Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

‘Sherry Anne LIVE!’ Debuts at Number 5 on the Billboard Music Video Chart

Pictured left to right: Andrew Ishee, Scott Newbert, Sherry Anne, Michael Booth and Landy Ewing

The release of the ‘Sherry Anne LIVE!’ DVD last week saw its debut at Number 5 on the Billboard Music Video Chart for sales during the week of November 3rd. The project enlisted the talents of producers Dr. Steve Allen and Brian Ledford and project coordinator John Mathis Jr. and was released in partnership with Mansion Entertainment. The live concert includes Michael Booth (Booth Brothers) as the guest soloist along with a cast of the industry’s best musicians and vocalists: Toni Jolene Clay, Landy Ewing, Andrew Ishee, Scott Neubert and Michael Booth.

Sherry Anne, who has had to overcome hearing-impairment to achieve success as an artist, adds another accolade to her growing list of accomplishments which include numerous award nominations and national charting radio singles. She is an avid lip reader due to her hearing impairment and knows firsthand the importance of being able to see faces and emotions while listening to music. This became an influential part of the decision to undertake a live concert recording. Sherry Anne commented on that decision-making process: “Audiences have told me for years that they love to listen to me sing but even more so, they love to WATCH me sing. And so the DVD idea was born!”

Sherry Anne

The DVD includes the songs that have become audiences’ favorites from Sherry Anne’s concert performances. It also contains two new songs, plus some of her most requested Christmas songs. Sherry Anne LIVE! is also available as an audio product on CD and includes the full concert performance and testimony, along with “He Heals” performed by Michael Booth. Sherry Anne accompanies Michael in the video performance with sign language interpretation of the song.

Sherry Anne

Additionally, the DVD is closed caption for the hearing-impaired and includes many bonus footage features. For more information about Sherry Anne Ministries, the DVD or CD visit, SherryAnne.com

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Daywind Records Announces Signing of Michael Booth

Michael Booth vs Matt Fouch in Bass vs Tenor Challenge

Michael Booth vs. Matthew Fouch compete in On the Couch with Fouch

On this episode of the Bass vs Tenor Challenge, I compete against Michael Booth of the Booth Brothers to see who did it better bass or tenor.
You are the deciding factor. You comment with your vote, whoever receives the most votes, wins the challenge.

We had a blast recording this video and we hope you have just as much fun watching it as we had recording it.

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Sherry Anne LIVE DVD taping April 23, Smyrna, Tennessee

Sherry Anne LIVE DVD Taping April 23rd, Smyrna TN

The River of Life Church will be hosting a live concert DVD taping with Sherry Anne on April 23, 2018. Michael Booth of the Booth Brothers will make a special guest solo appearance and play drums in a live band comprised of some of Gospel’s music finest musicians: Landy Ewing on bass, Andrew Ishee on piano, and Scott Newbert on guitar. Admission is free for the event and the doors will open at 6:15 pm.

The evening’s performance will feature requested favorite songs by Sherry Anne, some new original music and some of Sherry Anne’s previous chart releases. Sherry Anne is a 3-time Top 10 Nominee for the Singing News Favorite New Artist Award and was recently selected as a Grand Prize winner in The Singing News Songwriter Search. The concert is being recorded for DVD and television release in cooperation with Mansion Entertainment.

Sherry Anne has overcome numerous challenges, including a bilateral hearing and speech impairment at birth, to sing with an elegant voice that perfectly blends a passion for Southern Gospel-style, country, and blues music with her deep faith. Her personal and musical journey has inspired audiences throughout North America, including events with Bill Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band, The Hoppers, and Triumphant Quartet.

Her recent viral video of the song “Silent Prayer,” which includes sign language, offers hope to those challenged by life circumstances, including hearing loss and grief.

To learn more about the live taping click on Sherry Anne’s website.

LIVE DVD Taping:

Michael Booth

River of Life Church
596 Sam Ridley Pkwy W 
Smyrna, TN 37167 
Doors open: 6:15 p.m.
Taping begins: 6:45 p.m.

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The Jim Brady Trio Takes A Leap…Of Faith

Jim Brady Trio

Twelve years. Jim Brady spent more than 12 years of his life singing, sharing, laughing and living with the Booth Brothers. His mellow baritone and incredible range made him fit in the group like another brother. However, beginning January 1, 2015, he followed God’s call to begin his own journey with his wife Melissa, and Tim Parton. So the obvious question is…why?

“Well it’s been a dream of (mine),” Brady begins. “My wife and I actually sang together as The Shulers. Her father was an evangelist, and we did revivals, crusades and churches; a little bit of concert work and a lot of church work.”

After 10 years, Melissa’s father came off the road. Jim and Melissa continued as The Shulers with a man who would play a role in Jim’s future: Paul Lancaster. Then came the call that would alter Jim’s life significantly. The Booth Brothers asked him to fill in until they found another singer.

“After about three weeks of filling in, my wife came to me and said, ‘you know what, if you think that’s where God wants you, then I’m behind you.’ The Bradys had just built a home close to her parents and Melissa’s father was ill. Jim wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. In fact, he didn’t even consider it.

“Melissa said, ‘you know my home is wherever you are and if you feel like this is God opening a door for you, I don’t want to hold you back.’ We felt like God had opened up a great door and I didn’t realize He was doing that, because I was truly just going to help the guys because I loved them and respected them. So, after a few weeks of filling in I said to the guys, ‘If you guys are interested, you know, I’d be interested.’” Then Michael and Ronnie Booth admitted that they hadn’t actually auditioned anyone else. Jim Brady was officially a Booth.

Jim Brady Trio At SiriusXM

“The first night I ever sang with the guys was with the Gaithers in Nashville. I met Bill on stage, in front of all those people.” Jake Hess was there, and told Brady that he really “fit” with the Booths. “That was a great compliment. You know, I’m nervous, I’m around all these heroes of mine and Mosie Lister, the great legendary songwriter, said to me: ‘you could be a (Booth) Brother, you sound like a Brother.’” Terrific compliments, from a couple of gentlemen who embodied Gospel music.

Jim Brady had an amazing start with the trio that would take his voice and his music to the top of the charts and to the heart of every listener. Many thought the three men would continue on until they rode off into the sunset together.

One of those, however, was not Michael Booth. “It’s one of these things that we always knew was a possibility because he had his own group before he came with us. So we are just grateful for the amount of years we got,” says Michael. “You can’t fault a guy for wanting to be working with his wife! She has spent an enormous amount of time alone. With our [Ronnie and Michael’s] wives, we have children. Ronnie’s are grown and out of the house, but my wife home schools our kids and although it is hard for her to do that job by herself, she is not alone. She has the burden of being the guy and the gal, raising our kids by herself. But for Melissa it got pretty lonely.”

Michael immediately adds, “We want to make sure everybody understands that it was not a situation where Melissa talked her husband into quitting the Booth Brothers. That was NOT the case. I think it was Jim realizing that if he was ever going to do it, he needed to do it now. We are just grateful we got almost 13 years to sing with him.”

Scoops staff with Booth Brothers

Brady knew it was the right time. “I felt like God was really putting it on Melissa’s and my heart to do this ministry. God has opened up doors for her and I, the last couple of years. It was hard to tour with the Booth Brothers and then do what we wanted to. We have a Ladies’ Ministry and conferences that she does. We do a lot of traveling together, banquets and marriage conferences.”

The Booth Brothers were doing 150 concerts a year, which kept the Bradys apart for 200 days a year. “The reason ‘now’ is the right time is because first of all, I’m not getting any younger, and we cherish the moments we have together. We can now minister and do what God has called us to do – together – for those 200 days. You can’t get those back.”

How does it feel to begin again? “It’s a leap of faith, it’s exciting, it’s crazy and it’s hectic right now, but I feel like it’s the right thing. Once we made that decision, we just had peace that God was leading every step of the way.”

“It’s hard to leave. This is a great job! When you think about the familiar and the safe and it’s all laid out for me; all I do is walk on the bus.” With the Booth Brothers, everything was provided that the Jim Brady Trio may not have at the first, from the sound engineer to the driver to the product person. “I just walk on stage and they hand me my mike and I sing, and it’s very easy. It’s awesome, it’s been rewarding to do this but I’m in some ways starting over and now it’s all up to me to do all that.”

Sometimes when God asks you to leap, it doesn’t make sense. “You walk through those doors and He provides, and He opens. It’s been amazing the doors He’s already opened, the concerts that are being booked. It’s like the floodgates of heaven have opened up and He’s given us the opportunity that we had hoped for.”

“So you take that leap of faith, and I don’t know why we’re surprised, we know God says He’ll take care of us and walk with us and it’s funny how we’re surprised when He does.” The Jim Brady Trio has signed on with the Harper Agency, the same booking agency that works with the Booth Brothers. The dates are coming in fast.

“Our first date is at Opryland Hotel with Legacy Five. It’s kind of neat; December 31^st is Paul Lancaster’s first day with the [Booth Brothers] and I’ll do a little bit (with them) that night. The very next day is our first date as the Jim Brady Trio. It’s kind of a goodbye and then the start of a new chapter of my life.” On January 4^th, the Trio is scheduled to be Dr Charles Stanley’s church. “What a way to start out! God has opened the doors and we hope to walk through them and just be faithful.”

Jim Brady Trio

The Jim Brady Trio is working hard to get their new music to their audience. They have completed a project that was recorded in four days, over the Thanksgiving break, and Daywind will release it, with the first single to be determined. At press time it was tentatively self-titled, but Brady says that may change.

“We wrote a lot for this project, and a couple of songs were written directly to where we’re at right now in our life (lives). One of the songs is just called, ‘Stepping Out in Faith.’ There’s another one called, ‘The God of What’s to Come.’ We wrote it specifically for what our life is right now. We pulled a few songs that I’ve written through the years that I felt would fit, and what we need for our live performances right now. I did some familiar songs that I’ve written that [people] would know and then we pulled some classics, then the rest are fresh and new.”

Tim Parton

Brady wanted to make sure all the songs were exactly right for the new Trio. As a prolific songwriting couple, it was hard to decide between all of their ‘babies.’ “You know you kind of love your ‘kids’ the best. We didn’t want to play favorites, so we bounced it off a lot of friends. So Scott Godsey and Ed Leonard, and the people at Daywind have been really helpful to give opinions and ideas of what would be the best. I think we’ve got the right collection. We’re excited!”

At first it was surprising for Booth Brothers’ fans to see who the new voice would be in the Jim Brady Trio, a man who has been known more for his piano work than his vocals. Jim first met Tim Parton when Parton was with the Missouri family group, The Lesters.

“I’ve known him all these years, but we toured together for several years with the Christmas Jubilee tour and then the regular Jubilee tours, because he was part of Legacy Five. When we recorded all those Jubilee projects, he was arranging and producing and we became great friends. Through the years we’ve just worked together; even on some Booth Brother dates, Tim would be opening, playing the piano, and then he’d sing a little.”

Jim Brady

Jim and Melissa invited Parton to join them in their Nashville conferences entitled Something Beautiful. “We’ve worked with him on stage, in the studio, we’ve had him in our home, so we just felt a good connection with Tim. Not only is he an unbelievable talent, he’s also a great singer, and he’s just a great guy. He’s just a great human being; he has a sweet, gentle spirit. We loved him and we knew that the personalities would click. When we started singing, the blend just worked. There’s something magical that happens when three voices blend well together and that’s one of the things that the Booth Brothers have been known for and people love, is that chemistry that those voices have. We actually talked to him about coming before we ever sang together. When we did, it felt right. You know as a singer if you think you can blend with somebody, and then more than that, you got to think about living together on the road in a 45-foot bus or 40-foot motor home.”

“Whatever you’re in, you’re in tight quarters, so you have to be able to get along, work together, and be like-minded in ministry as well as music. We knew that with Tim we would also connect spiritually and in ministry.” The Bradys knew that there would be harmony with Parton on and off the stage.

Jim & Melissa Brady

As exciting as this new leap of faith is for the Bradys, Jim says that there are things he will miss, from the Booths, to their driver, to all the men who work with them. “I’ll miss those moments of fun with these guys. The music has been wonderful. It’s those moments on stage that are so priceless to me: when you feel God working, and you feel the song with the audience. I’ll miss that. I’ll miss the laughs on the bus I’m sure, because we absolutely had a wonderful time.”

“My wife and I love to be together and there’s nothing like it, it’s just wonderful, but I think sometimes you get out with the guys and you laugh a little more and it’s different. We’ll have that too, it’ll just be a different dynamic.”

The Jim Brady Trio’s goals are much the same as the Booth Brothers’ and as Jim’s personal goals: to bring hope. “It seems like everywhere you turn, people are hopeless; tragedies are happening, and they feel like they have no hope. But we want to remind people that there is hope, there’s always hope in Christ. It’s more than success, if you can help an audience, help a Christian in their walk with the Lord, to know that it’s not just about the here and now. You can remind them of the things we have to look forward to. It’s significant when you help people for eternity; whether it is salvation for those that do not know the Lord, or just encouragement for those who do know the Lord, who are going through a hard time. That’s really what I would love, that would be huge to us if we felt that we could do that successfully. That would be fulfilling for us.”

Find out more about the Jim Brady Trio HERE

Visit the SGN Scoops website to read a follow-up story called Getting Personal with Jim Brady HERE

By Lorraine Walker

First published by SGN Scoops in January 2015. Download this issue HERE.

BOOTH BROTHERS AT SHILOH HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH

The Booth Brothers

By Robert York

Stan Whitmire

After opening remarks, introductions  and announcements, Pastor Vic Bledsoe introduced the Shiloh Hills Choir under the direction of Matt Bledsoe.  A great music program from the choir concluded with “How Great Thou Art.”

The Booth Brothers took the stage ​to a standing crowd, singing many of their new songs that featured their newest member Paul Lancaster.  Michael introduced a special guest in the audience: Stan Whitmire. He invited Stan to the piano and Michael, Ronnie and Paul gathered around the piano to sing. Stan accompanied the group throughout the second half of the concert on the piano also playing a couple of piano solos.  Michael closed the program with prayer and folks hung around for about an hour talking with the guys. I must say that Paul Lancaster is a great fit for the Booth Brothers.

The next concert at Shiloh Hills Baptist Church will featured the departed member of The Booth Brothers, Jim Brady and the Jim Brady Trio. This concert will be March 13 at 7:00 pm.  Former Mark Trammell Quartet bass singer, Pat Barker, will open for the Jim Brady Trio.

Jubilee Artists Look Forward To Christmas and 2015  

The Jubilee artists were recently in Ontario, Canada to present a Jubilee Christmas and SGM Radio caught up with them to talk about everyone’s favorite, Christmas vacation.

[Editor’s note: See below for link to the Jubilee Christmas concert review.]

IMC Concerts and Greater Vision, Booth Brothers and Legacy Five bring the Jubilee series to many States throughout the year, as well as performing a special Christmas series in December. Gerald Wolfe who does most of the emcee work for the Jubilee presentation, is looking forward to having some time off from the stage work. “By the time I get home, our house will be in full Christmas mode, probably have a half-dozen trees up. We go out and run around, look at lights, go to the mall, eat, do what everybody else does. Then right after Christmas week, we get right back on the road. I’m looking forward to it though, I’m looking forward to putting my feet up!”

Chris Allman

Wolfe is not the only one looking for a bit of rest. Fellow Greater Vision singer, Chris Allman says, “I look forward to relaxing, but that usually doesn’t happen. Because we are out here so much, when I get home there is a lot that my wife wants me to do. Then I will be just hanging out with the family. I always take my wife and my two daughters who still live at home (my two sons are married), to a city like Atlanta or Cincinnati and we shop for a couple of days. We like to go to big cities to get away. So when I’m away, I’m on the road, and when I get back home, I’m on the road! But it’s just different when you are with your family.” Allman adds, “And this year of course my grandkids are going to be with us. My two grandbabies are going to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us. So Santa is going to come to see them at our house, so that’s going to be fun.”

Rodney Griffin is looking for to a couple of celebrations once he gets off the Greater Vision bus. “I’m looking forward to seeing my wife and two daughters. The day after we get home is my wife’s and my 20^th anniversary. So that will be a fun day. I’ve got her a gift kind of hidden away. I hope she doesn’t find it!” (Note: Rodney told us where but we aren’t saying!) Griffin continues, “A couple of years ago we moved back to Kentucky where we are from. My mom and dad are there as well as my wife’s mom. I look forward to home cooking from my mom. She cooks as often as we will come over! We love that.”

Legacy Five’s Matt Fouch comments, “This Jubilee stretch is 12 days and last year was 17 days. So we got five days less this year, so that’s good. I look forward to doing what everyone else does at Christmas: spending time with the family, especially after having been gone for 12 days. I get to see my little boy and my wife. I look forward to just relaxing and getting to go see our extended family.” The other Legacy Five members may need some rest, but Scott Howard isn’t planning on going home to put his feet up; at least, not for his entire vacation. “We finish on the 15^th in Chattanooga and I will get home the morning of the 16^th. My family will already be out of town for our little Christmas get-together. My son and I will catch up with them in Texas. We are doing a big deer-hunt down in south Texas. We’ll get back home around Christmas Eve and spend a few days there and then start in on the New Year’s sing. It’s right around the corner…it’s amazing how quickly it’s gotten here.”

With the New Year swiftly approaching, we asked the guys about their New Year’s Resolutions. Trey Ivey intends to keep abstaining from soda pop, and Scott Fowler intends to stop making New Year’s Resolutions! Scott Howard says, “I’m not a good resolution maker because I’m not a good resolution keeper. I think my resolution will be to try to be healthier in 2015. I have discovered that the older I get, the faster my health deteriorates.” He laughs and continues, “So I think that is going to be a resolution of mine; to eat a little bit healthier, live a healthier lifestyle, work out a little bit more, try to be not quite so fat and happy as in 2014.” Howard smiles and says, “Well, I still want to be happy, just less of the fat and more of the happy!”

IMC’s Landon Beene comments, “I say ‘lose weight’ every year, but this year it needs to be a reality. And to find a nice balance of being at home and spending time with my babies, and doing more of what I love and less of what I don’t.” Matt Fouch remarks, “It’s too early! I still have a month or so before I have to decide that. We do a New Year’s Eve thing at the Opryland Hotel so I try to hold all of my resolutions off until after that because the food they have in the green room is awesome. So any type of diet or food resolutions, I try to hold off on until after that event.”

Gerald Wolfe

Gerald Wolfe is not a Resolution maker. “I don’t make them because I’m no good at keeping them. My New Year’s Resolution, this coming year, is to eat. That’s the only one I can keep!” Chris Allman says he wants to keep his weight off. Rodney Griffin comments, “I want to draw closer to the Lord. I want to read my Bible more intently. I try to read it through every year but I don’t want it to become mechanical. I want the Lord to speak to me next year, give me songs He wants me to write, to live for Him and be a blessing to someone.”

It seems that Michael Booth is also on a health-kick for his New Year’s Resolution. “It’s pretty much just my health, to exercise and have a little better diet. I’m 43 now and that is still young, but I’m feeling the miles more than I used to. And I can feel it in my voice too. If you want to sing well into your sixties, you need to be really careful and eat right. And you know, God says it’s a temple. I’ve ignored that because it’s hard to do on the road. This is the hardest part of the day [following the evening concert] because I’m starving, and we will soon be going to bed. If you eat wrong then you get acid reflux and all that stuff. It’s really challenging.”

Ronnie Booth is working on his spiritual health for the New Year. “Keep walking closer, staying more in the Word and being more obedient. True success in life is doing the will of God.”

We also asked some of the men what they foresee for the coming year and whether there were any changes ahead. Scott Fowler comments, “The older I get, the more I don’t like change. I hope there are no changes on the horizon. When things are going well, I like for them just to stay put. I’m hoping things will just stay as they are and life is good.” He says there won’t be a new Legacy Five release for a little while. “We are still kind of enjoying our latest recording which is Great Day, and we’ve had two radio singles off of that so far. We will start recording again in 2015, but nothing in the next couple of months.” Scott Howard echoes Fowler’s remarks when he says, “I don’t know of anything I would predict. There’s always change and the older I get, the less I like it. I don’t really plan for change but I’ve grown to kind of accept it. I don’t foresee anything changing. Our group will still be out doing our thing, unless the Lord tells us something different. I feel like we are doing what we are supposed to be doing now. I tell people all the time that it is subject to change. Sometimes God will steer you in a different direction, for whatever reason. I don’t foresee that, but I never know. So I just wait and see what happens.”

The Legacy Five men are looking forward to their New Year’s Concert and Fowler is also looking forward to his family’s New Year’s celebrations. “We usually spend New Years Eve at our event in Nashville, Tennessee. We have a three-day event at the Opryland Hotel. 12-million Christmas lights are up, 12 life-sized nativity scenes, and it’s just a lot of fun. When the hustle and bustle of that is over, we’ll have a delayed New Year’s party and celebration dinner at my in-laws. They are of Norwegian descent, so they have some Norwegian dishes they prepare for us, so it’s a lot of fun to taste that culture.”

Gerald Wolfe is looking forward to the New Year, though maybe not so much any of the inevitable alterations that life brings. “There’s always change. That’s the only certainty in life. We are releasing a new album in March, the first major one we’ve released in two years. Also, we are now getting into our 25^th year, so all of 2015 will be leading up to our 25^th anniversary. So we will do some special events along the way, we are giving away a cruise to the Caribbean, all kinds of special stuff like that!”

Matt Fouch

In 2015, Chris Allman is looking forward working on his personal projects and with Greater Vision. “There are different goals that I have. I enjoy producing. I’m producing a group right now called The Wrights from Kansas; we just did tracks with them. I’m very excited about what is happening there. They have a great CD that is going to be released next year. I’d like to produce some more groups and do several more of those during the year. So we’ll try to get that underway.” He continues, “We have a new project coming out in 2015; it’s already in the can as they would say. It’s already mixed and ready for release. It has some new songs I’ve written and some new ones that Rodney’s written.” Allman notes, “This past year was the busiest we have ever been. Ever, ever, ever. It’s good and bad. It’s good because there is a demand, and bad because it wears you out. You have to have a balance and this year we got close to crossing that balance. So we are getting pretty tired here at the end of the year. We are still enjoying it though.”

Rodney Griffin is looking a little closer to home for changes in the New Year. “The biggest news in the Griffin household for 2015 will be if we get a dog. We had two family dogs and both of them lived about 19 years, and we lost both of them this year. It was a tough ‘dog year’ at our house as both of them had lived the extent of their lives.”

Legacy Five’s Matt Fouch is excited about an unusual trip that they will be making in the fall. “In 2015, Legacy Five is going to Israel! We are doing a Holy Land trip and that is exciting and something new for me; I have not done that before. As you hear from other people who have gone there before, it’s one of those things that is an experience of a lifetime especially for Christians, because you get to see with your eyes and walk the places, physically, that you read about in the Bible. I am looking forward to that and I know most of the guys in the group are looking forward to it as well. We are going in October 2015, so I have a little time to wait, but that is one of the things I am most excited about in the New Year.”

Fouch says the unrest in the Middle East doesn’t worry him, when it comes to the Israel trip and personal safety. “Scott went there with Dr. Charles Stanley and In Touch, as well as Greater Vision. Scott wanted to check it out and he was there when the fighting was at its peak. He said that he never heard anything, or saw anything, because it was taking place in a different part of the country. He said that with all the different religions of the people that lived in that area, everyone was peaceful. I think it’s a thing where everyone understands that this is a tourist area, so they stay away from it. Scott said there were no problems, no issues with security, so we are not really concerned about that at all.”

A Social Media interview guru; Matt plans to continue his On The Couch With Fouch in 2015. “I love doing it. For those who are reading, one of the really unique things about the interview series is that the audience gets to ask the questions! It’s Social Media driven. So if you are reading this, you are probably on the Internet, or on Facebook. I read a statistic that about 70 or 80% of Americans have a Facebook account. So I put out there whom I am interviewing and you guys get to tell me the questions. I ask the questions you guys want me to ask. That’s what makes it so unique. So if you want to follow me on Facebook, you can go to Matthew Fouch – Bass Singer, or if you are on Twitter you can follow me @L5bass. When I do have upcoming interviews you guys can let me know what you want to know!”

Ronnie Booth

With a big smile, Fouch adds: “I love Legacy Five, I love being here, and everything is going wonderfully. I’ve been here for over two years now. September 2012 was my first date with the group. It fit like a glove from the beginning. They made me feel very comfortable. I guess they don’t have a problem with me because they haven’t run me off yet!”

We hope you have enjoyed these insights into the lives and hearts of the men from the Jubilee series and Jubilee Christmas. To read the concert review on Jubilee Christmas, visit http://www.sgnscoops.com/2014/12/11/jubilee-christmas/

For more information on the following groups, visit their websites:

IMC Concerts   http://www.imcconcerts.com/

Greater Vision   http://www.greatervisionmusic.com/

Booth Brothers   http://boothbrothers.com/

Legacy Five   http://www.legacyfive.com/

Find them on Facebook and Twitter too

First published on SGM Radio website in December 2014

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It’s a Jubilee Christmas!

Jubilee Christmas gang

By Lorraine Walker

 Jubilee means ‘celebration’ and that’s exactly what we had when the Jubilee singers came to Hamilton, Ontario on December 5, 2014. IMC brought the Jubilee Christmas with Greater Vision, Legacy Five and the Booth Brothers all the way to Canada and the audience couldn’t have been any more grateful. Over a thousand people filled Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, where they were delighted to see a platform full of lit Christmas trees, ready to host this special musical celebration.

Christmas Product Table

Having traveled many hours through the night to reach their destination, Landon Beene of IMC said, “It’s been a wonderful trip. We’ve had great weather and great ticket sales. A lot of people are excited about this tour. It was a breeze through the border last night, so as the Road Manager, that makes me really happy! We’ll see how it goes tonight on our way back through.” He added, “This is the first time that we’ve ever presented one of the Christmas Jubilee programs in Canada. We are sold out tonight, so I think the people are excited about the guys being here.”

The crowd certainly was eager as the ticket holders burst through the doors to find their seats. The decorated foyer was filled with the colors of the season and the merchandise of the artists. Preparing for the evening, Scott Fowler of Legacy Five remarked: “It’s good to be back in Canada. We always look forward to coming here and the Canadian folks are fun to sing to, so we are glad to be back. This is our last tour of the year and we are doing 12 Christmas shows in 12 days, so we call it the 12 days of Christmas. The Christmas Tour is the highlight of our year.”

The artists were as energized as the audience as they filed on stage for the opening number. What a delight to hear 10 voices in four-part harmony fill the sanctuary with the opening notes of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” along with a huge quartet-ending. Following this, Chris Allman of Greater Vision entertained the crowd with “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.” Allman later remarked, “My favorite thing about the Jubilee is hanging out with the guys, of course. We love the shows and we love to see the people enjoy themselves. Tonight was a great crowd. If we can see them having fun, it’s a lot of fun for us. We have fun on the stage, just hanging out with the guys. It’s a really special experience.”

Everyone certainly did have fun during the course of the evening, with emcee Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision often playing the straight man to jokesters Scott Howard, Michael Booth and Rodney Griffin. One example was the “Twelve Days of A Gospel Singers’ Christmas,” where even Trey Ivey joined in the hijinks. Howard remarked, “It’s always fun when we get together with all our buddies from Greater Vision and Booth Brothers, our best friends out on the road. We always have a good time. I tell people that we are going to have fun and we just hope you do too! The Christmas stuff is fun to do and I think everyone enjoys Christmas music. We only do it one month a year but I think people would like it year-round. So we may extend this tour next year.” There were several hints of a tour extension and a return to Canada during the evening, but as we know, a lot can change in a year!

Matt Fouch covered in ‘snow’

One group who is dealing with change is the Booth Brothers, who sang the Evie Karrlson classic, “Come On, Ring Those Bells!” Jim Brady, who is leaving the Brothers to form his own group, the Jim Brady Trio, in the New Year, blessed the crowd with leading the Booths in “It Came To Pass,” written by Gerald Wolfe. Ronnie Booth showed his ‘crooner’ side by smoothly singing about “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire.” The addition of Rodney on saxophone was a surprise to the crowd and one of the many laugh-out-loud moments of the evening.

Legacy Five sang such Christmas favorites as, “I’d Sure Like To Go To Grandma’s House For Christmas,” and “Christmas With A Capital C.” Their pianist, Trey Ivey showed his prowess on “Here Comes Santa Clause,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and this writer’s personal favorite, “O Holy Night,” on which Legacy Five lent their vocals to bring the carol to a powerful, worshipful end. Bass singer Matt Fouch had his work cut out, as he was the only bass on the platform. His rendition of “I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas” turned dreams into reality with more comedy from his fellow singers.

Hunting For Christmas

Several times during the evening, different members of the groups would join together to bring different songs, carols and comedy. Rodney Griffin stated later, “My favorite part is how the three groups kind of forget their identities as individual groups. As Ronnie Booth explains it, when we get on this tour, the three groups become one. So there is no Greater Vision, Legacy Five and Booth Brothers. It’s just a team of 11 of us working toward the same goal. Right now we are hauling everything out together. A few moments ago we were greeting the people together and now we are hauling out Christmas trees together. We do as much as we can to make it a success together.”

From the big ballads to the acapella numbers to newer songs like, “It Will Always Be Christmas To Me,” as well as fun songs like “Hunting For Christmas,” the men kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Wolfe led the crowd in the favorite carol, “Silent Night.” Later in the evening, Wolfe commented, “The best thing about the Jubilee is hearing the audience sing. They are better than we are! You heard it tonight: “Silent Night”…that’s my favorite part of the whole evening.” He added, “I would do it all year. I just love this kind of music, I love the guys and it’s a lot of fun. It’s different every night because our memories [of how it was done the night before] aren’t that good!”

At the end of the second half, Ronnie Booth opened up the Bible to Luke 2 and reverently began the Christmas story. Scott Fowler followed this with “Welcome To Our World,” beautifully sung as only he can do. The men then sang the energizing, “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” and the lovely, “Christmas Benediction.” Ronnie said later, “My favorite part is the Benediction and the arrangement of that particular one by Larry Goss. That is my favorite of all the songs we do. The other one is the one we sing called, “The Right Time,” written by Mosie Lister. It says so much in such a little space. Obviously there is a lot of fun and people need that, but we are not here just to have fun, we also get very serious at the end, presenting Christ and the Gospel.”

Matt Fouch agreed with Ronnie. “I enjoy the laughter, the fun stuff; but one of my favorite spots is coming to the very end when Gerald brings it all together and shares with everyone, ‘You know, we’ve talked about how the story began with Jesus, and that’s the season that we celebrate. But let me tell you the rest of the story…’ That’s the part I look forward to every night, because that is where we see the hope with His resurrection.”

Michael Booth, one of those who certainly kept up his part in the comedy routines said, “Selfishly, my favorite part is that it is an easy night for me because in our programs I do all the emceeing, for the most part and I’m singing on every song. So it is a very easy program for all of us because we share the load. I also just like being with the guys. We are all pretty good friends. People ask us if we are having as much fun or getting along as well as it looks we are, and we do. We will get up on each other’s buses tonight and ride across the border, then when it gets around 2:00 or 3:00am we will get in our own buses to sleep.”

Many thanks to IMC and Greater Vision, Legacy Five and The Booth Brothers for presenting a beautiful, professional program, suitable for all those who enjoy Christmas music. If they come near your area, be sure you attend and bring an unsaved friend. The music will thrill them, the comedy engage them, and the presentation of the Gospel will bring them closer to the Christ of Christmas. Special thanks as well to Landon Beene, Brian Hutson, the Jubilee crew and the staff and ushers of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Hamilton, Ontario. We certainly had a Celebration of Christmas!

For more information, visit http://www.imcconcerts.com/tour

Dixie Melody Boys Claim Numerous Top Honors At SGM Fan Awards

SongGardn Music artists, The Dixie Melody Boys solidified their rise back to the top of Southern Gospel at last nights Southern Gospel Fan Awards held in Pigeon Forge, TN. The SGM Fan Awards are presented by the Christian Voice Magazine and honor the best in Southern Gospel music as chosen by the fans. The night was filled with great performances by the Dixie Melody Boys, Palmetto State Quartet, the Hemphills, Phil Cross, the Diplomats and many more.
The Dixie Melody Boys received the most Top 5 Nominations of any group with eleven nominations including Favorite Album, Song and Video. Hall of fame member Ed O’Neal took home the Favorite Bass Singer award for the second year in a row. Steven Cooper won the Favorite Baritone award. “We are so happy for Steven. As many know, he will be stepping down soon so to have the fans honor him and his five years with us this way is wonderful.” said Ed O’Neal. Mike Rogers, who has been with the group just under a year was also honored by being nominated in the Top 5 for Favorite Lead Singer and Young Excelling Artist. Matt Felts won the Favorite Tenor Award having made the Top 5 two years in a row. “Just to be on the list with men like Michael Booth, David Phelps, Brian Free and Jeff Hawes is a huge honor. These men are my heroes. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to sing for him.” said Matt Felts. Ending the night on a high note, the Dixie Melody Boys won Favorite Male Quartet for the second year in a row.
The last two years have shown the Dixie Melody Boys are riding high again with no signs of slowing down. To learn more check them out at http://www.dixiemelodyboys.com/

Daywind Artists Shine At The 2012 Singing News Fan Awards

Hendersonville, TN (Oct. 4, 2012) –The Singing News held its annual Fan Awards, along with inductions to the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame, on Wednesday at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. Daywind artists took home ten of the awards presented, with the Booth Brothers garnering seven of the awards.

Recipients included the Booth Brothers’ Ronnie Booth for Male Vocalist and Favorite Lead, Michael Booth for Favorite Tenor, and Jim Brady for Favorite Baritone. The Booth Brothers were also awarded Favorite Trio, Favorite Artist and Favorite Song of the Year with She Still Remembers Jesus’ Name. Libbi Stuffle (Perrys) received recognition as Favorite Alto of the Year while Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision) was once again named Songwriter of the Year for the 14th consecutive year. Wilburn and Wilburn received the Horizon Group of the Year award as well as Jordan Wilburn taking home Horizon Individual of the Year.

We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with such a talented and committed group of artists,” shares Norman Holland, Vice President and Director of A&R at Daywind. “The artists that we at Daywind have the privalage of working with are some of your favorite artists and we count it a joy to be a part of their ministries.”

The Singing News Fan Awards are voted upon each year by subscribers of the Singing Newsmagazine. The awards celebrated their third year at Dollywood, in conjunction with the SGMA inductions, after previously being held at Freedom Hall during the National Quartet Convention. For more information on the Singing News, visit www.singingnews.com. For more information on the Southern Gospel Music Association, visit www.sgma.org.

Daywind Records is based in Hendersonville, TN, and is distributed worldwide through New Day Christian Distributors. For more information on Daywind Records and their award-winning family of artists, visit www.daywindrecords.com.