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Sarah Reith of Southern Raised Band

Written by Staff on July 7, 2019 – 10:20 am -

Sarah Reith of Southern Raised is the first in a new series featuring younger artists in Southern, Bluegrass and Country gospel music. We hope you enjoy the journey as we travel into the lives and hearts of the new generation of gospel artists.

Southern Raised call themselves a Christian acoustic band and their sound certainly crisscrosses over all types of music, hitting Southern and Bluegrass a little more often than others, but you can hear a lot of influences in their style. The Ozark mountains cast their shadow as well as the infiltration of a Celtic resonance. The sibling harmony is sweet and the instrumentation is adept.

 

The members of Southern Raised are all close in age, but among family members Lindsay, Sarah, Emily, and Matt Reith, Sarah was chosen for this feature. She is the second oldest of the four, and has been nominated for her excellent vocals and banjo picking. Since the group started in 2007, they have all received several nominations for songs, vocals and instrumentation, and Sarah plays a major part in this groups’ popularity.

 

Justin McLeod: What was the first musical instrument that you learned to play?

Sarah Reith: I was eight years old when my older sister started piano lessons. She took them for a couple of weeks and of course ‘lil sis wanted to take lessons if big sis was, so I started piano as my first instrument.

 

JM: What instruments do you currently play?

SR: I play banjo, piano, violin and a little guitar, but my true love is banjo.

 

JM: What are the positive things about being part of Southern Raised and what are the challenges?

SR: I love the opportunities we’ve had to meet so many sweet loving people and the friendships we’ve made over the years. One of the more difficult moments behind the scenes is the all-night drives we occasionally have to do to make it to our next venue. Our bus is currently out of commission, so sleeping in a vehicle all night while someone is driving can be interesting. But the hardest part is being away from my fiancé and not getting to see him as often.

 

JM: What is it like to travel with family?

SR: I love traveling with my siblings. We were raised to be best friends and we truly all are best of friends. They’re wonderful people to work with, and to do what you love with the people you love is great. Sometimes it can be challenging, working up new arrangements and ideas with siblings, since growing up we’ve all had the same musical influences so we end up having the same ideas. So we try to think out of the box and be creative.

 

JM: What song do you like the most, out of all the Southern Raised tunes?

SR: One of my favorite songs we sing is an original one that Lindsay co wrote, called “Letting Go.” The message in that song really ministers and speaks to my heart every time I sing it. It’s so encouraging that we can let go of the hardships, difficulties, trials or whatever it is we are holding onto and know that God will lead, that he never fails us and we can fully and completely trust him.

 

JM: Is there a song you’ve always wanted to record but never have?

SR: I’ve always wanted to do a hymns project. Some of my favorites are “Blessed Assurance,” “I Love to Tell the Story,” “Rock of Ages,” and my very favorite hymn is, “It Is Well With My Soul.” My fiancé just surprised me for Valentine’s Day and taught himself the right hand on the piano and played “It Is Well With My Soul.” It was so special. (Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Sarah and David Noland who got married in April!)

 

Sarah Reith and David Noland

JM: If you could create a perfect musical group, who would be in it?

SR: I would put my musical inspirations together in a band: Alison Krauss, Jens Kruger, Mark Hall, and my arranger would be John Williams, he’s so phenomenal.

 

JM: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

SR: I love to read; you just can’t beat a good book snuggled up by the fire. I enjoy watercolor painting, quilting, sewing, kayaking, and hiking. Within the last year it’s changed to spending any spare time with a very special someone.

 

JM: What is your favorite scripture verse?

SR: My favorite verse is Psalms 66:16 “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” This became my verse after we started ministering through singing. This is why we do what we do, to declare what mercy and grace God has bestowed upon each one of us. It’s a joy to “declare” it through singing.

 

JM: Can you describe a typical Southern Raised concert for our readers?

SR: We would love to see each one who is reading this at a Southern Raised concert down the road sometime. We have a wonderful time praising God together. We mix in our classical background with our current music and style. We’re also doing some songs off a new table project that is Americana in flavor. A couple of my favorites are an Armed Force patriotic medley we do and the lyrics to “Heaven’s Shore” to the familiar melody of “Shenandoah.”

 

JM: Do you have a dream you’d like to share?

SR: Yes. I have always loved old cars and trucks. It has been my dream for years to one day own one. My ultimate dream one is a 1950’s baby blue truck. I’ll just keep dreaming!

 

A special thank you to Sarah Reith of Southern Raised for candid and personal responses. For more information on Southern Raised, you can find them online at southernraisedbluegrass.com.

By Justin McLeod and Lorraine Walker

Justin McLeod is a regular writer for SGNScoops Magazine.

First published by SGNScoops Magazine in May 2019.

Read the June SGNScoops Magazine Online HERE

Tags: Americana, Bluegrass Gospel, Bluegrass gospel concerts, gospel music, Justin McLeod, Sarah Reith, Southern Raised, Southern Raised Band
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Please Pray For Southern Raised

Written by SGN Scoops Staff on February 1, 2018 – 1:30 pm -

From Southern Raised

We would like to ask everyone to pray for our Sarah today. This evening she will be having an MRI for some pain and unexplained test results going on in her eye. We are asking God for protection and clear and wonderful results from the MRI. We love each of you and know you are serious when it comes to lifting each other up before the Throne of God. Thank you in advance!

Find Southern Gospel News HERE

Tags: Southern Gospel News, Southern Raised
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New Upcoming Release from Southern Raised

Written by SGN Scoops Staff on April 24, 2017 – 2:43 pm -

(Nashville, TN)…StowTown Records is thrilled to announce the release of a brand new album, Another World, from one of gospel music’s fastest rising family groups, Southern Raised.

“Another World has been a very special project to create. We feel it has dug into our deepest roots and pulled from every aspect of our musical journey and influences,” said Lindsay Reith, the oldest of the fan-favorite sibling quartet from Crane, MO. “In 12 songs, it conveys our hearts through music and our style like never before!”

Southern Raised, a vocal and instrumental group comprised of sisters, Lindsay (bass), Sarah (banjo), and Emily (mandolin and violin), along with their younger brother Matthew (guitar), has received multiple nominations in recent years: Singing News Fan Awards, Diamond Awards, Front Porch Fellowship and SPBGMA Midwest awards, Band of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Christian Country Album of the Year.

StowTown Records cofounder, creative director and longtime producer Wayne Haun says of the group, “I haven’t heard harmony this tight since The Andrews Sisters. Add Matthew to the mix, and it sounds like Perry Como and The Andrews Sisters singing gospel. It’s nostalgic, yet fresh.”

This is the freshman StowTown Records project for the popular gospel bluegrass band since coming aboard last August.

“Our first project with Stowtown Records was such an amazing experience! The level of professionalism and quality was always set at the highest bar,” said Lindsay. “Working with Wayne as producer was so incredible! His creative juices mingling with ours seemed to create a recipe for our hearts and style to flow through every note and fulfill every dream we had for the project. His brilliant musical talent certainly left us inspired! In the words of Einstein, ‘Creativity is contagious, pass it on.’ Thanks, Wayne, for passing it on.”

“We were blessed to come together with other great writers for this CD, and the by-product? We co-wrote over half the project,” noted Lindsay. “We also pulled an old classic that everyone knows and loves, ‘I’d Rather Have Jesus,’ and we even did a Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters style song!” Fans will be thrilled to find, by popular request, ‘Beethoven’s 5th’ is also on the album.

Lindsay is a cowriter on the title track, “Another World,” along with Haun and Jeff Bumgardner. She shared, “The inspiration came from a quote I read by C.S. Lewis: ‘If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.’ Truly God’s children have been created for something else, but, while we are here, we want to encourage people to keep pressing on, keep walking, keep serving, and staying true to God and His Word. Be a light and testimony on your journey to another world, and take souls for Christ with you…may God bless you on your way.”

She added, “There is a lot of heart and soul poured into Another World, and we hope and pray it takes the listener closer to God and strengthens their walk.”

Distributed exclusively to retail and digital outlets by Provident-Sony Distribution, Another World is scheduled to release May 5. The StowTown album will be available online and at Christian bookstores and outlets worldwide.

Tags: Southern Raised
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This Week’s Harmony Road to Feature Southern Raised, Brian Free and Assurance

Written by Staff on February 20, 2015 – 8:15 am -

 

Program also includes videos from Karen Peck and New River, Reggie and Ladye Love Smith, Tribute Quartet.

Signal Mountain, TN (February 19, 2015) — This week’s Harmony Road Television program is set to feature videos from Tribute Quartet with “Good News From Jerusalem,” Brian Free and Assurance with “I Want to be that Man,” and “A Soul Going Somewhere,” from Southern Raised. Other music includes “Ephesians Chapter One,” from Karen Peck and New River and “24 Hours a Day,” from Reggie and Ladye Love Smith.

Originally airing in 2014, this program included the world premiere of “A Soul Going Somewhere,” as well as a mix of highly acclaimed concert and concept videos. The program originates from the group cabin at Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse Resort in Monteagle, TN.

Information on Harmony Road and its affiliates and time slots can be found at www.harmonyroadtv.com. For more information on Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse, viewers can go to www.thesmokehouse.com.

Hosted by gospel music veteran Les Butler of Butler Music Group, Solid Gospel Radio and The Singing News, Harmony Road is now available to over 85 million television homes across the country in addition to online streaming, ROKU, mobile app and more.

You can find out more about Les Butler and see episodes of Harmony Road at www.butlermusicgroup.com.

Allan Rhodes, of WMJN29 and Rhodes Media Center, is the program’s technical director. Learn more at www.wmjn29.com.

Harmony Road is produced and distributed by Harmony Road Productions and features the best in Southern gospel music and video. It can be found each week on the Heartland Network, the NRB Network (including DirecTV, streaming and mobile app), WATC57 in Atlanta, and WGNM-TV in Macon. Also find the program on the WALKtv network (including ROKU), Harmony Gospel in Greeneville, SC, DCT3 in Middle Tennessee, TV24 in Anniston/Gadsden, Charter Cable in Clarksville, Cookeville/Crossville, Sevier County, and Lebanon and WMJN29 in Decatur/Athens/Cullman, AL. Harmony Road is streamed at www.bbntv.org. Affiliates have also been added in Jackson, TN, Beaumont, TX, and Harrogate, TN and Northeast North Carolina.

Tags: brian free and assurance, Christian artists, christian country, gospel music, harmony road, karen peck and new river, Reggie and Ladye Love Smith, southern gospel, Southern Raised, Tribute Quartet
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This Week’s Harmony Road Features All Broadcast Premiere Videos

Written by SGN Scoops Staff on November 22, 2014 – 8:58 am -

 Tim Livingston, High Road III, The Akins and Southern Raised

Signal Mountain, TN November 21, 2014, This week’s special Harmony Road TV program features never before seen on TV videos including the concept/performance videos “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” from the Akins, Southern Raised with “Grandpa’s Fiddle”, and Tim Livingston’s “I Just Miss You” as well as High Road III and  “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”  from the Les Butler and Friends DVD from Dugger Mountain Music Hall.

“Over the past two years of broadcasting Southern Gospel videos, we’ve had the honor of premiering several great productions.  This is the first time we’ve been able to present an entire program of videos that have never been broadcast on television” remarked Roger Spears, Harmony Road producer.  “We appreciate all the artists and producers who have the talent and vision to provide quality videos that help spread the Word through music  and are excited to air them to our viewers across the country” he concluded.

Now available to over 80 million television homes across the country in addition to online streaming, ROKU, mobile app and more, Harmony Road is a weekly southern gospel television program hosted by Singing News, Butler Music Group and Solid Gospel Radio veteran Les Butler.

Information on, Its affiliates and time slots can be found at www.harmonyroadtv.com.  Viewers can also interact with the program on Facebook at Harmony Road TV and on twitter@harmonyroadtv.

Harmony Road is produced and distributed by Harmony Road Productions and features the best in Southern Gospel music and video. It can be found each week on The Heartland Network, The NRB Network (including DirecTV, streaming and mobile app), WATC57 in Atlanta, WGNM-TV in Macon, WYBU-TV in Columbus, GA/Phoenix City, AL.  Also find the program on the WALKtv network (including ROKU), Harmony Gospel in Greeneville, SC,  DCT3in Middle Tennessee, TV24 in Anniston/Gadsden, Charter Cable in Clarksville, Cookeville/Crossville, Sevier County, Lebanon and Jackson, TN and  WMJN29 in Decatur/Athens/Cullman, AL.  Harmony Road has recently added affiliates www.bbntv.org, where the program will be streamed online several times a week.

Affiliates have also been added in Jackson, TN, Beaumont, TX,  and Harrogate, TN.

Allan Rhodes of Rhodes Media Center is the programs technical director.

Tags: Dugger Mountain Music Hall, harmony road, southern gospel, Southern Gospel News, Southern Raised, THE AKINS, tim livingston
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Michael Davis, Founder Of The Dominion Agency, Announces A Major Expansion

Written by SGN Scoops Staff on April 10, 2013 – 9:08 am -

Waynesville, NC (April 10, 2013) – Michael Davis, founder and president of Christian music’s premiere booking agency, the Dominion Agency, is thrilled to announce a major expansion of the company.

In addition to the successful Dominion Agency, two new booking agencies, offering varying styles of music and ministry, have been born to the world of Christian music. One is Mountain Top Talent, and the other, Blue Ridge Artist Agency. All three companies fall under the umbrella of Michael Davis and Associates.

The Dominion Agency remains home to top Southern Gospel artists, Triumphant Quartet, Collingsworth Family, The Browns, Aaron Wilburn, and others. Mountain Top Talent brings to audiences powerful artists such as the Southern Sound Quartet, the Sneed Family and the Providence Quartet, among others. And, lastly, the Blue Ridge Artist Agency represents excellent Blue Grass and Mountain music artists like Southern Raised, Tim Surrett, and Mountain Faith, to name a few.

Michael Davis, Owner and President of Michael Davis and Associates shares his gratitude and excitement over the recent growth of his company, “Excited – you bet I am! When I started the Dominion Agency over thirteen years ago, my first artists were all new to the industry. After many years of hard work, we pride ourselves in being the home to some of todays most ‘in demand’ artists. I believe, in just a few years, the same will be said about the exceptional singers and musicians on our Mountain Top Talent and Blue Ridge Artist Agency rosters. Please know, as we launch these two new agencies, our focus will remain on utilizing the same professional, common sense approach, as our standard of excellence.”

About Michael Davis and Associates-

Michael Davis and Associates is proud to represent a family of stellar talent agencies including-

* Dominion Agency
* Mountain Top Talent
* Blue Ridge Artist Agency

To learn more about all of the artists who call the Dominion Agency. Mountain Top Talent, and Blue Ridge Artist Agency home, visit the following websites:

Dominion Agency- www.dominionagency.com
Mountain Top Talent- www.mountaintoptalent.com
Blue Ridge Artist Agency- www.blueridgeartistagency.com

To schedule any of the wonderful artists with any of the three Michael Davis And Associates agencies, call 828-454-5900 or email scheduling@thedominionagency.com

Tags: aaron wilburn, collingsworth family, Dominion Agency, Michael Davis, Southern Gospel Music, Southern Gospel News, Southern Raised, The Browns, Tim Surrett, triumphant quartet
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