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The Cathedral Quartet

StowTown Records Releases Vault Series Edition From The Legendary Cathedrals

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Special StowTown Records

Nashville, TN (November 30, 2020) – StowTown Records has announced a brand new release from the label’s Vault Series. The latest installment of the series, Smooth As Silk, comes from the legendary Cathedral Quartet. The Vault Series features first-time digital releases of previously recorded projects.

Originally released in vinyl format back in 1979, Smooth As Silk was the first recording to feature the combination of tenor Kirk Talley, baritone Steve Lee, pianist Roger Bennett and the legendary twosome, Glen Payne and George Younce, and was the first album ever for both Talley and Bennett. The recording features the prominent quartet performing classics such as “I’m Winging My Way Back Home,” “I Know A Man Who Can” (which became a #1 song and Kirk Talley’s  signature song), “Then I Met The Master” and “It Is Well With My Soul.” Despite this success, the album was never released through a national distributor until now.

The Cathedral Quartet performed together from 1963 until their retirement in 1999.  While the group transitioned through several members throughout their 36-year ministry, fans and industry peers alike honored them for their consistent talent and their collective heart. The Cathedrals earned numerous Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, were nominated for three Grammy® Awards, had scores of chart-topping hits, received twenty Singing News Fan Awards, and were inducted into both the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. When the group retired, they held the #1 spot on the national charts for their song “He Made A Change,” which also earned them the GMA Dove Award for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.

“It is truly a thrill to be able to present this incredible recording in digital format to fans worldwide,” StowTown Records President Landon Beene states. “I grew up listening to the musical magic of The Cathedrals, as I know many people did, and I am delighted that even more listeners will have the opportunity to hear this legendary group.”

George Younce’s son-in-law, StowTown co-owner and former Cathedral Quartet member Ernie Haase shares, “It was an honor to sing with George and Glen and the Cathedral Quartet, and it’s humbling to be able to re-release this music. It was a privilege to brainstorm with StowTown Records and the estate of Payne and Younce about the digital release of this project. Smooth as Silk was one of the first records I purchased after discovering The Cathedrals in 1982. When people hear it, they will understand why this record is timeless and needed to be released in digital format, and I hope they love it!”

Smooth As Silk is distributed by Provident/Sony and is available on all digital music platforms worldwide.

Smooth As Silk Track Listing:
I’m Winging My Way Back Home
I Know A Man Who Can
I’m Gonna Rise
Then I Met The Master
When I Thank Him For What He Has Done
What A Day That Will Be
Stormy Waters
It Is Well With My Soul
Love Lifted Me
‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

Funeral arrangements announced for Aaron Wilburn

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Friends and family of Aaron Wilburn are preparing to celebrate his life. Aaron passed away Friday following a battle with COVID-19.  He was 70.

A life celebration will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 1 at Restoring Hope Church in Hendersonville, TN. Family will receive friends on Monday, Nov. 30 from 4-8 p.m. at Crestview Funeral Home and again from 12-2 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jerry Salley, Dave Lehman, Olan Witt, Danny Jones, Jeff Easter, Jared Witt, Gary Casto, and Bobby Tomberlin.

Here is a link to his complete obituary.

ON THE WEB

Singing News Magazine: Remembering Aaron Wilburn

Southern Gospel Scoops: Please pray for the Wilburn Family

Les Butler

Les Butler of Old Time Preachers Quartet hospitalized

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Jeff Turner – Music Reporter

Family and friends of Les Butler are asking for prayer after he was admitted to Stonecrest Medical Center in Smyrna, TN on Nov. 22 for COVID-19 and pneumonia.  

Les has been a part of Southern Gospel Music for more than four decades. He’s a musician, producer and manager. He is also a former publisher of the Singing News Magazine and hosts a nationally syndicated radio program. The radio show isn’t the only place where you’ve heard his voice.  Les is a member of The Old Time Preacher’s Quartet.

Les posted an open letter to his Facebook page Wednesday.  In it he said he’s happy to have had “great worship services” while at the hospital. He’s been studying the Bible, reading books and watching Gospel music videos.

Les’ wife has also tested positive.  He said this is the first Thanksgiving the couple has been apart in the past 40 years.

Aaron Wilburn

Aaron Wilburn passes away

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Jeff Turner – Music Reporter

One of Southern Gospel’s most loved singers has died following a battle with COVID-19. A family member of Aaron Wilburn made the announcement on Facebook Friday evening saying, “Aaron made it home to the same heaven that he has written and sang about his whole life.”

Aaron will long be remembered for his humor, his time with The Happy Goodman Family, and the many Gospel songs he wrote.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Aaron Wilburn was 70.

Erwins, "What Christmas Really Means

The Erwins Garner 2021 GRAMMY® Nomination

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SPECIAL STOWTOWN RECORDS

Nashville, TN (November 24, 2020) – StowTown Records is thrilled to share that What Christmas Really Means by The Erwins has been nominated for a 2021 GRAMMY® award for Best Roots Gospel Album. Nominations were announced earlier this morning. The 63rd Annual GRAMMY® Awards show will be broadcast live on CBS on January 31, 2021, at 8:00 PM EST.

The Erwins are ecstatic about this nomination. Katie Erwin, the youngest member of the talented sibling group shares, “The only words coming to mind right now are THANK YOU, JESUS! A GRAMMY® nomination is something we’ve always dreamed about, but never expected. All of the praise goes only to Jesus! We love and admire all of the nominees in this category, and it’s an honor to be listed with them! We are about to start our “What Christmas Really Means” tour, where we will be singing every song from this album nightly, and now it’s going to be even more exciting and special. Thank you to the Recording Academy, our StowTown Records family and, once again, thank you, Jesus!”

StowTown President and CEO Landon Beene adds, “It’s exciting to see young artists like The Erwins nominated for such a prestigious award. This young family loves gospel music, and they present it in a youthful, refreshing style of their own. Our team is thrilled about this nomination and excited about the future!”

What Christmas Really Means, produced by Wayne Haun, Trey Ivey and Chris Chavez, is The Erwins’ first seasonal project and features an array of music that highlights moments from the prophet’s foretelling of the Messiah to the birth of the Christ child. It is a true celebration of what Christmas is all about.

What Christmas Really Means is exclusively distributed by Sony/Provident and is available at retail and digital outlets worldwide.