Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

The Down East Boys’ “Celebration At The Empty Grave” paints a joyous picture

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SPECIAL: CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (January 13, 2023) — Following their chart-topping “Ready To Leave,” drawn from 2022’s The Stories We Tell, the Down East Boys jump headfirst into the new year with “Celebration At The Empty Grave,” a song that points to the promise of Easter and the miracle of the Resurrection. The single is the first from Sonlite Records to be released in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. 

Allowing listeners to feel as if they’re inside the song itself, Dolby Laboratories’ Dolby Atmos is familiar to many from its “surround sound” application in thousands of movie theaters. It is described by the respected sound technology innovator as “revealing depth, clarity and details like never before….a sound experience you can feel all around you.” Audio produced in Dolby Atmos adapts automatically to your Atmos-compatible device and system to give you an all-enveloping sound experience you would not expect.

Opening with an instantly memorable guitar figure that will recur throughout the song, “Celebration At The Empty Grave” wastes no time in introducing the full quartet — Ricky Carden (lead), Daryl Paschal (baritone), Doug Pittman (tenor) and Alex Utech (bass) — in its scene-setting first verse;

I hear there’s talk all over town
Something big is going down
A marvel everybody wants to see
They’ve heard about an empty tomb
They’re wondering, “Could this be true?”
And if it is, what does this really mean?

The musical tension echoing these questions persists through the second verse, building to the release of the song’s insistent, joyous chorus and its ringing affirmation:

Our Lord is great and greatly to be praised
So we stand here amazed
As we join the celebration,
The celebration at the empty grave

As the song winds through its remaining verse and choruses, shifts in key offer each of the quartet’s members a turn front and center, emphasizing the fellowship of all those celebrating Christ. As Ricky Carden puts it, “‘Celebration At The Empty Grave’ is a song that reminds all of us that we serve a Savior that is alive and well, and we can celebrate, knowing that He knows us and hears us as He is risen! So celebrate a risen Savior!”

The Wisecarvers meditate on true meaning of Christmas in “Wrapped In Red”

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (December 2, 2022) â€” Rather than close the book on 2022 with the October release of their most recent single for Horizon Records, “Stay Home,” The Wisecarvers are sharing one more song with listeners in “Wrapped In Red,” a grateful, graceful meditation on the true significance and celebration of Christ’s birth.   

Written and sung by Chase Wisecarver, with Kaila and Dustin Wisecarver adding warmly supportive harmonies over an arrangement led by producer Jeff Collins’ piano, “Wrapped In Red” offers a gentle yet insistent reminder of what truly counts in the holiday, summed up in the chorus’s simple, direct acknowledgement:

“He just wants my heart wrapped in red
The perfect shade of crimson
For the blood that He shed
Nothing I could offer Him would seem to be enough
But He said all He wants is my love
And this heart wrapped in red”

“It seems now Christmas has gotten so commercialized people often forget the true reason for the season,” notes Chase Wisecarver. “We give and receive gifts, have Christmas dinners, wonder what Santa will bring, and sometimes let all of that overshadow the most important thing — Christmas is the celebration of the birthday of Christ our King. I’ve wondered what we could give to our King for His birthday. There’s nothing greater we could give Him than our hearts wrapped in red with the blood He shed for us on Calvary.”

Listen for “Wrapped In Red” throughout the day on Texas Gospel

Spotlight: Fields of Grace

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SPECIAL: BUTLER MUSIC

Nashville, TN (October 27, 2022) Popular Candler, North Carolina-based trio, Fields of Grace, is in the midst of some exciting blessings for its ministry. The trio was just awarded a Diamond Award for “Sunrise Trio of the Year,” they have a brand new member with an awesome story to tell, and they are preparing to go into the studio with Les Butler to begin working on a new album under the Family Music Group/REAL Southern Gospel Records label.

Les Butler states, “I have been the radio promoter for Fields of Grace for several years. From that platform, we have built a very strong relationship. I believe in them; they believe in me. Our next goal is to produce an album that will be a benchmark album for their career. This will be released on the REAL Southern Gospel Records label”

Butler continued, “These are exciting times for FMG and Fields of Grace. They are experiencing great radio airplay, award nominations and wins, and a datebook that gets more full each day. Jesus is coming and it’s time that we get about the Father’s business and that’s exactly what we plan to do!”

FOG manager, Joe Belcher, gave this comment, â€śWe are excited to announce that we have begun the process of working on a new project to be released in 2023 with Les and his team. Expect the same “foggy” sound that seeks to lift up our Savior and encourage our listeners. We are grateful to be entering this next phase of ministry with Les Butler. It has always been our goal to prayerfully seek out songs to release to radio that would touch hearts. Les shares that vision and has always encouraged us to pray for the “Favor of God.” These goals will continue to be our focus as we seek to “expand our borders” for the Lord in 2023.”

Fields of Grace new member, Neely Bennett, is 21 years old and lives in Candler, NC. She is the daughter of a third-generation pastor and is very involved in the music ministry at her church, Cane Creek Missionary Baptist Church. She has also sung previously with New Hope Bluegrass Gospel Group.   Neely stated in a recent interview, â€śSinging for the Lord has always been something near and dear to my heart because I know I got it from Him. Joining Fields of Grace is truly a blessing in my life. I was at a point where I was unsure of my future and I was praying for God to give me something I could do for him. I remember praying, “God if you will just set something in my path, I will not hesitate and I will be all in.” Less than a week later I received a call with an answer to prayer that Fields of Grace was looking for a member. From the moment I met them, I knew that this is where God wants me. It really was all in God’s perfect time.” Neely gives credit to the Lord for opening this door, and to her friend, Jacob Ellison, with the Kingdom Heirs for recommending her to Fields of Grace.

Avenue Trio Releases Crucified. Magnified. Glorified.

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SPECIAL: CONDUIT MEDIA

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 31, 2022) – Avenue Trio â€“ comprised of husband and wife, Kasey & Haley Kemp and Jonathan Mattingly â€“ have released their latest project, Crucified. Magnified. Glorified.

This collection contains brand new recordings of songs that have found their way into churches across America and around the world – both beloved hymns alongside new worship songs. 

From songs like “Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed,” to “Jesus Cares for Me,” and “It Takes Jesus,” and so much more, the music exists to bring the listener into a time of worship.

Group member Kasey Kemp says: “It’s not your everyday hymns project, that’s for sure. This is a true worship record. We invite the listener to join us as we sing songs of praise to the Father, not just songs about Him. With familiar hymns and new worship songs alike, this record has been carefully designed to bring a spirit of worship to your personal time with God.”

Whether new or old, each song contains lyrics that are rich in scripture, expertly delivered with stunning and exquisite harmonies.

The project is available now on all streaming platforms or via the groups website at http://www.avenuemusic.net.

The group continues their heavy schedule in support of the new project with upcoming appearances including Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Michigan, Ohio and more.

The Chitans’ glistening, heartfelt vocals shine on Shoulder to Shoulder

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SPECIAL: CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (August 16, 2022) — Reminding us once again that the sounds of Southern Gospel and the timeless message of salvation they convey know no boundaries, The Chitans return with Shoulder To Shoulder, their second full-length album for Horizon Records. It’s now available for pre-order, add or save ahead of its September 30 release.

The title and opening track lays out the story almost as if it were written to order:

“We are brothers and sisters, we’re part of the family of God
We’ve faced many battles together, God brought us thru every one
Now we don’t always agree, we don’t always see eye to eye
But all of these things will not stop us, for we have made up our mind

Shoulder to shoulder, we will go forward, united together as one
We’ll not be divided, we’ll not be defeated, as a family we’ll keep standing strong
Shoulder to shoulder, we are helping each other make it home”

Set to a soulful, gently swaying rhythm, the song lifts up the entire group — sisters Kaiziah, Kayandra and Karlainah, along with brothers Jesse and Jayden â€” and sets the tone for the album, which reflects a joyously embrace of the Gospel spirit and the power of God’s love. And while there is room for expansive orchestral arrangements that underline the majesty and power of their message, most of the songs on Shoulder To Shoulder favor more organic sounds to match the simplicity of youthful belief, giving the album a warm, intimate family atmosphere.  

Similarly, while there are a few touchstone songs that listeners may recognize, including “Goodness Of God,” the group’s reworking of Charity Gayle’s take on “New Name Written Down In Glory,” and a nod to the family’s Caribbean origins in “Hush (Don’t Cry),” first recorded by the group Acapella, the bulk of the songs are fresh and new, carefully chosen by the group and their producer, Roger Talley. And though the glistening, heartfelt vocals of Kaiziah and Kayandra are most prominently featured — that’s Kayandra taking the lead on the first single, “God Like That” â€” there’s plenty of room for all of The Chitans to shine, emphasizing the close-knit feeling of the family as they stand shoulder to shoulder.

“We are so excited to announce the release of our brand new album,” offer The Chitans. “God is so good, and we are so grateful to be able to sing about Him. It was such a fun and enjoyable time working with our producer, Roger Talley, and the folks at Crossroads Studios. There are some awesome songs on this album, songs of encouragement, hope and peace — some songs you may know that you can sing along to, and some brand new ones that will have you singing along in no time. We are so thrilled to be able to share this with you all!”Pre-order, add or save Shoulder to Shoulder HERE.

About The Chitans
Kaiziah, Kayandra, Jesse, Jayden and Karlainah Chitan and their parents, Layne and Karen, travel the world singing wherever they are called upon to do so, to share Jesus’s love with all people, especially the children of the world. 

The family travels the world, serving the communities they stop in through ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums and on the streets (feeding the homeless). The family has sung at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the United States — including at The White House and on Capitol Hill —  Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda and Canada.

In July of 2012, the family received a Congressional Award from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York.

The Chitans have ministered with Lynda Randle, Woody Wright, The Nelons, The Collingsworth Family, The Talleys, Mark Bishop, Gordon Mote, Guy Penrod, Bobby Jones on Bobby Jones Presents, RussTaff, Wintley Phipps, Bill Gaither and his Homecoming Friends, and have sung at Singing in the Sun, Gatlinburg Gathering, National Quartet Convention and Gaither’s Fall Fest.