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Arthur Rice (SGMA) signing the agreement to bring the SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum to the Biblical Times Theater

SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum Announces New Location

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PRESS RELEASE

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (December 28, 2021) – After months of seeking God’s direction, the Southern Gospel Music Association is excited to announce an agreement with Biblical Times Theater to house the SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum on their premises located at 2391 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The announcement was made this evening during a concert with Jonathan Wilburn, a board of member of the SGMA, at the Biblical Times Theater.

Kaylee Davis, creative director of Biblical Times, says: “On behalf of the owners, management and staff at Biblical Times, we are proud to welcome the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Museum into our family! We strive to glorify the Lord in our nightly shows as we bring the stories of scripture to life and with southern gospel being rooted here in the Great Smoky Mountains, it only seems fitting that we join together. We look forward to what God has in store in the coming months and years with the museum, and praying it would bring joy and encouragement to all those who visit! Once again it is our honor to partner with the music that shares the greatest message in the whole world and to be the new home of the SGMA Museum.”

Arthur Rice, SGMA President, says: “We are excited and grateful to the Lord for the blessing of a new home for the SGMA. We have a lot of work ahead of us and the folks at Biblical Times have been an absolute joy to work with. We believe this joint venture will not only carry the history and future of our music but the message of Christ to many. Please pray for us during the next several months as we relocate to our new home.”

Happenings in Southern Gospel this week 12/25/2021:

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TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA STAFF

The Browders just wrapped up a fourteen-concert Merry Christmas tour and are spending Christmas at home.

The Down East Boys are set to release a new project on January 7, 2022. Listen for songs from Your Sins are Forgiven soon on Texas Gospel!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most-loved gospel Christmas songs Mary did you Know.

Sacred Harmony is putting the finishing touches on a new record titled, “It Ain’t Over” produced by Matthew Browder of the Browders and John Darin Rowsey of the Guardians. The title cut has already been released as a single.

The Whisnants are on Christmas break but will begin touring again in January.  The group has four dates in four cities in Florida set to kick things off as part of the Gospel Music Hymn Sing Winter Tour.

Let us know if you have information about of a Southern Gospel concert anywhere in Canada. We’ll post it here to let everyone know about it!

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.