Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Sunset Gallery Music Reaches Agreement With Noted Songwriter, Donna King

Pictured l-r: Joel Lindsey (Sunset Gallery Music President), Donna King, & Wayne Hahn (Sunset Gallery Music Creative Director)

Joshua Tree, CA – One of Christian music’s most talented songwriters, Donna King, has reached an exclusive agreement with noted publishing company, Sunset Gallery Music. Effective immediately, Sunset Gallery Music will partner with King to begin producing musical collaborations for many of Christian music’s most popular recording artists from multiple genres.

About Sunset Gallery Music

Sunset Gallery Music (BMI) – KeTone Songs (ASCAP) – Imperial Palms Music (SESAC)

Lore Family Ministries Continues Busy Summer of Songs, Sermons and Seminars

Lore Family

Family Participated in 23 services in June, Begins Production of New CD Project, Top Five Finalist in Diamond Awards

Portsmouth, Ohio (July 18, 2016) The Summer of 2016 has been a busy, productive and blessed season for The Lore Family. During June, they participated in 23 services. Not only did they minister in song but preached 21 of the services. Also, they began production of a new CD project, “Generation Now”, which will feature Fayth and Samuel Lore.

The Lore Family were also featured artist on the nationally, syndicated radio program, “The Gospel Greats”.  They are also a top five finalist in the 2016 SGN Scoops Diamond Awards, nominated for Sunrise Artist of the Year, and Sunrise Quartet.of the Year.

When asked about the month of singing, preaching and ministering, Darren Lore said, “We had a very busy but blessed June, ministering in 23 services. This included two camp meetings, a revival, concerts and other evangelistic efforts.”  During the CYA in the Morehead, Kentucky region, each family member shared the Word through singing, teaching, devotions or preaching. At least 20 souls were converted during the youth camp! The following week, The Lore Family began an eight day, open-air, old-fashioned camp meeting. Although it was hot, the crowd was very responsive. There were as least six more souls saved at the Six Mile Turn Camp!”

Lore Family

The Lore Family is also spending time in the recording studio. Darren Lore said, “We are currently working on a new project. I made two trips to Nashville, in June, to co-write with Joseph Habedank, Donna and Zane King. And, a third trip to cut the tracks and begin vocals. ‘Generation Now’ project will have eight originals and two cover songs.”  He continued, “This project will feature Fayth and Samuel Lore. Fayth had the inspiration for ‘Generation Now’, and co wrote the title cut, her first recorded original song. ‘Generation Now’ will include fantastic originals penned by such writers as Lee Black, Marcia Henry, Sue Smith, Joseph Habedank, Darren Lore, Matthew Lawson, Donna and Zane King,” he concluded. “Generation Now” will bridge generation gaps while crossing over into other genres The Lore Family is excited about this project and the impact it can have on the younger generation who need to hear this message now, more than ever.

Donna King is the producer of ‘Generation Now’. She had this to say about the Lore Family and the new album, “I am so excited to be producing this new project for the Lore Family featuring Fayth and Samuel. The world needs to see young people, not only embracing their faith in Christ, but taking a stand against the direction the world is going and offering a new road to this generation. God has called them and they are answering His call.” King continues, “And, to make it even better, they are so very talented. I believe their voices will be heard and this album will have a powerful impact on their generation, as well as those who came before them and those who will come after.”

Also, The Lore Family received the news that ‘Trace the Grace’ climbed to #14 on the Singing News August charts. And, their current single, ‘World of Hurt’ is beginning to grow nationally. And to top it off, July is looking busier than ever, with production of the “Generation Now” project and ministering in 25 services which include three camp meetings and Samuel preaching a VBS, revival. The Lore Family feels blessed as God continues to shower them with his favor.

For more information on the Lore Family, go towww.thelorefamilyministries.com.  To vote in the 2016 Diamond Awards, click http://www.sgnscoops.com/2016-diamond-awards/

For more Gospel music news, click here.

Tweet of the Day!

Donna King

Tweet of the Day: Love it!❤️

When your cowriter is actually hip and you're trying to be! @rileyroth #futuresuperstar pic.twitter.com/1VEYYIRNgQ

— Donna King (@donnakingmusic) April 23, 2016

Donna King shares a Christmas Memory

Donna King released a lovely Christmas album last year that many of you have heard and enjoyed. With lovely vocals and creative arrangements, Donna, along with her husband Zane, have blessed us in all seasons of the year with beautiful music.

We asked Donna about her favorite Christmas memory, she shared the following with us:

Zane and Donna King

“Here’s my favorite Christmas memory! Christmas 2015, when all of our children and Zane and I and our grandkids will gather in Lake Arrowhead, California and celebrate Christmas together in a sweet cabin on the edge of the lake with a fire burning, matching pjs… And matching love. Everyone will be safe and well and happy and drug free. I couldn’t ask for a better memory than the one we’re about to make!”

Donna, we hope the memories you are making are as sweet as you have shared with us! And we are looking forward to a possible song from the lyrical thoughts above. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

At SGN Scoops we hope you have…and are making…wonderful Christmas memories!  You can share them with us on our Facebook page here.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas season!

Christmas Music Review: A Look Back

Last year, Sandi Duncan Clark reviewed new music for December, including two new Christmas releases. If you still have not picked up these CDs to add to your collection, we urge you to visit these artists’ websites.

Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (KJV)
What a wondrous announcement the angels made to the shepherds so many years ago, giving all of us the reason to rejoice and celebrate a precious birth! God’s plan of salvation for the redemption from sin was being fulfilled. I’m so grateful for His birth, death and resurrection for our opportunity to become His child! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
We wish you all a very blessed Holiday, and thank you for your love and support throughout this year. We are so blessed to have each of you read and enjoy our magazine.
We have new music this month, which will encourage you and entertain you throughout the holidays. Some of the albums are Christmas while others are just great Gospel music. We hope that once you read our comments, you’ll look for these at your local Christian music store. These recording will make wonderful Christmas gifts.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas from the Clark household and prayers for a blessed New Year.

Read more »

Mercy’s Well: One New Member, Same Heart for Music

I delightfully chose to write on one of my favorite male trios this month. With its roots tracing back to 1998, Brad Strider, Greg Gainer and Jake Wood make up what is collectively known today as Mercy’s Well. I have personally grown to love these guys and appreciate the heart that they have towards the music that they sing. Their 2014 released project, Today, has become one of my most played albums. It has 10 outstanding songs, such as “Come As We Are,” “I’ll Trade This Valley For A Mountain,” and “I Wanna Hear The Gospel,” to name a few.

Mercy’s Well officially had its beginning in 2000. Group owner, Brad, tells us: “A friend of mine asked me to go with him to a revival service one night. He wanted me to play bass guitar with him and ‘sing a few’. The people enjoyed it and we started receiving invitations to go to different revivals and other services. We eventually added a third part and changed the name to Mercy’s Well.”

Brad Strider makes his home in Greensboro, NC, where the trio has its base. He serves in all areas for Mercy’s Well, from booking to emceeing on the stage. Brad began singing at the age of eight, following the footsteps of his parents and grandparents. “My grandpa had a quartet in the 40’s and 50’s. Also, my parents were in a quartet in the 70’s. That led to a family group, containing my brother and I,” he tells us. “I am so grateful for the musical examples that were lived in front of me. My family still sings together to this day, just without me,” he laughingly interjects.

Brad is also the owner of the graphics design company, b.creative, which keeps him extremely busy when he is not on the road singing. The company serves the graphic needs for several Southern Gospel groups, such as the Hoppers and Tribute Quartet, as well as the designs for the well-known event, National Quartet Convention. Brad’s most favorite past time also comes in the form of music. “I am an avid collector of classic Southern Gospel records. My collection is currently over 1,000 and is constantly growing in number,” he proudly admits. “I thoroughly enjoy collecting and listening to the albums of the classic groups that I grew up listening to. My all-time favorite is definitely the Cathedral Quartet.”

Long-time member, Greg Gainer, makes his home just down the road in Kernersville, NC. Greg’s smooth vocal ability and gentle spirit make him a favorite with audiences wherever the group performs. He also occasionally accompanies Mercy’s Well on stage with his piano abilities. During the week, Greg sells security systems for ADT. In his free time at home, he enjoys home improvement projects and working outside in his yard.

Greg says he took interest in the piano around the age of seven. “I would listen to choirs that came to the Christian school that I attended. Then I would go home and try to pick the songs out on the piano. My mom started taking me to piano lessons. Like any kid, I fought it at first. But today, I’m glad that I stuck with it,” he says. Greg later developed his vocal talents while in school. Before singing with Mercy’s Well, he spent about three years with the Pathfinders Quartet.

The newest member for Mercy’s Well is the young, talented Jake Wood. He makes his home in Trinity, NC. Although Jake has been with the trio for only a few short months, he is already singing his way into the hearts of those who are listening. “I have already had such a great time on the road with the guys,” says Jake. “I am excited to see the doors that God is going to open up for us in the future.” Jake began singing at the age of 11 and is the odd one of his family, being the only singer. He shares Brad’s love and musical influence of the memorable Cathedral Quartet, as well as Gold City. Jake spent roughly four years with local groups before joining Mercy’s Well. He is currently a student, enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is working towards a music performance major. Between traveling and school, Jake does not have much free time. But when time permits, he does enjoy outside activities, such as hiking.

Anyone who has ever traveled can attest to things going wrong from time to time. So was the case with a trip to Texas for this group of guys back in the spring. “We got all the way to Texas and our Sprinter decided to lay down on us. I had to find a way to get us to our dates by whatever means possible. So three full grown men piled into a U-Haul truck and drove to our next date,” Brad says with a laugh. “Looking back, it’s comical to me, although at the time, it definitely was not!”

Mercy’s Well just celebrated 15 years of music by releasing a project with a compilation of fan favorites. Thanks To You: Fifteen Years of Making Memories and Music consists of songs like “More Like Jesus, Less Like Me,” the never-released radio cut of “I’ll See You Soon,” and a remake of the trio’s most requested song, “Nothing But the Blood (Still Saves the Lost).” Also, the project includes three brand new songs with the vocals of the newcomer, Jake. They give their kudos to the superb producer and vocal arranger, Donna King. To order this new project, or any of the trio’s other music, visit www.mercyswell.com. You can find their tour schedule on that site as well.

Mercy’s Well is currently preparing for their annual Christmas tour. It will be kicked off by a banquet, which will be held on Friday, November 27 in Asheboro, NC at The Exchange. This is sure to be an exciting evening. So if you are close to that area, do not hesitate to call and make your reservations. The guys would love to sing you into the Christmas spirit.

By Jaquita Lindsey

First published by SGN Scoops in October 2015

For more artist news visit SGN Scoops on Facebook. 

SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday: Top Ten Artist Favorite Pizza Toppings

Thanks for joining us for another Wacky Wednesday on SGN Scoops. Today we ask another insightful question, “What do Gospel artists like to put on their pizza?” (because we know YOU are dying to know that answer!)

Karen Peck and New River

SGN Scoops polled a few artists about various things and tabulated their answers. We have used this (not so great) scientific process to create today’s Wacky Wednesday Top Ten!

The number one answer for favorite toppings was, of course, pepperoni. Who gave us this answer? Chris Jenkins, Karen Peck (who cheated and also asked for pineapple! But that’s okay because we all love Karen and she can say whatever she wants!) Joseph Habedank, Michaela Brown (yes, this kitchen chef actually eats pizza!) Billy Blackwood, and Gary Casto.

Gary Casto and Tribute

Donna King and Lauren Talley only wanted cheese!

David Sutton and Greg Bentley voted for sausage.

Two out of three Booth Brothers** asked for extra tomato sauce. The other one suggested green peppers.

Phil Collingsworth Sr. likes it Hawaiian style, and asked for pineapple.

Clayton Inman, Scotty Inman and Triumphant

Scott Inman also cheated, and instead of suggesting just one topping, he nominated “Meat Lovers” for his favorite. But again, we all love Scotty, so we let him get away with this response.

Speaking of Inmans, Scotty’s dad Clayton had only one word in response to what his favorite pizza topping was: “YES!”

Shannon Smith thinks along the same line as Clayton when he says, “Everything except anchovies!”

Booth Brothers

Hannah Webb stole this writer’s answer when she responded, “Barbeque Chicken!”

We are sure you have come away from this feature feeling more educated about the pizza toppings enjoyed by Southern Gospel artists. Or perhaps…just hungry for pizza. If so, we have accomplished our goal.

Stay tuned for more of these indepth polls right here on SGN Scoops!

Meet today’s contestants…

**Note: The Booth Brothers each answered each question but wouldn’t say whose answer it was…therefore we are leaving it up to you, dear reader, to guess whether the pithy answer comes from Michael Booth, Ronnie Booth or Paul Lancaster!

SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday: Top Ten Places Gospel Artists Like To Eat

Thanks for joining us for another Wacky Wednesday on SGN Scoops. Today we ask another insightful question: “Where do Gospel artists like to eat?”

Booth Brothers

SGN Scoops polled about 17 or so artists about various things and tabulated their answers. We have used this (not so great) scientific process to create today’s Wacky Wednesday Top Ten (more or less)!

Zane and Donna King

Our panel of expert artists gave us the following answers.

The Number One answer it seems is, of course, Cracker Barrel. Now we aren’t sure if there is a particular entrée that is preferred by our contestants, although most of us on Facebook are aware that Gerald Wolfe likes Cracker Barrel for the lima beans. He was not one of our panel of guests, but five out of 17 on the panel voted for this country-style restaurant, including Greg Bentley, all three of the Booth Brothers and Donna King.

The next favorite place to eat is in a mall

Greg Bentley

food court, as voted on by Scotty Inman and David Sutton. David also indicated that he enjoys Bourbon Chicken in the mall.

Other favorite restaurants include…

Michaela Brown…Skyline Chili

Karen Peck… Longhorn Steakhouse

Hannah Webb… Panera

Lauren Talley Alvey…Cheesecake Factory

Gary Casto… Waffle House

Billy Blackwood… HuHot

Phil Collingsworth Sr. … Dickey’s Barbeque

Three Bridges

Some other interesting responses include…

Clayton Inman, who likes to eat on the bus.

Joseph Habedank, who likes to investigate local restaurants.

Shannon Smith, who said, “Five Guys may be the most common and consistent, particularly when we’re on a tight

Joseph Habedank

schedule (however, some of the local places are very cool and interesting.)”

So now you know! There may be more than 10 answers, but that is how we roll on the SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday!

Thanks again to all of our participants. Be watching SGN Scoops mainpage for more Wacky Wednesdays in the weeks to come. Do you want to suggest a subject or an artist? Email us at sgnscoops@gmail.com

SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday Top Ten

For those of you who wish to find out more about our panel, here are the participants: (please note that not all participants answered every poll question)

SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday Top Ten: Watches Male Artists Wear

Thanks for joining us for another Wacky Wednesday on SGN Scoops. Today we ask the deeply spiritual question, “What kind of watches do male artists wear?” SGN Scoops polled about 18 or so artists about various things and tabulated their answers. We have used this (not so great) scientific process to create today’s Wacky Wednesday Top Ten (more or less)!

Our panel of expert classy male Southern Gospel artists gave us the following answers.

Chris Jenkins, The Kingsmen

We’ll start with the fashionable answers… J

Chris Jenkins (Kingsmen): “I tend to wear Fossil and Michael Kors” Don’t miss Chris and all the Kingsmen in the latest edition of SGN Scoops, found on our SGN Scoops mainpage.

Greg Bentley (Crossroads): “Fossil”

Booth Brothers2 (Booth Brothers): “Gotta be any watch with the Fossil brand”

Then we move to the classic answers…

Scott Inman (Triumphant): “Rolex”

Joseph Habedank (Soloist): “Rolex?”

Billy Blackwood (Blackwood Brothers Quartet): “Bulova”

Joseph Habedank

David Sutton (Triumphant): “Have no clue… I wear a Belair from Alan Sutton Jewelry, my brother’s Jewelry store!”

Gary Casto (Tribute): “Dress watch”

And then there is…well…the rest of them!

Clayton Inman (Triumphant): “No idea”

Booth Brothers 3: “Any that costs less than $200 with a few exceptions”

Phil Collingsworth Sr. (Collingsworth Family): “My cell phone!”

Clayton Inman

Shannon Smith (Three Bridges): “I rarely wear one”

Booth Brothers 1: “Cheapest one they can find”

Our Female Correspondents gave these responses:

Karen Peck (Karen Peck and New River): “LOL They don’t wear watches, they use their iPhones!”

Booth Brothers

Donna King (Zane and Donna King): “Over 40: TIMEX. Under 40: Fossil HA!”

Hannah Webb (The Rick Webb Family): “Tag Heuer or Fossil”

Michaela Brown (The Browns): “Rolex”

Lauren Talley Alvey (The Talleys): “I’m probably not the best person to ask; I’ve never noticed!”

SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday Top Ten

We are sure you have come away from this feature feeling more educated about the accessories used by male Southern Gospel artists. Or perhaps…just entertained. If so, we have accomplished our goal.

Stay tuned for more of these indepth polls right here on SGN Scoops!

**Note: The Booth Brothers each answered each question but wouldn’t say whose answer it was…therefore we are leaving it up to you, dear reader, to guess whether the pithy answer comes from Michael Booth, Ronnie Booth or Paul Lancaster!

SGNScoops Wacky Wednesday Top Ten: Vacation Time!

Welcome to another edition of Wacky Wednesday. SGN Scoops has polled about 18 or so artists about various things and received their answers. We have used this (not so great) scientific process to tabulate the Wacky Wednesday Top Ten (more or less)!

SGN Scoops Wacky Wednesday Top Ten

Today our subject is: Where do your favorite artists like to spend their vacations?

Our panel of expert artists gave us the following answers. These are not in any particular order.

It’s obvious that several on our artist panel are preparing to break out their Speedos! These include:

Joseph Habedank: “Rosemary Beach.” (soloist)

Karen Peck: “Destin, Florida.” (Karen Peck and New River)

Karen Peck & New River

Greg Bentley: “Any sunny beach!” (Crossroads Studios)

Billy Blackwood: “Gulf Coast.” (Blackwood Brothers Quartet)

Clayton Inman: “Anywhere with a beach.” (Triumphant)

Gary Casto: “Hawaii!” (Tribute)

**Booth Brother 1: “Warm, sunny

June 2015 SGNScoops Magazine

Florida!” (Booth Brothers)

Chris Jenkins: “Top Regular Destination: Beach; Favorite Of all Time: Jamaica!” (Kingsmen) PS. Don’t miss the Kingsmen feature in the June 2015 edition of SGN Scoops!

2015 SGNScoops Magazine

And then there is the lure of the lake…

Michaela Brown: “Lake Okoboji, Iowa.” (The Browns)

David Sutton: “The lake.” (Triumphant)

This might be the lake…or a nearby river…or stream…

Shannon Smith: “Any place that I can fish, read, and eat.” (Three Bridges)

We also have some fans of the beauty of North Carolina…

**Booth Brother 2: “Cabin in the North Carolina woods.”

Hannah Webb: “North Carolina mountains.” (The Rick Webb Family)

Other artists are going to be flying to their favorite vacation destinations:

Phil Collingsworth Sr.: “London ?” (Collingsworth Family)

Scott Inman: “  Australia!” (Triumphant)

Lauren Talley Alvey: “Honestly, after traveling all the time, when I have some time off, I love to just stay home. If we’re going somewhere, we like Las Vegas a lot for the shopping and shows. (We take Jesus to Sin City.)” (The Talleys)

Donna King: “Southern California because I have two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandsons there!” (Zane and Donna King)

And we are really surprised that only one person said…

Booth Brothers

**Booth Brother 3: “Home.” (Booth Brothers)

Thanks for joining us for Wacky Wednesday. Do you have a suggestion for a question we can ask our artist panel? Write to us at sgnscoops@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more of these indepth polls right here on SGN Scoops!

**Note: The Booth Brothers each answered each question but wouldn’t say whose answer it was…therefore we are leaving it up to you, dear reader, to guess whether the pithy answer comes from Michael Booth, Ronnie Booth or Paul Lancaster!