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For gospel singer Steve Green, the calling to his ministry of music came quietly and simply, when he hadn’t even expected it.
It was 24 years ago, and Green had been working as a backup singer, doing studio work and recording radio and television commercials. After meeting producer Greg Nelson, who asked him about his future career goals, everything fell into place.
“I answered him, ‘I don’t know’, but I would like someone to help me figure that out,” Green recalled. “The next thing I knew, I had a recording contract offer.”
Green spoke with Simcoe.com from his home just south of Nashville, in Franklin, Tennessee. While he is a homebody, the demand for his Christian music beckons him to travel. He has a full year of touring scheduled, and now that his children are grown, his wife Marijean is able to join him on the road.
They will be performing in Barrie at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Feb. 24.
One of five children, Green grew up in Argentina with missionary parents. And while his life’s path seems clear now, in his youth, he was not receptive to embracing God’s plan.

“I think there was a growing resentment, especially through my teenage years. It seems that everyone’s story has moments of shattering when things just go in a different direction we’re not ready for,” Green said, adding that after moving to the U.S., tensions later mounted because he was resistant to returning to Argentina, and the missionary field.
“So when I returned at 18, it was with the intent of never going back and distancing myself from that life and lifestyle. My goal was to pursue a career in law, maybe thinking that was the furthest I could go from missionary work,” he said.
While attending college, a professor encouraged Green to consider music full-time. The beginning of his music career also coincided with a spiritual renewal, which became the impetus for recording songs with greater significance – songs about truth, and relationship with God.

Green soon incorporated his ability to speak Spanish, and began touring in South America.
“So really, it came full circle. In some ways I was doing exactly what my parents were doing – the very thing I was resisting…but with music as the means of communication,” he said.
A four-time Grammy nominee, having had 13 number-one songs on the Christian music charts, and seven Dove Awards (the highest honour in Christian music), and 24 albums to his credit, Green has sold more than three million albums worldwide. But awards and accolades were something that

Green had not paused to consider at first. In fact he had not planned on attending the ceremony the night he received his first award, for Male Vocalist of the Year. So unprepared was Green, that he had not entertained the possibility of winning, and had not even rented a tuxedo.
“I was the most surprised one up there, I think. Then a strange thing happens. When we begin to receive awards, we can begin to expect them. So then I think I went through a period of thinking if I didn’t get an award it was a bit of a downer. Then there was the realization that this was not the reason I started this, and it’s not what will sustain me … Now I’m in a stage where I’m not really a part of that necessarily. There’s a whole other change in the music industry and I operate outside of that world, and I’m very happy to do so.”
Green’s sentiments are summed up in one of the first songs he recorded, People Need the Lord,
“It’s a good reminder, a simple, but good reminder to me that we never outgrow our need for Christ. It’s just a basic need in the human heart for a saviour – someone to rescue us from ourselves and that’s the message of the gospel.”
One of Green’s last appearances in Barrie took place at the Barrie Molson Centre in 1999.

“We prefer to be strong and whole, but more often then not, our lives bear the marks of wounding, of brokenness, of hurt, of difficulties. That’s when God’s kindness and strength is most evident.”
Preparing to go back into the studio soon for his 26th record, a worship CD, Green will first make a concert appearance in Barrie on Feb. 24, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 4120 Salem Rd.

Christian blues and barbeque, a great combination – even better when the whole family can enjoy it together. Blues isn’t your thing? Well, how about Christian hip-hop or original songs sung with guitar, or the latest Christian radio hit? You can find all of this at the next CHARTS Christian Music Open Mic Night at the Blue Cactus Café on Wetmore Road (www.thebluecactuscafe.com).

CHristian Artists ‘Round TexaS and Blue Cactus are working together to offer you an incredible evening of local Christian music in a family friendly atmosphere.

Sunday night, January 28, was the first CHARTS Christian Music Open Mic Night. There was amazing music by The Rev. Blues Band, Narrow Gate, Will McGowan, Chrystle Sandoval, Matt C, Aaron & Valarie, and Glenn Green. Andrea Parker MC-ed the event. The night was packed full of a variety of original blues music to Christian pop favorites. There were artists that knew about the event ahead of time, others had read about it in the Blue Cactus newsletter, and still others happened to be in the right place at the right time. There were many that came out to support it as well. Owner Siân Greenwood, said she was really pleased with the turnout and the caliber of talent.

The Blue Cactus at Wetmore Store is located in the former Wetmore General Store and Post Office, boasting 112 years of Texas history creating a truly “Vintage Texas” atmosphere. They have been voted Reader’s Choice & Critic’s Choice for Kid Friendly Restaurant in the San Antonio Express News.

The owners Martin and Siân Greenwood strive to redefine family dining by creating an environment where the most important elements of a memorable family meal - conversation, laughter, and great food - come together. “That’s why, when CHARTS coordinator Andrea C. Parker contacted us about having a Christian Music Open Mic Night, we were more than willing to be a part of it,” says Siân.

CHARTS stands for CHristian Artists ‘Round TexaS, a Christian music community created for the purpose of connecting and encouraging local singers, songwriters, musicians, and bands. CHARTS was started by Andrea and Edwin Parker in June of 2005, after seeing a need to connect with other local Christian artists and musicians. Andrea is a singer/songwriter and contributing writer for saworship.com, her husband Edwin is a musician, local Pastor, and radio show host for KRTU 91.7. Together they send out a weekly CHARTS e-newsletter, to a growing email list of over one hundred subscribers. The e-newsletter is full of information about the “who, what, and where” of local Christian music, as well as a “classifieds” section – a place where churches, venues and even bands can list their needs for musical talent. CHARTS also has quarterly group meetings and is planning a workshop for the 2007 year.

Award-winning recording artist David Phelps, a former tenor with the Gaither Vocal Band, will be in concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 at First Baptist Church, 3015 Moores Lane.

From an early age, Phelps said he knew Christian music was his calling. In 1988 he became the youngest competitor to win the Seminar in the Rockies music competition.

Although pressured by his high school and college teachers to pursue a career in opera or on Broadway, Phelps stuck to his convictions that God wanted him to sing music for Christ’s glory. In 1996, he and his wife packed up everything and moved to Nashville, Tenn., with the hopes of landing a record deal.

After six months without any results, the couple went back home to Texas for a weekend visit. When the Phelpses shared their concerns with their family, they immediately began to pray for a miracle.

Those prayers were answered the very next day when David met with executives from Word Records and learned of an opportunity to minister with the Gaither Vocal Band. Two weeks later, he joined the group and the rest is history.

Phelps sang with the Gaither Vocal Band for a number of years before pursuing a solo career which has yielded such well-known recording projects as, “Life is a Church,” “Revelation,” his self titled project, “David Phelps,” “Joy, Joy,” with Chicago’s Millar Brass Ensemble and “Journey to Grace,” as well as his 2006 project, “Legacy of Love.”

His awards have included Southern Gospel News Music Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in 2002 and 2003, Grammy awards for, “A Billy Graham Music Homecoming,” and “Kennedy Center Homecoming,” and Gospel Music Association Dove Awards for the albums, “I Do Believe,” “God is Good,” and Still the Greatest Story Ever Told,” and for the song, “God is Good All the Time.”

Phelps has performed concerts around the nation including Carnegie Hall and The White House. He was also a featured minister during a recent airing of TBN’s “Praise the Lord,” program filmed locally at First Baptist Church.

Don Howren, minister of music at the church and a coordinator for the event, is excited about Phelps’ return to the area.

“His band will be performing with him this time and we expect it will be a really great evening,” said Howren.

“His band will be performing with him this time and we expect it will be a really great evening,” said Howren.

All seating is reserved and tickets are available for the Artist Circle for $20 each and regular seating at $15 each. Tickets may be purchased at the church, the church’s website at fbctexarkana.org or at itickets.com.

Additional information about the concert may be obtained by calling the church office at 903-831-6000.

The Gospel Music Channel & EMI Gospel will produce the final live performance by one of the top female Gospel groups of all-time — the legendary Clark Sisters — for exclusive world premiere on Gospel Music Channel, it was announced today.

The farewell concert, to be an intimate show with family, friends and fans, will take place February 28, 2007 at W274 in Franklin, TN. The group will perform six all new songs, including their new single, “Blessed & Highly Favored” plus take a trip down memory lane performing most of their popular songs including ‘You Brought The Sunshine’. The special will premiere on Gospel Music Channel on April 10, 2007.

EMI Gospel in partnership with Gospel Music Channel will release a DVD Special Fan Edition of LIVE - ONE LAST TIME in June.

Gospel Music Channel will launch a consumer sweepstakes to send two Grand Prize winners and guest to the once-in-a-lifetime event. Consumers can enter the sweepstakes by visiting www.gospelmusicchannel.com or by signing up at Gospel Music Channel branded locations set up at the current, 32-city Sisters In The Spirit concert tour, which GMC is sponsoring. GMC will conduct a random drawing of all entrants for a Grand Prize of a trip for two via Southwest Airlines for The Clark Sisters’ final live performance, including the opportunity to meet the group.

The well-known Clark Sisters — Jacky, Twinkie, Dorinda and Karen — are widely known for their inimitable vocal signature “Clark Sisters Sound.” They have been one of the top Gospel groups in the United States for years. The sisters have continued to expand the legacy begun by their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. The immensely talented Detroit natives fashioned a successful livelihood with eight highly successful albums, including 1979’s He Gave Me Nothing To Lose, 1980’s Is My Living In Vain, 1981’s You Brought The Sunshine, 1982’s Sincerely, 1986’s Heart and Soul, 1988’s Conqueror 1898’s Bringing It Back Home, and 1994’s Miracle. In 1981, the sisters posted a Billboard chart topping hit on the Dance charts, You Brought The Sunshine that garnered a gold album and established the singers as a nationwide pop culture phenomenon. After moving on to equally successful careers and countless achievements, The Clark Sisters return as pre-distinguished figures in Gospel music. They reunited last year at Houston’s George Brown Convention Center. A CD of that show, also called LIVE - ONE LAST TIME, will be in stores everywhere on April 10. Produced by visionary Donald Lawrence, the LP will be the first new project from the illustrious group in over a decade.

About Gospel Music Channel
Gospel Music Channel (www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the first 24-hour, all music entertainment network devoted to the uplifting, inspiring and diverse music that is gospel. From the soulful sounds of artists like CeCe Winans, to the country gospel roots of Johnny Cash and Randy Travis, to the contemporary Christian music stylings of Kirk Franklin and Jars of Clay — Gospel Music Channel celebrates music that has a deep, spiritual place in people’s lives. It embraces an audience that crosses cultures and captures generations delivering a fan base so large and passionate it deserves its own network. According to the 2006 Myers Emotional Connections Study measuring viewers’ emotional connections to nearly 50 emerging and mid-sized networks, Gospel Music Channel ranks first in “overall emotional connections with audience,” first in audience attentiveness to advertising, first in “feeling comfortable viewing with family” and third in “audience engagement with network. ”
About EMI Gospel

Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI Christian Music Group is the world’s largest Christian music organization and includes EMI Gospel, EMI CMG Label Group, EMI CMG Distribution and EMI CMG Publishing. It is part of EMI Group, the world’s largest independent music company whose other U.S. labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Latin, Narada and Virgin Records.

When saxophonist John Carlson put together “Expressions of Instrumental Worship,” the last thing he had on his mind was an award.

But within only a few months of the album being released, it is a finalist for IndieHeaven’s “Best Christian Jazz Artist” category.

“I’m honored,” Carlson said. “If there is a Christian jazz award out there, I will go for it.

“This has all been through word of mouth.”

Online voting ended Wednesday, but Carlson will have to wait until the IndieHeaven CIA Summit 2007 conference March 29-April 1 in Franklin, Tenn., to find out if he’s won.

IndieHeaven is the nation’s leading organization supporting independent artists in the Christian music genre.

Carlson, 42, is one of five finalists.

“It’s important to recognize and applaud the efforts made in recent years by artists who are independent,” IndieHeaven founder Keith Mohr said in a statement. “By providing them the recognition they have earned, we hope to increase their platform and awareness.”

Carlson’s 15-track CD includes the songs “Lord I Lift Your Name on High,” “I Love You Lord,” “How Majestic is Your Name,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

Almost all of the songs feature original arrangements by Carlson.

Before taking his current position as Instrumental Music Director at Parkview Church in Iowa City in 2004, Carlson worked for 10 years at Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago.

While he was at Willow Creek, he released two albums of worship music titled “Preludes” and “Preludes II” that featured re-workings of popular worship melodies and tunes.

When people began asking him for copies, he decided to produce a third, “Expressions of Instrumental Music,” last fall.

Within weeks, IndieHeaven notified him that he was a nominee in the “Best Christian Jazz Artist” category.

In early January, he learned he was a finalist.

He is selling the CD locally at Parkview Church as well as at Lemstone Books in Coralville.

It’s not really important if he wins the contest, Carlson said.

He said his goal is to get his and others Christian artists’ music out to the public.

He’s been e-mailing and talking to his competitors.

“It has been a very friendly competition,” Carlson said. “It is not a cutthroat ‘American Idol’ kind of thing.”