UGA’s prayers and condolences go out to Christopher “Play” Martin, who recently lost his mother, Delle Regina Martin. Nationally known to hip hop music and movie fans as Play from rap and acting duo Kid & Play, Martin is now recognized as a major player in Holy Hip Hop, and most recently directed and produced the groundbreaking documentary “Holy Hip Hop The Movie”. Homegoing services for Ms. Martin will be held January 30, 2007. Until that time, please keep Christopher Martin and his family in your prayers.

Nashville, TN - A song as simple as a lullaby with the power to revolutionize a life–that’s the innovative concept behind “The Salvation Poem,” a song featured on Matt and Sherry McPherson’s new album Slow Down, which released January 16, 2007, on Autumn Records. This poignant song is touching hearts with its poetic rendering of the salvation prayer that is easy to memorize for both believers and seekers alike. “The concept came to me from what I know of kids’ poems and songs,” says songwriter Matt McPherson. “I could offer you a million dollars to forget ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb,’ and you couldn’t do it! I thought, ‘What if we could teach the world a poem that was the salvation prayer?’”
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Nashville, TN - Strobie Records is pleased to announce that today, January 30, 2007, marks the release of Dream Again, legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy’s first new vocal CD of original compositions in six years. Leaving behind the electric guitars of JAMMED! and the improvisational elements of Roundabout, Keaggy wanted to give the music of Dream Again more of a homespun feel. To that end, he has paired very personal, insightful lyrics with acoustic arrangements that lend an intimate feeling to the entire project. The result is an album that is intensely close to Keaggy’s heart.
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NASHVILLE, TN…January 30, 2007…Fans will get a live taste of the February 20th release from TobyMac on the upcoming “Portable Sounds” tour starting March 15, 2007. The upcoming tour will also be featuring the hot line-up of Thousand Foot Krutch, Building 429, and Family Force 5. With all three acts releasing new music in 2007, the “Portable Sounds” tour will bring a fresh new sound to the 19-city tour (dates below).
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NASHVILLE, TN…January 18, 2007…America met MANDISA when she stepped into the national spotlight as a standout contestant on the fifth season of Fox’s mega-hit show “American Idol.” This spring and summer they will get to know her even better when she releases her debut album (EMI/Sparrow) and book (Tyndale House) in May and June.

Produced by Shaun Shankel (Destiny’s Child, Kimberly Locke), Doubledutch—Robert Marvin and Josiah Bell (tobyMac, Mat Kearney), as well as others to be announced, Mandisa’s national debut is scheduled for release this May and will feature songs that reflect her personal journey, struggles, success as well as her contagious joy and passionate heart. Mandisa’s solo debut will showcase the talent that captured hearts on “American Idol” as well as super star guest coach Barry Manilow.
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( Nashville , Tenn. ) January 18, 2007 - Word Records’ popular acoustic-rock act, Building 429, finished out 2006 with a trip to Germany where they ministered to American soldiers on German military bases, in addition to playing several shows throughout the country.

In December, Building 429 was featured at the 27th annual Christian Rock Night in Ennepetal , Germany along with Tree 63, Thousand Foot Krutch, RED, Decyfer Down and local bands such as Saphena, Crushead and Allee der Kosmonauten. The band also performed at the Heidelberg , Hanau and Baumholder US Army installations. The performances ranged from a Sunday morning worship service to a welcome home event in Baumholder for over 4,500 troops returning from Iraq . Building 429 was also invited to spend time with the troops and their families while in Germany .

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NASHVILLE, TN…January 24, 2007…Flicker Records announces the formation of the label’s official Podcast on iTunes. The Flicker Podcast will feature exclusive interviews with the labels’ artists as well as all access music previews, tour information and an in-depth, candid look into the lives of the bands.

Debuting the Flicker Podcast, NEVERTHELESS talks with Troy Vest, VP Marketing and Artist Development for Flicker, and updates the fans on what has happened with the band since their acclaimed debut in 2006 (“Live Like We’re Alive”). They chat it up about everything from the making of their music video “The Real” to talking about recording their project in Florida with famed producer James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Dashboard Confessional).

To be in the know with the rock artists, subscribe to the free, informative Flicker Podcast on iTunes or visit the Flicker Website (http://www.flickerrecords.com/index.php).
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Carlos Lezama, who founded the West Indian Carnival Parade in Brooklyn
back in the 1960s, died yesterday at Kings County Hospital at 83.
Lezama was born in Trinidad and had participated in the West Indian Carnival
in Harlem when he immigrated to the United States. Then Lezama, along with
friend Rufus Goring, brought the parade to Brooklyn. The parade has
evolved from a five block affair to being the city’s biggest parade.
The vibrant gathering, held on the first Monday of September, attracts
about 2 million spectators and participants in colorful garb - see these
photographs of last year’s parade from ultraclay!.

Lezama had also worked for the MTA as a machinist. Mayor Ed Koch told
the AP, “[Lezama] was someone who had a dream and saw it fulfilled.
This was on his mind more than trains.” And Lezama’s daughter, Yolanda
Lezama-Clark (who is also the president of the West Indian American Day
Carnival Association), said, “Throughout our lives, my siblings, as
well as my mother, have been privileged to share my father with the millions
who are part of the carnival family. I am grateful that he has left an
impressive legacy of which we all as Caribbean people can be proud.”

A viewing and funeral for Lezama will take place this Friday. More
information at the WIADCA obituary for Lezama.

Nashville, TN ­ Acclaimed gospel recording artist and sports fan June Rochelle has been showing her team spirit in recent weeks for the professional sports teams of her hometown of Indianapolis. She performed the national anthem before nearly 21,000 fans at a recent NBA basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets. In addition, she has recorded two special “fight” songs for the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL¹s AFC Divisional Champions who are playing against the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl on February 4, 2007. Fans may preview June¹s musical tribute to the Indianapolis Colts on her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/junerochelle.
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(FRANKLIN, Tenn. ) Jan. 22, 2007 –Innovative worship artist Jeff Deyo announces his new partnership with Franklin, Tenn.-based Christian media company Indelible Creative Group. Deyo will release his upcoming worship project, Unveil, via Indelible on May 22.

As the voice behind Dove Award-winning group SONICFLOOd’s rendition of worship hits like “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” “In the Secret” and “My Refuge,” Deyo has helped invigorate the heart of worship for a whole new generation. In his role as SONICFLOOd’s lead singer, primary songwriter and co-producer, Deyo saw the band’s Gold certified, self-titled debut (1999) and its Grammy nominated follow up, Sonicpraise (2001), reach combined sales of more than one million albums.
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