 issue and #89 on the December issue of the Gospel Music News Top 100.
“I Feel a Blessing Coming On” is the first single from the group’s new recording, which is due out this coming January. The new album is being produced by Brad Hudson (Greenes) and engineered by Glen Tabor. The recording features 11 brand new songs – seven of which were written by Brothers Forever members.
The recording also features the writing talent of Jimmy Dooley and Sandy Blithe. The album will feature some of the industry’s most sought-after studio musicians – including Gordon Mote, Kelly Back, Tony Creasman, David Johnson, and Kevin Grant.
More information on the new recording will be released later.
12-10-07
SCOOP-Dave Williford Band Unveils New, Fully-Updated Website
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Southern Gospel/Christian country band the Dave Williford Band is pleased to announce the unveiling of the group’s new, fully-updated webpage. The new page went live this week and was designed by the staff of SSE Design Group, the web publishing and internet promotions division of SSE Group.
Dave Williford said, “We are so pleased with our new webpage! It definitely reflects us and how we sound!” “The Dave Williford Band’s new website really does reflect the band, their sound, and their personality. It’s a great site,” mentioned Amy Marie Unthank of SSE Design Group.
The site is an exhaustive telling of the Dave Williford Band and the group’s ministry. It features a biography, contact information, a photo gallery, schedules, publishing information, and more. The group’s newly designed press kit will also be available in the coming weeks for promoters and pastors to download directly from the site.
To visit the newly designed Dave Williford Band website, visit http://www.davewillifordband.com.
Pastors, promoters, and individuals interested in booking the David Williford Band, call (573) 644-4939.
Be listening for the Dave Williford Band’s debut single at Southern Gospel and Christian Country radio now. “I’m Forgiven” was written by Dave Williford and is being promoted to radio through Jeff O’Neal and Heritage Communications.
“I’m Forgiven” is featured on the Heritage Communications’ Heritage Gold 2007 Volume 3 compilation disc, cut #9. Radio stations interested in the band or playing their music need to contact Jeff O’Neal at contact@heritagecom.com or call (704) 263-1111.
The song is currently streaming on the Dave Williford Band’s website. To find out more information on the band and their recording, tour dates, etc., visit http://www.davewillifordband.
12-10-07
SCOOP- memberAmerican Gospel Music at Carnegie Hall
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – American Gospel Music made its Carnegie Hall premier in New York City on Friday, November 23, 2007, featuring The Triumphant Quartet, Babbie Mason and The Imperials to a nearly packed house at the Isaac Stern Auditorium. These artists performed with the American Festival Symphony and Chorus, made up of 180+ chorus members from around the country. Participants in the American Festival Chorus weres of the Sanctuary Choirs from First Baptist Church Dallas, TX, First Baptist Church Stephenville, TX, Omega Music Ministries of Lexington, KY, Neumann College, Astin, PA, New Jersey Choral Society, Connecticut Choral Society, and many others from the Knoxville, TN area and Mississippi.
After beginning the concert with all the artists on stage singing Babbie Mason’s “Come On Into the House,” each group performed several of their own classic favorites ending the performance with a powerful presentation of Paula Stefanovich’s “Jerusalem”, once again with all the artists participating. Show-stopping ovations came after the solo instrumental performances from Jeff
Stice (Triumphant Quartet) on piano along with choral selections and powerful symphonic arrangements provided by noted Nashville arrangers, Steve Mauldin and Greg Sims. The symphony and chorus were conducted by renowned Maestro Eric Dale Knapp of New York City.
The event, in planning for over a year, was produced and promoted by Christian Music Presenters of Nashville, TN. Dr. Randall Bayne, CEO of Christian Music Presenters says, “CMP is seeking to help advance the concept of American Gospel Music by placing talented gospel artists in the finest concert halls around the world and to engage the local church into a higher awareness of the quality present in much of today’s gospel music.” “American Gospel Music at Carnegie Hall was a significant step toward increasing awareness of these three artists and the quality that can be expected from the American Gospel Music brand,” stated Dr. Roy Hayes, President of CMP. American Gospel Music at Carnegie Hall was corporately sponsored by Creditz Digital Currency (www.Creditz.com).
Comments from those in attendance...
CREDITZ Digital Currency was proud to be the corporate sponsors of the American Gospel Music Thanksgiving Concert at Carnegie Hall. We support the music industry in a variety of ways, and are proud to sponsor such a inspirational music event at this time of the year. Artists of all genres are looking for new ways to distribute their message and enhance intimacy with their fan base, and CREDITZ can be used to cross-market content, drive merchandising and promote artist-to-person transactions. “We are thrilled to be working with such an innovative company such as Christian Music Presenters and look forward to many exciting developments on the horizon.” David Vaters, Chairman - CEO America / CREDITZ digital currency