Revival in Southern Gospel

I've been putting a lot of thought into something lately - and I know many people would consider that pretty dangerous. However, after having a couple of really good conversations at the National Quartet Convention last September this thought hasn't left me. We need REVIVAL in Southern Gospel.

Now before you think I'm getting all "super-spiritual" on you - if you ask anyone who knows me - I'm as anti-super spiritual as one can be. Insincerity with ones spiritual life drives me bonkers, and I never try to be anything that I'm not. I try not to wear my spiritual emotions on my sleeve - and many of my close friends will tell you that it's a major fault in my personality. So, with that said - let me get to my point.

We can talk all day long about how radio is at fault or bad business practices are at fault or lack of real talent and musical education is at fault - but to me - the big thing hurting this industry is a lack of personal revival going on. I'm not saying that the individuals in Southern Gospel need personal revival in their lives (though that may be the case) - I'm saying that our personal concerts and experiences with the fans are lacking that spiritual punch that was so prevalent in the Golden Age of this genre.

When's the last time that an altar call was given at the National Quartet Convention? When's the last time that an artist decided to stop worrying about a time schedule and started worrying about who needed a touch of God in the audience. All of this got me thinking - and then praying for God to move in this industry like he has never done before.

However, the longer I prayed about it - the more I got convicted. I was praying for what I saw was wrong with the industry that I worked in - yet noticed that I wasn't necessarily doing my part either. So - at that point I asked that God would move in me, in my ministry, and my company like he has never done before. Let ME experience the move of God in my life like i have never felt before. Let me do my part in helping the industry. Let revival start in ME.

I just wanted to post this as an encouragement to everyone out there. Before a revival can spark in an entire industry - it has to start individually. I hope you'll join me this year in making a personal effort to be more spiritually minded in all we say in do. God will take care of the rest.

Harmony Honors - Predicted Winners

So yes, I may be a bit behind considering the Harmony Honors are tomorrow night - but I wanted to give my predictions for the winners of this year's Harmony Honors.

New Artist of the Year
Last year's winner: Hope's Call
The Nominees: Collinsgworth Family, Crystal River, First Love, Mercy's Mark, Mike Bowling Group
Predicted winner: Mercy's Mark
Darkhorse: First Love, Collingsworth Family
Commentary: This is a very strong category. There are some really loved artists here and some really respected artists in the industry. Mercy's Mark and Mike Bowling Group seem to be the obvious choices here, but looking at last year's winner - it seems that this award is more about who the industry respects and loves the most rather than who actually had the best year as a new artist. I'm still holding on to my prediction that Mercy's Mark takes it - but First Love could easily sneak in with how loved the Peaches and J.P. are in the industry.

Media of the Year
Last year's winner: Singing News
The Nominees: Gospel Greats, Homecoming Magazine, INSP, Singing News, SoGospelNews.com, U.S. Gospel News, XM - Enlighten
Predicted winner: Singing News
Darkhorse: XM - Enlighten, Homecoming Magazine
Commentary: This is a category that is extremely easy to predict. Singing News has won the award the last two years, so there's no reason to think they won't win again this year. They have been the industry standard for many years, and they are always fresh on industry mind. I wish I could predict that SGN would win - but our nomination is our award. Thanks Southern Gospel Music Guild! We're honored!

Female Vocalist of the Year
Last year's winner: Karen Peck Gooch
The Nominees: Karen Peck Gooch, TaRanda Greene, Annie McRae, Lynda Randle, Debra Talley, Lauren Talley, Susan Whisnant
Predicted winner: TaRanda Greene
Darkhorse: Lynda Randle
Commentary: Karen Peck Gooch has won this award twice now, and she is extremely loved in this industry. However, I really feel like the success of TaRanda Greene is absolutely undeniable. Watch out for Lynda Randle though. She got a surprise nomination - so a win isn't necessarily out of reach.

Male Vocalist of the Year
Last year's winner: Jason Crabb
The Nominees: Mark Bishop, Ronnie Booth, Mike Bowling, Jason Crabb, Ernie Haase, Mitchell Kenitzer, Bill Shivers, Gerald Wolfe
Predicted winner: Ronnie Booth
Darkhorse: Mike Bowling, Bill Shivers
Commentary: This is a strong group of nominees. Like Karen Peck Gooch, Jason has won this award the last two years, and he could easily take it a third year in a row. My money's on Ronnie Booth - mainly because everyone loves the Booth Brothers, and they are majorly due for some industry awards (they won a SInging News Fan Award and 8 SGN Music Awards in 2006). Mike Bowling put out a solo album AND debuted the Mike Bowling Group, so watch out for him.

Producerof the Year
Last year's winner: Jeff Collins
The Nominees: Jeff Collins, Lari Goss, Wayne Haun, Michael Sykes, Roger Talley
Predicted winner: Roger Talley
Darkhorse: none
Commentary: This award could go to any of the nominated men. All are extremely talented producers, but I'm just guessing Roger for the great work he did on the new Kingsmen and Talley Trio records.

Performing Musician of the Year
Last year's winner: Channing Eleton
The Nominees: Roger Bennett, Justin Ellis, Roger Fortner, Sonya Isaacs, Doyle Lawson, Eric Ollis, Lori Sykes, Jeff Stice
Predicted winner: Roger Bennett
Darkhorse: Doyle Lawson, Justin Ellis
Commentary: This should be a fairly easy category to predict. Roger had a tough year battling cancer, and the industry may want to show their support by giving him this award. I'd love to see Justin Ellis or Lori Sykes take it - both are extremely talened.

Songwriter of the Year
Last year's winner: Gerald Crabb
The Nominees: Ricky Atkinson, Mark Bishop, Gerald Crabb, Rodney Griffin, Ronnie Hinson, Joel Lindsey, Kyla Rowland
Predicted winner: Ronnie Hinson
Darkhorse: Joel Lindsey
Commentary: First of all - where the heck are Rebecca Peck, Twila McBride-LaBar, Daryl Williams, Chris Binion, Dianne Wilkinson, Sue C. Smith, Steven Cheney, Tony Wood, Jim Brady, etc? Some of the industry's best songwriters were left off this year. I'm just making a guess here that Hinson wins - because it seemed like everyone and his brother recorded a Ronnie Hinson song.

Album of the Year
Last year's winner: Driven (Crabb Family)
The Nominees: Be the Miracle (Mark Lowry), Blur the Lines (Crabb Family), Come Thirsty (Perrys), Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound), Give It Away (Gaither Vocal Band), God On the Mountain (Lynda Randle), Good to Be Free (Karen Peck & New River), Graceland (Mike Bowling Group), He Lives In Me (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver), Influenced & Inspired (Mike Bowling), It's So God (Brian Free & Assurance), Live In Music City (Legacy Five), My Favorite Place ( Greater Vision), Rise Above (Talley Trio)
Predicted winner: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Darkhorse: It's So God (Brian Free & Assurance), Come Thirsty (Perrys), Good to Be Free (Karen Peck & New River), Blur the Lines (Crabb Family)
Commentary: This is a hard category to predict because of so many nominees. Crabb Family won the award last year, but the Perrys won it the year before. I'm really just making a guess here with EHSSQ. It could go to anyone really.

Song of the Year
Last year's winner: "His Life For Mine" (Talley Trio)
The Nominees: Friend Til the End (Issacs), He Knows My Name (McRaes), He Saw It All (Booth Brothers), I Will Go On (Gaither Vocal Band), I Will Trust You Lord (McKameys), If It Takes a Valley (Brian Free & Assurance), In the Sky (Three Bridges), Just One Touch (Karen Peck & New River), Singing Heaven's Song (Hope's Call), Sky Full of Angels (TaRanda Greene), Table of the King (Ricky Atkinson & Compassion), The Debt (Talley Trio)
Predicted winner: He Saw It All (Booth Brothers)
Darkhorse: Sky Full of Angels (TaRanda Greene), The Debt (Talley Trio), Friend Til the End (Isaacs)
Commentary: Another good batch of songs - though some leave me scratching my head - like Table of the King or Just One Touch - which is almost two years old. If they wanted to nominate a KPNR song, Hold Me While I Cry would have been a much more appropriate choice. The Booth Brothers and Daryl Mosley should have no problem winning this one.

Artist of the Year
Last year's winner: Crabb Family
The Nominees: Booth Brothers, Brian Free & Assurance, Crabb Family, Dove Brothers Quartet, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, Perrys, Whisnants
Predicted winner: Crabb Family
Darkhorse: Booth Brothers, Perrys
Commentary: Crabb Family should have no problem taking this one again. Booth Brothers could take it - but we'll see.

Be sure and check out late Tuesday or early Wednesday to see all the winners of the 3rd annual Harmony Honors.

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