(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Feb. 18, 2008– Forefront Records rock band This Beautiful Republic is currently touring alongside headliner Family Force 5 as well as special guests Falling Up and Spoken on the “Heart Support Tour.” The group will also join top acts Delirious? and Sanctus Real at the Ultimate Event, among other high profile appearances this spring and summer.
Rochester, N.Y. (February 18, 2008) – Switchfoot, the multi-platinum selling rock band known for hit songs like “Dare You To Move,” “Stars,” and “Meant To Live,” is coming to Rochester’s Roberts Wesleyan College for one show only, Sunday, May 4th, at 7pm in the college’s Voller Athletic Center, as part of their “Up in Arms” tour, featuring special guest Athlete, a British band. Tickets are $20-$25 and available by calling 800-461-4485.
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ATLANTA, Feb. XX, 2008 – GRAMMY award winner Steven Curtis Chapman and critically acclaimed gospel saxophonist Angella Christie will appear on Gospel Music Channel’s new news, entertainment and variety series The Kitchen Sink Saturday, Feb. 23 at 8:00 p.m. (ET) to perform songs from their new projects.
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NASHVILLE, TN…2/22/08… On the heels of her recent GRAMMY nomination (one of just three idol alums to be nominated), MANDISA has also been nominated for two Gospel Music Association Dove Awards for the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories. In addition, the songwriter for her hit single “God Speaking” was nominated for Inspirational Song of the Year. In addition, MANDISA’s label debut, “True Beauty” has also scanned over 100k units in just 6 months, making it one of, if not the, best selling new artist project in the genre, as well as one of Sparrow Records’ fastest-selling new artists ever.
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Artist:Dijon
Title:A Kid’s Point Of View
Reviewer: Gary White
I’m glad to see the gospel arena growing with the release of albums weekly. It brings more of an excitement to know that with all the influence of other forms of music on our youth that we can enjoy the new album from Dijon. ‘A Kids Point of View’ is a debut from the 14 year old South Carolina native and is sure to be a success. It’s not hard to hear that young Dijon has grown up in the church and is being led down a righteous path to reach others in search of a good word.
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Artist:Fred Martin & the Levite Camp
Title: Some Bridges
Reviewer:Gary White
In the bible, The Levite Camp was a tribe of musicians and priests.
Former school teacher Fred Martin and musician Jackson Browne
collaborate with the great choir who use the same name as the biblical tribe to create their album “Some Bridges”. The Levite Camp has backed musicians, performed on television and various award shows. Now they have worked with Martin and Browne and have put together an album that reaches the listener on a social as well as spiritual level. The album has a smooth flow from beginning to end. Majority of the albums production is by Browne with Martin playing or Martin producing and Brown taking lead vocals. ‘”Some Bridges’ “is a mixture of gospel, pop, blues and jazz. You won’t seat your suit out or hurt your hands from too
much clapping but you will definitely be inspired by the words they
bring to you.
‘Some Bridges’ speaks on how although the world appears to be in
turmoil there are positives happening to make a difference. ‘Don’t You Wanna Be There’ asks the question to those that are not sure of their faith and paints a picture of what Heaven will be like. ‘About My Imagination’ tells of the Camps’ point of view of how easy it is to make it during rough times when you let love take over and guide your steps. ‘The Next Voice You Hear’ has the sweet horn sounds from famed jazz artists Hugh Masekeda. The sound of the blues is clear and evident on “Crossroads/Until I Found the Lord” which features Keb Mo. The foot stomping track tells how hard life seemed until they found the Lord.The
song closes out with the choir exploding in praise as they celebrate their victory in Christ.
The stand out tracks on the album was ‘That’s what he said’. Lead
vocalists Chavonne Morris and Althea Mills show great vocal ability as they tell the listener of the various comforting messages that the Lord has promised us as His children. The spirit moves on to the next track ‘These Are They’ as Chavonne and Althea lead us with the description of those who the bible says are washed in the blood of the lamb. The title may be long but the message is definitely clear on ‘Message to the Church/The Word of God/The Days of Yea and Nay’. The group sings of wanting to go back to the days when the church was honored and respected for being a place of worship. Leaders lived the word of God and were not
disrespectful to themselves or the Word of God.
Martin & The Levite Camp put together a great collective work of music for the mind and soul. The music is positive and easily able to reach those that are totally focused on gospel as well as others forms of music. Hopefully this is not the last bridge to these two forces with cross together.
Artist: Gospel Dream Finalists
Title: Gospel Dream 2007
Reviewer: Gary White
Gospel singers take note!! You have to have the skills to make the cut. Want an example? Listen to the finalists from The Gospel Channels television show The Dream with their album entitled “The Drea”. The finalists from the 2007 season have made it to the top and collaborated to give listeners an album showing the level of talent that was judges throughout the competition.
Artist:The McClurkin Project
Title: We Praise You
Reviewer: Gary White
The group exalts a maximum amount of honor to God for his
greatness on ‘I Need You Here’. ‘If You’re Ever Feeling Lonely’ is sure to touch the heart of someone in need of an inspirational word from the Lord. ‘Touch Me’ is simple but powerful worship track where the group asks for the Lord to “Touch me, fill me, rain on me, anoint me”.
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Artist: Terry Cummings
Title: Finally
Reviewer: Gary White
Terry Cummings has 18 Seasons in the NBA and is one of the top 25 scorers. Ordained as a minister since a teen, the retired ball player has put down the ball and picked up another tool he handles well, his music.
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Born and raised in Washington D.C., maCmoses has not been one immune to the struggles of life. After being mis-diagnosed for 4 years, he recently underwent surgery to remove a bone pressing against his spinal column which was interfering with the continuous flow of his spinal fluid disabling him, and limiting his mobility. Now with the Help of Christ, he is improving daily and has a goal to walk by the end of 2008! Through it all, he is deeply in love and committed to The LORD, family, friends, and people in general. As he battles to regain complete wholeness, he continues to grow each day learning who he is in Christ, accepting his temporary limitations while striving to overcome them, and regardless of satan’s tactics, not letting fear run or control his life. However, another positive in maCmoses’s life is the long-awaited release of his sophomore effort ‘From Israel To D.C.’