Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

Dean Hickman’s Miraculous Recovery: A Testament to Faith and Resilience

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JEFF TURNER

Recently, Dean Hickman had the opportunity to perform with The Guardians and later appeared with The Hoppers at his home church. However, a serious medical issue struck several weeks ago. Pat Barker explains the harrowing experience and the miraculous recovery that followed.

“Things took a turn and he started having headaches. Dean doesn’t really deal with headaches often, and so they thought maybe some kind of sinus infection or something,” Barker begins. “So he went to a doctor, they sent him somewhere else, and they discovered a blood clot and then a brain bleed.”

The situation escalated quickly. “Within just a few hours, they had to do emergency brain surgery on our friend Dean Hickman. We kept that pretty quiet. We made the decision, along with them, to just tell a very small handful of people, mostly some pastors that we knew that could pray for Dean,” Barker continues. “Prayer works. It always works.”

The days following the surgery were tense. “We went about a week and Dean really didn’t say much of anything. Maybe a word here or there. It was very touch and go,” Barker recalls. “But the other day, John received a phone call. It was Dean. It was Dean who called and was talking now. His speech was a little slurred and he was very emotional and he struggled to get some things out.”

The next day brought even more hope. “Then the next day he called us and he sounded like Dean. He was happy, he was laughing. It was like having Dean right back with us only a week after the brain surgery. It was nothing short of a miracle,” Barker concludes.

We are so delighted to hear that Dean Hickman is doing better. Please continue to lift him up in your prayers. Dean is featured on the current song from The Guardians, “Another Life To Give.” Listen for Dean and The Guardians on Texas Gospel Canada!

The Kingdom Heirs’ “Until Prayer Changes Me” talks about the transformative powerof talking to God

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SPECIAL: CROSSROADS MUSIC

Arden, North Carolina (July 12, 2024) — They may be a legendary group with decades of music already behind them, but the Kingdom Heirs are taking an approach to releasing music that’s as forward-looking as today’s headlines.  Less than two months after issuing what will eventually be the title track of a new collection — and just weeks after the announcement that the beloved Southern Gospel ensemble’s musicians are in the Singing News Fan Awards Top 5 â€” the Sonlite Records recording artists are back with new music. Cast as a stately country waltz, with pedal steel guitar and lush strings punctuating soaring vocals, “Until Prayer Changes Me” offers a heartfelt look at the transformative power of prayer.  

“From the moment I heard the first words of this song, I knew that it was a song the Kingdom Heirs needed to record,” affirms Chris Bryant, whose soulful voice is at the fore throughout the song. “It’s one of the most relatable messages in song that I have heard in a very long time. There’s not a believer out there who hasn’t found themselves on their knees asking God ‘why?’ Those are often some of the most difficult moments of our lives.”

Penned by veteran songwriter Janice Crow, “Until Prayer Changes Me” offers a vivid depiction of how prayer can bring reassurance of God’s mercy in times of trouble—and how it can change the believer rather than the circumstances they face:

Sometimes my burdens send me to my knees
With problems I don’t understand
I ask God to change it so I can arrange it
According to my master plan
But when I remember who parted the sea
And hung all the stars in the blue
I stop and surrender to the only heart mender
Who knows just what I need to do

Says Bryant, “This song reminds us that sometimes God doesn’t change our situation—sometimes He changes US! He gives us peace, assurance that He is still in control, and grace to make it through. We pray that this song touches so many people as it has us.”

Listen to “Until Prayer Changes Me” on Texas Gospel Canada!

Sound Street announces upcoming album, Good Seed

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SPECIAL: CROSSROADS MUSIC

Arden, North Carolina (July 9, 2024) — “I have worked with Sound Street since they began singing,” said esteemed Southern Gospel artist and producer Roger Talley when the trio was signed to Sonlite Records at the end of 2023. “Jarrod Vanderslice and Ryan Bilby have always been great singers and talented communicators. Jaylie inherited the natural, God-given musical talent and is now taking an important role center stage with Sound Street.”

The truth of Talley’s observations was borne out quickly enough with the release of Sound Street’s first single, “Mansions,” at the beginning of the year, but the upcoming release of their debut album for the label drives home the point in an unmistakable way. Infused with the energy of youth, the spirit of unshakeable faith and an abundance of talent, brought to life in settings molded by Talley’s signature blend of creative innovation and mastery of tradition, Good Seed â€” now available for pre-save/add ahead of its August 30 release â€” reveals a group that has seized the opportunity to bring their music and its message to an ever-widening audience.

“In Mark Chapter 4,” recalls Jarrod Vanderslice, “Jesus shares a powerful parable about a farmer who sowed seeds into his field. By leaving the seeds to grow in their own time, the parable illustrates the strength of the Gospel ‘seed.’ It reminds us that although we may not see immediate results, the Gospel will bear fruit at the right time. Our new project, Good Seed, embodies this message. Each song in this project represents a small yet powerful seed. Wherever you are today, these songs will take root and grow, offering you encouragement and the reminder that God’s goodness will ultimately lead to a fruitful and fulfilling life in His perfect timing.”

Indeed, each of Good Seed’s dozen songs has been carefully shaped — first by their songwriters, a group that includes multiple contributions from Adina Bowman, Rebecca J. Peck and Tony Bowman, as well as familiar names like Matthew West and Joseph Habedank, then by Talley and the members of Sound Street â€” with an arrangement and a performance that underlines its unique yet universal outlook. Whether it’s the soaring majesty of the stately opener, “Mountains Will Fall,” which features Jarrod Vanderslice’s convincing vocal, the excitingly modern touches that frame Jaylie Vanderslice’s confident-beyond-her-years lead on their top 40 (and rising) lead-off single, “Mansions,” the quiet warmth of “Looking Up” or the rootsy, acoustic flavor and trio focus of the closing meditation, “The One Who Is Unworthy,” Good Seed is a collection that elegantly matches music to message to create a powerful artistic and spiritual listening experience.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working on this new project by Sound Street,” says Talley. “It has one of the strongest collections of new songs that I have been privileged to produce. They are very wise and seasoned for their time as a new artist, and have chosen some incredible songs to showcase on this project. I can’t wait for you to hear the vocal stylings of young Jaylie Vanderslice, the exciting and heartfelt interpretations from her dad Jarrod, and the powerful delivery of baritone Ryan Bilby. Their vocal performances are exceptional, and I know you are going to enjoy this whole project!”Pre-save/add Good SeedHERE.

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.