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Happenings in Southern Gospel this week 12/18/2021

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JEFF TURNER

Jonathan Wilburn, half of Wilburn and Wilburn and former lead singer for Gold City (around 1996,) recently announced he will pursue a solo career.

11th Hour is holding its Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 19 at OKC Bethesda Church in Oklahoma.

The Hoppers are preparing for “Gospel Music Nights” Saturday, Jan. 22 in Taylors, SC.

Karen Peck and New River is officially on “Christmas Break.”  The group last week finished a new album.  Listen for cuts from the new project in 2022 on Texas Gospel!

Gold City has added a new concert to the 2022 schedule: February 11 at Harvest Church in South Carolina.

The Mark Trammell Quartet is set to appear at the Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee on Dec. 31 for “The Big New Year’s Eve Gospel Music Hymn Sing.”

The Rochesters are celebrating 66 years of Gospel music this week

11th Hour’s Chandler Padgett got Married Saturday!  We wish well for Chandler and his new bride Riley.

Landry Thomas Erwin, son of Keith and Lindsey Erwin, celebrated his first birthday this week.

Greater Vision has some good news for folks who love music in Vinyl… well, sort of.  This week they announced they had 500 vinyl editions of the group’s “The Journey” project pressed.  They made the announcement Tuesday morning.  By 6:30 that evening they had sold out.  No word if they plan another vinyl release.

Texas Gospel Canada is saddened to learn of the passing of James Easter.

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DAVID INGRAM

James Easter, a long-established name in Bluegrass Gospel Music, has passed away.

James was a Gospel musician, writer and minister.  He was a founding member of The Easter Brothers along with his brothers Russell and Edd. For more than six decades they sang Gospel music and recorded at least 22 albums. (Note: We’re confident The Easter Brothers recorded more, this accounting includes the ones in our Gospel music library.)

James was the father of Jeff Easter of Jeff and Sheri Easter.  Jeff announced his father’s passing on Facebook with a brief post saying, “A tired and weary soldier has fought the battle true, he now lays down his weapon, his fighting is all through.” Daddy is now resting in the arms of Jesus. Thank you for all of your prayers for our family.”

James’ death comes just under three years since the passing of Edd Easter, and a little more than a year since the passing of the elder Easter Brother Russell.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

James Easter taken to ICU with COVID-19

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David Ingram

James Easter of the Easter Brothers has been admitted to the ICU as he battles COVID-19 according to a statement released Tuesday by Daywind Records.

James is the father of Jeff Easter of Jeff and Sheri Easter. A post on their facebook page says, “Yesterday, they admitted our daddy, James, to the hospital because he tested positive for Covid. This morning, they are moving him to ICU so that he can get the best possible care. Through the years, we’ve witnessed thousands of benefits from collective prayer and we are asking this morning that you would join us in praying for him, for his healing, for his nurses’/doctors’ wisdom, for peace and strength. —Jeff and family”

An update from Jeff and Sheri says James’ wife Denise has also tested positive for COVID-19.

No other information has been released. Texas Gospel Canada will update this story as we learn more.

Family seeks prayer for Dianne Wilkinson

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Jeff Turner

The family of loved Southern Gospel songwriter Dianne Wilkinson says she is in “grave condition,” and asking for prayer according to a statement released Tuesday by Daywind Records. No other information was released by Daywind.

“Can I ask you all to say a prayer for a precious friend and co-writer I am privileged to have affectionally called MAMMA DI in my life? She is dear to so many. I am just one person touched by her amazing life. Her niece says she is close to seeing the Jesus she has been writing about all of these years… I LOVE YOU Dianne Wilkinson SO SO SO much,” said Donna King in a Facebook post.

Texas Gospel Canada will relay any further information released by Daywind.

Wilkinson has written Gospel songs since the 1970’s. Her first recorded song was “Behold the Lamb” Released by the Song Masters in 1976. She has received and been nominated for many top awards since then including Songwriter of the year, GMA song of the year and the BMI Award for most songs played in a given year.

Gaither Music Group Celebrates Gaither Vocal Band’s GRAMMY® Nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album

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PRESS RELEASE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 24, 2021) — GRAMMY® Award-winning Gaither Music artist the Gaither Vocal Band received a GRAMMY® nomination during yesterday’s announcements for Best Roots Gospel Album for their celebrated work That’s Gospel, Brother, produced by Gospel music legend Bill Gaither and the award-winning Gordon Mote. 

“We are honored to be nominated with such great talent,” stated Gaither. “Being honored by our peers always encourages and inspires us. I am blessed to be having as much fun as I have ever had writing, touring and recording with these guys. To enjoy what we do and to then be recognized alongside these excellent nominees makes the journey all the sweeter.”

Fresh off the heels of their 2021 GMA DOVE Award nominations surrounding the recording, the Gospel Music Hall of Famers have continued to raise the standard of benchmark harmonies with this release. That’s Gospel, Brother, featuring Gospel music pioneer Bill Gaither, Wes Hampton, Todd Suttles, Adam Crabb and Reggie Smith, has produced a Top 10 radio hit with “The Way (New Horizon)”; and their stirring rendition of the classic “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be” instantly connected with listeners, garnering over 10 million video streams. 

Another highlight of the recording, which combines innovative renditions of classic favorites with signature versions of new songs, is a reimagined version of the Gaither classic “I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen,” which received a 2021 GMA DOVE Award nomination. Spotlighting not only their individual talents but their seamless group blends, the recording showcases several up-tempo selections that capture the quintet’s stage energy. 

The headline artist on the Gaither Homecoming Video Series and concert events, the group’s LIVE performances from the new recording have been featured on a DVD recording and as a TV special airing on PBS, Circle TV, TBN, RFD-TV, Gaither TV, TCT, Heartland and CTN with airings in Canada on Vision TV, CTS, The Miracle Channel and Hope TV. 

Founded and led by Gaither, the vocal group has spent the past 30 years touring and has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall among others. The Gaither Vocal Band’s soul-stirring music is featured regularly on the Gaither Radio on Pandora channel, the Gaither Radio on Amazon channel and on SiriusXM’s enLighten.

One of Gaither’s most celebrated copyrights “Because He Lives,” penned with his wife, Gloria, is featured on Alone With My Faith, by Harry Connick, Jr., and on My Savior, by Carrie Underwood, both of which are nominated in the same GRAMMY® category for Best Roots Gospel Album. Named Songwriters of the Century by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Bill and Gloria have celebrated this internationally-acclaimed song in 2021 as the year marks the 50th Anniversary of the work of art. The Gaither Vocal Band is currently performing on their Christmas tour, a complement to their new All Heaven and Nature Sing CD and DVD recording and TV special.