Tag: Bluegrass gospel

Wilson Banjo Co. releases new song about heaven and belonging

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Wilson Banjo Co. has put out a new single called “Heaven Is Your Hometown.” The song came out through Pinecastle Records and carries a message about faith and finding one’s true home in heaven.

Steve Wilson, who started the band, explained why the song matters to him. He said the opening line asks if people feel like strangers who do not fit in. Wilson said this lyric affected him deeply when he first heard it. He believes the song will connect with many other people as well.

The songwriters Mitch Townley and Andrew Scott Wills wrote about the feeling of wanting to reach a place of peace and belonging. For Christians, this speaks to the biblical teaching that earth is temporary and heaven is the eternal home believers will share with God. The lyrics offer comfort through faith-based images and the hope of reunion with loved ones in heaven.

Provided to YouTube by Syntax Creative Heaven Is Your Hometown · Wilson Banjo Co. Heaven Is Your Hometown ℗ 2025 Pinecastle Records Released on: 2025-11-14

Cal Mathews sings the lead vocals on the track. Steve Wilson and Melanie Wilson provide harmony vocals. The musicians on the recording include Steve Wilson on banjo, Jason Fraley on mandolin, Richard Bennett on guitar, Glen Crain on resonator guitar, Leona on fiddle, and Jaime Carter on bass.

The band is working on their next studio album, which will come out in 2026. Steve Wilson leads the creative direction for the group. This year, their previous release called “Lonely As It Gets” performed well on the charts. The collection reached the number one position for several weeks on the Contemporary Bluegrass Album Chart. It stayed in the top ten for 33 weeks in 2025. The release also produced multiple songs that reached number one on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Bluegrass Song Chart.

Wilson Banjo Co. plans to keep making music that reflects their established sound. People can find more information about the band and their releases at http://www.wilsonbanjo.com. The band also maintains a presence on social media platforms. Listen for this and other Gospel music from Wilson Banjo Co on Texas Gospel Canada!

The Grascals Sign with Billy Blue Records, Ushering in an Exciting New Chapter

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JEFF TURNER

Beloved bluegrass powerhouse The Grascals have officially signed with Billy Blue Records, marking an exciting new era in their celebrated 21-year career. Known for their tight harmonies, the group remains a fan favorite in both the bluegrass gospel and Americana worlds.

The partnership kicks off with the upcoming release of a brand-new single, “Come Jesus Come”, arriving at the end of August. A full-length project is already in the works and is expected to follow later in 2025.

Speaking on the new relationship, Grascals member Jamie Johnson shared his enthusiasm:

“We are extremely excited about being with Billy Blue Records, just seeing what they’ve done over the last couple years with how excited they are and how they promote their artists and the passion that they have for bluegrass music and keeping it alive and getting the word out there and making sure the audience hears it. Knowing Jerry Salley for years, we love him. Written songs with him, he’s incredibly talented on top of that. Great ideas for the music and direction for the Grascals. We’ve been doing this for a hot minute — 21 years now. Several albums under our belt and had some success along the way and we’re grateful for that, but we’re not done. We want to do more. We’re still young enough and sound well enough. Have some more ideas and we want to get them out to the people, so we would love to do that with Billy Blue and we’re excited that that’s just beginning.”

With their proven track record of success and a renewed creative drive, The Grascals’ new chapter with Billy Blue Records promises fresh music, inspired performances, and a continuation of the tradition that has made them one of bluegrass music’s most treasured acts.

BLUEGRASS: The Primitive Quartet releases Through The Years Volume 5

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SPECIAL MOUNTAIN HOME MUSIC COMPANY

Arden, North Carolina (August 12, 2022) — Last year, The Primitive Quartet and Mountain Home Music Company began the Through The Years series, which is bringing the beloved gospel group’s music to new generations of listeners through streaming services and digital sales platforms for the first time. These releases continue the group’s long legacy as a bluegrass gospel artist that started in 1973.

Following Volumes 1-4 and a Christmas collection, Through The Years Volume 5 features “If I Could Telephone Heaven,” written by Reagan Riddle; “Walking In The Highway,” written by Calvin Copeley; and “He Did A Surgery In My Heart” written by Mike Riddle. It also includes two a capella tunes, both written by Reagan Riddle: “The Fruits Of The Spirit” and “He’s The Same God.”

When completed, the series — curated by the Crossroads Label Group’s Greg Bentley and The Primitive Quartet’s Mike Riddle — will encompass eight volumes covering nearly 40 years of historic releases, including a Christmas collection and a compilation of songs from the several live albums the group has released over the years. Rarely has such an archival exploration been directed exclusively at digital platforms, and the combination of historical interest and forward-looking accessibility serves to guarantee that not only will long-time fans of the storied group have their favorites close at hand, but that the vital musical ministry of the Primitive Quartet will be available for discovery by generations of fans yet to come.

About The Primitive Quartet
The Primitive Quartet began in 1973, when two sets of Western North Carolina brothers, Reagan and Larry Riddle and Furman and Norman Wilson, carried a guitar and mandolin with them on a fishing trip, where they discovered a love and a gift for harmony singing. With the encouragement of their parents and pastor, they began to sing together at area churches as the Riddle-Wilson Quartet. In 1978, with the decision to devote themselves to a full-time musical ministry, the group said goodbye to Furman Wilson, welcomed Reagan and Larry’s brother, Mike, into the group and renamed themselves as The Primitive Quartet. As their career developed, the Quartet added Indiana-born singer and instrumentalist Randy Fox in 1986 and, a decade later, another North Carolinian, Jeff Tolbert — first as an instrumentalist and then, with the passing of Norman Wilson in 2014, as a singer. Over the years, The Primitive Quartet has toured across the United States and overseas, recorded scores of albums, released more than a dozen videos and DVDs, and made their “Hominy Valley Singing Grounds” in Candler, North Carolina, into a popular home for gospel singing events.

Listen to songs from Through The Years Volume 5 throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!

The Abernathy family after adopting two young kids, Tyler and Zoey.Abernathy Family

Gospel musician with missing fingers adopts son who has same birth defect

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Special to Texas Gospel Canada from Daywind Records

Our God is an amazing God. He shows Himself in some of the most unlikely ways. Barry Abernathy of Appalachian Road Show was born with only a thumb and partial index finger on his left hand. He adapted and has a unique three finger style of playing the banjo.

He and his family recently adopted siblings, Tyler and Zoey. Barry’s daughter, Chassady, encountered the children through their daycare. They had been removed from an unsafe home and put in the foster care system. Chassady noted when she saw 4 year old, Tyler, that he had the exact same birth defect as her father.

Barry decided to stop by the daycare as he drove through Nashville, feeling that God was leading him to do so. Tyler looked at him and said, “You’re my dad!” The Abernathys didn’t wrestle with God very long. They quickly decided, Tyler was right. This amazing story was shared on NBC’s, Today. over the weekend! What a beautiful story and a beautiful family! Be sure to read the full story for yourself! Here’s Barry Abernathy and the rest of Appalachian Road Show with “Tribulations.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL STORY FROM “TODAY”

Good Ole Gospel Time – Episode 68

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TexasGospel.org does not have an affiliation with the organization that produces this program.  The above video is something we found that we thought you would enjoy.  The link is from YouTube.

Some of your favorite southern gospel and bluegrass gospel artists are featured on Good Ole Gospel Time. The program, produced by Rhonda Combs, began in 2012 with the purpose of sharing God’s music to all that He will allow to hear it.