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Southern Gospel Music is making a comeback into the mainstream of Christian music. Groups such as Gold City, Brian Free and Assurance, Palmetto State Quartet and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound continue are continuing the in the tradion of Southern Gospel quartets and are reaching a larger audience than ever before. Indeed, Ernie Haase and Signature sound have had several top selling CD’s and DVD’s.

Their DVD entitled, “Get Away Jordan” entered the Billboard chart at #3 and remains a fan favorite. The Kingdom Heirs sing to over two million people annually as the resident Southern Gospel group at Dollywood.Modern Southern Gospel MusicSouthern Gospel music, like any form of art, has evolved. In the past ten years a new sound has emerged that combines the best of traditional Southern Gospel with other musical forms such as Bluegrass, modern country, and adult contemporary Christian music. The sound is slightly edgier but still very much Southern Gospel.Groups such as the Crabb Family, the Mike and Kelly Bowling group, and Three Bridges are examples of this new style.

These groups regularly perform to sell out crowds. The Crabb family has recorded with many artists and groups including Donnie McClurkin and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.This modern Southern Gospel music is attracting a new and broader audience and has given rise to a new generation of Southern Gospel fans. Southern Gospel record promoter, Rick Hendrix of the Rick Hendrix company chuckles and says, “It is really interesting to see these teenagers getting together on MySpace and forming fan clubs around groups such as Ernie Haase and Signature Sound and the Hoppers. They get excited about new CD’s and about the style of clothes the group wears and everything”.The re-emergence of Southern Gospel music has lead to an increase in the number of radio stations that broadcast this style of music. Major Southern Gospel music promoters regularly service over a thousand radio stations.

There has also been an increase in the number of online Southern Gospel radio stations.Southern Gospel music has changed since its humble birth almost 100 years ago. One thing that hasn’t changed is Southern Gospel music’s ability to convey the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those that would stop and listen.You can find out more about Southern Gospel Music and top Southern Gospel Artists and groups by visiting:
http://www.southern-gospel-music-lyrics.comTim Eutin is the Program and Music director of the He’s Alive radio network. He has been hosting the Morning Show on the He’s Alive Radio Network for almost a decade and is a long time fan of Southern Gospel Music. Tune in online at http://www.hesalive.net from 5am - 9:30am to hear the best in Southern Gospel Music

The Evergreen State Fair’s concert schedule kicks off Sunday and continues through Thursday night, offering local music fans a mix of spiritual and country music, a little pop and a dash of classic rock thrown in for good measure.

Some of the names that jump out include “American Idol” finalist Josh Gracin, country star Joe Nichols, up-and-coming singer/actor Jesse McCartney and the iconic rock band Steppenwolf.

Jeremy Camp: 7:30 p.m. Sunday: It all gets started Sunday night, when Jeremy Camp headlines Spirit 105.3’s Christian concert at the fair.

Camp, whose new album is entitled “Beyond Measure,” scored big hits and award recognition on the Christian music scene with his first two albums, “Stay” and “Restored.” His song “Open Up Your Eyes” was featured on the 2005 soundtrack album “Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

Josh Gracin and Joe Nichols: 7:30 p.m. Monday: A night of rising country music stars is in store when Josh Gracin opens for Joe Nichols on Monday. Gracin, who introduced America to his country influence on the second season of “American Idol,” grew up near Detroit and was a rock music fan before his favorite station switched to a country format.

“At first, they literally played (Garth Brooks’) ‘Friends in Low Places’ over and over, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,’ he says in his record company bio. “In the weeks and months after that, I really fell in love with country music. Listening to Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie, George Strait and Randy Travis, I really started getting into it.”

Nichols scored big country hits with “The Impossible,” “Brokenheartsville” and “What’s a Guy Gotta Do?” on his first two major-label albums, and is still touring behind his third, appropriately entitled, “III.” The fun-loving collection includes the hits “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Size Matters (Someday).”

Jesse McCartney: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: At 19, McCartney has assembled quite a career in music and acting. The former member of the short-lived boy band Dream Street is touring behind his second solo album, “Right Where You Want Me.” The singer and actor, who was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role on “All My Children” and for a Teen Choice Award for his part on the TV show “Summerland,” took on his new album with a greater sense of inspiration after traveling the world and experiencing other cultures.

“I became more aware of people, the world and how it works,” he says in his record label bio. “It was a challenge and ultimately satisfying to put that to a melody.”

John Kay and Steppenwolf, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Steppenwolf churned out a string of hits in the late 1960s and early ’70s, including the iconic “Born to Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride,” which is still heard on Coors commercials. The band’s album sales total more than 25 million and, with 2007 marking its 40th anniversary, there’s talk about this being the band’s final year heading out on the highway.

Keith Anderson and Josh Turner, 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Capping off the fair’s concert series are country up-and-comers Josh Turner and Keith Anderson. Anderson, who had a shoulder injury that sidelined a promising baseball career, worked his way up in the music industry, winning band search contests and performing at amusement parks before being discovered. He’s scored top 10 country hits with “Pickin’ Wildflowers” and “Every Time I Hear Your Name.”

Turner is touring behind his sophomore release, “Your Man,” which follows his 2003 debut, “Long Black Train,” which sold more than a million copies and garnered prestigious award nominations from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Christian Country Music Association is proud to announce the Top 10 category nominees for the 13th Annual Inspirational Country Music Award Show (ICM Awards) which will be held at the historic Acuff Theater, Sunday, November 4th, 2006, at 6 PM CST. The member-voted ICM Awards Show is the keynote event of Inspirational Country Week, slated for October 31st through November 4th in Nashville, TN.

Last year’s show included a star-studded list of performers and presenters such as: Country legend and Blue Hat recording artist, Charlie Daniels, multi-platinum country group, Lonestar, Alabama’s, Randy Owen, Jimmy Wayne, Blue County, Trent Tomlinson, The Fox Brothers, Tommy Brandt, Chunky Nelms, Gayla Earlene, Last Light Band, Mike Manuel, Melanie Walker, Dennis Agajanian, The Peasall Sisters, Mercury Recording Artist, Julie Roberts, Lance Smith, host of CMT TOP TWENTY COUNTDOWN, Katie Cook, host of CMT INSIDER, Brian Littrell, Del Way, Chalee Tennison, Rachel Proctor, Rich McCready, Clint Miller, Mary James, Nannette Vaughan,.

Tickets for the award show are $45.00 and are on sale now through TicketMaster charge-by-phone at 615/255-9600 or at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please visit www.icmawards.com.

The following Top 10 nominees are listed in alphabetical order within each category:

Entertainer of the Year
Brad Cotter, CrossCountry The Band, Del Way, Dennis Agajanian, Fox Brothers, Gayla Earlene, Justin Todd Herrod, Last Light Band, Mike Hammock, Tommy Brandt

Male Vocalist of the Year
Chunky Nelms, Donovan Chapman, Jerry Utley, John Sines Jr., Lance Christopher, Mike Hammock, Mike Manuel, Rich McCready, Mike Rimmey, Tommy Brandt

Female Vocalist of the Year
Gayla Earlene, Lesa Hudson, Mary James, Melanie Walker, Miko Marks, Natalie Grant, Rebecca Linda Smith, Sandra Dee, Sharene Spielman, Sonya Isaacs

Vocal Duo of the Year
Branded, The Clarks, Chester Smith & Merle Haggard, The Hargroves, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Kenny & Donna Morris, Randy & Heidi Gunn, Twice Robin, David & Dottie, Y Bridge

Vocal Group of the Year
Booth Brothers, Clint Miller Band, CrossCountry The Band, Fox Brothers, Heritage Road, Isaacs, Last Light Band, Mere Image, New Jerusalem, Wacaster Family

Inspirational Country Music Album of the Year
Back In The Country Again, Mike Manuel; Believe Songs of Faith, Various Artists; Big Sky, Isaacs; Calvary’s The Reason Why, Del Way; Hook Line & Sinker, Tommy Brandt; Precious Memories, Alan Jackson; Songs Of Inspiration, Alabama; Old Time Way, Melanie Walker; Work Of A Carpenter, Greg McDougal; Three Wooden Crosses, Various Artists

Song of the Year
Alyssa Lies, Jason Michael Carroll; Back In The Country Again, Mike Manuel; Don’t Forget To Remember Me, Carrie Underwood; Hangin’ On For Life, Tommy Brandt; I Get To, Blue County; I’ll Wait For You, Joe Nichols; If Your Going Through Hell, Rodney Atkins; Mama’s Hall of Fame, James Payne; Mountains, Lonestar; One Wing In The Fire, Trent Tomlinson

Songwriter of the Year
David Patillo, Del Way, Dr. Robert Frank Smith, Greg McDougal, Harley Allen, Josh Turner, Mike Manuel, Russ Murphy, Tommy Brandt, Trent Tomlinson

Mainstream Country Artist of the Year
Alan Jackson, Blue County, Charlie Daniels, Joe Nichols, Josh Turner, Martina McBride, Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Owen, Randy Travis, Trent Tomlinson

New Artist of the Year
Amanda Fessant, Daniel James, Deborah Hightower, Greg McDougal, Jonathan Sherrill, Mike Tetrick, Lesa Hudson, Russ Murphy, Sharene Spielman, Wacaster Family

Musician of the Year
Calina Boggs, Casey Morton, Charlie Daniels, Dennis Agajanian, Jerry Utley, Gene Crain, Justin Todd Herod, Lawrence Bishop, Robin Bullock, Rory Hoffman

Comedy Act of the Year
Barry McGee, Bessie & Bulah, Chonda Pierce, David Cook, David Ferrell, Dennis Swanberg, Frankie Punkintown, Jeff Treece Band, LuLu Roman, Roy Fox & The Fox Brothers, Tim Hawkins

Radio Personality of the Year
Fred Bacher, Red Ellis, John Ritter, Leon Joplin, Rich Miller, Robby Lynn, Rodney Allen, Scott Perkins, Wayne Nault, Kevin Tyree

Radio Station of the Year
KABF, Little Rock, AR / KCLW, Hamilton, TX / KIJN, Farwell, TX / KULE, Ephrata, WA KQTY, Borger TX / WCWV, Summerville, W. VA / WDEH, Sweetwater, TN WJBD, Salem, IL / WRMV, Madison Heights, VA / WXML, Upper Sanduski, OH

Video of the Year
A Different World, Bucky Covington; Amarillo Sky, Jason Aldean;
Anyway, Martina McBride; God Don’t Make Mistakes, Jamie O’Neal;
I’ll Wait For You, Joe Nichols; Long As I Got You, Fox Brothers
Moments, Emerson Drive; Mountains, Lonestar; Stand, Rascal Flatts; Watching You, Rodney Atkins

Inspirational Country Bluegrass
Carpenter’s Tools, Chigger Hill Boys & Terri, Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver, Haddix Family, Heather Berry, Isaacs, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Lawrence Bishop Band, New Jerusalem, Rhonda Vincent

Youth In Music Award
Amber Morgan, Calina Boggs, Candy Boggs, Carrie Sneed, Jasmun Basilone, Lacy Larsen, Mackenzie Morgan, Matthew Wacaster, Peasall Sisters

Living Legend Award
Brenda Lee, Charlie Daniels, Del Way, Dennis Agajanian, Gayla Earlene, James Payne, Lynn Fox, Melanie Walker, Mike Manuel, Porter Wagoner

Music Evangelist of the Year
Bill Mullis, Clint Miller, Corey Brooks, Del Way, James Payne, Joyce Wagster, Lawrence Bishop, Leo Johnston of CrossCountry, Mike Tetrick, Mike Vaughn, Tom Lanza

Television Network
CBN; Daystar; Faith TV; Gospel Music Channel; Gospel Music Television; Inspirational Network; Lesea Broadcasting; Total Living Network; TBN; TCT Network

Atlanta’s largest free one-day outdoor concert Celebrate FreedomTM hosted by 104.7 The Fish makes a splash on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Georgia International Horse Park. Featuring Steven Curtis Chapman, Avalon, Mandisa (from American Idol), Mark Schultz, Aaron Schust, Need to Breathe and many more leading contemporary artists, the event also highlights a message of vision and inspiration from world-renowned evangelist Luis Palau. The first concert of its kind in Atlanta promises fans and family a full-day of unprecedented fun and entertainment. Park gates open at 7 a.m. for the concert which is expected to run from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“This event is a celebration of our passion to serve Atlanta the best in Christian music and entertainment,” said Mike Moran, general manager for Salem Atlanta. “We anticipate a day that will leave a mark on the hearts and minds of everyone who attends.”

Thousands are expected to attend Celebrate Freedom™ Atlanta, with free tickets available at key sponsor outlets throughout the area including Kroger, Bugaboo Creek Steak House and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream. In addition to musical performances, the event features live broadcasting from 104.7 The Fish, Atlanta’s Christian adult contemporary station, a fireworks extravaganza sponsored by Nehemiah ReConstruction, a children’s area with slides, rides and bounce houses (kids play all day $10) and a variety of vendors and concessions throughout the park. Ford is also a major sponsor for the event. For more information about the concert, go to www.thefishatlanta.com.

In addition to 104.7 The Fish, Salem Atlanta includes WNIV 970 and 1400 AM Atlanta’s Christian Talk, 920 AM WGKA Atlanta’s News Talk. Salem Communications (Nasdaq:SALM) is a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian- and family-themed content and conservative values. The company owns and operates approximately 100 radio stations, including 61 stations in 23 of the top 25 markets.

MUSKEGON — Organizers of the annual Unity Christian Music Festival have already penned in Aug. 7-9, 2008, for next year’s musical festivities. And in the coming weeks they’ll be deciding whether to continue this year’s experiment of a “Day Zero” evening of free music added to the festival’s front end.

“We’ll be doing some talking and evaluating once we’ve wrapped this one up,” said festival director Kevin Newton.

In terms of numbers, the free-Wednesday line-up headlined by the Christian pop-rock band Kutless must be counted a success, drawing more than 8,000 spectators to Heritage Landing. However, it did mean another day of work for festival hosts, technical crews and the more than 600 volunteers it takes to make Unity happen.

Even without the added day, this year’s three-day line-up featuring headliners Newsboys, Casting Crowns and MercyMe, drew more than 41,000 fans, which at least equals the high water mark in the event’s seven-year history.

The culmination came when more than 16,500 heard the inspirational pop-rock MercyMe deliver a 70-minute set on Saturday night, bringing the festival to a close.

“We figure there were upwards of 20,000 here during the day, but families with small children tend to leave early,” said festival chairman Roger Eikenberry of the many kids’ games and activities which Unity offers, including a separate entertainment stage in the play area.

Tickets to the festival are sold as day passes, so organizers are unsure on which of the Unity days they might be used. Children 10 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. And since there are no turnstiles, an exact count is impossible.

It was the first Unity appearance for MercyMe, which offered two songs from its forthcoming CD, set for a November release. “Sanctify” and “God With Us” both emphasized the spiritual nature of the band’s mission.

Lead singer Bart Millard taught the chorus of one of the news songs to an eager crowd.

The band began its signature ballad “I Can Only Imagine” by repeating the chorus three times before finally digging into the first verse. The audience sang along.

On August 10th, the American Bible Society released their highly anticipated Christian Reggaeton album A Fuego Con La Palabra, which features some of the industry’s best-known artists.

The album, a joint venture between the American Bible Society and Latin Christian music label CanZion Group, was created as part of the American Bible Society’s ongoing Bible advocacy campaign, “La Biblia Es Mi Guia.”

The album was unveiled at the recent Expolit Convention, held in Miami, Fla.

Leading Christian Reggaeton artists, including Manny Monte, Dr. P and Funky, contributed original compositions.

The album also includes a DVD containing interviews with the album’s artists, music videos and an audio version of the Book of John. Every song on the album promotes Biblical literacy.

FC Dallas announced that Toby Mac and special guests Thousand Foot Crutch and BarlowGirl will perform at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday, September 30 following the FC Dallas versus Houston Dynamo game, as part of Faith and Family Day. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm CT and the concert will follow immediately, beginning at 4:30 pm.

Toby Mac is a Christian music artist, producer and songwriter who has released two Gold albums, six Number One singles and has received two Grammy nominations. In February of 2007, the father of five released Portable Sounds, his third solo album, to wide critical acclaim. Delivering positive messages in a rock/funk/hip-hop style, Christianity Today calls Toby Mac “one of the fifty most influential evangelical leaders in America.”

The concert highlights Faith and Family Day at Pizza Hut Park, which will begin with three local bands playing on the main stage prior to kickoff, a fourth local band performing at halftime, along with numerous vendors and faith-related activities throughout.

Ticket prices for the event range from $16 to $45 plus applicable service charges. Special pricing is also available for groups of ten or more. Parking at Pizza Hut Park for this event is free. For more information call 888-FCD-GOAL or visit www.fcdallas.com.

Sean Donnelly was as surprised as anyone when someone representing Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James called his small-town church, asking if she could sing there.

“Rebecca St. James is one of the biggest stars in Christian music,” Donnelly says. “We didn’t expect it. It was out of the blue.”

But it all panned out, and St. James will be at Grace Community Church in Overbrook on Monday.

It’s part of SHE (Safe, Healthy, Empowered), a gathering of Christian women that is hitting sites across the country. The Overbrook event, which begins at 7 p.m., follows recent tour stops in the much larger cities of Macon, Ga., and Panama City, Fla.

Donnelly, who is coordinator of the nondenominational church’s special events team, figures someone involved with another large, national event at the church in February — World View Weekend — might have passed Grace Community Church’s name on to the organizers of SHE.

The event, which is expected to draw 650 to 850 people, is intended for women, though men who want to bring their daughters will be allowed to do so. St. James will perform and speak, and she’ll be joined by Evie, another Christian singer who has recorded more than 30 albums.

St. James was named favorite female artist by a vote of readers of CCM magazine. She has recorded 17 top-10 singles on Christian charts, nine of which reached the top spot. She has won three Dove Awards — the top award ceremony for Christian music — and won a 2000 Grammy for best rock gospel album.

Donnelly says church members are excited.

“You don’t get an opportunity to see Rebecca St. James very often,” he says.

General-admission tickets are available for $18 by calling (785) 793-2141. More information can be found at www.sheevent.com.

Overbrook is 30 miles southwest of Lawrence. The church is located at 310 E. Eighth St., on the eastern edge of Overbrook along U.S. Highway 56.

Another facet of life for me (is any one REALLY interested in this??? my blog seems to be leaning toward the “susan-focused”)–is that I now have a piano in the apartment. (Cana took this this evening) Philip and I still co own a small Kawai grand that I had left in the Liberty parsonage because there was no room for it in the inn…oh, I mean, apartment. For Mother’s Day this year, Philip promised to arrange for me to get a spinet since I had a heart felt desire for one, and Philip, pianist extraordinaire, and who knows that I do love music so, would do everything he could to help that part of me flourish. Which meant he had (well, I am sure there is some other way this could have happened, but, being Philip, this is how it did) to arrange for the good folks at Rock Bridge Christian Church (where he was the director of music a few years ago) in Columbia to bring their church’s spinet over in exchange for the grand—all are one loan to each of us. Anyway, these are the ways of the Cox-Johnsons. Somebody loved Philip enough over there to help him figure this out. Today, Mr. Knott, the piano tuner came and did his thing with this old, much used Story and Clark from Columbia, and it does sound much better. I am REALLY enjoying it. I ordered four hymn arrangements books online from Sheet Music Plus( The arrangements are “for the late intermediate pianist” the books say) and play them with gladdened heart, if not with exactly the right notes. I also ordered a book of Samuel Barber piano etudes (which much be “for the late virtuoso pianist”because I can’t begin to play them) and today I received the complete collection of Joplin rags. I used to could play those—when I was in seminary at Vandy thirty years ago (oh, my), someone stole all my rag books from the commons room. A disappointment for sure. When I was at Kirkwood twenty years ago (oh, my) as minister of Christian education, Karen House (who has just moved with her pastor-husband Keith Morgan to KC after spending all his ministry in St. Louis) was the director of music there and for a short time, I took lessons from her, after having not studied piano for,oh, twenty years before that! She had me playing Debussy and McDowell and I also wanted to play Gershwin so we did a bit. Since the kiddos came, I have not played much—just hymns some. But I seem to be at it again. Sometime I will regale those reading this with stories of Bill McGuire my piano teacher as a child and an adolescent—we had “Bill’s chair” at our house that he sat in each week–he came to our house to give lessons—and did it on Monday mornings before school and then took me to school…wow. Bill, who may be reading this for all I know, had us play classical music for preludes in our country church—and gave a grand piano to the church, too. He played both my parents’ funerals–my mother was especially fond of him—anyway, I digress.