Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Back Home Releases New CD On The Cross Country Records Label

Nashville, TN (5/5/14) – Awarded nominated and winning trio Back Home (Jimmy and Jennifer Layne and Stacy Pearcy) from South Pittsburg, TN has released a brand new CD that have many saying is the best CD they have heard in the Southern Country Gospel genre in years.

“Back Home has released some great CD’s in the past, but this CD is the best I’ve heard to date from them and that’s saying a mouthful,” says Chris Latham/Back Home producer and Grammy winning engineer.

The new CD titled “It’s Not Over” is loaded with award winning writers such as Jimmy Yeary, Tony Wood, Sue Smith, Kenna Turner West, Jerry Salley, Mark Narmore, Josh Turner, Jason Cox, Jeff King and Jennifer Layne.  Each and every song tells of the love of God and forgiveness He gives us and that we should give to each other.

Things are going great for Back Home.  Coming off a great end of the year in 2013 singing on the main stage at NQC and just recently receiving 4 Diamond Award nominations and 1 Singing News Nomination for Favorite New Trio.

Jeff King and Chris Latham, owners and producers of Cross Country Records, (Back Home’s label), are completely hands on in the record making process. They each play, engineer, and produce each song on every album. They are both Nashville veterans, with major accolades of their own. Jeff is touring with Reba McEntire and is one of music’s most in demand session players. And as always, Back Home’s CD is full of Nashville veteran player’s who year after play on their records.  Players include, Jeff King, Steve Brewster, Mike Johnson, Jason Webb, Chris Latham, Tammy King and Joel Key.

“We feel like God deserves the best that we can give him and that Gospel music needs to be quality in sound and words”  It’s about Him and reaching the folks that are hurting,” says Jimmy and Jennifer.

“I’m so happy to be working on my 6th year now with Back Home. Their music is fresh and real, telling powerful stories we can all relate to in some form. Their ministry brings comfort to those in need, and hope for people trying to change their lives. They’ve been through it, now they sing about it. If you haven’t experienced a live concert.. Do it!” said Jeff King/Producer of Back Home and Cross Country Records Producer and Owner.

Sheri Easter stated, “I remember the first thing Jeff ever told me about Back Home.  We were working a concert with them and he came back on the bus bragging on the harmonies, their vocals and what a wonderful writer Jen was.  Immediately, I was hooked.”  Jeff and Sheri are appearing on Back Home’s new CD, with a duet slated to be the next single written by Jennifer and Sheri Easter called “One Prayer Away”, it will be hitting radio this month.

To learn more about Back Home, you can visit them on the web at www.backhomesings.com. You can also purchase a new Back Home CD on their website.

JASON CRABB KICKS OFF 2013 WITH NEW SINGLE “WHAT THE BLOOD IS FOR” AND PREPARES FOR NEW RELEASE, LOVE IS STRONGER, TO HIT STREETS MARCH 12

Nashville, TN – Grammy® Award winner and reigning GMA Dove Awards’ Male Vocalist and Artist of the Year JASON CRABB, is set to release his brand new single, “What the Blood Is For,” to radio on January 21st. The song, written by Ronnie Freeman and Tony Wood, serves as the first single to southern gospel radio from the forthcoming project LOVE IS STRONGER, releasing on March 12th.

About Jason Crabb: 
Grammy® Award winner and 17-time GMA DOVE Award winner Jason Crabb has become known as one of the most respected and diverse vocalists in Christian music.  His soulful, heartfelt vocals have made him a critics’ pick and a fan favorite on stages ranging from “The Grand Ole Opry” and the Brooklyn Tabernacle to the Gaither Homecoming arena platforms.  In 2012, Crabb was honored to be awarded with not only the Male Artist of the Year award at the GMA DOVE Awards but also the Artist of the Year Award in addition to the Soloist of the Year Award at the NQC Music Awards. With a string of number one hits and chart-topping singles, a tour schedule of over 170 dates annually, ongoing tv appearances and an all-new recording, this vocal powerhouse’s talent is topped only by his genuine personality and concern for others.

Two New Faces Coming To Write About Jesus…

Write About Jesus, a workshop for Christian Songwriters, announces two new faces for this year’s conference:

Jennie Lee Riddle and Michael Farren

Jennie Lee Riddle is a passionate worship leader, team trainer, songwriter, and conference speaker. She is honored as a three-time Dove award winner, top five CCLI songwriter, and BMI award winner for top 25 radio. Jennie is best known for authoring “Revelation Song” which had a 17 week run at #1 and current radio hit, “When The Stars Burn Down.” Numerous artists have covered Jennie’s songs, including, Kari Jobe, Gateway Worship, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Selah, Newsboys, Travis Cotrell, and many others. We’re thrilled that Jennie will be coming to Write About Jesus this year!

Michael Farren is the other new face at Write About Jesus. Texas native Michael Farren was lead vocalist of the worship band Pocket Full Rocks for 16 years. He’s received Dove award nominations for Worship Album of the year, for both Song to the King and Manifesto, and for New Artist of The Year.

As a songwriter, Michael’s work has been recorded by  Michael W Smith, Jackie Velazquez, Big Daddy Weave, Phillips Craig and Dean and many others. “Let It Rain” (Michael W. Smith) and “Let the Worshipers Arise” (Phillips Craig and Dean), are used in congregations worldwide. WAJ registrants will love Michael!

Returning this year:  Belinda Smith, Tony Wood and Joel Lindsey  

Belinda Smith is a Dove Award winning songwriter who has been part of Write About Jesus since the beginning! In addition to being a successful songwriter, she owns a BMI Award winning publishing company, teaches songwriting, and is a creativity mentor.

The world famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Mountain Stage, and the TN Young Writer Workshop are just a few places she is proud to have been recently.

Belinda is a sought after presenter at workshops and festivals all over the country. Through Belinda Smith Creative courses, she is now able to work with the best aspiring writers from around the world and guide them to their absolute best.

Tony Wood, a 2009 Dove Award nominee for Songwriter of the Year and the writer of 22 #1 songs,  has had over 400 songs recorded in the CCM market, including singles by Francesca Battistelli (“This Is The Stuff”), Hawk Nelson (“Crazy Love”), Mandisa (“My Deliverer”), Royal Tailor (“Hold Me Together”), and the Martins (“Unredeemed”).

He is a two-time Dove Award winner for Inspirational Song of the Year: “Find Your Wings” by Mark Harris and “Joseph” by Jason Crabb. Other artists recording his songs include Selah, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, 4-HIM, Avalon, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris, Gaither Vocal Band, Booth Brothers, and many others. Tony is a staff writer for SONY Music Publishing.

Joel Lindsey is one of Christian music’s most prolific and enduring songwriters, having over 800 songs recorded in the last 20 years by artists in nearly every genre, including over 20 #1 Songs.

A ten-time Dove Award winner, he has been nominated for Songwriter Of The Year twice. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Point of Grace, Sandi Patti, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Ty Herndon, Avalon, Joy Williams, The Perrys, Gaither Vocal Band, Michael English and many others.

Some of his song titles include “Celebrate Me Home,” “Gather At The River,” “Orphans of God,” “Reason Enough,” “Life, Love & Other Mysteries, “Born To Climb,” and “He Made A Change.”

Early Registration:

Register before Wednesday, September 12, and receive a $25 discount.  Check the website for various other discounts.  The conference is scheduled for October 11-13 in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information and registration, visit http://www.writeaboutjesus.com/

JEFF & SHERI EASTER Celebrate Two GMA DOVE Nominations for Expecting Good Things

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—GRAMMY® Award nominees and Gospel music mainstays JEFF & SHERI EASTER received

Karlene and George Beverly Shea and Jeff and Sheri Easter visit at this year’s GRAMMY® Nominee Reception held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Shea was honored by the GRAMMYS® with a lifetime achievement award at the event. The Easters were nominated at the awards show for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for Expecting Good Things

two nominations for this year’s GMA DOVE Awards according to announcements made at a press conference this week held at the Fox Theatre’s Grand Salon in Atlanta, GA.

Following a 2010 DOVE Award win for Southern Gospel Song of the Year (“Born to Climb”), their project Expecting Good Things (Spring Hill Music) garnered two more DOVE nods this year including Country Album of the Year and Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year (“Workin’ on a Road”).

Jeff & Sheri just returned from Los Angeles where they celebrated their second lifetime GRAMMY® nomination, also for Expecting Good Things, a recording that features songs selected and recorded during Sheri’s battle with breast cancer. Sheri joined writers including Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey, Tony Wood and others to pen songs for the release that capture her journey and victory over this disease.

Expecting Good Things, available online and at retailers everywhere, is distributed by EMI CMG.

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga. on Wednesday, April 20th. The awards show will be televised on GMC at 8:00p.m. ET/delayed PT on Easter Sunday, April 24th. GMC can be seen in 47 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Visit GMClife.com

THE HOPPERS SCORE 42ND ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARD NOMINATIONS

NASHVILLE, TENN. – February 17, 2011 – The legendary Hoppers received two nominations for the 2011 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards, according to announcements made at a press conference yesterday in Atlanta, GA, at the Fox Theatre’s Grand Salon.

The Hoppers picked up nominations in the Country Recorded Song of the Year category for “Living in the Arms of Mercy,” written by Joel Lindsey and Jeff Silvey, as well as in the Southern Gospel Album of the Year category for their project Something’s Happening (Spring Hill Music), produced and arranged by Lari Goss. The release features tunes penned by other acclaimed writers including Bill Gaither, Tony Wood, Kyla Rowland, Rusty Golden, Dianne Wilkinson, Gerald Crabb, Gina Vera and others.

“We are so excited and blessed by this,” stated Connie Hopper. “The confidence in us shown by our peers through these nominations is humbling, and we would like to thank the GMA for these recognitions…to receive this kind of ‘pat on the back’ from those around us spurs us on!”

These nominations come on the heels of The Hoppers’ 2010 additions to their mantle of awards with fan awards for Favorite Soprano of the Year (Kim), Favorite Mixed Group of the Year and Favorite Female Artist (Kim). The Hoppers also hit the BILLBOARD Magazine charts in recent months with the release of THE GAITHER GOSPEL SERIES: THE BEST OF THE HOPPERS (Gaither Music Group). The DVD soared to #2 on the magazine’s video chart while the CD entered the BILLBOARD Heatseeker chart at #4. Additionally, the CD entered the Nielsen SoundScan southern Gospel chart at #1 and the Contemporary Christian chart at #10.

Something’s Happening, available online and at retailers everywhere, is distributed by EMI CMG.

For further information regarding The Hoppers, please visit www.TheHoppers.com, www.twitter.com/HoppersMusic and www.facebook.com/thehoppers.

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga. on Wednesday, April 20th. The awards show will be televised on GMC at 8:00p.m. ET/delayed PT on Easter Sunday, April 24th. GMC can be seen in 47 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Visit GMClife.com

About The Hoppers
Formed in North Carolina in1957 (originally as The Hopper Brothers and Connie), The Hoppers have been a Gospel music mainstay for over 50 years. This family group, consisting of Claude, Connie, Dean, Kim and Mike, is known for a string of hits including “Here I Am”, “Anchor to the Power of the Cross”, “Shoutin’ Time,” “Yes I Am,” ”Mention My Name,” “Jerusalem” and “Yaweh.” In addition to radio success, The Hoppers have received numerous accolades including Mixed Group of the Year from the Singing News Fan Awards, the SGMA, Hearts Aflame Awards and Diamond Awards as well as six GMA DOVE Award nominations. Connie was presented with the prestigious Marvin Norcross Award; Michael has received the Musician of the Year Award from The Singing News Fan Awards; and Kim has been honored as Female Vocalist and Favorite Soprano for well over a decade.