Tag: Southern Gospel

Mark Bishop’s Legacy and the Blessing of Grandchildren

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Mark Bishop’s New Song Highlights the Blessing of Grandchildren, and he has released a new music video celebrating the joy of grandchildren. His song, titled Grandkids, reflects on the deep and unique love that comes with being a grandparent.

Bishop recalls that before he experienced this love firsthand, many people told him there was nothing like it. At first, he was skeptical, believing that his love for his wife and daughters was as strong as love could be. However, when his first grandchild was born, he realized that it was, in fact, a new kind of love. His song captures this feeling, expressing gratitude for the blessing that grandchildren bring into a family. One of the lyrics states, “God’s had a lot of great ideas, but the one I think I love the most, has to be grandkids.”

The music video for Grandkids features clips sent in by fans, showcasing moments between grandparents and their grandchildren. Bishop wanted to include real-life experiences in the video to reflect the emotions behind the song.

Sonlite Records 2025

Mark Bishop’s Legacy in Gospel Music

Mark has been a prominent name in Christian music for forty years. A Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning artist, he has been writing and recording songs that inspire believers worldwide. He lives in east-central Kentucky with his wife, Carolyn.

His career began in 1984 with The Bishops, a family group he formed with his father and brother. Over seventeen years, they recorded numerous songs that became well known in the Gospel music industry. They were featured on television programs such as Nashville Now, Crook and Chase, The Grand Ole Opry, and The Bill Gaither Homecoming series. The group achieved multiple chart-topping songs and industry awards.

Mark wrote many of the group’s well-loved songs and continues to write music for other Christian artists. His solo career, which began after the family group retired in 2001, has been equally successful. He was named “Soloist of the Year” at the Singing News Fan Awards in 2005, and his 2020 album Beautiful Day was a Grammy nominee for Best Roots Gospel Album. In 2022, he received the J.D. Sumner Living Legend Award from SGN Scoops Magazine.

A Message for Christian Families

For Christians, songs like Grandkids serve as reminders of the blessings that God provides through family. The song emphasizes the joy that comes from seeing the next generation grow and learn. It also highlights the special role grandparents play in sharing wisdom and faith with their grandchildren.

As families continue to navigate the challenges of modern life, music like Bishop’s offers encouragement and a reason to reflect on the importance of faith and love.

Jim & Melissa Brady Share a Message of Hope in “Jesus Stays”

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AMY TURNER

The Southern Gospel family has long recognized the talents of Jim and Melissa Brady. Their journey together is one of passion for ministry through song. From their individual musical beginnings to their time with The Shulers and The Booth Brothers, and now as a duet, Jim and Melissa have touched many with their music.

Their latest single, “Jesus Stays,” offers a message of constant support and faithfulness. Melissa Brady shared her thoughts on the song, saying, “I love the line, he’ll never leave you. He’ll never forsake you. He’s always there.”

Provided to YouTube by Daywind Records Jesus Stays · Jim & Melissa Brady Ever Faithful ℗ 2021 Daywind Records

These words reflect Matthew 28:20 that tells us, “…follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(NASB.) The lyrics of the Brady’s song says that even, “in the dark night of the soul when disappointments all you know and your hopes and dreams have all been stripped away,” there is unwavering companionship. The lyrics reassure listeners that “He’ll never leave you. He’ll never forsake you. You’ll never face this world alone.”

Melissa further explained the personal connection to this message, saying, “Because if we can say anything from the past year, actually from our entire lives, the Lord has walked with us every step of the journey, whatever hardship we have faced, he’s always been there.”

The song’s comforting words continue, reminding listeners that “Down every road, he’s right beside you. Everywhere you go, and even when the journey leads to an unexpected place. Every second, every minute, every hour of every day, Jesus stays.” This repetition reinforces the idea of an ever-present support, regardless of life’s challenges.

Through their music, Jim and Melissa Brady share a message of hope and the certainty that, as the title states, “Jesus Stays”.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Eddie Crook in Gospel Music

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AMY TURNER

Last week The Southern Gospel Music Guild honored Eddie Crook with their lifetime achievement award.

Eddie Crook began his career in 1961 as the pianist for The Tennesseans. That started a music career that included doing session work at RCA Studios in Nashville. In 1964, he joined The Plainsmen Quartet. He’s spent decades of his life as a part of southern gospel music, both on the stage and behind-the-scenes.

Mr. Crook tells us one of the highlights of his career was
“Playing the Grand Ole Opry with Marty Robbins on Saturday night with everybody going.”

From 1967-1970, he played for “The Sego Brothers and Naomi” and went on to become the pianist for “The Happy Goodman Family.”

In 1977, Eddie Crook began efforts to propel other artists through The Eddie Crook Company. The record label put many groups on the map. Some of the groups who were with The Eddie Crook Company include The Crabb Family, Carroll Roberson, Issacs, Bishops, Perrys, Booth Brothers, Heirline, Dixie Melody Boys, Dixie Echoes, Wilburns, Palmetto State Quartet, Jimmie Davis, and many more.

Speaking about the groups through the years he said, We were in the right place at the right time. We were fortunate to work with them.”

Our congratulations to Eddie Crook, recipient of The Southern Gospel Music Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award!

Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 – March 2025

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DAVID INGRAM

Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of March 2025! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (February.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.

1 Grateful For The Gospel – Brian Free & Assurance – Daywind/New Day
2 More Than You Know – Tim Livingston – Diamond Mill Music
3 Bigger On The Inside – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
4 Big Ole Stone (Victory) – Triumphant Quartet – StowTown/Provident-Sony
5 The Good, Bad And The Ugly – Justified Quartet – Big Picture Records/New Day
6 The Hour I First Believed – PromisedLand Quartet – StowTown/Provident-Sony
7 No One Greater – Browns – StowTown/Provident-Sony
8 My Name’s Already There – Inspirations – Horizon/Crossroads
9 When It’s Gone For Good – Gold City – New Haven/Provident-Sony
10 Come On Let’s Go To That Land – Tribute Quartet- Daywind/New Day
11 What Are You Waiting For – Tim Menzies (with The Isaacs) – ARS/New Day
12 Rock Bottom – 11th Hour – Sonlite/Crossroads
13 Jesus Walked In – Joseph Habedank – Daywind/New Day
14 We Still Believe – Hyssongs – ARS/New Day
15 Can He, Could He, Would He – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
16 There’s A River – High Road – New Day Records/New Day
17 I’d Rather Hear Preachin’ – Greater Vision – Daywind/New Day
18 If Not For Christ – Whisnants – Independent
19 I Left It In The Water – Southbound – Daywind/New Day
20 I Remember Lost – Poet Voices – StowTown/Provident-Sony
21 Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus – Booth Brothers – StowTown/Provident-Sony
22 Count For Something – Jay Stone Singers – ARS/New Day
23 Things We Cannot Change – LeFevre Quartet – New Day Records/New Day
24 By Grace – Lore Family – Horizon/Crossroads
25 Thank You Jesus For The Blood – Lauren Talley – Horizon/Crossroads
26 I Just Stopped By On My Way Home – Kingsmen – Horizon/Crossroads
27 God Won’t – Nelons (featuring Autumn Nelon Streetman) – Daywind/New Day
28 Good Ole Gospel Sing – Kelly Garner – Independent
29 Old Blind Bartimaeus – Jonathan Wilburn – Daywind/New Day
30 God Has A Way Of Workin’ It Out – Chronicle – ARS/New Day

Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 – January 2025

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DAVID INGRAM

Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of January 2025! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (December.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.

1 Collingsworth Family – Praise The Lord
2 Gold City – When it’s gone for good
3 LeFevre Quartet – The Things We Cannot Change
4 Brian Free & Assurance – Grateful For the Gospel
5 Lee Park Worship – Why Wouldn’t I Run
6 Red Words – The Erwins
7 Justified Quartet – The Good, Bad and the Ugly
8 Earnie Haase & Signature Sound – You’ll find Him there
9 Triumphant Quartet – Big old stone
10 Tim Livingston – More Than You Know
11 Tim Menzies with The Isaacs – What Are You Waiting For
12 Scotty Inman – Man On The Middle Cross
13 The Sound – Jeans and Jesus
14 The Browns – No one greater
15 Jim And Melissa Brady – Covered
16 The Taylors – He is good to me
17 Susan Whisnant – Faith In Place
18 Heart 2 Heart – When The Saints Begin To Pray
19 Nelons – There’s a Hole in the Heart
20 The Hoppers – Glory Up Ahead
21 Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Dear Lord
22 Down East Boys – Something to shout about
23 Kristy Cox – God Never Made A Mountain
24 Legacy Five – Bigger on the Inside
25 Poet Voices – I Remember Lost
26 The Inspirations – My Name’s Already There
27 2nd Chance Ministries – Find My Hallelujah
28 REAL Southern Gospel Quartet – Here I’ll stand
29 Sound Street – Through the furnace fire
30 Kingdom Heirs – Until prayer changes me