2004
March
New Ground - Apr 2004
"On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again" - have you ever heard that song - that should be our theme song - because we absolutely love being on the road - singing about our Risen Savior!!
We also love being with our many friends and meeting many new ones along the "gospel road". Our last weekend in February was no exception. We were at the Gospel Music Expo in Tupelo, Mississippi with many of our great friends in that area. Good to see Buddy and the guys from Southern Image, the awesome trio - Living Proof (oh yeah, Brent is doing a fabulous job), Brenda & Sid Whitlock, Orval & Nell Nichols, Donald & the Masters Quartet, Roy Chandler, Alabama Crossmen, Trish Henderson, Jeff & Kim Cooper, Glen Barlow from WFCA, Robin Clayton from WLRC, the Rudds, everyone from the Blue Springs Baptist Church, Jon Archie from East Prairie, MO and to spend special time with our dear friend, Dave Wilcox!! It was on from Tupelo to Ephesus Baptist Church in Haleyville, Alabama. Jr. Hood and his congregation make you feel so welcome - matter of fact - David left his coat at this church - so we have been telling Brother Jr. that we are gonna have to come back and sing and pick up David's coat!! Sunday morning found us at the Town Creek Assembly of God. William "Bones" Corum met us on that Sunday morning ready to have church!! After we enjoyed the service and a great lunch it was off to Carnes Chapel Methodist!! We fell in love with the people from this church about two years ago - and needless to say - we still have that special bond with them.
The next weekend finds us in Birmingham, Alabama doing a concert for Currington Promotions. I will guarantee you that Alvin Currington knows how to promote a concert!! The concert featured Greater Vision, Florida Boys, Talley Trio, New Ground and the Diplomats. We are already looking forward to being a part of this event next year - so make your plans for March 19th, 2005 - it will be the Greater Vision Reunion - featuring Greater Vision, Mark Trammell Trio, Chris Allman and New Ground!! Sunday morning we are in Ranburne, Alabama. Gotta tell you a funny!! Now remember - we are in Alabama. We go in and get set up - I look at the Music Minister and say - "It starts at 11:00am" - and he nods and says yes. Well, when I get back to the bus I tell the guys that we have 1 - hours before we sing - now considering we haven't had any breakfast - we trek off to the store. Get our bellies filled - have a little fellowship and head back to the church - OOPS!! - now remember - the church is on Alabama time - but they start their services according to Georgia time - so needless to say - we are getting changed as fast as possible - the preacher was giving his sermon when we get in the door - but everyone was so understanding! We ended up having a great time - even though we were late. Our weekend finished up at the Bethel Baptist Church in Snead, Alabama. Troy Rogers was so nice to bring us to this great singing church!! Hope ya'll let us come back really soon. Also, just a note to let you know that Jeremy Keifer - "On The Road" writer for SoGospel - was with us this weekend - checkout his story!! He's a hoot!!
The second weekend was a wild one to say the least. We were to leave on Friday headed to Florida to sing at Risen's Homecoming. On Friday morning, Dale finds out that he is not going to be able to go - so he gets on the phone and calls our former baritone singer Eric StClair and asks if he can help us out for the weekend. Well, Eric calls back and says he can help us out - so David, Eric and myself head to Florida on Friday night around 7:00pm. Everything is going fine until about 11:00am on Saturday morning - the bus takes a hiatus! We have no one to call - or no one in the Gainesville area that we even have a clue to get in touch with. I noticed that David had gone to the back of the bus - but I didn't think that much about it - but about that time Eric said, "There's a guy out here with a Diesel Mechanic Sign on his shirt". Well, David told him that he was at the back of the bus praying that the Lord would send us someone. He got on the bus and started working - he worked and he worked and he thought it was the fuel system. After about three hours it came to me to get out of the bus and walk around it and pray. Before I got back to the front of the bus - it started. David said while I was out walking and praying that the mechanic found a wire and said "What's This". He connected it back and it started!! We serve an awesome God. Well, we made it to Risen's Homecoming and still had a great time with the Risen Guys and also we enjoyed going out to eat afterwards with the great group Pure Heart!! David, Dusty & Eva have an awesome sound - and you should book them at your church!! Our last stop was in Perry, Florida with Mr. McDonald and the congregation at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Now this church is also a great church to sing at. Then they fed us and sent us on our long trip back to Alabama. Thanks again to Eric StClair for all your help!!
March 20th we got to visit the West Side Baptist Church in the big town of Felton, Georgia. It was a packed out crowd and they were ready for singing!! Brother Jeff Hulsey and his congregation are on fire for the Lord! It was also good to see Randy & Sylvia Bowling and Aunt Dean Mauldin. March 21st we spent with David's In-Laws. Now you put David and his Mother In Law in the same choir together - wow - just kidding - it was wonderful. Sandy Fumbanks, David's Mother In Law, is the Choir Director at the Rehobeth Presbyterian Church in Tucker, Georgia. She did a tribute to the old time hymns for her Spring Musical and New Ground was honored to be a part of this special day. Everyone laughed at me because I didn't even know how to put on a Choir Robe - you see - our church doesn't have Choir Robes - we just say "Ya'll Come On Up and Sang" - LOL!!! But it was a great time. Then that night New Ground was the Special Guests of the church and we brought our ministry to them and shared our songs with their congregation. We sure hope we get to go back really soon.
We closed out the month at the Calvary Baptist Church near Ashland, Mississippi. Brother Robert Buse is the Pastor at this church. He is a little fireball for the Lord. We had a great time seeing Buddy, Brenda, Heath, Lauren, Lynn and Robin. Sure hope we get to be with ya'll again soon! Then it's off to the big metropolis of Leighton, Alabama. Brother Ron Edgil and his congregation welcomed us to a great night of worship!! He's a Pastor that can let it loose and sing!! It was also good to see Brian & Luke Waldon.
Well, we are gearing up April - lots of places to go and songs to sing!! But we are blessed. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that nominated us for "Horizon Group of the Year" in the Singing News - it is most appreciated - we owe all the glory and honor and praise to Him!! He is the one that deserves any type of accolades or awards - He is our strength!!
Make sure that you come and see us when you can!! Check out our web site at [url=http://www.newgroundministries.com]http://www.newgroundministries.com[/url]
Until He Comes,
Robbie Maxwell
New Ground
[url=http://www.newgroundministries.com]http://www.newgroundministries.com[/url]
The Quicks - Apr 2004
Southern Sound Qt - Apr 2004
We are also beginning a new work with a brand new label, which has been named Golden Street Records from here in Nashville. This is a brand new venture between Woody Beatty and myself, (Ben Harris). Historically Southern Gospel labels have been a very expensive luxury for many gospel singing groups. Golden Street is about to change all of that. From circumstances beyond our control came a need and an opportunity, and we plan on following His leadership in helping those other Christian artists who come to us. Our plan for Golden Street is simple. It will be a place for dedicated Southern Gospel singers who wish to record with a "quality first" performance plan. We are looking for great groups who know how to sing, and above all, love the Lord. If you're interested give us a call.
Please keep in mind the SoGospelNews Convention held on July 29th through the 31st. We will be there on the 31st this year and we are looking forward to seeing everyone. Of course I look forward to teasing Deon too. After all, isn't that what friends are for? The annual Grand Ole Gospel Reunion is again in August of this year and we will be there all three days this year. In fact, Southern Sound is supplying the sound equipment for the events scheduled at the Hyatt this year.
We stepped out on faith recently and bought a new-to-us bus from our good friend, Joel Hemphill. It's and Eagle and we couldn't be more proud. Our previous bus is for sale, complete with a new engine.
We have a new piano player joining us in early June, and I will have more on this in future articles. Right now we're trying to keep it under wraps for just a while longer. Now, last but not least, we have our annual homecoming at Fohs Hall in Marion, KY on September 25th at 6:30pm. Our featured guests this year are non other than Sunday Edition. We look forward to being in concert with Amy, Chris and Deon. You folks should plan on attending this event, for it will be a lot of fun. Full of pranks, laughter, sharing, and a lot of good Southern Gospel singing!
Be sure and check out our web site:
[url=http://www.southernsoundquartet.com]http://www.southernsoundquartet.com[/url]
Yours in Christ,
Ben Harris
HisSong - Singing With Passion, About Their Passion
Unbeknown to HisSong, when they sat down with Eddie Crook and Dave Wilcox of the Eddie Crook Company to pick material for their new MorningStar album, was any knowledge about a Christian movie let alone the Mel Gibson flick that has taken the country by storm. So when Mr. Crook pitched the fellows a song, those around the table simply judged the song on its own merits and not with a hidden agenda. When Eddie dug deep into his vault of great material and brought out "Three Words, Three Nails, Three Days" the room was stunned by the powerful message of the timeless story! Then in one voice, all assembled around the conference room table resounded with a unanimous "YES"!!
Some two months later, radio is receiving the new HisSong single "Three Words, Three Nails, Three Days" as the lead cut on the ECC Radio Sampler 0404 with the full support of the company! "Michael Frost has written a monster song!" stated Wilcox, The A&R Director for the label. "All of us at the ECC are hoping this is the breakout song for the trio!"
HisSong base their travels from Music City USA, Nashville, TN. Gary Winingham traveled for many years with another ECC artist Heirline. "I am so grateful for my time with Heirline" states Gary. "It was a good learning experience for me." Another industry veteran, who also traveled with Winingham in the former group, is Adam Elrod an excellent tenor singer. Gus Gaches, a renowned studio engineer and Nashville background vocalist, was very impressed with Adam the first time he heard him sing in the studio. Dennis Humphries rounds out this high - energy trio as the lead singer. He has a huge voice and an incredible testimony of God's amazing grace and sustaining power!
Eddie Crook signed HisSong to the MorningStar Record label in January 2002. "We were thrilled at the opportunity to sign HisSong" stated Eddie. "We believe that Gary, Adam and Dennis have the potential to be one of America's most exciting male trios!" "The guys are highly demonstrative and very exciting on stage!" says Wilcox. "It's been a long time since I've seen a male trio like these guys."
To learn more about HisSong you may visit their web site at [url=http://www.hissongmusic.com]http://www.hissongmusic.com[/url] or you may send postal mail to them at P.O. Box 290485 Nashville, TN 37229. You may also call them at 931-836-1538. The Pam Johnson Agency schedules their dates by calling 270-277-9511.
Written by W. David Seibert
Wings of Grace - Mar 2004
In the past 15 years, we have had the opportunity to record 4 projects at the Loft Studio with brother Tim Greene. Even when Tim was so sick, he wanted to make sure he could work on all our projects. So in 2000, we recorded our first project with the title song " Where Will You Be For Eternity", written by Tim Greene, the song along speaks volumes!! Where will you be for eternity? That is a powerful question. Our ministry Wings of Grace, wants and desires to tell others about Jesus Christ and how they to can spend eternity with Him!! In 2001, we recorded a new project with the title song "I'm Flying High With Jesus", written also by Tim Greene. We were able to send this song out nationwide in 2001. The song brings a message that as a Christian, I don't have to fly high on what the world has to offer, but I can fly high with Jesus because He can take us to a place that is higher than this world we live in can offer.
In 2001, we began requesting music from songwriters for our third project. The demos and sample packs came pouring in. There was one writer that stood out among all the others and her name was Janice Stillman from Roper, NC. She had written some wonderful songs that we recorded like "Forever His", "Angels", "He Loves Me". One of the songs she wrote entitled "I Go Running To My Father" became our next single to send out nationwide in 2002. What a powerful message in this ballad, to know that we can go running to our Heavenly Father, whose arms are always open for us to come to HIM no matter what is happening in our lives.
In the summer of 2002, we began requesting more music for our fourth project. So many talented songwriters submitted their work to us, and WOW, what a selection of songs to select from. One golden rule that we as Wings of Grace always holds dear for our ministry is prayer. We spent many weeks praying that the Lord would guide us in the song selections for this project and with our ministry. We began recording this project in Fall/Winter of 2002, and this project proclaims the power of prayer, eternity, the love of Jesus and God's mercy and grace. In 2003, we sent the song titled "He Still Hears Your Thirsty Cry" out nationwide. This song says it all: He STILL hears our cry. God is still here and always will be. Just recently we received a call from Adam Knight with Adam Knight Music Group needing to fill a spot on his latest compilation CD. He explained how he heard about us and we all were amazed that he had heard about us from a lady from another state. So, for the next 3 months our next song to be listening for on your local radio station is the song 'Wings of Grace' by Wings of Grace. This song will be on the Knight Promotions Volume 15 cut, so call your local stations and request this song by Wings of Grace.
Besides working on projects, Wings of Grace has had opportunities to work with some of today's best known Southern Gospel groups like The Hoppers, The Greene's and the Harvester's Quartet for a benefit concert in 2003, hosted by Wings of Grace, to help Tim Greene with his medical expenses. In 2003, Wings of Grace was selected in the top 100 of the New Artist Talent Search competition, and went to Nashville to compete with all genres of Christian artists. To be selected in the top 100 out of thousands of entries was an awesome honor, especially when our group was probably 1 of 5 groups in the Southern Gospel genre that competed in Nashville. God has been good to Wings of Grace!! We have also had the opportunity to share the stage with other groups like the Primative Quartet, The Beene Family, Michael Combs and others at the annual Singing of the Mountain in Linville, NC. We will once again be at the Singing on the Mountain the 4th Sunday in June, so make plans to attend and be ready to have a great time in the Lord!
Well, I guess this will wrap up this months entry for Wings of Grace. I hope our paths will cross one day soon.
For more information about Wings of Grace or to contact us for bookings, please visit our website at [url=http://www.wings-of-grace.com]http://www.wings-of-grace.com[/url] or call the number listed below. Until next time, may God keep YOU sheltered safely within HIS wings of grace, mercy and love.
In Christ,
Cheryl, Tara, Lindy
Wings of Grace
3704 Clay Street
Greensboro, NC 27405
(336) 621-0219
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