Category: Top articles

Joe Bonsall, longtime member of The Oak Ridge Boys, dead at 76

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SPECIAL DAYWIND RECORDS

Joseph S. Bonsall (76) of Hendersonville, Tennessee passed on to Glory on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. He leaves behind his precious wife, Mary Ann, daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, granddaughter Breanne, grandson Luke, two great grandsons, Chance and Grey, and a sister, Nancy. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph S. Bonsall Sr. and Lillie Bonsall.

As a 50-year member of the American music group The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame.
Joseph is also the author of 11 books including his latest, a memoir entitled I See Myself, which releases in November. Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write. He loved to play banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first—and we will see him again on the Promised Day.

At the request of Joe, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.

The family is requesting privacy.

Old Time Preachers Qt live album set for release

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SPECIAL FAMILY MUSIC GROUP

The Old Time Preachers Quartet recorded its first live album! Titled “A Century of Southern Gospel Music,” this album was recorded live at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum and features hits from the past century.

Les Butler, Founder and member of OTPQ, said, “Less than 48 hours before the REAL Southern Gospel Weekend was set to begin, the Williamsons, one of the featured groups, had an outbreak of Covid. I tried to find someone to take their place, but everyone was already booked. I called my fellow OTPQ members to see if they were available, and, remarkably, they were! We didn’t have time to rehearse, choose songs for a live album, get the audio equipment, or set audience mics for a recording. We just showed up and did what we do – real, traditional Southern Gospel quartet singing. No rehearsal. No run-throughs. No stacked vocals. No extra band members. No special guests. Just the Old Time Preachers Quartet and ‘A Century of Southern Gospel Music,’ raw and REAL! We hope it blesses you!”

This new album will be available on 1 August 2024.

Texas Gospel Canada top 30 songs

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DAVID INGRAM

This is our Top 30 song list reported to The Singing News and SGN Scoops the first week of July.

This list is based on actual airplay throughout the moth of June and was compiled the first week in July.

1 Middle Of Nowhere – Southbound – Daywind/New Day
2 You Have Always Been My Shepherd – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
3 What I Don’t Know How To Do, Jesus Does – Mark Bishop – Sonlite/Crossroads
4 Sheltered in the arms of God – Kim Hopper – Daywind
5 Where You’ve Walked – Lauren Talley – Horizon/Crossroads
6 It Won’t Be Long – Poet Voices – StowTown
7 After All – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
8 The day I get home – Kelly Garner – Heritage
9 When God dips his pen of love in my heart – Phillips & Banks – DreamBig!
10 He Sent Him For Me – Inspirations – Horizon/Crossroads
11 When I Lift Up My Head – High Road – New Day Records/New Day
12 Your Healing Is On The Way – Greater Vision – Daywind/New Day
13 Dear Heavenly Father – 11th Hour – Sonlite/Crossroads
14 We Are The Church – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – StowTown
15 Come On In – Kingdom Heirs – Sonlite/Crossroads
16 There’s A Song For That – Down East Boys – Sonlite/Crossroads
17 Waiting For Me – TrueSong – Daywind/New Day
18 At The End Of Every Prayer – Debra Perry & Jaidyn’s Call – ARS/New Day
19 Forgiven – Joseph Habedank – Daywind/New Day
20 Made A Mess – Tim Menzies – ARS/New Day
21 He Pilots My Ship – Tribute Quartet – Daywind/New Day
22 He’s got the victory – Siler Family – Heritage
23 Like Jesus Can – Taranda Greene – StowTown
24 Take Me To The Water – Lauren, Amber & Kenna – Horizon/Crossroads
25 Living Water, Bread Of Life – Ben Rochester Family – Independent
26 Wings Of A Dove – Jonathan Wilburn – Daywind/New Day
27 Keep On Leaning – Sharon Walker – ARS/New Day
28 Heaven’s Getting Sweeter Each Day – Kristen Bearfield/Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Daywind
29 Victory Story – Wisecarvers – Horizon/Crossroads
30 Walk on water – Crabb Family – Daywind

Karen Peck Gooch Celebrates 44 Years in Southern Gospel

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JEFF TURNER

Karen Peck Gooch recently celebrated an extraordinary milestone: 44 years in Southern Gospel music. Reflecting on her journey, Karen marvels at the time she’s spent on the road.

“I tell everyone, I’m just a hometown girl whose dream came true,” Karen shares. “I joined Uncle Alf and the Lefevre’s on June 26, 1980. Then, exactly one year later, on June 26, 1981, I joined the Rex Nelon Singers. I have been incredibly blessed to travel with such wonderful people,” she says, fondly referring to Rex Nelon and The Lefevres as “legends” and “heroes.”

Karen maintains that both groups still feel like family to her today.

Currently, Karen tours with her group, Karen Peck and New River. This talented ensemble has been nominated for six Grammy Awards and has won nine GMA Dove Awards. Most recently, in 2021, Karen was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and was voted Favorite Soprano in the Singing News Fan Awards.

You can catch Karen Peck and New River’s latest song, “Be Ready,” playing throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!

The Lore Family’s “There Was A Day When”is a powerful musical testimonial

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SPECIAL HORIZON & SONLIGHT RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (June 28, 2024) — “I can’t say enough good things about this song,” The Lore Family’sFayth Lore Whisnant enthuses about “There Was A Day When,” the group’s latest single from Horizon Records.  

“To begin with, when Dad first heard this song, he knew that there was something special about it. It tells the story that almost every believer can relate to.”

Indeed, “There Was A Day When” is a powerful new musical testimonial that uses the strong songwriting craft of Kristi Fitzwater, Jason Davidson and Donna King to proclaim the triumph of faith over sin. Offered at a stately pace, with expansive instrumentation and a vocal arrangement that features each of the Lore Family â€” Darren Lore, Sandy Lore, Fayth Lore Whisnant and Jake Whisnant — in ever-changing combinations, the song contrasts days of uncertainty and doubt with days of redemption:

There was a day when I was broken
There was a day when I was lost
And I bought into what life sold me
Before I even knew the cost…

There was a day when Jesus saved me
There was a day when love came in
When He wrapped His arms around me
And He forgave my every sin
There was a day when
There was a day when Jesus saved me 

“What beautiful lyrics,” Fayth continues. “My most favorite part of the entire song, though, is when my mother, Sandy Lore, takes the lead on the final verse. She beautifully sings about the day when we will see Jesus face to face. I am so thankful that ‘There Was A Day When’ Jesus saved me! What a blessed hope we have to know that we will get to see our Savior face to face. It is our prayer that this song blesses thousands of others as they hear the message. If you cannot remember a day when Jesus saved you, today could be your day!”Listen to “There Was A Day When” throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!