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Sound Street’s “So Much To Praise Him For”is an anthem of gratitude

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (May 10, 2024) — For their third Sonlite Records single, rising Southern Gospel trio Sound Street offers a ringing anthem of gratitude for God’s strength and mercy. Written by prolific hitmakers Adina Benton Bowman and Kristi Fitzwater, “So Much To Praise Him For” exemplifies the power of a well-crafted song, a contemporary but comfortably familiar musical setting and, most importantly, a vocal performance brimming with a faith that infuses each moment with joyous conviction.  

After a measured opening that features a memorable guitar figure ringing out over Trey Ivey’s old-school piano chording, Sound Street wastes no time in diving into the song’s timely reminder of the need to be clear in gratitude, delivered in simple yet profound lines:

I bring Him all my troubles, I tell Him every need
Pouring out each burden down at His feet
Laying every sorrow at the throne of His grace
Leaving tears at the altar where I go to pray
But that’s not why I’m here today

I’ve got so much to praise Him for
For everything I’ve got in this moment right here
I’m not asking for one thing more
Just praying because I know I’ve got so much
So much to praise him for

“We need to avoid making prayer a solely one-sided conversation, only approaching the Lord in times of hardship or selfish desires,” notes Jarrod Vanderslice, whose confident lead vocal is supported by harmonies from daughter Jaylie and the group’s third member, family friend Ryan Bilby. “Let us not forget that He delights in our heartfelt expressions of appreciation for every blessing we receive — truly there is ‘So Much To Praise Him For’!”Listen to “So Much To Praise Him For” on Texas Gospel Canada!

Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

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SPECIAL: DAYWIND RECORDS

The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards were held at The Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tennessee Tuesday evening. Here are the winners:

Southern Gospel Video – “God Can Use A Broken Man”- Jason Crabb

Positive Country Video- “7 Minutes In Heaven- Reba McEntire

Producer Of The Year- Wayne Haun

Musician Of The Year- Mark Fain

Engineer Of The Year- Justin Kropf

Southern Gospel Male Vocalist- Joseph Habedank

Positive Country Male Vocalist- (TIE) Chris Golden and Scotty Inman

Southern Gospel Male Group- Southbound

Songwriter Of The Year- Sonya and Becky Isaacs

Cornerstone Award- Dottie Leonard Miller

Positive Country Female Vocalist- Sheri Easter

Southern Gospel Female Vocalist- Karen Peck Gooch

Female Group Of The Year- Detty Sisters

Breakthrough Artist- Detty Sisters

Special Event Award- Grand- Josh Singletary

Mixed Group Of The Year- The Isaacs

Southern Roots Album- Old Country Church- William Lee and The Goldens

Southern Gospel Album- Shine: The Darker The Night, The Brighter The Light- Gaither Vocal Band

Progressive Album- Good Morning Mercy- Jason Crabb

Positive Country Album- Treasure- Jeff & Sheri Easter

Bluegrass Album- Will The Circle Be Unbroken- Brothers Of The Heart

Southern Gospel Single- “God Can Use A Broken Man”- Jason Crabb

Southern Roots Single- “Somebody Testify”- Southbound

Progressive Single- “Good Morning Mercy”- Jason Crabb

Bluegrass Single- “Family Chain”- Becky Isaacs Bowman & Ricky Skaggs

Positive Country Single- “Here Comes Jesus”- Jeff & Sheri Easter

Fan Favorite Artist- Karen Peck & New River

The Down East Boys’ “He Looked Beyond My Fault” offers a profound message

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (May 3, 2024) —  Even as the title track of their last collection, “There’s A Song For That,” rises in the charts, the Down East Boys are keeping fans happy with a new single — this time, a beloved classic from Dottie Rambo, who wrote its simple, yet profound lyric more than 50 years ago.  

Written to the melody of “Londonderry Air,” which also supplied the musical framework for the popular Irish ballad, “Danny Boy,” “He Looked Beyond My Fault” offers, in just eight lines, a profound account of Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s mercy:

Amazing grace shall always be my song of praiseFor it was grace that brought my libertyI’ll never know just why He came to love me soHe looked beyond my faults and saw my needs

I shall forever lift my eyes to CalvaryTo view the cross where Jesus died for meAnd how marvelous the grace that caught my falling soulHe looked beyond my faults and saw my needs

Though the field is crowded, the Down East Boys’ arrangement of this majestic hymn stands out as an original, thanks to a rare — and powerful — bass lead vocal from Alex Utech on the song’s lone verse before the rest of the group joins him in a series of alternating solo and fully harmonized lines and passages. Indeed, it’s unusual and compelling enough a performance that it may take the listener some time to notice the absence of typical Southern Gospel instrumentation — a bold musical move that underlines the majestic orchestral accompaniment, arranged and conducted by producer Jason Webb.

“An emotional lyric penned by one of the greatest lyricists our genre will ever know,” says the group’s usual lead singer, Ricky Carden. “Words that bring a spirit of praise when you realize He looked past all of our faults and saw our need for a Savior.”

Listen to “He Looked Beyond My Fault” on Texas Gospel Canada!

StowTown announces release of new Legacy Five project

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SPECIAL STOWTOWN RECORDS

NASHVILLE, TN (April 12, 2024) â€“ StowTown Records has announced the release of a brand-new recording from popular, multi-award winning quintet, Legacy Five. The recording, appropriately titled 25, hits retail outlets today and celebrates the group’s 25-year legacy of sharing the message of the Gospel in song. “I can’t believe Legacy Five is in our 25th year,” group co-founder, Scott Fowler shares. “This recording is a labor of love, and we hope audiences will enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

This “labor of love” is a heartfelt acknowledgement of the blessings God has bestowed upon the group for the past two and a half decades. After the retirement of the popular Cathedral Quartet, the internationally known group Fowler traveled with for nearly a decade, he and fellow Cathedrals’ member and longtime friend, the late Roger Bennett, formed Legacy Five. Since that formation, God has brought them through numerous challenges and mountain-top experiences, His goodness and mercy sustaining them and allowing the group to enjoy much success. They have risen to the pinnacle of the Southern Gospel music genre. 

Produced by multi-Grammy and Dove Award winner, Wayne Haun, 25 features nine classic L5 songs, re-recorded by the group’s current personnel, as well as four new songs which are sure to become L5 hits. This 13-song effort is filled with hope, encouragement and speaks of the steadfast grace and goodness of God. 

The recording follows up the group’s Something New recording, which received the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award nomination for Southern Gospel Album of the Year, and features songs from such prolific writers as Belinda Smith, Joel Lindsey, Sue C. Smith, Gina Boe and Legacy Five group member Lee Black. The first-class male harmony is complemented by a full symphony orchestra with arrangements from the world’s finest orchestrators, including Haun, Brian Eads and Joel Mott. 

The debut single from the project, “You Have Always Been My Shepherd,” was released to radio in February and is being embraced by audiences nationwide. Co-written by producer Wayne Haun, industry veteran Dave Clark and renowned CCM hit-maker Don Koch just weeks before Koch’s death, it is a compelling and heartfelt message of the Great Shepherd’s guidance each day and into eternity. 

Longtime fans of Legacy Five will enjoy the group’s remake of “I Stand Redeemed,” one of their most popular songs ever released. This fan-favorite has been reimagined and arranged for the current L5 line-up, comprised of Fowler, Jake Losen, Matt Fouch, Lee Black and pianist Tim Parton. 

StowTown Records President and CEO Landon Beene is delighted to release this new recording, commemorating the 25-year anniversary of the group, on the StowTown label. “Legacy Five has been a household name in Southern Gospel Music for more than two decades,” Beene states. “This project is the perfect balance of the fresh, new sound of L5, mixed in with those monumental moments that L5 fans have loved for 25 years. We are so honored to be a part of this great release!”

Legacy Five’s 25 is distributed worldwide exclusively by Provident/Sony and is available to download or stream here. 

25 Track Listing:


1.     Homeward Bound
2.     Bigger on the Inside
3.     You Have Always Been My Shepherd
4.     Never Just Another Sunday 
5.     Hello After Goodbye
6.     Strong in the Strength 
7.     He Made a Change
8.     Strike Up the Band
9.     I Stand Redeemed
10.   Vessel of Mercy
11.   The People God Gives You
12.   I Found Grace
13.   God’s Been Good

About Legacy Five:

When the Legendary Cathedral Quartet retired in December of 1999, Scott Fowler and Roger Bennett decided to continue the rich musical tradition of Southern Gospel Quartet singing. Legacy Five was organized and had their official debut in January 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia. Since that day, they have made a major mark on the Southern Gospel Music world. Legacy Five has received over 90 Singing News fan awards nominations and multiple GMA Dove Award nominations. Their project, Pure Love, was the winner of the 2020 Dove Award for Southern Gospel Album of the Year. Viewers across America have seen Legacy Five on TNN, TBN, Sky Angel, INSP, GMT, The Odyssey Network and a host of local channels on programs such as Gaither and Friends Homecoming, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley and on Dr. David Jeremiah’s Turning Point in El Cajon, CA. The rich four and five part harmony for which Legacy Five has become known is the result of a masterful weaving together of five unique and versatile talents. Legacy Five consists of Scott Fowler (lead), Lee Black (tenor), Jake Losen (baritone), Matt Fouch (bass) and Tim Parton (keys). 

Links:

https://legacyfive.com
https://www.instagram.com/legacyfive/
https://www.facebook.com/legacyfive
https://www.youtube.com/LegacyFiveSings

Old Tradition releases fresh spin on a Rambo’s classic

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SPECIAL HeyYall! MUSIC

When asked why Old Tradition picked this 70’s Dottie Rambo penned tune, the group’s fiery soprano, Karen, is owed the credit.

“There’s a million empty mansions with the doors all swingin’ wide…”

For weeks, that phrase was all Karen could think about. After waking up with only that single line to go by, she knew she had heard it somewhere… but still couldn’t place it. After a month or more of humming the tune, she almost gave up!

Until randomly in the middle of the night… it dawned on her:

“He’s Already On His Way!”

Knowing God had given it to her, she brought it to the group. It was decided then and there, it had to be recorded.

“I knew the instant I remembered the rest of the song, these lyrics were something people needed to hear. I’ve always loved the Rambo’s and there’s just something so special about Dottie’s writing. In this season especially, another generation needs to hear it. As the song says, ‘Jesus isn’t coming back, He’s Already On His Way…’ and I believe that to be true now more than ever! He’s on His way, and when He comes to take us home… I want as many people to go with me as possible!!” says Karen.

Who is Old Tradition?

Saying that ministry runs in the family for this group would be an understatement. Old Tradition is continuing The Lord’s call into ministry that spans over four generations deep. I guess you can say they’re just carrying on the old family tradition.

As they embark on their fourth year as a group, Old Tradition is looking to the future with wide eyes and open hearts.

While the group may be newly formed… its members are no stranger to Southern Gospel. Their talent roster is comprised of family, Taylor (Drums) and Courtney Guffey (Alto), alongside Courtney’s parents, Karen (Soprano) and Jimmy Parker (Engineer), their cousins Ian (Keys & Lead) and Christian Helton (Tour Manager), with longtime family friend Steve Martin (Bass).

“In everything we do, operating under God’s calling over our lives is our top priority! We can’t wait to see what His will allows for our lives, ” Taylor says.

Rooted in family, the legacy and heritage of this group has given them a unique sense of what it means to sing gospel music. You could say they’re carrying on a good old family tradition… and they’re just getting started!

As evidenced by their newest radio single, Old Tradition is ready to make a lasting impression on Southern Gospel music.