Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

Talented Musical Family, The Browns, Release Breakthrough

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SPECIAL STOWTOWN RECORDS

Nashville, TN (April 14, 2023) â€“ StowTown Records has announced the release of a brand new album from The Browns. Breakthrough features the gifted musical family at their very best, with the moving, rich harmonies and first-class arrangements that have made them a favorite among audiences nationwide. Breakthrough is distributed by Provident/Sony and is available today for download and streaming HERE.

Growing up near the quiet town of Le Mars, The Browns enjoyed the simple pleasures of life on a farm in rural Iowa. Their natural love for music quickly began to capture the attention of the locals and before long, that local attention turned to national acclaim. Over the years, their musical talents have afforded them the opportunity to travel across the country, yet their love for their home community runs deep. A testament to this lies in their commitment to develop the Browns Century Theater, a historic building in downtown Le Mars that the family bought and remodeled just a few years ago in order to present concerts and theatrical events in their hometown. Although the majority of their time is spent at the theater, the group continues to travel nationally, presenting live events in support of new music like their brand new release from StowTown.

Breakthrough is the eighth recording on which The Browns have partnered with multi-award winning producer and arranger, Wayne Haun. “I remember seeing The Browns for the first time in Owensboro, Kentucky, at a talent contest,” recalls Wayne. “They were all kids. In fact, Andrew was so small they had to stand him up in a chair to be seen. I knew there was great potential even then. Here we are some 20 years later, and they are all grown up and hitting a home run every night. Their voices are mature and unique. They have created their own sound that is fresh and commercial. I’m just grateful they let me be a part of the journey.”

The Browns have enjoyed a great relationship with Wayne through the years, and with his guidance, their primary focus continues to be on the songs themselves. “We love making music!” exclaims Michaela Brown. “These songs we chose for the Breakthrough album are songs that we not only love to sing, but also relate to on a personal level. We love the messages they convey, the hope they bring and the joy they spread to those who hear them!”

The debut single, the title cut “Breakthrough,” was shipped to radio in January 2023, and quickly made its debut in the Top 50. The success of the single was no surprise as the group has consistently appealed to radio listeners over the years and has enjoyed numerous Top 40 radio hits. Written by veteran songwriters Sue C. Smith, Shane Dunlap and Haun, “Breakthrough” is a song of encouragement to anyone who has ever faced life’s challenges. The song’s powerful message is complemented by a masterful arrangement that enraptures the listener to a place of confident peace.

In addition to “Breakthrough,” the recording is filled with several other original songs from talented writers like Don Koch, Joel Lindsey, Jeff Bumgardner and Marcia Henry, including “Move,” a fun song that combines fiddles with the electric guitar on a melodic line – a musical pairing first for Wayne Haun. Don Koch was a big musical influence for many, including Haun, during the 1990s; and so recording his brand new song “No One Greater” is a highlight for all involved. Lyrically, the song celebrates the victory Christ offers during life’s storms. And the Browns always feature a classic on their albums. “Try A Little Kindness,” originally recorded by Glen Campbell, is sure to become a concert favorite among fans of The Browns. 

For almost 20 years, The Browns have brought pleasure to listeners with their musical talents, rich family harmonies and exuberant on-stage energy. This latest release will no doubt bring listeners even more musical pleasure for decades to come.

Breakthrough Track List:
The Song We Sing
No One Greater
Breakthrough
Try A Little Kindness
My View from the Valley
Move
The Tomb is Empty Now

The Inspirations’ retrospective collection, Ageless Treasures, out now

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS MUSIC

Arden, North Carolina (April 14, 2023) — Throughout the last few years, the latest generation of storied Southern Gospel quartet The Inspirations were a highlight of the National Quartet Convention, featured on the cover of Singing News magazine, and winners of the publication’s fan awards for favorite album and favorite young artist. As the group prepares to record new music, they are pausing to look back at decades of music with Ageless Treasures, a two-disc retrospective of fan-favorite songs out now from Horizon Records.

Since forming in 1964, The Inspirations‘ distinct sound has always been instantly recognizable and has changed little across 57 years of recordings — no matter who was singing. This sound carries through the 30 songs on Ageless Treasures, which features #1 songs “I’ll Not Turn My Back On Him Now,” “If You Only Knew” and “I Have Not Forgotten”; fan favorites like “We Need To Thank God” and “In The Twinkle Of An Eye”; and classics such as “They’re Holding up The Ladder” and “I’ll Have A New Life.”

Says lead vocalist Roland Kesterson, “For the last 22 years, The Inspirations have been blessed to have been on the Horizon Records label. Over the span of two decades, we have recorded some songs that have become fan favorites, songs that we still stage today and have requests for each night. Every song we sing is special to us, however, only a few stand the test of time and become ageless, in other words songs that never get old.”

“As you listen to this collection,” he continues, “it’s our prayer that each song not only blesses your heart but fills your mind with memories of the first time you heard them and how God has used these songs to minister to you as well as us. We hope you can once again enjoy our Ageless Treasures.” Listen to Ageless Treasures HERE.

About The Inspirations
The Inspirations first formed in 1964 in Bryson City, North Carolina and became full time in 1969 after hosting their first “Singing In The Smokies” event. With a number of hit songs through the 1970s, the group rose to national attention and joined the Gospel Singing Jubilee Television program. In January of 1970, they secured their first #1 song on the Singing News Chart, “Jesus Is Coming Soon,” marking just the beginning of their chart-topping success. In November of 1973, The Inspirations held the #1 spot for 12 months with “Touring That City.” It was followed with the success of “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More” in 1974 and “Jesus Is Mine” in 1976. In 2001, The Inspirations recorded their first album with Horizon Records, titled Pure Vintage. The album’s first song, “I’ll Not Turn My Back On Him Now,” returned the group to the top of the Singing News chart after 26 years. It was followed with more #1 tracks with  “I Have Not Forgotten” and “If You Only Knew.” The Inspirations are Roland Kesterson, Luke Vaught, Wyatt Austin and Isaac Moore.

Talented Musical Family, The Browns, Release Breakthrough

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

SPECIAL: STOWTOWN RECORDS

Nashville, TN (April 14, 2023) – StowTown Records has announced the release of a brand new album from The Browns. Breakthrough features the gifted musical family at their very best, with the moving, rich harmonies and first-class arrangements that have made them a favorite among audiences nationwide. Breakthrough is distributed by Provident/Sony and is available today for download and streaming HERE.

Growing up near the quiet town of Le Mars, The Browns enjoyed the simple pleasures of life on a farm in rural Iowa. Their natural love for music quickly began to capture the attention of the locals and before long, that local attention turned to national acclaim. Over the years, their musical talents have afforded them the opportunity to travel across the country, yet their love for their home community runs deep. A testament to this lies in their commitment to develop the Browns Century Theater, a historic building in downtown Le Mars that the family bought and remodeled just a few years ago in order to present concerts and theatrical events in their hometown. Although the majority of their time is spent at the theater, the group continues to travel nationally, presenting live events in support of new music like their brand new release from StowTown.

Breakthrough is the eighth recording on which The Browns have partnered with multi-award winning producer and arranger, Wayne Haun. “I remember seeing The Browns for the first time in Owensboro, Kentucky, at a talent contest,” recalls Wayne. “They were all kids. In fact, Andrew was so small they had to stand him up in a chair to be seen. I knew there was great potential even then. Here we are some 20 years later, and they are all grown up and hitting a home run every night. Their voices are mature and unique. They have created their own sound that is fresh and commercial. I’m just grateful they let me be a part of the journey.”

The Browns have enjoyed a great relationship with Wayne through the years, and with his guidance, their primary focus continues to be on the songs themselves. “We love making music!” exclaims Michaela Brown. “These songs we chose for the Breakthrough album are songs that we not only love to sing, but also relate to on a personal level. We love the messages they convey, the hope they bring and the joy they spread to those who hear them!”

The debut single, the title cut “Breakthrough,” was shipped to radio in January 2023, and quickly made its debut in the Top 50. The success of the single was no surprise as the group has consistently appealed to radio listeners over the years and has enjoyed numerous Top 40 radio hits. Written by veteran songwriters Sue C. Smith, Shane Dunlap and Haun, “Breakthrough” is a song of encouragement to anyone who has ever faced life’s challenges. The song’s powerful message is complemented by a masterful arrangement that enraptures the listener to a place of confident peace.

In addition to “Breakthrough,” the recording is filled with several other original songs from talented writers like Don Koch, Joel Lindsey, Jeff Bumgardner and Marcia Henry, including “Move,” a fun song that combines fiddles with the electric guitar on a melodic line – a musical pairing first for Wayne Haun. Don Koch was a big musical influence for many, including Haun, during the 1990s; and so recording his brand new song “No One Greater” is a highlight for all involved. Lyrically, the song celebrates the victory Christ offers during life’s storms. And the Browns always feature a classic on their albums. “Try A Little Kindness,” originally recorded by Glen Campbell, is sure to become a concert favorite among fans of The Browns. 

For almost 20 years, The Browns have brought pleasure to listeners with their musical talents, rich family harmonies and exuberant on-stage energy. This latest release will no doubt bring listeners even more musical pleasure for decades to come.

Breakthrough Track List:
The Song We Sing
No One Greater
Breakthrough
Try A Little Kindness
My View from the Valley
Move
The Tomb is Empty Now

The Kingdom Heirs take on legendary songs on Something Good Volume 3

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS MUSIC

Arden, North Carolina (April 7, 2023) — When a legendary group takes on legendary songs, the results are bound to be special — and indeed, the first two collections of favorites from the Kingdom Heirs were so well received that the quartet has returned to the well once more for Something Good, Volume 3, on Sonlite Records.

Like its predecessors, Something Good, Volume 3 finds the famed ensemble — now boasting a new lineup as they head toward their 40th year as Dollywood’s resident gospel group — drawing from the deep well of long-beloved yet ever-timely songs to create an album that will not only bring old memories to life, but make new ones, too.   

“Over the past 6 years, we’ve recorded a series of albums entitled Something Good,” says singer Loren Harris. “This is the third volume in that series, with the current lineup of myself on lead and Andy Stringfield on baritone along with Jacob Ellison and Jeff Chapman on tenor and bass respectively. This recording, like the two before it, has some of our favorite songs that have been recorded over the years by other groups, by groups that we may have performed with, or remakes of Kingdom Heir classics!”

From the opening “I’m Forgiven,” a spirited, horn- and piano-driven celebration of God’s mercy that dates back to the late 1970s, to the classic quartet sound of the closing “Glory Road,” first introduced in 1973 by The Kingsmen, Something Good, Volume 3 is a loving survey of Gospel music treasures, each given the Kingdom Heirs’ unique treatment. Country flavors predominate, with the pedal steel guitar and harmonica making regular appearances alongside the ever-present keyboards, but there is room for much more, too, including elaborate orchestrations that surround the quartet’s voices with a rich sonic tapestry on songs such as The Kingsmen’s “The Cross Has Won Again,” Happy Goodman Family’s “That Sounds Like Home To Me” and The Perrys’ “He Will Hide Me,” and a two-part arrangement of “Moving Up To Gloryland” that puts the Kingdom Heirs’ own unique stamp on the popular favorite. Indeed, with each song, whether it features Harris, Stringfield, Ellison or Chapman â€” or all four voices throughout — the Kingdom Heirs manage to summon echoes of earlier performances while shining through with a musical character and a spiritual richness that’s all theirs.  

Says Harris, “I think you’ll enjoy this trip down memory lane as we relive this wonderful music that we love to sing” — and if the enthusiastic reception given by their fans to the previous volumes of Something Good is any indication, it’s a trip listeners will be happy to take over and over again.Listen to Something Good, Volume 3 on Texas Gospel Canada!

The 3 Heath Brothers win 13 film festival awards for “Into The Deep” music video

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS MUSIC

Arden, North Carolina (March 29, 2023) — When they released their album, Into The Deep, the 3 Heath Brothers put a spotlight on bold, fresh sounds, new songs and lyrics that offer the eternal Gospel of hope, encouragement, worship and faith in contemporary language. Now, the spotlight has been placed on the trio’s music video for “Into The Deep,” as it’s won 13 awards across three film festivals.

The music video won Best Music Video from the Christian WorldView Film Festival, Eastern Europe Film Festival, Christian Film Festival and Christian Online Film Festival; Best Cinematography at the Christian Film Festival; and the following awards at the Christian Youth Film Festival: Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Production Value, Best Directing, Best Original Song, Best Sound, Best Application of Scripture and Best Editing. 

Filmed in Puerto Rico, the “Into The Deep” video captures the song’s lyrics, “I’m diving in, into the water / I’m swimming out, farther and farther / Where Jesus is calling me into the deep / Now I’m going in with Jesus / I’m going in all the way” as the Brothers dive off a cliff into the ocean.

“We have dreamed about this opportunity for years and are just so honored at the response it has received from the film industry. Thank you God and to everyone who helped make this project happen. It was one of the most exhilarating and exhausting things we’ve ever done,” says Nicholas Heath. “With this video and everything we do, our goal is to encourage believers and to tell stories of faith in creative ways. We hope that the message of ‘Into the Deep’ will inspire both young and old to press on towards a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Adds Crossroads Music’s Greg Bentley, “Since we started working with the 3 Heath Brothers a couple years ago with their Who We Are album, it’s been exciting watching them grow in their ideas. As we started their latest album Into The Deep they had this concept for this music video implanted in their brains and were excited to try to capture it, which they did very well. It’s exciting to work with young people who have a vision and are extremely creative such as Nicholas, Clayton and Christian. Not only are they capturing the attention of fans in our Southern Gospel genre, but they are reaching further outside and introducing our music to people who may have never heard it. We are honored to work with the 3 Heath Brothers and look forward to their next creative venture to see where it takes us.”