Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Award Winning Singer and Author Ann Downing at Rock Pointe Church August 14

{Nashville, TN Aug 9, 2011}) Ann Downing, a popular soloist on the Gaither Homecoming Video Series, will appear at Rock Pointe Church on Sunday, August 14 at 10:00 AM.

Celebrating world-wide broadcast success, including the number one spot on Billboard Magazine’s chart for video sales (surpassing all other categories and genres of music), Ann has been included in almost all video tapings since their original success in 1991. “Reunion”, the second video released, is dedicated to the memory of Paul Downing who appears on the video but passed away unexpectedly prior to the release date.

Her career as a successful Christian recording artist has taken Ann from childhood on the family cotton farm in rural Mississippi to many of the nation’s largest venues including Carnegie Hall, the Crystal Cathedral, and the Billy Graham Crusade in Nashville. Ann Downing Ministries is also home to the Ms. Lillie Project, a service ministry to nursing homes, the goal of which is to provide televisions, DVD players, and Gaither Homecoming Videos to facilities across the country. In addition, Ann Downing Ministries also helps to host Ann’s Middle Tennessee Women’s Retreat (MTWR). MTWR is an annual event held in the Nashville area each spring and is open to women regardless of age or denominational ties.

For more information regarding Ann’s appearance, please contact 706-935-4903. Please direct other requests or nursing home suggestions to Ann Downing Ministries.

Rock Pointe Church is located at 1278 Cross Street, Fort Ogltethorpe, GA 30742.  For directions to the church, visit http://heismyrock.com/.

EHA-Nashville & Eyewitness Team up to Host Winter Fest Gospel in Louisville

EHA-Nashville, TN} Southern Gospel group, Eyewitness, announces they will be the hosting artists, along with EHA-Nashville, for the lst Annual Winter Fest Gospel concert in Louisville, Ky, February 19, 2011. Gethsemane Baptist Church will be the venue location and artists scheduled to perform are, Eyewitness, Singing News charter & Diamond Award Finalist duet; Wendy Word + forgiven, Soloist and Manor House Records Executive Director; Bill Dykes (formerly with Cathedrals, & Jerry Goff), two-time Grammy Nominated Manor House recording artists, Praise Incorporated, (accompanied by the phenomenal Manor House Records Instrumentalist, Zack Swain) the classic; Classic Four, and Homeland Entertainment’s recent Riversong label signee’s; The Men of Music. Hawkins notes, “We expect to have a great night of music and fellowship. We are also excited to have a local DJ and Bill Dykes to be Master of Ceremonies.” More details on the event will be forthcoming from Eyewitness and EHA. www.EHA-Nashville.com

For more on Eyewitness:

http://www.eyewitnessgospel.com

Praise Incorporated Performs For 41st Annual Street Rod Nationals Event

FORT WORTH, Texas – (August 9, 2010) – Texas based Praise Incorporated were the special guest performers for the National Street Rod Association’s annual event this past weekend. The group performed during the event’s Sunday morning chapel service at Louisville, Kentucky’s Fair & Expo Center in Freedom Hall.

Steve Sam of Praise Incorporated said, “We are so honored to be a part of this annual event. This was our fourth year to be invited. We count it an honor to be the only Gospel group featured over the course of the weekend.”

The National Street Rod Association is heavily involved in the specialty automotive vehicle participant sport, from the people that enjoy participating with their vehicles to the industry that has evolved from within. NSRA is the organizing body that made the sport what it is today, and it is the reason the growth of enthusiast participation has continued at a steady pace since the association was founded in 1970. NSRA provides leadership, guidance, and fun events for enthusiasts who favor driving their specialty vehicles wherever and whenever they want to.

More info on the National Street Rod Association can be found at http://nsra-usa.com/ .

Fans are encouraged to call in and request Praise Incorporated’s new radio single – “I’ve Been Forgiven.” The song is being pushed to radio by Heritage Communications.

For more information on the group, visit them online at http://www.praiseinc.com .

About Praise Incorporated
With a focus on musical excellence and integrity in ministry, Praise Incorporated has devoted their lives to reaching the lost and encouraging the Christian, through music and spoken word.  Building on combined decades of music experience, Steve Sam, Ron Higgins, Greg Bares and Dodd Meadows have hearts for the Lord and that gives Praise Incorporated the musical excellence it strives for.

HisSong To Host 9th Annual Homecoming This Weekend

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dove Award-nominated trio HisSong will be celebrating nine years of full-time ministry this weekend. The group will be hosting their 9th Annual Homecoming on Saturday, June 5, 2010.

The event will take place at Lifepoint Church (501 Legacy Drive) in Smyrna, Tennessee at will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:00 p.m.). In addition to a performance from HisSong, the group will host multi-award winning group The Perrys. Promoter Bill Bailey will be serving as the special guest emcee for the event as well.

HisSong owner/manager Dennis Humphries says, “We are so excited about this concert, and we hope everyone will be with us Saturday, June 5.  It’s going to be a great night of Gospel Music.  We are also excited to have Solid Gospel a part of this year’s concert by giving FREE Rewards Points.”

For more info go to SolidGospel.com and click on the HisSong banner to find out more information regarding Solid Gospel’s Reward Points system. HisSong will also be live on Solid Gospel Friday, June 4, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. CST.  The group will be discussing the event with Solid Gospel DJ Greg Hutchins.

HisSong’s current single, “What a Difference a Day Makes,” has already had a significant run at Southern Gospel radio. The song recently became the trio’s second consecutive Top 20 hit on the Singing News Top 80 Chart from their sophomore Vine Records release Journey Through the Sky.  The song has also been a regular fixture on several other industry related charts such as the AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) Top 40 Weekly Chart, Christian Voice Magazine Top 100, and SouthernGospelTimes.com Top 40 Fan Chart.

HisSong has had a strong run in the early part of 2010. The trio received three nominations in the SGN Music Awards – including Album of the Year for their critically acclaimed Journey Through the Sky album. That album also received a nomination for Favorite Album in the SGM FanFair Awards. It was also recently announced that Journey Through the Sky has been nominated for Favorite Album in the upcoming Diamond Awards which are to be held at the Branson Gospel Music Convention this June.

To order HisSong’s new project, Journey Through the Sky, visit their website at http://www.hissongmusic.com .  More information on ordering the disc can be found at their website.

HisSong is booked through the Adoration Agency.  For more information on how to book the popular trio, log on to http://www.adorationagency.com or call (910) 426-1931.

HisSong also has a weekly online newsletter which gives fans of the group information on the ministry and much more.

More information on HisSong can be found at http://www.hissongmusic.com.  Fans are encouraged to visit the group’s MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/hissongministries.

Multi-talented Soloist, Ron Brewer, to appear in West Palm Beach Homecoming Celebration

{Nashville, TN} Grace Fellowship Church of West Palm Beach, Florida announced today its Homecoming Celebration and booking of Southern Gospel and Christian Country stand-out, Ron Brewer, as a featured recording artist to appear on the special Memorial Weekend program. The festivities and affiliated concert will be held May 30, 2010 beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Brewer travels throughout the United States and appears in churches, auditoriums, revivals, camp meetings, and various other venues, including the National Quartet Convention. Brewer has also performed on many syndicated television and radio programs.

In 2009, Brewer was nominated in the Diamond Awards for Soloist of the Year and Favorite Male Vocalist. In 2008 he was Top Five Diamond Awards for Soloist of the Year. He received the nomination for the 2007 GMTC Award and the 2007 WGC Soloist of the Year nomination. He also placed in the Top 10 in these categories for 2010 Diamond Awards
Album of the Year -” Won To The Highest Power” – Soloist of the
Year, and Christian Country Male Vocalist of the Year.

He has shared the stage with many of the finest in gospel music, including, The Hyssongs, The Roark’s, The Dove Brothers Quartet, Trevor Thomas, The Profitts, Eternal Vision, The Dosses, Relations Quartet (Paul’s Journey), Big MO, Mike Upright, Heirline, The Greens, The Greesons, Gerald Crabb, Brian Free and Assurance, The Talley’s, Young Harmony, and many others. Singing Southern Gospel and Christian Country, Ron plays keyboard, rhythm guitar and is sure to bless audiences of all ages with his heartwarming vocals, testimony and humor.

For more info on the West Palm Beach Homecoming Celebration & Ron Brewer’s schedule and product line: www.RonBrewerMinistries.com PR by: EHA-Nashville www.EvieHawkinsAgency.com

Classic Four to be featured in special Memorial Day Service

Special Report by Evie Hawkins
{Nashville, TN}  The Classic Four will be featured in Lavergne, TN, Memorial Weekend services, May 30 at 10:00 a.m….a little more on an excerpt from our story on the group…

What better way to describe a quartet that consists of award-winning vocalists and musicians..respected for decades, individually,..and now collectively bringing that enormous culmination of experience and inspiration to the stage…Classic!..It’s definitely a storm..a feeling of revival, because this group has certainly revived some stages recently!

This writer was fortunate enough to witness the contagious energy of this harmonious group of men in a recent concert at Father’s House Church in Nashville. Roy Bray, not only plays piano but provides Baritone vocals, as well. For over 40 years, Bray has felt the continued calling and thrill of this tradition that has been a part of his life since his youth..He was raised and bred on the music of the church, a lifestyle that has become his mainstay, and he continues to have the desire to keep his music heritage alive. Bray certainly keeps the ivories alive in a concert! His enthusiasm is both contagious and uplifting. Basing the group in Ashland, Tennessee, has provided the group a convenient location and opened doors in music-loving churches, such as Nashville’s Christ Church.

Tenor, Tank Tackett, has been a long-standing member of the church, and the group was recently well-received in concert there. Tackett has been a beloved Tenor with the legendary Statemen Quartet, the Envoys, the Rebels, and has sang on many projects, including ones with Michael W. Smith, Carmen, The Judds, Charlie Daniels, and Dolly Parton. One special highlight of the Father’s House concert was the moving performance of a Tackett tradition, “I Know a Man Who Can.”..What a blessing! Bass singer, Joe Fowler, owned the Southerners Quartet, traveled with the Gerald Payne Family, and sang with Squire Parsons (Redeemed) for 7 years. He also sang with the Jubilee Quartet at the Smokey Mountain Jubilee in Pigeon Forge, Tn. for 15 years. Fowler’s smooth Bass contribution to the group should be a model for any aspiring quartet.

Lead Singer, Bruce Campbell, traveled with Gladheart and the Sheperdsmen Quartet prior to joining the Classic Four. His love for Gospel music started at a young age, and his passion is still evident after 16 years of extensive travel in the music ministry. Lead vocals, such as Campbell’s, provide a solid foundation for this sought-after sound..that is crisp, clean, and refined..As the Classic 4 criss-cross the country performing, they continue to ignite a fire…one of revival, traditions, memories..the spirit of Southern Gospel music…the smooth harmonious sound of 4 men that have honed their skills for decades….The only other appropriate name for this group would be Class Act..but Classic 4 will do just fine!

To catch a Classic 4 concert, check out their dates here: http://www.theclassic4.com or contact Roy Bray at The Classic 4 office: 615-554-5151
Join The Classic 4’s fanpage on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Cf-Harmony/100000808151019.

Southern Plainsmen Announce Details Regarding 32nd Annual Homecoming

Editor’s Note: Read more about Southern Plainsmen in the May issue of SGN Scoops.

HORNBECK, La. – (May 19, 2010) – West-Central Louisiana’s Southern Plainsmen are excited to announce the details regarding the group’s 32nd Annual Homecoming weekend!  The Southern Plainsmen will be hosting their homecoming June 3-5, 2010 at the Vernon Parish Fairgrounds (Highway 8 W), in Leesville, Louisiana.

Marcelle Slaughter of the Southern Plainsmen said, “We have always had such a great time at our homecoming events! This year will be no different! We feel like we are bringing in some of the best groups in Southern Gospel today, and we know that our fans are going to love this year’s event! We hope everyone can make it out this year!”

The three day event will feature performances from the Joe Cook Family, One Accord, Dennis Rehders, The Southmen, Ronnie Hinson, Christway Quartet, Mrs. Minnie Williams, Tim Lovelace, Naomi & the Segos, Men of Music, and the Gospel Echoes in addition to the Southern Plainsmen Quartet.

In addition to nightly concerts, the Southern Plainsmen will host a special Prayer Breakfast on Friday, June 4 with a traditional style buffet breakfast. Dennis Rehders will be delivering the devotional and prayer during the breakfast.

There will also be a Saturday matinee on June 5 beginning at 1:00 p.m. No ticket is required for that. Various singers as well as past members of the Southern Plainsmen will be featured at the matinee concert.

Tickets for all three nights are as follows: $27.50 (advance general admission), $30.00 (at the door), and $35.00 (reserved). The group also has special pricing for two-day and one-day ticket buyers.  For more information on how to buy tickets as well as all pricing info – visit http://www.southernplainsmen.com .

The Southern Plainsmen Quartet is currently in the beginning stages of recording a new album.  More information on that will be released at a later date.

For more information on the Southern Plainsmen Quartet, visit their website at http://www.southernplainsmen.com/ .  You can also visit the group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Southern-Plainsmen/273186055053 .

Brumley MusicFest Announces ‘I’ll Fly Away’ Contest Winner

Bentonville, AR- Roger Goad of  Lafayette, TN is the winner of a ticket prize package  for the inaugural Brumley MusicFest, taking place May 14-15, 2010 at Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The contest, sponsored by SGN Scoops and Clarion Hotels, required entrants to share a favorite memory of an Albert E. Brumley song. Mr. Goad’s entry said:

I grew up in a very small country church singing Albert E. Brumley songs and became a fan of his work. I was saved at age 14 and still belong to a small Missionary Baptist church. Two years ago today, March 17th, I collapsed in my bathroom floor and died. I had stopped breathing and already turned blue, according to my wife, who is a registered nurse. I was taken by helicopter to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. I came to before I was taken on the helicopter. They all thought I was having a silent heart attack. The nurse on the helicopter stayed right over me during the flight trying to reassure me. I was under oxygen and had two IV’s going. He kept patting my hand and arm and reassuring me. I thought he was sure I was going to die, but my thoughts were that if I died on the flight I just had a head start. I sang low the song ‘I’ll Fly Away.’ He thought I was trying to say something to him, but I said that I was singing. I felt so calm, so assured, so knowing because I remembered that as a 14 year old boy that He Set Me Free.

Mr. Goad will receive two tickets, dinner for two, and hotel accommodations.

Brumley MusicFest will feature Chuck Wagon gang, Mark Bishop, Karen Peck and New River, The Diplomats, Christy Sutherland, Brian Free and Assurance, The Grascals, and more. Information and tickets are available at www.brumleymusicfest.com or by calling 888-462-6718.

Read more about Brumley MusicFest in the May edition of SGN Scoops – coming May 3.
Download the current issue of SGN Scoops here.

Gospel Music Nashville Celebration Planned for GMA Week

Nashville, TN – Fresh Well Media and Family Friendly Entertainment announces that limited rooms/tickets are still available for their Gospel Music Nashville Celebration, April 18-20, 2010, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Reservations or tickets can be purchased by callling 1-800-898-7418 or 615-609-6777 or visiting Family Friendly Entertainment.

Schedule of Events:

Sunday, April 18
8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. GMN Celebration Concert
Kingsmen, Hemphills, Crystal River, Aqua, Orvil Shindoll, Andrea Thomas, Gold Harbor

Monday, April 19
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Showcase
Hemphills, Sunday Edition, Andrew Heller, Carla Elliot, 1AChord, Rod Burton, Al Mac Will, Wess Morgan, Pam Wiebie, Tim Thomas Trio, Gold Harbor

Monday, April 19
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. SGMG Harmony Honors Awards
Oak Ridge Boys, Jason Crabb, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Guy Penrod, Bowling Family, Gold City, Perrys, Karen Peck & New River, Blackwood Brothers, Triumphant Quartet, Tribute Quartet

Tuesday, April 20
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Showcase
Aqua, Karen Harding, Johnna Green, Orvil Shindoll
Guest Speaker: Rev. James Larson (San Diego, CA)

Tuesday, April 20
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Picking and Grinning
Larry Crain, Mountain Joy, Sharon Walker, Crawford Crossing, Shara McKee, Southern Brothers, Fresh Anointing, Higher Ground
Tuesday, April 20
7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. GMN Celebration Concert
Isaacs, Bowling Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Palmetto State Quartet, John’s Call, LeFevre Quartet, The Boxcars, Aqua, 1AChord, Pastor Dan Scott and Christ Church Choir, Andrea Thomas, Andrew Heller, Hinson Revival
Guest Speaker: 
Dr. Jay Sekulow – American Center for Law and Justice

Southern Plainsmen Quartet To Host “A Night of Inspiration” Concert

HORNBECK, La. – West-Central Louisiana’s Southern Plainsmen Quartet will be hosting “A Night of Inspiration” concert.  The special concert event will feature the Southern Plainsmen Quartet with very special guests The Inspirations.

The “A Night of Inspiration” concert will take place on Friday evening, April 9, 2010 in Florien, Louisiana. The special event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will take place at the Florien High School.

Marcelle Slaughter of the Southern Plainsmen Quartet said, “We have all been long time fans of The Inspirations and believe in the ministry of this fantastic group of Christian gentlemen. This will be an unforgettable evening of worship and ministry, and we hope that everyone who can come out will.”

Tickets for the event are currently on sale. General admission tickets are $15.00, while reserved seating tickets are $20.00. For ticket information or general inquiries about the “A Night of Inspiration” concert – call (318) 663-4812 or (318) 586-4818. Interested parties may also visit the Southern Plainsmen Quartet’s website at http://www.southernplainsmen.com .

The Southern Plainsmen Quartet is currently in the beginning stages of recording a new album.  More information on that will be released at a later date.

For more information on the Southern Plainsmen Quartet, visit their website at http://www.southernplainsmen.com/ .  You can also visit the group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Southern-Plainsmen/273186055053 .