Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

The Year Of Jubilee: A Conversation with Lily Isaacs of the Isaacs

The Isaacs Release Nature’s Symphony in 432

By Justin Gilmore

The Isaacs have been a mainstay in Gospel and Bluegrass music for years. This acclaimed family has captivated audiences with their harmony and musicianship. Most importantly their hearts for God are truly apparent. I recently had the pleasure to talk with matriarch Lily Isaacs about the group’s career and their recent Grammy-nominated album, Nature’s Symphony in 432: A Journey from Pain to Praise.

Gilmore:  Tell me about the formation of the group, the early days.

Isaacs: Well, the Isaacs started with myself and my kids’ father Joe Isaacs, who’s my ex-husband. We started singing in 1971 after we got saved.We had a

Writer Justin Gilmore with Lily Isaacs

band at the time and we performed just on weekends because we had full time jobs. And as time went on and we got busier, we went into full time ministry in 1986.

As our children were teenagers, they showed a lot more interest in music and so as one band member would leave, the kids would take their place. Sonya was the first one, taking up the position of the mandolin and then Ben went on bass, and then Becky went to the guitar. So it wasn’t really a plan, it just happened that way. So today we are an all-family band and we also have a drummer and my grandson Levi, who now plays guitar for us as well.

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Crossroads Announces New Bluegrass Label: Pisgah Ridge

Arden, NC – Crossroads Entertainment & Marketing announces the launch of Pisgah Ridge, a new label for special projects and for promising up-and-coming Bluegrass groups. Pisgah Ridge will offer an award-winning studio production team, professional marketing and radio promotion, and worldwide music distribution.
This announcement follows the recent successes of Crossroads’ premiere Bluegrass label, Mountain Home Music Company. Mountain Home artists recently spent multiple months at the #1 position on Bluegrass Unlimited’s monthly song and album charts. Mountain Home artists also took home seven awards, including “Song of the Year,” “Instrumental Group of the Year,” and “Emerging Artist of the Year,” at the 22nd Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards.
Tim Surrett of Balsam Range will act as A&R Consultant for Pisgah Ridge. “I’m very excited about Pisgah Ridge,” he said. “With the popularity of Mountain Home, we saw the need to have a label home for promising Bluegrass bands to grow their music and expand their fan base. Mountain Home’s strength in this industry will help open doors for emerging artists on the Pisgah Ridge label. I also look forward to producing these artists whenever possible. God has blessed us richly in the Bluegrass Gospel arena, and I’m proud to be working with Crossroads in delivering great music to a wider audience.”

The first Pisgah Ridge release was John Bowman’s Family Chain: The Songs of Joe Isaacs. Tim Surrett is currently at Crossroads Studios producing an upcoming Pisgah Ridge release from New River Bluegrass. Heart On The Run will be available in stores and online February 21, 2012.