I learned recently that another musician friend was called home – Doug Dillard (1937-2012).
It has been nearly 50 years since the Darlings crawled up onto Briscoe Darling’s truck and rode down from the hills into Mayberry. With them were sister Charlene (Maggie Peterson) and all the Darling boys (The Dillards: Rodney Dillard, guitar; Doug Dillard, banjo; Mitch Jayne, bass; and Dean Webb, mandolin) with their instruments in hand.
In the early part of my music career in Nashville, one of the biggest stars of the industry was at the top of his career – Kenny Rogers. Now after 54 years in the business, he continues to thrill audiences and record some wonderful music.
Kenny has just combined forces with Warner Bros. Records to continue his career with the label that holds much of his catalog.
There was an amazing gathering of talent that came together to rejoice their way through the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards in Atlanta recently.
I was so pleased to see many of my friends who are industry veterans finally receive recognition for the work.
Karen Peck and New River garnered their first two Dove awards with “Good Things Are Happening” as Country Recorded Song of the Year and “Reach Out” for Southern Gospel Album of the Year. Visit (http://www.
It is amazing how a sight, a sound or a smell can carry you in your mind’s eye to some distant place and time.
I came upon a patch of white daisies this week as I was walking along the back road in my hometown.
All of a sudden I was four years old again walking along the dirt footpath that led by my grandparent’s farmhouse. I bent over picking the very best flowers from the patch to create three bouquets, one each for my mom – Pearl, my Grandma Kitty and my Aunt Norma Jean.
Read more
As we watch television classics, there are many character actors that have made their marks and found niches that have allowed them to keep in front of the American public for years and years.
One of those actors was introduced to the American television family in the 1960s.
How many times have you flipped through the 70 or so channels which most basic subscribers receive and said, “There’s nothing on.”
Just imagine — all these choices, but nothing, absolutely nothing to watch.
As an entertainer you spend a lot of nights on the road stopping to catch some rest or a shower in every kind of hotel imaginable along the way.
A few weeks ago as I had come down from an overnight stay to partake of the continental breakfast, I bumped into another gospel music mainstay whose unmarked bus I noticed parked outside when we arrived in the early morning hours.
It was none other than Grammy ® winner Jason Crabb. I have known Jason for several years and enjoy his music as well as his ministry. Some years ago his preaching helped me to let go of some pain that I could not seem to leave laying upon the altar no matter how hard I tried.
The Crabb Family took the gospel music industry by storm a few years ago producing numerous Top 10 hits and 16 number one hits. After splitting into several ministries, came back together in the last year or so entertaining again. The Crabb Family took home 11 GMA DOVE Awards and garnered three GRAMMY® nominations.
Their latest CD “Together Again” from Gaither Music Group took the #1 position on the Southern Gospel sales chart when it came out a few weeks ago. Jason produced the project that landed the #6 position on the contemporary Christian sales chart and at #123 on the BILLBOARD Top 200 list when it debuted.
“This is really an encouragement to us,” Jason said. “As a family, to be back in the studio and back on stage for a limited run has been a blast. To see others embrace us and get excited about new music from us, well, that is an honor and it inspires us. “
The Crabb Family is siblings Jason, Adam, Aaron, Kelly and Terah.
“We are all doing what we do today because of the support of countless friends and fans over the years. We are reminded yet again of their encouragement and love to us. We appreciate them so much.”
With the announcement of the Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominees recently, Jason saw the addition of multiple new nominations for his list of accomplishments.
Jason’s nominations include: Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Country Recorded Song of the Year with “Why Me”, Southern Gospel Song of the Year with “If There Ever Was a Time” by the Crabb Family, Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year with “I Saw the Light”, Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year with “I’d Rather Have Jesus”, Southern Gospel Album of the Year with “The Song Lives On” and Long Form Music Video of the Year for “The Song Lives On.”
Jason’s “Who Am I,” written by my late old friend Rusty Goodman is also nominated in the Song of the Year.
“I’m just blown away,” Jason said. “My latest release, The Song Lives On, is a project I’d always dreamed of recording. I wanted to go back to my roots…back to the church where I grew up singing. To see the songs I sang in a little country church be honored in this way is special. This album is something really dear to my heart. I am grateful to the three B’s—Bill Gaither, Barry Jennings and Bill Carter — for making this dream a reality for me.”
You can find Jason’s and the Crabb Family’s latest recordings online and at retail outlets.
For further information regarding Jason Crabb, visit www.jasoncrabb.com. For further information regarding the Crabb Family, visit www.thecrabbfamily.com.
When I think of movies of the last 30 years, some that rise to the top of the list are “The Big Chill,” “The Untouchables,” “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams,” “Dances with Wolves,” “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “The Bodyguard,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Tin Cup,” “The Postman,” “Thirteen Days,” “Open Range,” “The Guardian” and “Swing Vote.”
The common thread of these films is an actor who has made a tremendous mark on cinema history – Academy Award-winner Kevin Costner.
With the recent passing of Whitney Houston, I could not help but be reminded of “The Bodyguard,” the movie in which they co-starred in 1992 and the impact that movie had.
Kevin continues to make strides in film with a new three-part miniseries coming out on the History Channel on Memorial Day 2012 starring with Bill Paxton in “Hatfields & McCoys.”
I have seen the trailer for this portrayal of the American family fued that has become legendary, it will likely be a real barn burner as the old saying goes.
A few years ago, Kevin’s wife Christine encouraged him to reconnect with his musical passion and he co-founded his rock and country band by bringing together two of his 1980s bandmates from Roving Boy – songwriter John Coinman and bassist Blair Forward.
Now they work with Larry Cobb on drums, Park Chisolm singing vocals and playing guitar, Teddy Morgan playing lead guitar and producing. Bobby Yang, Roddy Chong and Luke Bulla rotate with the band playing fiddle.
Kevin said he approaches his musical journey purposefully.
“I always thought that music could build a stronger, more personal moment with people,” he said. “It could create an opportunity for genuine exchange much greater than a movie, TV interview or magazine.”
The revitalized musical passion has taken Kevin around the world performing in Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, and the U.S.
He described his performances in this way – “It would be real, full of mistakes and without apology. But most of all, there would be a chance to have some fun.”
Their first CD “Untold Truths” was released by Universal Records in 2008 and that was followed by “Turn It On” launched in Europe on Edel Records. His latest release “From Where I Stand” on Edel Records came out in 2011.
Kevin and his band feature all original material on their stage shows and are now touring across the United States and Canada. They also share their time performing for the USO and for various charitable causes between their paying gigs.
If you would like to see if they are coming your way or find out how to get one of his recordings, visit www.kevincostnermodernwest.com
When he came on the music scene years ago, he was heralded as part of the wave of traditionalists that were taking the music industry by storm.
His voice combined with solid country arrangements ushered him into the hearts of true country music fans.
One of the most prolific groups in country music history also shares one of the longest tenures in the business – The Oak Ridge Boys.
The group actually began as the Oak Ridge Quartet a gospel offshoot of Georgian Wally Fowler’s Georgia Clodhoppers.
They were a regular part of the Grand Ole Opry ® in the 1940s and Wally helped to foster the all night sings concept as he carried the music in to large auditoriums around the country.
He sold the group to Smitty Gatlin in the 1960s and the group eventually changed its name from quartet to boys while featuring some of the field’s greatest singers such as Willy Winn, Gary McSpadden, Jim Hamill, and Herman Harper.
The group was one of the best known on the gospel music circuit of the 1960s and 70s.
Duane Allen and William Lee Golden became part of the lineup and with the additions of Richard Sterban and Joe Bonsall in the 1970s; the group known around the world took shape.
It was at the urging of Roy Clark’s manager Jim Halsey, they chose to step into country music. Initially, the move distanced the group from its established gospel audience.
Many who are exclusively familiar with their post 1974s career transition to country music may only know them for their songs such as “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue” and “Ya’ll Come Back Saloon.”
Because of their wide platform, they continued sharing the gospel music sound around the world in concerts and recordings.
It is for the impact that the group had to carry the stylings of Southern gospel music to a wider audience due to that bold choice to come to country music that they will be honored this year with the 2012 James D. Vaughan Impact Award on Oct. 3 during a special ceremony at Dollywood at the Southern Gospel Music Association’s (SGMA) annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Singing News Fan Awards.
“It is a huge honor for The Oak Ridge Boys to be presented with the James D. Vaughan Impact Award,” said Duane Allen, lead singer for the Oaks. “Southern style gospel music is the foundation of harmony, which is the sound of The Oak Ridge Boys. We all grew up loving the great gospel quartets and gospel music. We are very humbled to have been chosen to receive this award and look forward to its presentation.”
Group members Duane Allen, William Golden, Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban will attend to accept the award, named in honor of James D. Vaughan, a Southern gospel music pioneer and one of the genre’s founders.
Past recipients include Bill Gaither, James Blackwood, Les Beasley, Bob Brumley, Mosie Lister, Paul Heil, Eva Mae LeFevre, J.G. Whitfield, Lari Goss, BarbaraMandrell, Dolly Parton and the Statler Brothers.
“The name Oak Ridge has long been associated with gospel music,” said Charlie Waller, SGMA Executive Director. “Even today the Oaks are still delivering the gospel sound to their audiences in their own inimitable fashion.
“Their endeavors to persevere have not gone unnoticed,” he said. “Their rich gospel music legacy makes us proud to honor them with the James D. Vaughan Impact Award.”
The Oak Ridge Boys enjoyed 25 top ten singles, including 13 number one hits while continuing to tour and record today, he said.
Their most popular gospel songs included “I Know,” “King Jesus” and the ever popular, “Jesus Is Coming Soon,” written by SGMA Hall of Fame member, the late R.E. Winsett, according to Waller.
The SGMA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony/Singing News Fan Awards are Oct. 3, 2012 at DP’s Celebrity Theatre at Dollywood, home of the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame.
Seating is reserved, and tickets are $75 ($55 for Dollywood season pass holders) and include one-day Dollywood admission, parking and lunch as well as Dollywood’s more than 40 rides, shows and attractions.
Tickets go on sale March 1 and must be purchased in advance by calling the SGMA office at (865) 908-4040.
The SGMA is a non-profit organization that maintains the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame, the only facility honoring Southern gospel music and dedicated to the historic preservation of the genre’s accomplishments, both for the music and the people. Museum hours coincide with Dollywood’s operating schedule. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information about the museum or its inductees, visit www.sgma.org.
