Category: Bluegrass gospel

Eighteen Mile releases debut single,”Above The Clouds”

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

SPECIAL: MOUNTAIN HOME MUSIC COMPANY

August 29, 2025 — Newly signed to Mountain Home Music Company, bluegrass gospel quintet Eighteen Mile took shape when young musicians performing in the ministry-supporting Steve Pettit Band felt called to seek their own professional path after wrapping up an album with producer Andy Leftwich, who recommended them to the label’s attention. For their debut Mountain Home single, the group presents “Above the Clouds,” a gently flowing meditation on the blessing of assurance.

“I wrote ‘Above the Clouds’ during a season when I was wrestling with uncertainty and learning to trust God more deeply,” says the song’s lead vocalist and Eighteen Mile bassist, Hallie Ritter. “The song became a reminder to myself that no matter what we face — doubt, anxiety, or pain — God is steady and present above it all. I wanted the music to feel hopeful, something that lifts listeners up and reminds them that the sun still shines above every storm.”

Bandmates Carson Aaron (guitar, mandolin) and Emily Guy complement Ritter’s confident voice on the chorus’s elegantly phrased simplicity:

This old world can’t hold me down, I’ve got another life I’ve found
And a greater God
This old man can’t change my mind, I know the sun will always shine
Above the clouds

Eighteen Mile’s other multi-instrumentalist, Jack Ritter, offers some delicate guitar picking that underlines the tranquillity of that other life, while fiddler Savannah Aaron delivers the arrangement’s signature figure that punctuates the song from beginning to end. The combination of vocal strength, sympathetic instrumental work and well-crafted writing exemplified by “Above the Clouds” make Eighteen Mile artists to watch — and to listen to.

Says the group, “We hope this song is an encouragement to listeners in all areas of life who may be dealing with clouds of doubt, pain, and anxieties. The sun will always shine above the clouds.”

“Above the Clouds” is streaming in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Listen to it HERE.

Joe Mullins to Step Back from Touring in 2026, But His Musical Journey Continues

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

After nearly two decades of life on the road with The Radio Ramblers, Joe Mullins has announced that his time as a full-time touring musician will come to a close in early 2026. But for the banjo player, bandleader, and broadcaster, stepping off the touring bus doesn’t mean stepping away from music.

As Mullins approaches his 60th birthday later this year, he’s taking time to reflect on a career defined by melody, family, faith, and radio. “I’m grateful for the music, the miles, and the memories,” Mullins says. That spirit is at the heart of The Radio Ramblers’ most recent Gospel release, Thankful and Blessed, which dropped in March. The album title, Mullins explains, perfectly sums up this season of life. Among its tracks is “Even Better When You Listen,” a song that highlights the group’s trademark harmony and heartfelt sound.

For Mullins, music and broadcasting have always been intertwined. “We’re called The Radio Ramblers ’cause I’ve combined the two,” he explains. “I’ve been on radio and on stage with the banjo for over 40 years. My dad did this. Dad was a fiddler, a broadcaster, and a concert promoter. He did all that on the way to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.”

While Mullins is quick to clarify that he isn’t chasing accolades, he acknowledges that the combination of radio and live music has been key to the band’s success. In 2006, he assembled a group of local singers and pickers to meet the growing demand for bluegrass in southwestern Ohio. With his radio network already reaching listeners across the region, Mullins saw the opportunity to create a band that could perform anywhere. From this, The Radio Ramblers were born.

When he’s not on the road, Mullins continues to host daily programming on his Real Roots Radio network. “I do a hymn hour at one and a bluegrass hour at two, Eastern time,” he says. “The combination works well. I also figured out, as did my dad years ago, that if you are a hillbilly picker and you want your records played on air, it helps a lot if you have a radio show or own a couple of stations.”

Though the touring chapter of his career is nearing its close, Mullins shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to sharing the music he loves. As he looks to the future, Mullins sums up his journey with a simple message: thankful and blessed.