Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Daywind Publishing and Ricky Free enter into Exclusive Songwriting Agreement

Hendersonville, TN – Daywind Music Group is pleased to announce the signing of Ricky Free to its roster of exclusive songwriters. In Christian music since the age of 15, Ricky has 15 years and 3000 shows under his belt as a professional drummer, and many album and song credits as a songwriter, producer, and studio musician. His songwriting and producing has been recognized with multiple GMA Dove® Award nominations and several #1 and Top 10 songs. Ricky has had songs performed by Mandisa, Brian Free & Assurance, After Edmund, Crawford Crossing, Charlotte Ritchie and many others. He resides in Nashville, TN with his wife, Kelly, and son, Jude.

Rick Shelton, Vice President of Music Publishing, issued this statement, “Ricky Free is one of those “triple threats.” He is a fantastic drummer. He is a creative and experienced producer. His songs are fresh and inspired. We are so very excited and grateful that he is bringing his talents to Daywind Publishing.”

Ricky Free commented, “I’m so grateful to be just a part of Daywind Publishing. They are simply the best in the business, and I’m really looking forward to the years ahead as one of their writers.”

Since its inception in 1995, Daywind Publishing has emerged as a premier source of new songs for the Southern Gospel, Church Print/Choral and CCM markets. DP boasts of an exclusive staff of 15 prestigious songwriters including Sam Tinnesz, Kenna Turner West and Jason Cox. Daywind Publishing has received more than 100 Singing News Song of the Year and Gospel Music Association Dove® award nominations including the Dove® award for the 2011 Song of the Year. Forty-three Daywind songs have achieved national number one status. BMI awarded DP’s Christian Taylor Music, Christian Music Publisher of the Year 2002 and 2004. Daywind Publishing is where songs rise.

Men of Music and Mercy’s Road on Gospel Music Today

The guests on the current edition of Gospel Music Today are The Men of Music and the members of Mercy’s Road. The Feature Group is Journey Bound Quartet, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. Ken and Jean visit the Southern Gospel Worship Gathering, in Broken Arrow, OK, to hear Crawford and Company sing. Jean reviews a new CD by Troy Edwards, and the show features singing by Legacy Five and John Lanier. The latest edition of Gospel Music Today is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.

August Scoops Magazine

The August issue of SGN Scoops is filled with features high-lighting the ministries of Channing Eleton, Crawford Crossing, Tammy Jones Robinette, Pauline Patterson and more. Read about the Goff Reunion, Allison Durham Speer’s Elijah School of Performance, and be encouraged with inspirational articles. Enjoy articles by Lou Hildreth, Jeff Hawes and Sandi Duncan Clark too.  This issue covers the Diamond Awards  Show as well as album reviews on Jessica King, Lou Reid & Carolina and Jeff & Sue Duffield AND so much more!  Read, enjoy and share with your friends!

Click Here To Download This Month’s Magazine

GOSPEL MUSIC TODAY This Week on Gospel Music Today

The guests on the current edition of Gospel Music Today are Crawford Crossing and The Booth Brothers. The Feature Group is The Harper Family, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. Ken and Jean visit a concert in Owasso, OK, to hear Master’s Voice sing. Jean reviews a new CD by The Mark Dubbeld Family, and the show features singing by The Sonshiners Quartet and The Ascension Quartet. The latest Gospel Music Today webcast is online now at

http://www.gospelmusictoday.com

Hosts Announced for 2011 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (March 7, 2011) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce the hosts for the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration. Hosting the Awards Celebration this year are Devin McGlamery and Madison Easter.

Devin McGlamery is no stranger to fans of Gospel Music. He is currently the lead vocalist of Dove Award nominees for Artist of the Year and Group of the Year Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Devin has received his first Absolutely Gospel Music Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year this year and with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound is nominated for an additional six awards in this year’s program.

Madison Easter is a beloved musician who travels with his family group – Jeff & Sheri Easter. Easter’s brand of humor has made him a popular individual on social networks and within the Southern Gospel community. Madison was awarded Musician of the Year at last year’s program and is nominated for the award again this year. Easter also co-hosted the Awards Celebration last year with Mike Bowling and Sonya Isaacs Yeary.

“We are so excited about our hosts for this year’s program,” mentioned Deon Unthank, administrator for AbsolutelyGospel.com. “Both of these guys have their pulse on what is happening in the world around us, and I know they will breathe a breath of fresh air into this year’s program! What an exciting night it will be for everyone!”

Performers for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration include Jeff & Sheri Easter, Booth Brothers, Karen Peck & New River, The Bowling Family, The Nelons, Sisters, The Dunaways, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Crystal River, and the Mystery Men Quartet.

Additional performers and hosts are still being confirmed and will be announced at a later date.

The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 12, 2011.  The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennesse and is free to the public.  The awards program will start at 7:00 p.m.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

As far as nominations go, the Gaither Vocal Band landed a stellar nine nominations this year, more than any other artist. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and The Bowling Family each earned eight nods. Following behind those artists were The Perrys, Dove Brothers, Triumphant Quartet, and Booth Brothers with seven nominations apiece.  Brian Free & Assurance and The Freemans both landed six nominations.  Three artists received five nominations – The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River and The Greenes.

Jeff & Sheri Easter and Legacy Five both earned four nominations, while several artists received double mentions, including Jason Crabb, The Dunaways, The Nelons, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Sisters, Gordon Mote, the Talley Trio, and Greater Vision.

Songwriter, producer and Signature Sound’s pianist Wayne Haun earned the most individual nominations for his work during 2010. Producer Lari Goss earned seven. Earning four individual nominations were 2010’s Male Vocalist of the Year Michael English and producer Ricky Free. McCray Dove, Marty Funderburk, Kyle Matthews, Dianne Wilkinson, Bill Gaither, and Mike Bowling all landed three individual nominations for their work in 2010.

The Pacesetter Award is awarded to any artist, individual, or organization which has shown great strides in the industry and has raised the bar for others. This year’s nominees for the 2011 Pacesetter are last year’s winner the Branson Gospel Music Convention, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, digital news outlet SGN Scoops Digital, and syndicated radio program This Week In Gospel Music with Mickey Bell.

For a full list of nominees, visit AbsolutelyGospel.com.

More information on the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including additional performers, sponsors, etc.

First List of Performers Announced for 2011 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (February 28, 2011) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce the first list of performers for the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration.

Performers for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration include Jeff & Sheri Easter, Booth Brothers, Karen Peck & New River, The Bowling Family, The Nelons, Sisters, The Dunaways, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Crystal River, and the Mystery Men Quartet.

Additional performers and hosts are still being confirmed and will be announced at a later date.

Deon Unthank of AbsolutelyGospel.com said, “We’ve gotten such great feedback over the years about our awards program, and we are so excited that so many wonderful artists have once again agreed to be a part of the show this year. We can’t wait to honor our music again this coming April!”

The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 12, 2011.  The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennesse and is free to the public.  The awards program will start at 7:00 p.m.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

As far as nominations go, the Gaither Vocal Band landed a stellar nine nominations this year, more than any other artist. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and The Bowling Family each earned eight nods. Following behind those artists were The Perrys, Dove Brothers, Triumphant Quartet, and Booth Brothers with seven nominations apiece.  Brian Free & Assurance and The Freemans both landed six nominations.  Three artists received five nominations – The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River and The Greenes.

Jeff & Sheri Easter and Legacy Five both earned four nominations, while several artists received double mentions, including Jason Crabb, The Dunaways, The Nelons, Beyond the Ashes, Crawford Crossing, Sisters, Gordon Mote, the Talley Trio, and Greater Vision.

Songwriter, producer and Signature Sound’s pianist Wayne Haun earned the most individual nominations for his work during 2010. Producer Lari Goss earned seven. Earning four individual nominations were 2010’s Male Vocalist of the Year Michael English and producer Ricky Free. McCray Dove, Marty Funderburk, Kyle Matthews, Dianne Wilkinson, Bill Gaither, and Mike Bowling all landed three individual nominations for their work in 2010.

The Pacesetter Award is awarded to any artist, individual, or organization which has shown great strides in the industry and has raised the bar for others. This year’s nominees for the 2011 Pacesetter are last year’s winner the Branson Gospel Music Convention, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, digital news outlet SGN Scoops Digital, and syndicated radio program This Week In Gospel Music with Mickey Bell.

For a full list of nominees, visit AbsolutelyGospel.com.

More information on the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including hosts, additional performers, and sponsors, etc.

“Crawford Crossing Makes Debut On TBN’s Praise The Lord”

 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (10-21-10) Crawford Crossing will make their debut appearance on Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise The Lord television program on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 10pm EST / 7pm PST. Tabitha, Israel and Whitney filmed the program at the Nashville, Tennessee studioearlier this week with a packed house.  The trio performed selections from their debut project, Turn Up The Music, including their current radio single, “The Heaven I’m Headed To.”  They were interviewed by Jason Crabb, where they spoke about their incredible year and their exciting plans for the future. Jason Crabb hosts the two-hour show, which also features Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, the Collingsworth Family and 33 Miles.
Numerous comments of praise from the audience included: 
“The family harmony and live band made the sound amazing,”  Zach, Nashville, TN
“We enjoyed every minute of it,”  Lisa, Portland, TN
 “I can’t wait to go on line and purchase Crawford Crossing’s CD,”  Darlene, Nashville, TN
 “The audience was blown away,”  Roger, Lebanon, TN
 ” The country Gospel sound of Crawford Crossing is one of my favorites as they made me look at gospel music in a whole new way,”  Jeremy, Hendersonville, TN
 
Crawford Crossing made their official debut in August 2009 to an overwhelming response from fans.  Tabitha, Israel and Whitney combine country, acoustic and bluegrass music with Christian lyrics to create an unmatched family harmony fans love.  Tabitha, the lead vocalist of Crawford Crossing, has established herself as one of the most recognizable voices in Christian music today.  She is a much decorated vocalist, as well as a two-time Gospel Music Dove Nominee and a 2009 Dove Award Show presenter.  Tabitha and her brother Israel have been singing together all of their lives.  They formed their original group, known as Living Waters Trio, in 1998 and put together an original sound.  That group produced several top 40 songs, as well as two Dove Award nominations (Country Recorded Song and Country Album).  Now, they are excited to once again come together and commence on this new endeavor and direction that mimics that same sound and ministry, along with the sound of today’s country music.  Israel is an accomplished songwriter and musician.  He shares some of the lead vocals, as well as sings that tight brother and sister harmony.  Whitney Crawford is the third member of Crawford Crossing.  She is married to Israel and handles the harmony vocals with the greatest of ease.  With a one-of-a-kind family vocal chemistry, an up-to-date modern sound, and a unique songwriting partnership, Crawford Crossing offers a fresh combination that is sure to be a hit wherever they go. To find TBN in your local area, log on to www.tbn.org for a complete channel listing and times. For more information about Crawford Crossing visit,www.crawfordcrossing.com.
 
 
Contact:  Amy Holt  amy@willowcreekrecordsnashville.com