NQC 2010 Breakdown

I was going to do this earlier, but I decided to wait till the schedule was more settled, as it usually is not as complete when it is first posted. A couple thoughts:

1. With the absence of the Singing News Fan Awards this year, Saturday night has been opened up to allow more slots for groups. Count me among those pleased with the move to some extent; as much as I enjoy seeing who won, the Fan Awards last year really dragged. Many of the people around me just got up and left after a while. I wonder, with Saturday night giving more slots, if some of the groups that only got about eight minutes last year (Soul'd Out, LeFevre Quartet, etc.) will get a fuller set.

2. Speaking of the groups that got eight minutes, I wonder if they will still be doing the "three group system" they used last year. Three groups would come sing together, each group did their own set, and then they would come back together again. For most groups, their sets were still the same amount of time they would have had usually, but for groups like those I mentioned earlier, the sets were very abbreviated.

3. The Melody Boys Quartet are back on mainstage this year, getting a Friday night slot. There are new additions to the schedule as well, such as Jason Crabb, Liberty Quartet, The Ball Brothers, and Dailey & Vincent, all of whom deserve spots. The Anchormen have also been invited back on after last year's absence, and as DBM noted, they have made great strides in their sound. Maybe now that these groups are back on, The Nelons can make a return as well, at least for one night. The current group has a good sound, from what I have heard of them, and a group with a history like The Nelons deserves at least one night.

CD Review: Paid In Full - No Trace of Rain

Rating: 4 stars

Producers: Woody Wright, David Staton, and Gus Gaches
Label: Song Garden Music Group
Website: www.paidinfull.net

Song List: “Truth Be Told,” “I Go To Jesus,” “This Is The Day,” “Praise Makes The Walls Come Down,” “Lead On,” “My Soul Is Firmly Anchored,” “Waiting For The Morning,” “Light Doesn’t Make A Sound,” “It Takes Faith,” “Faith Moves A Mountain,” and “The Other Side”

Paid In Full is a trio that is steadily making a name for themselves in Southern Gospel music. They won the Horizon Group award in 2007, and this latest effort from them has been two years in the making. After thoroughly listening to the project, it's safe to say that those two years paid off.

As my co-blogger Jeremy Bell put it, this project starts off like a Phillips, Craig & Dean CD, and is Ponder, Sykes, & Wright the rest of the way. The opening track, "Let The Truth Be Told," does sound like it came from the PC&D songbook, and is one of the better songs on the CD. Other highlights include "My Soul Is Firmly Anchored," a song featured on Legacy Five's latest project that gets a driving country treatment and Gene McDonald on guest bass vocals, "Faith Moved A Mountain," a touching country ballad, and "The Other Side," the powerful closing track that has an understated sound that highlights Lance Moore's smooth vocals. Each member contributes strong solos to the album as well, with Brock White featured on "Faith Moved A Mountain," and Bradley Littlejohn on "Light Doesn't Make A Sound." Several of the tracks come from the pens of the group members.

Bottom line: While the project doesn't completely bowl me over, it features strong performances and harmonies throughout. On the technical side, it is also very well produced. Paid In Full can be very proud of No Trace of Rain

Introducing The Virginia Gospel Music Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

February 1, 2010

For More Information Contact: Mike Cook
mike@joyfm.org

VA GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION BRINGS TOGETHER ARTISTS, AND FANS

LYNCHBURG, VA, February 1, 2010 – The VA Gospel Music Association has been established to promote Southern Gospel, Country Gospel, and Bluegrass Gospel music in VA.

“We started a web site in 2007 to promote Southern gospel concerts and reach a younger fan base.” said Jeremy Bell, co-founder and webmaster.  The web site, www.vasoutherngospel.com, has concert dates, photos from recent shows, and links to artist web sites and industry information.  In November 2008, a blog was added in partnership with Aaron Swain of http://swainsmusings.blogspot.com/, one of the top bloggers in the Southern Gospel industry.

“When we began receiving Emails and calls from promoters and artists on a regular basis, we knew it was time to create an association to bring everyone together” adds co-founder Mike Cook who serves as afternoon host for Joy FM WTTX in Central VA.

The VGMA will be the hub for fans, artists, promoters, gospel radio stations and other media professionals that support the gospel music industry in VA.  The association will begin by using the current web site and adding links to promoters throughout VA and a place where fans can join free by entering their Email address.  A new web site will be created by fourth quarter 2010.  

For More information visit www.vasoutherngospel.com

Dixie Echoes Hire New Bass Singer

The Dixie Echoes have a bass singer once again, and they've hired nineteen year old Trent Adams. (h/t, Daniel Mount) Here's the press release from the Singing News:

Pensacola, FL - The Dixie Echoes are pleased to announce their new bass vocalist, Trent Adams. Trent, 19, hails from Ashland, Alabama. His first concert will be on February 11, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We believe that Trent is one of the best young bass singers and we are excited that he has accepted the offer to become part of the Dixie Echoes. Trent is an exceptional young bass singer, and we feel that our fans will love his smooth bass voice and friendly personality.
Since the announcement of the departure of Pat Barker, we have been overwhelmed with the response we have received. While we auditioned several fantastic bass singers for the position, we truly feel the addition of Trent to the Dixie Echoes is the right choice. We would like to thank everyone for their interest.
Joining the Dixie Echoes family along with Trent will be his wife, Jessica, and their daughter, Anzlee. Please join us in welcoming this young family. We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for the Dixie Echoes in our 50th year of ministry. Please remember to keep us in your prayers.

Adams is one of the best up-and-coming basses in the business, and the Dixie Echoes have made an excellent hire here. He has a good amount of experience as well, singing stints with groups such as Hope's Journey, The Old Paths, and Ron Blackwood & The Blackwood Quartet. Looking forward to hearing his sound with the Dixie Echoes.

Legacy Five With Gus Gaches

There have been several videos of the new L5 lineup posted on Youtube, but this is one of the best quality ones as of now. Here is the group singing a song that is a true indicator of how an L5 tenor will fit: I Found Grace.

New Gaither Vocal Band CD

According to a Wes Hampton facebook post, the Gaither Vocal Band has completed vocals on 9 songs for a new CD. The untitled CD should have a total of 14 songs and is due out probably early summer. I am personally looking forward to some new material becuase I thought there would be more on the 2 CD / DVD combo that was just released.

Priority Changes Name Back To LeFevre Quartet

And just when I'd gotten used to calling them Priority! From a press release at the Singing News:

There is much to be said about the heritage of a name. When thinking of Southern Gospel Music, some of the first family names that come to mind are The Speer Family, The Goodmans, The Nelons and The LeFevres, all legendary in our Industry.
Mike LeFevre, nephew of Eva Mae LeFevre, has been involved in Southern Gospel Music since his days with the legendary Gold City. In 2005, Mike LeFevre, along with five other incredibly talented young men, brought forth a new quartet sound called The LeFevre Quaret. Just one year after forming The LeFevre Quartet, fans voted them the 2006 Horizon Group of the Year at the Singing News Fan Awards. In 2007, they were voted "Breakthrough Artist Of The Year" at the SGN Awards. Their hit song, "Big Mighty God" was nominated for Southern Gospel Song of The Year at the 2009 Dove Awards.
The question has been asked, "So why would a group who has had such an impact on the Gospel Music scene with such wide acceptance change their name?" The answer: With the passing of Eva Mae LeFevre, members of the LeFevre family expressed their desire to retire their legendary name in Gospel Music, so The LeFevre Quartet quietly became Priority.
Since signing with BSA, Beckie Simmons, along with encouragement from their peers, began the process of reconsidering going back to their original family name. Maurice LeFevre addresses the issue with his statement, "I didn't realize until Mom's passing last May how quickly new generations forget, as some of my own children came to me and said they had no idea that their grandparents had accomplished so much in life. Mylon and I are absolutely and completely supportive of Mike and his group and the work they are doing for our Lord and Saviour. Our initial reservations concerned quality; however, after hearing the group we could not be more in tune. What a great sound!" Thus, the decision was confirmed to continue the legacy of the LeFevre name. Priority is now being retired and The LeFevre Quartet reborn.
BSA/Beckie Simmons Agency has entered into an exclusive booking agreement with The LeFevre Quartet. Beckie Simmons adds, "We are excited about adding The LeFevre Quartet to the BSA family! The sound of this group is superb plus having a live band represents some of the best in Southern Gospel Music. I am so happy to be part of their future and keeping the LeFevre heritage alive."
For further information please visit www.bsaworld.com.

Glad to see that the group can have their original name again. More people associate Mike LeFevre with the LeFevre Quartet name rather than the Priority name, which will give the group better recognition.