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.

Thankfulness 2006

I know this is a few days late, but I thought I would do this again. Back at my old blog, I would post things that I was thankful for in this genre that I work in. I want to do that again. While I feel like 2006 has been a pretty lackluster year for SG, I still have some things to be thankful for.

SSE clients - thanks for sticking with us through the thick and thin. We love you guys like our own family.

Karen Peck & New River, LordSong, Ruppes - thanks for being true ministers. You ministered to me more this year than you know. Thank you for being obedient.

Dove Brothers Quartet and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - thanks for showing SG that it CAN have a fun side.

Joyce Martin - thank you for continually being transparent about who you are and where God is taking you. You deserve like 15 gold stars.

Gold City, Brian Free & Assurance, Kingsmen, Anchormen - thanks for proving there is more to quartet music than 4 men and a piano. You all brought out some of the finest recordings this year.

Doug Riley, Warren Parker, Anthony Burger - for the lives your lived and the lives you continue to touch even now after your deaths.

Rebecca Peck & Steven Cheney - thanks for taking the time with a newbie.

Listeners of Southern Spin Radio - it's been a VERY good year. Thanks for hanging in there.

I'm sure I left out someone or something - but you all know I'm thankful for you. At least I hope so.

Whatever Happened to the “New Artist”?

First, I want to apologize for my lack of updates. July is typically my busiest month (along with September and April of every year), and updating my blog this month has been the least of my worries. For that, please accept my apologies.

My mother and I were discussing something the other day on our way to dinner. (We love to have dinner in our family. It's the best thing we know of.) We started talking about record labels, their responsibilities, and how they differ so much between SG and virtually everywhere else.

I posed the question: "What ever happened to new artist development?" I mean really, when is the last time that you can think of where a record label takes a chance on a virtually unknown artist who has the talent and the appeal and develops them into a full fledged fulltime recording artist? The only time, today, that a label will sign a new artist is if they already had established industry veterans as a part of the group (i.e. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound or Mercy's Mark), or the artist already has a booked concert schedule and sells 20K units a year on their own.

NEWS FLASH - that's not developing new talent. That's signing artists who already have a proven track record. I want labels to take chances on new artists like they did just a few short years ago. The two best examples that I can think of are CrossWay (Spring Hill) and LordSong (Daywind). Both artists were very new when the label scooped them up - helped them develop their career - and now both are extremely successful artists in today's Southern Gospel market.

Granted, some will say that the market just can't support labels developing new talent like that. Perhaps, but why not take the chance? I hear groups all the time that I think, "Man, if I were a record label, I would grab them up now and really develop them, throw them on a tour with Gold City and Karen Peck & New River, and make them a household name."

But alas, it doesn't happen anymore. Come on record labels - stand up and start taking more control of this industry like you should. Let's not make the news artist go extinct.

Singing News Fan Awards - who am I voting for?

You guys know me. I'm an awards show nut. Here I go again - predicting those darned awards shows. Here is who I am voting for and who I am predicting will win:

Male Singer: Scott Fowler, Ernie Haase, Ivan Parker, Arthur Rice, Gerald Wolfe
Correctly predicted: 3/5 (I predicted the snubbed Jason Crabb and Brian Free over Ernie Haase and Arthur Rice)
Who am I voting For?: Ernie Haase. Time for some new blood in this category.
Who will win?: No doubt about - Gerald Wolfe. He owns this category.

Female Singer: Peg McKamey Bean, Sheri Easter, Kim Hopper, Libbi Perry Stuffle, Susan Whisnant
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I was all over the place here to. I'm highly shocked that my predictions for Karen Peck Gooch and Lauren Talley failed to recieve a nomination. Peg McKamey Bean and Susan Whisnant both got in over those two. I'm always amazed at how a group that has been under the radar for the last couple of years like Jeff & Sheri Easter or the Hoppers can still rack up in these awards - but hey - I'm just one fan.)
Who am I voting for?: Sheri Easter. No reasoning other than I like her voice.
Who will win:? Libbi Perry Stuffle. Boring. I like Libbi, but I want some new blood in this category badly. I'm needing a Kim Lord win here really bad. TaRanda Greene would also be nice considering all the success she's having with "Sky Full of Angels."

Young Artist: Scott Inman, Eric Phillips, Lauren Talley, Amber Thompson, Jason Waldroup
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I incorrectly predicted Aaron Crabb and Joseph Habedank over Eric Phillips and Amber Thompson.)
Who am I voting for?: Scott Inman. He's coming along as a great little songwriter in his own right, so I'm giving him props for that.
Who will win:? I'm guessing Lauren Talley, but she and Waldroup have been handing this back and forth for a couple years now. Either one could take it. What is the age cut off for this? I would think that both Phillips and Waldroup are getting very close.

Horizon Individual: Michaela Brown, Wes Hampton, Matthew Holt, Josh Simpson, Josh Singletary
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (Anyone else seeing the 3/5 pattern here? I incorrectly predicted Crabb Family's great drummer Micah Schweinsberg and DBQ's Lance Jeffrey over Michaela Brown and Josh Singletary.)
Who am I voting for?: Michaela Brown. Love those Browns.
Who will win:? I'm going out on a limb here and saying Matthew Holt. Simpson could take it from him, but the Perrys seem to have the edge in the Singing News fans corner over Gold City.

Horizon Group: Browns, Crystal River, Hope's Call, LeFevre Quartet, Monument Quartet
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I left off Hope's Call and Browns because both have been on the ballot before either in Top 5 or Top 10, and I put First Love and Soul'd Out Quartet in their place. It was stupid I know - but I wasn't thinking with my Singing News fan brain.)
Who am I voting for?: Duh. Hope's Call.
Who will win:? This should be a five way battle the way I see it. Browns and Crystal River both have that industry buzz. Hope's Call has the chart and retail success, LeFevre Quartet has the name, and Monument Quartet has the veteran performers. I think ultimately it will be Monument Quartet. They've campaigned the hardest, and in the end, that usually always pays off. This is a tremendous group of artists though and any of them winning would be warranted in my eyes. (It should be noted that my company, SSE, has worked with 4 of the 5 nominees in the past year. This is a win for SSE! LOL!)

Tenor: Brian Free, Ernie Haase, David Sutton, Jason Waldroup, Archie Watkins
Correctly Predicted: 4/5. (I placed Steve Ladd here over Archie Watkins.)
Who am I voting for?: Brian Free - for the strengh of BFA's new recording alone
Who will win:? Ernie Haase. It's his to lose.

Lead: Scott Fowler, Arthur Rice, Ryan Seaton, Jonathan Wilburn, Gerald Wolfe
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (When will Loren Harris show up here? That guy is amazing. Anyway, I predicted him and Jason Crabb over Ryan Seaton and Arthur Rice.)
Who am I voting for?: Jonathan Wilburn. He's still got it.
Who will win:? Jonathan Wilburn. Like I said - he's still got it - now in his 10th year with the Gold City.

Baritone: Doug Anderson, Melton Campbell, Rodney Griffin, Scott Inman, Mark Trammell
Correctly Predicted: 2/5 (OUCH! I incorrectly predicted the industry's best baritone Daniel Riley along with Steve French and Scott Howard over Anderson, Campbell, and Inman.)
Who am I voting for?: Doug Anderson. Love me some Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.
Who will win:? Mark Trammell. Name recognition alone gets him in this category - and after all that's what it's all about.

Bass: Eric Bennett, Tim Duncan, Glenn Dustin, Mike Holcomb, Gene McDonald
Correctly Predicted: 4/5 (I incorrectly predicted Jeff Chapman over Mike Holcomb)
Who am I voting for?: Eric Bennett. He'll move anyone to tears.
Who will win:? Gene McDonald. He hasn't won in a couple of years, and he's once again due with the release of his solo album.

Alto: Sheri Easter, Connie Hopper, Libbi Perry Stuffle, Debra Talley, Susan Whisnant
Correctly Predicted: 5/5 (Woo hoo! My first 5/5!)
Who am I voting for?: Debra Talley. You don't get any better than Debra.
Who will win:? One of these days, Kim Lord will show up here. Anways, the only one who has never won this award is Susan Whisnant - but Libbi should have no problem winning this again.

Soprano: Karen Peck Gooch, TaRanda Greene, Kim Hopper, Charlotte Ritchie, Lauren Talley
Correctly Predicted: 4/5. (I missed TaRanda Greene in favor of the incomparable Kelly Bowling. Maybe next year Kelly!)
Who am I voting for?: Karen Peck Gooch. Gotta go with my first real favorite in SG.
Who will win:? With the Hoppers being pretty low profile the last year, we could see Talley, Ritchie, or Peck taking it this year. (BTW, I love seeing Talley here, because she's so not a soprano!) However, I think Kim Hopper will probably ultimately take it again.

Soloist: Mark Bishop, Mike Bowling, Michael Combs, Tony Gore, Ivan Parker
Correctly Predicted: 5/5
Who am I voting for?: Mike Bowling. The best in this category, IMHO.
Who will win:? Mark Bishop. Unfortunately, most people don't see Bowling as a soloist anymore with the advent of the Mike Bowling Group. Bishop should have no problem taking this again this year.

Trio: Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Mark Trammell Trio, Talley Trio
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I predicted the Whisnants and Karen Peck & New River over Mark Trammell Trio and Jeff & Sheri Easter.)
Who am I voting for?: Booth Brothers. No other group of these five has been more seen or talked about this year.
Who will win:? Greater Vision.

Mixed Group: Crabb Family, Hoppers, Isaacs, McKameys, Perrys
Correctly Predicted: 4/5 (In a gutsy move, I predicted the hugely popular Collingsworth Family over the McKameys. I'm still shocked they didn't get nominated.)
Who am I voting for?: Crabb Family. I still can't believe they haven't won this award yet.
Who will win:? Perrys. It's another boring and predictable award. Again, I absolutely love the Perrys, but these awards need some new blood to keep people's attention.

Traditional Quartet: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Inspirations, Kingdom Heirs, Legacy Five, Triumphant Quartet
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I missed Inspirations and Kingdom Heirs in favor of the hugely snubbed groups Gold City and Brian Free & Assurance)
Who am I voting for?: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Of the five groups listed - they are by far the most popular - and I want to recognize them for that.
Who will win:? Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. None of the other nominees even come close to their level of popularity right now.

Pianist: Roger Bennett, Martin Cook, Andrew Ishee, Jeff Stice, Roy Webb
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I predicted Steward Varnado and Justin Ellis over Martin Cook and Roy Webb)
Who am I voting for?: Andrew Ishee. I don't think there's a better piano player today.
Who will win:? Roger Bennett. He always has the edge in this category.

Musician: Roger Fortner, Mike Hopper, Sonya Isaacs, John Pfeifer, Tim Surrett
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I said Kreis French and Adam Crabb would show up here, but instead Mike Hopper and John Pfeifer did.)
Who am I voting for?: Sonya Isaacs. She's got the skills.
Who will win:? Tim Surrett. He seems to be a favorite here.

Band: Crabb Family, Isaacs, Hoppers, Kingdom Heirs, Primitive Quartet
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (Primitive Quartet and Hoppers edged out my predictions of Brian Free & Assurance and Kingsmen.)
Who am I voting for?: Crabb Family. There's no better band out there today.
Who will win:? Kingdom Heirs. This seems like about the only award this group ever wins.

Songwriter: Roger Bennett, Mark Bishop, Bill Gaither, Rodney Griffin, Squire Parsons
Correctly Predicted: 3/5 (I missed the "name-recognition for past hits only" Gaither and Parsons over two of the industry's most sought after songwriters Kyla Rowland and Gerald Crabb.)
Who am I voting for?: Mark Bishop. He's the most consistent writer to me of the five.
Who will win:? Rodney Griffin should have this award named after him at this point.

Favorite Artist Website: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Greater Vision, Inspirations, Legacy Five, Triumphant Quartet
Correctly Predicted: 1/5 (Here I thought the fans actually knew what a good website was. I guess I was wrong. The fans passed up quality pages from groups like Gold City, Crabb Family, Brian Free & Assurance and the Perrys over some truly bad sites. I only predicted Legacy Five correctly.)
Who am I voting for?: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Head and shoulders above the other 4.
Who will win:? I don't know? Greater Vision?

Album: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound), From the Smokies (Inspirations), My Favorite Place (Greater Vision), Remembering the Happy Goodmans (Perrys), Triumphant Quartet (Triumphant Quartet)
Correctly predicted: 3/5 (I missed albums by the Inspirations and Triumphant Quartet over extremely popular albums from the Crabb Family and Brian Free & Assurance.)
Who am I voting for?: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound). The best of the five.
Who will win?: Greater Vision. They could do nothing but scream an album and still win this.

Favorite Song: Do You Want To Be Forgiven (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound), Don't Let The Sandals Fool Ya (Triumphant Quartet), He Saw It All (Booth Brothers), Healed (Brian Free & Assurance), His Name Was John (Perrys), I'm Not Ashamed (Inspirations), New Day Dawning (Whisnants), Out Of My Darkness (Legacy Five), Paid In Full Through Jesus, Amen (Greater Vision), Shepherd's Call (Crabb Family)
Who am I voting for?: "He Saw It All" - Booth Brothers. It's made the biggest impact this past year.
Who will win?: "Out of My Darkness" - Legacy Five. I'm going out on a limb here and saying they win this one over favorites like Greater Vision or Inspirations. This song has really resonated with listeners this year.

Albums I’m Looking Forward To…

I'm looking forward to the following albums due out this summer or by NQC:

Hope's Call, Live to Love - due out this July
Mike Bowling Group, Graceland - street date 6/27
CrossWay, A Beautiful Thing - street date 7/25
Gold City, untitled (Michael English and Michael Sykes producing) - due out by NQC
LordSong, untitled - due out this summer
Dove Brothers Quartet, untitled (new Sonlite Records release) - due out this summer
Amazed, Just Gettin' Started (produced by Donna Beauvais) - due out by NQC
The Imperials, untitled - due out this summer
Karen Peck & New River, untitled - tentatively due out this fall
Talley Trio, Rise Above - due out very soon

NON-SG releases:

Mark Schultz, Broken & Beautiful
Nate Sallie, Ruined for Ordinary
Stacie Orrico, Beautiful Awakening
Anadara, Into the Unknown
Krystal Meyers, Dying For a Heart
Chris Tomlin, untitled
Kierra KiKi Sheard, This Is Me
FM Static, Critically Ashamed
Leeland, Sound of Melodies

SGN Music Awards Recap

Well - the last Tuesday of April has come and gone and now I'm exhausted. The SGN Music Awards Celebration was this past Tuesday, and words can not express how truly great an evening it was. Sure, there were some awards handed out, but more importantly, we had church. It seemed like all the songs were just appropriate for the evening.

While I was thoroughly impressed with all of the performers, there were a few stand outs. The Isaacs absolutely blew everyone out of the water with their accapella rendition of "Blessed Assurance." It was beautiful. Hope's Call's unplugged version of "You Are Loved" coupled with "Grace Falls Down" was another truly beautiful moment in the night. Karen Peck & New River tore it up on "Just One Touch", and The Ruppes sounded truly angelic on "Amazing Grace." Jason Crabb ended the night in a truly humble, Christ honoring fashion by performing "I'd Rather Have Jesus" with his sister Terah and Charlotte Ritchie.

However, probably the most talked about person after it was all said and done was my beautiful cohost Sondra Burnett. She had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand. The line about after that night - she had seen the Booth Brothers more than her own husband was pure ad libbing genius. Sondra - I tip my hat to you. You even made ME look good! You turned more than a few heads on Tuesday night!

I believe the thing that stuck out to me the most about the evening was just how much the industry and artists supported each other. There was more hooping and hollering during the multimedia from the artist section than anywhere else. Whether it was by giving Daniel Riley a standing ovation after winning Producer of the Year (Artist) with his brother Doug or showing their appreciation to big winners Booth Brothers or worshipping along with their friends while they were performing - it was quite a thing to watch. Every artist was genuinely happy for each other. That is the way it should be.

I believe the multimedia honoring those musicians who died this past year did its job. It was another truly special moment that ended with Lily Isaacs standing up in a standing ovation to honor their lives - soon the whole place was on their feet. I was honored to be a part of such a family based industry. Though we weren't related by blood - we truly were a family on Tuesday night.

Thank you to all of the artists and industry and fans who came out and supported the SGN Music Awards Celebration. It looks like we have to find a bigger venue next year, as the auditorium was standing room only by the time 7:00 pm rolled around. That's a problem that I'm more than happy to try and fix.

I do have to give a big special thanks to Jason Crabb and David Sikes for setting up and running sound for us. I never once saw David get frustrated or upset. He was a great example of a Christlike attitude all evening. Thank you David for being the best sound guy in the industry today.

Also - to Karen Peck - thanks for being a good sport about sitting in front of the projector! The bit with your shoes was hilarious!

Singing News Fan Awards - Predictions

Being such an awards freak that I am - here are my predictions for the Top 5 Ballot of the Singing News Fan Awards. Something in my gut tells me that we are going to see some new blood nominated and winning.

Male Singer
Most likely nominees: Jason Crabb, Scott Fowler, Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Gerald Wolfe
Don't count out: Mike Bowling, Ernie Haase, Eric Bennett
Commentary: Even though Parker had what was probably his most lackluster year, I don't see him leaving any time soon. Fowler is probably the least stable of all five nominees. I'd love to see some Mike Bowling in this category.

Favorite Female Singer
Most likely nominees: Sheri Easter, Karen Peck Gooch, Kim Hopper, Libbi Perry Stuffle, Lauren Talley
Don't count out: Debra Talley, Kelly Bowling, Connie Hopper
Commentary: This is definitely the hardest category to pick. Gooch was not a nominee last year but has been a staple in the category for years, and with the success of "Just One Touch", she should be a shoe-in this year. Any of the eight I have listed her could end up in the category. I don't see Peg McKamey making it through.

Young Artist
Most likely nominees: Aaron Crabb, Joseph Habedank, Scott Inman, Lauren Talley, Jason Waldroup
Don't count out: Amber Thompson
Commentary: Same names every year. I'm throwing a Crabb in this year, because this is their year to walk away with a lot of awards.

Horizon Individual
Most likely nominees: Wes Hampton, Matthew Holt, Lance Jeffrey, Micah Schweinsberg, Josh Simpson
Don't count out: Tracy Crouch, Michaela Brown, Dallas Rogers
Commentary: Another very close category. Historically, the Dixie Echoes have always done well in the awards, but I just think there are two many other A level new talent surfacing. Hampton should have no problem walking away with this award like David Phelps did.

Horizon Group
Most likely nominees: Crystal River, First Love, LeFevre Quartet, Monument Quartet, Soul'd Out Quartet
Don't count out: Browns, Beloved, Hope's Call, Eighth Day, Skyline Boys
Commentary: Honestly, any of these ten could show up. I'm just looking at who seems to be the biggest "campaigners". Hope's Call is the most deserving of all the nominees, but will probably fail to recieve a nomination due to lack of self promotion.

Tenor
Most likely nominees: Brian Free, Ernie Haase, Steve Ladd, David Sutton, Jason Waldroup
Don't count out: Billy Hodges, John Rulapaugh, Frank Seamans, Archie Watkins
Commentary: This category seems pretty predictable. Free, Haase, and Waldroup are locks, with Sutton a more than likely. Ladd is the only shaky nominee here, but I think he's had enough time with Gold City to earn himself a place here. I would say that Rulapaugh would be the most likely to take that fifth slot if Ladd doesn't make it.

Lead
Most likely nominees: Jason Crabb, Scott Fowler, Loren Harris, Jonathan Wilburn, Gerald Wolfe
Don't count out: Arthur Rice, Ryan Seaton, Bill Shivers
Commentary: Since these aren't accomplishment based, I have to regretfully put Shivers in the "don't count out" section. I think Loren Harris and Arthur Rice could be interchangeable here.

Baritone
Most likely nominees: Steve French, Rodney Griffin, Scott Howard, Daniel Riley, Mark Trammell
Don't count out: Doug Anderson, Joseph Habedank, Derrick Selph
Commentary: Another fairly easy category to predict. Daniel Riley deserves an award. Someone give it to him!!!!

Bass
Most likely nominees: Eric Bennett, Jeff Chapman, Tim Duncan, Glen Dustin, Gene McDonald
Don't count out: Mike Holcomb, Ray Dean Reese, Tracy Stuffle
Commentary: This category is fairly unpredictable every year. Usually it's the same 8 or 9 bass singers recognized, but it's never the same five every year. Where's Bill Gaither? LOL

Alto
Most likely nominees: Sheri Easter, Connie Hopper, Libbi Stuffle, Debra Talley, Susan Whisnant
Don't count out: Kim Lord, Terah Crabb Penhollow
Commentary: KIM LORD, KIM LORD, KIM LORD, KIM LORD!!!! (That's all I have to say.)

Soprano
Most likely nominees: Kelly Bowling, Karen Peck Gooch, Kim Hopper, Charlotte Ritchiem, Lauren Talley
Don't count out: Connie Fortner, TaRanda Greene, Annie McRae
Commentary: ANNIE MCRAE, ANNIE MCRAE, ANNIE MCRAE, ANNIE MCRAE!!!! (Again, all I have to say.)

Soloist
Most likely nominees: Mark Bishop, Mike Bowling, Michael Combs, Tony Gore, Ivan Parker
Don't count out: no one
Commentary: Sorry other five nominees, but these five will run away with it. Love you're ministry though!

Trio
Most likely nominees: Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Karen Peck & New River, Talley Trio, Whisnants
Don't count out: Jeff & Sheri Easter, LordSong, Mark Trammell Trio
Commentary: I think LordSong has a semi-decent shot of ending up here this year, but it's gonna be tough. The Whisnants are campaigning machines, so they are a lock, as well as Greater Vision. Booth Brothers, in a perfect world, should be sweeping these awards. Mark Trammell Trio usually gets in on name recognition alone - but isn't that really what these awards are all about?

Mixed Quartet
Most likely nominees: Collingsworth Family, Crabb Family, Hoppers, Isaacs, Perrys
Don't count out: McKameys, Hoskins Family
Commentary: I know - it's a gutsy move, but the Collingsworth Family has a fan base the size of the populus of the entire state of Texas. I'm not exaggerating.

Traditional Quartet
Most likely nominees: Brian Free & Assurance, Gold City, Legacy Five, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Triumphant Quartet
Don't count out: Dove Brothers, Kingdom Heirs, Inspirations, Kingsmen
Commentary: This is definitely the hardest category to pick. BF&A had too good a year to not show up here, and Gold City and EH&SSQ are still at the top. I'd say Dove Brothers Quartet are next in line if one of these don't make it. They've had a great year, consistently in front of the press and their music has been all over the airwaves. I hope they can pull it off again.

Pianist
Most likely nominees: Roger Bennett, Justin Ellis, Andrew Ishee, Jeff Stice, Stewart Varnado
Don't count out: Martin Cook, Roy Webb
Commentary: Justin Ellis all the way - but we all know Roger's got it in the bag - as he should with the way he's touched base with his fans so frequently this past year.

Musician
Most likely nominees: Adam Crabb, Roger Fortner, Kreis French, Sonya Isaacs, Tim Surrett
Don't count out: Ricky Free, Mike Hopper, Dennis Murphy, Randy Shelnut, Jr.
Commentary: This category is all over the place, and it's any of these 9 musician's game.

Band
Most likely nominees: Brian Free & Assurance. Crabb Family, Isaacs, Kingdom Heirs, Kingsmen
Don't count out: Dixie Echoes, Inspirations
Commentary: BF&A is the only group here who is on shaky ground. Dixie Echoes would be next in line to take their place.

Album
Most likely nominees: It's So God - Brian Free & Assurance, Live At Brooklyn Tabernacle - Crabb Family, My Favorite Place - Greater Vision, Remembering the Happy Goodmans - Perrys, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Don't count out: From the Smokies - Inspirations, New Day Dawning - Whisnants, Triumphant Quartet - Triumphant Quartet
Commentary: Pretty easy category. Inspirations have a knack for showing up here for some reason, but I'm predicting that won't happen this year.

Songwriter
Most likely nominees: Roger Bennett, Mark Bishop, Gerald Crabb, Rodney Griffin, Kyla Rowland
Don't count out: Mike Bowling, Aaron Crabb, Scott Inman
Commentary: Another very easy category to predict. Roger Bennett's big song of the year - "Out of My Darkness" seems to be resonating with fans.

Favorite Artist Website
Most likely nominees: Brian Free & Assurance, Crabb Family, Gold City, Legacy Five, Perrys
Don't count out: Greater Vision, Inspirations, Kingdom Heirs, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Triumphant Quartet
Commentary: What a weird category for the Singing News. Some of these webpages have no business being here, but I'm going to refrain from posting who's site really is not the best.


Favorite Southern Gospel Song
Do You Want To Be Forgiven - Signature Sound
Don't Let The Sandals Fool Ya - Triumphant Quartet
He Saw It All- Booth Brothers
Healed - Brian Free & Assurance
His Name Was John - Perrys
I'm Not Ashamed - Inspirations
New Day Dawning - Whisnants
Out Of My Darkness - Legacy Five
Paid In Full Through Jesus, Amen - Greater Vision
Shepherd's Call - Crabb Family
Commentary: I just don't understand why some of these songs are here. "His Name Was John"? No thanks. "I'm Not Ashamed". That's nice, but it doesn't make you a great song. Oh well, you win some you lose some.

GMA Music Week (or Knowing When It’s Time to Be Quiet)

GMA Music Week was a blast as usual this year. It was another absolutely crazy year with lots and lots of walking up and down hills, and smoozing with industry people, and getting more tired by the minute. I loved it. I got some interviews this week with some of my clients - The Imperials, Hope's Call, Valor, HisSong, Johnny Minick, and - believe it or not - Sunday Edition.

The SGMG's Southern Gospel Celebration was a lot of fun. Some knock out performances came from - of course - the Crabb Family. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound stole the show. Regardless of how you feel about their hair or their ties or their moves on stage - whatever "it factor" is - this group's got it. While I'm not a huge fan of "Long As I Got King Jesus" - Brian Free & Assurance knocked it out of the park. My biggest excitement over the night comes over the Mike Bowling Group. Folks, this group is going to be HOT. They were totally awesome. If you get a chance to hear them this year - don't miss it. Everyone else also did fantastic - but those were the groups that really stuck out to me that evening.

I do want to talk about something else though. For those of you who don't get a chance to make it to this thing every year - let me tell you about something. They put the chairs about three quarters back in the ballroom where the concert is held for GMA Week. Instead of coming in and sitting down and listening - half of the audience is standing in the back of the ballroom talking - LOUDLY. The thing about it is that its not fans doing it - it's our industry professionals doing it. They are talking so loud, that you can hear them talking over the music - and that is already pretty dang loud. Not only that - but the host - Chonda Pierce and a couple artists - ask them to please be quiet I know at least three times during the course of a two hour concert, and it doesn't even phase them.

WAKE UP INDUSTRY. Way to make Southern Gospel look bad. You were embarassing to the genre and to those of us that work in the industry that were trying to be a support to the artists performing and were listening to the concert. You did nothing but hurt us in the eyes of a Gospel music community that already thinks we're irrelevant in today's musical landscape and to the fans that came to visit.

You know what - this isn't the first year that this has happened - it's the third. My plea goes out to Judy Nelon and Clarke Beasley and whoever else is in charge of this thing to do something about it. It's got to end.

The industry professionals who were standing back there talking the whole time should be ashamed of themselves.

American Idol Update - 3/14

Other than performances from Chris, Katharine, and Taylor - I was pretty underwhelmed tonight. Even my boy Elliott and my girl Mandisa failed to really deliver in my eyes.

I mean - there were no excruciating performances, other than Kellie, tonight, but everything was just kind of there. Melissa was shaky - and Bucky surprised me with a decent performance.

Top 12:

1. Taylor
2. Chris
3. Katharine
4. Mandisa
5. Paris
6. Elliott
7. Bucky
8. Lisa
9. Kevin
10. Ace
11. Melissa
12. Kellie

This is hard picking the bottom three - but I'm going to go with Kevin, Melissa, and Lisa - with Melissa going home.

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