Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Southern Gospel Sweethearts: the Peyton Sisters by Fayth Lore

The Peyton Sisters

It is said that when a girl has a sister, she’ll always have a best friend. Not only are these sisters best friends, but they are also in pursuit of making a lifetime career out of their shared passion. Some of Southern gospel’s most beloved groups feature sisters, including Sisters (Kim Sheffield, Heather Bennett and Valerie Medkiff), Karen Peck and New River (Karen Gooch and Susan Jackson), the Collingsworth Family (Brooklyn Blair, Courtney Metz and Olivia Collingsworth), the Isaacs (Sonya Yeary and Becky Bowman) and the Martins (Joyce Sanders and Judy Hess).

Rachael and Riley Peyton began singing when they were only 5 and 6 years old, respectively, at a local nursing home. They would help their mother by offering some songs for the residents, following a devotion that she would give.

Eventually, a staff member of the nursing home asked the young girls to perform at her church for a mother-and-daughter banquet. Some local pastors’ wives heard the sister duo and invited them to their churches. And so, a career was born.

The Peyton sisters have been traveling and singing now for approximately four years. Based out of southern Illinois, the girls make most of their stops in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. They average 120 dates per year, with most of their performances happening on the weekend and an occasional concert during the week. While neither of their parents claim to be vocalists, the girls were raised with a rich understanding of Southern gospel music.

“We were surrounded by Southern gospel music growing up,” Rachael says. “When Mom would clean the house, she would put (on) a Gaither video. Riley and I would sit on a blanket, play with our toys and watch Bill Gaither.”

Sanders, a Gaither regular, is an inspiration to the girls.

“Joyce is our vocal coach,” Riley points out. “She is also an amazing person and encourager.”

Sanders was the producer of the Peyton Sisters’ most recent album, and the Gaither Vocal Band laid the tracks for the project.

The ladies released the CD, featuring four original songs, at the 2017 Gaither Fall Fest. Rachael wrote two songs by herself on the project, one of which she feels has had a big impact in their concerts.

“My favorite would be ‘I Am There,’” Rachel shares. “I wrote that one, and I love it to bits. It has a beautiful message to it. Wherever you are in your life and your circumstances, He is right there. It is just an awesome reminder.”

These teenagers are eager to reach all generations. They want to span the gap between their peers and an older audience, as is evident in their latest project, entitled “Undivided.” Half of the album is contemporary, while the other half is Southern gospel.

“So many times people put a line in between Southern gospel and contemporary,” Riley says. “They think you cannot listen to both. I think it’s good to span the generations. Let there be undivided unity.”

Rachel adds, “The thing that sets Southern gospel apart from other genres is the lyrics and the music. It’s not the singer that makes it different. Any artist can learn to sing any genre they want to.”

The two have some interesting advice on the best way to reach their generation.

Read more »

Giving The Gift – Steve Ladd

From the Anchormen to Gold City, Steve Ladd’s career in Southern Gospel carried him across the country and across the airwaves as one of the top Gospel tenors in the late 1990’s through to 2009. Since that time, Ladd has recorded three solo albums, with his latest CD On My Own containing a mix of songs that showcase his vocal range, evolving musical style and deep passion for the lost. In this season of giving, he shares how he has also expanded his ministry to giving to those who can’t give back, through assisting with Compassion International and also The Bridge Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Steve Ladd recently spoke with Scoops about his new album. “I’m so proud of On My Own,” said Ladd. “I had a lot of help making it from the fans getting behind it and supporting the project, to the people involved in making it a reality. My friends and legends Michael Sykes and Michael English, along with myself, produced the album. These songs are exactly what I wanted to say in this time of my life, and I’m getting reports of how some of the songs are having life changing results!”

Gospel artist Michael English says he’s a fan of this versatile soloist. “Steve Ladd is one of the best singers I’ve had the privilege of knowing and producing. He’s also one of my best friends. I’ve never known a more humble and giving man. I’m honored to have worked with him on this new project. You will not be disappointed when you hear it.”

Michael English, Michael Sykes, Joyce Martin, Steve Ladd

Ladd had some well-known artists assist with background vocals on the CD, including Joyce Martin and Michael English. Another vocalist is immediately recognizable on her trademark song, which Ladd competently covers on this project. “Master Of The Wind has always been a favorite of mine and to do a duet with Candy Christmas just made it that much more special,” said Ladd. “Candy is a great friend and she’s full of the love and compassion of Jesus. I became involved with her Bridge Ministry when we moved to the Nashville area a few years ago. It has changed my outlook on true ministry and I’m honored to be a small part of what she’s doing under that bridge every Tuesday night!

The Bridge team

The Jefferson Street Bridge in Nashville, Tennessee is home to many homeless, poor and food-insecure, or those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Candy Hemphill Christmas began The Bridge Ministry in 2004 by taking hot meals to those living beneath the bridge. Today The Bridge Ministry is a non-profit organization that provides food and clothing every Tuesday night, as well as encompassing a warehouse that acts a food bank for other organizations. The Ministry also provides education, skills training and raises awareness of inner-city issues.

Each week the Bridge Ministry also provides music and preaching along with food and clothing, and this outreach has become very special to Steve Ladd. “I try to be there every single Tuesday unless I’m on the road or my children have a school function,” says Ladd. “Whether it’s two degrees or 102 degrees outside, the homeless and poverty stricken are still there needing our help and we are called to be Jesus’ hands Read more »

Hoskins Family Release New Single To Radio

{PMG-Corbin Ky.} The acclaimed Hoskins Family, Southern Gospel group from Waynesville, Ohio, continues to thrive and see doors open since the re-launch of their popular music ministry this past year after being off the road about 8 years. With the release of two radio singles having been released on Patterson Music

Groups radio label Patterson Promotions and seeing that the stations as well as the nation welcomed them with open arms, they have just been in the Daywind studios finishing up a brand new project entitled The Gathering .

The project was a joint effort produced by Joyce Martin of The Martins and by Angie Hoskins herself. The first release “Whenever I Hear His Name” has just hit national radio , released on Daywinds Oct. compilation. And is already getting rave reviews from stations all across the nation!

The Hoskins Family participated in the Daywind Showcase at National Quartet Convention singing their brand new release and brought the house down! Pauline says the song is receiving great airplay and she’s hearing quotes like “the best one yet”. On the heels of two singles from older projects released by PMG and charting well across the nation.

Angie Hoskins states…”I feel blessed getting a second chance in our ministry. We came off the road 7 years ago due to needing a refreshing In our lives.My Grandfather became ill and passed, my Grandmother became sick as well, and we needed God to touch our lives.

Ed Leonard made the statement to me that groups rarely get a second chance. We are truly blessed. We feel as though we have never been gone! Patterson Promotions jumped on board immediately helping us to test the waters so to speak with radio. Radio was so kind, they started wearing our songs out! Ten year old songs charting in the mid to low 20’s, that’s when we knew radio was forever friends to The Hoskins Family. Angie Hoskins Aldridge.

Reva states…I’m so excited to be doing full time ministry again. I’ve always had a passion for ministry. The first time we stepped back on stage to sing our songs again,I realized how I Had missed this in my life. It has always thrilled me to be on stage with my husband and my daughter. But now I get to sing with my Grand daughter. We are three generations going strong for God! Reva Hoskins

For more info on the group:www.HoskinsWorld.com,
angiemaldridge@gmail.com.
PattersonPromotions@att.net
Daywindrecords.com
Visit the Hoskins Family on Facebook .com