Tag: Southern Gospel

Longtime Florida Boys Baritone singer Glen Allred dies at 88

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STAFF

Friends and family of a well-loved Southern Gospel singer are preparing for a life celebration.  Glen Allred, whose baritone voice was heard for decades with the Florida Boys, died on Thursday.

Glen was born in Monroe, Tennessee in 1934.  By the time he was 16 he had begun played guitar for the Oak Ridge Quartet. In 1952 he began singing with the Gospel Melody Quartet. You most likely know them better by the name they began using years later: The Florida Boys.

Allred received a Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Baritone in 1971, and was inducted to the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He stayed with The Florida Boys until they retired in 2007.

Funeral services are set for Tuesday, July 26, 2022.

Glenan “Glen” H. Allred was 88.

The REAL Southern Gospel Quartet Making Sweet Music!

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SPECIAL AG PUBLICITY

Nashville, TN (July 22, 2022) The REAL Southern Gospel Quartet spent three days at Hilltop Studios last week, finishing up the vocals for their new album!  This project has been met with excellence in every aspect, from the vocals to the studio, the musicians, engineers, and equipment! Each song was penned by REAL Southern Gospel writers such as, Ila Knight, Logan & Rebecca Peck, Jeff Gibson, Ronny Hinson, Dianne Wilkinson, Dylan Feezell, and more! 

Each member of this power-house quartet has been excited about this recording and it is not only evident in their stellar vocals, but in their comments regarding their experiences:

Tim Maze (lead), “When I started listening to the song demos Les sent, I thought this recording could be special. When Jerry, Terry, Darin, and I came together in the studio with producer Les Butler, the ultra-talented engineer, Matt Butler, and a host of Nashville’s best session players; I knew, without doubt, it would be special. It’s called Real Southern Gospel for a reason.”

Terry Carter (baritone), “Several months ago I was contacted by my friend Les Butler about possibly forming an all-star Quartet to represent the all-new Real Southern Gospel Radio Network. I was so honored that I would even be considered for the baritone position surrounded by such talented singers. When he called me back and said the baritone position was mine, if I was interested, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. As we assembled together at Hilltop Studios in Nashville and began the recording session, I knew, right away, this was going to be an incredible recording! Thanks again to Les Butler, for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this great recording!”

Darin Hebert (bass), “I didn’t feel as if I was good enough to be a part of what Les was putting together; he told me that I was. Wow! I’m glad he asked, and I’m glad I said yes.”

Jerry Martin (tenor), “It was an honor and a privilege to be asked to be a part of this special record. I never thought that I would record an album again and especially one filled with amazing songs and sung by phenomenal singers like Tim Maze, Terry Carter, and Darin Hebert. Not only was it fun to record with them but I now have friends for life through the making of this record. Having Les bring this all together was amazing to watch as he is top-notch in my book. From the arrangements, and song selections, to the encouragement, and support he has shown me were awesome. Thank you, Les! Matt Butler has to be one of the most talented recording engineers and musicians around, it was a pleasure watching him work his magic and he made the process most enjoyable. Thanks, Matt for everything you do and for your insight into your recording process.”

Les Butler, REAL Southern Gospel label owner, and producer of this album stated, “I’ve been working on assembling this all-star quartet for over a year. I’ve been working on finding just the right songs for almost two years in anticipation of this project. When I look back now and see who the Lord allowed me to assemble as the Real Southern Gospel Quartet and the songs he allowed us to sing, I stand amazed!”

The Kingsmen’s “Church Of The Great I Am” goes No. 1 on SGN Scoops chart

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Special Crossroads Records

Arden, North Carolina (July 21, 2022) — The Kingsmen’s “Church Of The Great I Am” from their album, More To The Story, is No. 1 on this month’s SGN Scoops chart.

“We are thrilled that listeners are still loving our musical after 65 years and it’s because of them that we are celebrating this No. 1 song,” says the Kingsmen’s Chris Jenkins. “We don’t take this honor lightly because so many of our friends are releasing great music these days. We want to especially thank Billy Blackwood, Kenna Turner West, and Jason Cox for trusting us with your song. You’re a huge part of the Kingsmen ministry.”

“Church Of The Great I Am” talks about the community found in faith, saying, “I’m part of the church of the great I am / Washed in the blood of the risen lamb / With a home that’s waiting in the promised land / I’m part of the church of the great I am / Part of the church of the great I am.”

It’s the third song from More To The Story — an album that’s classic, powerful, and filled with the gospel spirit — to be in the top 5 of the SGN Scoops chart, following “When The Old, Old Story Was New” and “These Are The Days.”

Listen to “Church Of The Great I Am” throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!

The story behind The Guardian’s latest release Not for Long

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JEFF TURNER

The Guardians new song Not for Long would never have been recorded if two top Southern Gospel songwriters had not been stricken with COVID-19.

“I got a phone call from Karen Peck and it just so happened we both had COVID. She was coming out of it and I was in the middle of it. And we started to talk that day and it was in the beginning of the shutdown and everything that was going on. Everybody felt uncertain. Everybody felt like they just didn’t know what was coming,” said songwriter John Darin Rowsey.

He said Karen said she knew this was just a season, something that would pass, and she thought there was a song in there somewhere.

“While we were both sick and coughing, we started working on that song. Got together with Sue Smith and we finished in Nashville,” said John.

The Guardians visited David on Monday morning. Here is audio from the interview:

Not For Long is on the group’s Come On In project. It is set for releases on July 29, 2022, but it’s already released to radio.

The 3 Heath Brothers’ Into The Deep brings fresh sounds to a timeless message

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CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (July 15, 2022) — Since the late 2019 release of their Horizon Records debut, Who We Are, the 3 Heath Brothers â€” Nicholas and twins Clayton and Christian â€” won a coveted Favorite New Artist award in 2020’s Singing News Fan Awards, joined labelmates, the Kingdom Heirs, on their 2021 single, “A Good Day Coming On,” and released their own highly-anticipated single, “It Ain’t Over Yet” at the beginning of 2022. Now, the 3 Heath Brothers release more new music with their full-length follow-up, Into The Deep, out now.

With producer Roger Talley on board once again, the collection places the Brothers’ youthful energy, sibling harmonies and appreciation for contemporary sounds in the service of the same truths that have inspired generations of Southern Gospel artists before them. The approach is announced right from the album’s first notes, as a swirling opening leads into the boldly modern feel that underpins the album’s title and cover theme:

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

From there to the closing number, an anthemic reminder that “Jesus Is Coming Back,” Into The Deep offers a set that speaks to the Brothers’ generation with an emphasis on bold, fresh sounds, new songs — including one written by the Brothers, another written by Nicholas himself, and two more from Nicholas, labelmate Kenna Turner West and Jason Cox â€” and lyrics that offer the eternal Gospel of hope, encouragement, worship and faith in contemporary language. Indeed, underlining the forward-looking nature of the Brothers’ approach, only two of the eleven songs — John Peterson’s “Oh Glorious Love” and “Love Won,” both coming via The Talleys â€” have been previously recorded.  

“Some of these songs are serious and some are fun,” note the Brothers. “Whether you are young or old, we hope that this record encourages your heart, gives you hope for the future, and inspires you to pursue a deeper relationship with God. We wrote five of these songs, but we don’t create music to make a name for ourselves. We do what we do because we truly believe that at the end of the day, ‘it’s not about us…it’s all about Jesus.'” 

With a ministry that speaks with special clarity to an urgent task for today — reaching out to youth with the Word of Jesus in the musical terms they can best relate to — the 3 Heath Brothers have delivered a set that will both meet the needs of the moment and stand the test of time.  

Listen for Into the Deep throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!