Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

AWARD-WINNING JASON CRABB Captures LIVE Performance from Historic Nashville Venue

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—September 1, 2011—For GRAMMY® Award winner and Christian music mainstay Jason Crabb, there is nothing like performing LIVE in front of an audience.  On April 19th, 2011, his adrenaline was running high as he stepped onto the stage, following an introduction by friend, mentor and legend Bill Gaither, to record his first LIVE recording, The Song Lives On (Gaither Music Group), which is set to release on DVD and CD on October 18th.
Filmed at Nashville’s historic Loveless Café Barn, this all-new collection finds Jason, along with his stage band, putting his own twist to some of the most popular Gospel classics and church favorites of the past few decades.  The rustic venue at the Loveless accentuated the rich emotion and soul of Crabb’s vocal talents as well as the intimate, down-home charm that has made this “boy next door” a 14-time GMA DOVE Award-winning, nationally acclaimed communicator.
Known for a uniquely commercial vocal style that blurs the lines between musical genres, Crabb, along with Gaither, collaborated to select songs for this recording that have now become classics—songs that Crabb grew up singing in his hometown church, tunes that remain fan favorites today and messages that Jason could bring to life with his unique flair that ranges from sheer, powerhouse force to “raw,” vulnerable interpretations.
“I wanted to record songs that have stood the test of time,” Crabb describes, “and as Bill Gaither suggested, ‘songs that have sound theology.’  Many of these songs I first heard in church while growing up in Kentucky.  Some of them were sung as a congregation, and some were performed as what we called ‘specials’ at our country church.”
Some of those “specials” include hits such as “Who Am I,” “Beulah Land,” “God on the Mountain,” “Midnight Cry,” “I Saw the Light,” “Until Then” and “Why Me” among others.  The evening featured special performances by The Gaither Vocal Band, including a new rendition of “Please Forgive Me,” a Crabb Family hit penned by Crabb’s father, songwriter of the year Gerald Crabb.  The song, which was recently re-recorded by Crabb’s longtime friend and inspiration Michael English with the Gaither Vocal Band, included a special reprise that brought Crabb and English together on stage.
Another highlight of the evening occurred when Gaither and Oak Ridge Boy William Lee Golden stepped onto the stage spontaneously to join Crabb singing his version of the Kris Kristofferson hit “Why Me.”  Other standout moments included a cameo appearance by Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Becky Isaacs Bowman, who joined Jason for the classic “Who Am I” as well as a guest appearance by The Crabb Family, who joined their brother for the family tradition “Through the Fire.”  Performers and studio vocalists Reggie and Ladye Love Smith and Angela Primm sang background vocals that evening.  Jason’s band includes Lorie Sikes, Blaine Johnson and Michael Rowsey.
“This was a night I had looked forward to for so long,” Crabb describes with his usual “aww, shucks” grin.  “To get to sing these classic songs and have my band do what we do live is something I’ve wanted to do for a while now.  To look into the front row and see the faces of people I’ve looked up to for years was intimidating…what an honor!  For several of them to join me on stage, well, that’s just beyond belief for this small-town boy…what a night!  I’ll treasure it forever.”
The Song Lives On will also include a new version of Crabb’s GMA DOVE Award-winning Song of the Year for 2011 “Sometimes I Cry,” which Crabb recently re-recorded at the Billy Graham Library in NC, as part of the filming for the fall releases of the two new Gaither Homecoming videos—Tent Revival Homecoming and The Old Rugged Cross.
The Song Lives On DVD and CD, produced by Gaither, will be available in stores and online on October 18th.  The projects will be featured on multiple tv networks as part of a direct campaign this fall and will be strategically positioned across retail and online accounts.  Both releases are distributed exclusively by EMI CMG Distribution.  For a SNEAK PREVIEW of the DVD, please visit http://youtu.be/NhmHabgfw_E.
In addition to his heavy touring schedule, Jason can be seen at various HOMECOMING arena concerts and video recordings.  For further information, contact Celeste Winstead at CWinstead@springhillmusic.com or visit www.gaither.com or www.jasoncrabb.com.