Top Moment of 2012 #4

Social media has become a great tool recently for getting news out to the masses timely. In late August, Facebook and Twitter lit up with the news of Scotty and Kasey Inman's daughter Embry. First, it was the news of her birth, but only few hours later, it was an urgent prayer request that baby Embry was facing serious medical problems.

Embry stopped breathed several times within the first 12 hours of her life. She was put into the ICU and had several tests run on her. The doctors discovered that she was having seizures and could possibly have suffered brain damage. News came later that her brain was perfectly fine and the medication was working great preventing seizures.

One week after she was born, Embry finally got to go home with Scotty and Kasey. The next night Triumphant Quartet was scheduled to sing in Branson, Mo. at Silver Dollar City during their Southern Gospel Picnic. I had several conversations with people at the park who were wondering how the baby was doing now and who would sing baritone for the quartet.

It was definitely a pleasant surprise to see Scotty there that night. And it was a great testament to how God was working and healing baby Embry. It showed the amount of dedication that he had to the calling that God has for his life. He also mentioned that Kasey told him between their mothers and sisters that baby Embry would be well taken care of that weekend! :)

Scotty shared during the second half of the concert about baby Embry and what they had been through in the past week. He said, "I'm not amazed that God could do it, but that he would do it for me and my family." We all know that God can do anything, but it is such an amazing feeling when he does something amazing for you. Scotty then sang the song "The Great I Am Still Is."

His story of how God had worked and the fact that he went back on the road showing his commitment to this ministry spoke volumes. It was a great moment and testimony, and definitely a top moment of the year for me!

The countdown continues later this week with moment #3!

Top Moment of 2012 - #5

Halfway through the countdown of my top moments of 2012 is the Melody Boys Quartet Spring Concert. The Melody Boys will retire at the end of 2012, so this was their last annual spring concert. It's always a great event every year, and this year it was extra special with their upcoming retirement. So the full concert makes it in as a "top moment!"

The night included a special tribute video for the group. The concert was full of music, both new and classic. They also had several former group members come back to sing with them, which is a tradition each year for this concert.

Gerald Williams has been the bass singer for the group for 63 years, since he was 17 years old. He was featured on "Love So Divine" early in the concert and showed that at 80 years old, he's still one of the best in the business! His voice was just as strong that night as it's been for decades!

One of my favorite portions of the concert was simply the guys gathered around the piano singing the familiar quartet songs. The group is known for it's incredible harmonies, and they showed it!

Read the full recap of the concert here. The night was very special since it was their last annual spring concert. The Melody Boys have one final concert on New Year's Eve also at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. I'm hoping to be able to attend, but not sure yet because I'll be out of town through New Year's Eve. If you are in the area though, I think you should definitely make plans to attend!

The countdown continues next week!

Fun Clip Friday - Collingsworth Family

Less than one week until Christmas! I keep thinking I have all my Christmas shopping done, but keep remembering "one more thing" I need to get. Please tell me I'm not alone in this.

Here's a last Christmas-themed clip. This Fun Clip Friday is a throwback to 2007. The Collingsworth Family has really changed in the last 5 years. The video won't let me embed it but don't miss watching it here. It's worth seeing how much younger Collingsworths have changed!

Also, don't forget that TBN is showing a preview of their "Feels Like Christmas" this weekend, including one tonight. For showtimes, go here. Also, here's a trailer below!

An Evening in December CD Review - The Nelons

The Nelons released An Evening in December in conjunction with their tour of the same name this winter. This is not your typical Christmas album with a new rendition of "The First Noel" or "Sleigh Bells." As much as I love those familiar Christmas songs, I love hearing new ones or different ones that you don't normally hear this time of year. When Christmas albums come out with a bunch of songs that have been overdone, I'll listen but can become tired of it pretty quickly. The thing that sticks out to me most about this project is the song selection on this project. Sure, there are a couple of more familiar Christmas songs, but there are so many other great ones that you don't hear as often or that I hadn't heard before.

The project starts with the a cappella title song, "An Evening in December." The background harmonies are so great on this project. Kelly gets the feature on this one and makes it a beautiful song. This is one of two a cappella songs on the project; Amber also sings "Silent Night."

Jason is featured on the second song on the album, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." I think this is a great version of this song by Jason and Kelly and Amber add some great harmonies.

One of my favorites from the project is "Light a Candle." I love this Christmas song, but don't consider it one that's overdone. Amber gets the feature on this one and does an amazing job.  Absolutely beautiful!

Autumn also sings one on the project, "Happy Birthday Jesus." Autumn is developing into quite a singer, and I look forward to hearing more from her!

I had never heard the song "Rest on Me" until their concert last week. Kelly sings this song from Mary's perspective. It's a beautiful song about Mary holding baby Jesus thinking all that He's been put on earth to do and about one day resting in Him.

The highlight of the project for me has to be "More Than Wonderful," which is not necessarily a Christmas song, but definitely fits on this album. It's a powerful song that has great delivery by Amber and Jason!

Family groups are often known for their incredible harmonies, and the Nelons definitely have that. With that and the great song selection, the album is a must add to your Christmas music collection.



Song List:
1. "An Evening in December"
2. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
3. "Light a Candle"**
4. "The Loneliest Christmas"
5. "More Than Wonderful"**
6. "Silent Night"
7. "Rest on Me"**
8. "Happy Birthday Jesus"
9. "Christmas All Year"**
10. "Auld Lang Syne"

**Personal favorites


Review copy provided

Top Albums of 2012

As the year draws to a close, it's time to look at the top albums of the year. Here are my top five:

5. Together Again (Crabb Family) - The Crabb Family released their first project as a family in seven years. Jason Crabb produced and arranged the album. I love how most of the songs featured all family members and didn't just showcase one or two. Stylistically, there is something for everyone. While it may not be a favorite for traditional gospel fans, I think it definitely lived up to the hype of a Crabb family recording and made fans excited about hearing the family together again.


4. Tribute to the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither (Booth Brothers) - The Booth Brothers did not fail to disappoint again this year with this tribute project. The 15-song album picks some of the best Gaither songs, some more well-known than others. The Booth Brothers helped bring new life with their great vocals and harmonies to some of these classic songs. Most of the songs are easy listening, and had there been a couple more uptempo numbers or cut down to the 12 strongest, it could have easily been higher in my opinion.

3. Love Won (The Talleys) - The addition of Brian Alvey to the Talley Trio produced one of the best albums this year. He not only added great vocals but also strong writing skills to the project. I think it's the best album the Talleys have ever released. The harmonies with all four members are incredible. I think a couple of the songs are among the strongest of songs on albums released this year.


2. Lifetime (Mark Trammell Quartet) - This album comes close the topping the list. I love the concept idea of the project, but it does include previously recorded songs (all but one). However, the songs aren't your traditional hymns or table project picks. They are all songs that have special significance for Mark Trammell. The Lari Goss arrangement on this project with the different medleys of songs are simply great. This group though has definitely hit its stride and is at the top of their game, and this album proves it.


1. Through the Night (The Perrys) - This was the second album with the current lineup, but the first one where all current group members have been involved from the beginning. Every song on this project is so strong individually that when the 10 are put together it is dynamite. It's not often that I find a project where I don't skip one song. Even with a re-cut of a Perrys song (which I prefer to the first version), the song selection is what sets this album apart. With the great Libbi Perry Stuffle ballad, the strong songwriting skills of Joseph Habedank and the all around great vocals, the album shows the Perrys at their best. It's definitely strong enough to top the list for 2012 in my opinion.


Other worthy album mentions:

Best Surprise Album of the Year - He Gives a Song (Murray Family) - I was not familiar at all with the Murray Family until receiving their CD. Great family group that is one to keep your eye on!

Album That's Great for a Long Road Trip - Canton Junction (Canton Junction) - This debut album of Canton Junction features two discs full of songs that set the bar for this new group.

Album That Is Never Far From my CD Player - Eyes Wide Open (Jeff and Sheri Easter) - This is one of my favorite albums from this year. Great songs with a strong theme of survival and coming through a battle.

Best Specialty Project - How You Walk the Miles (Karen Peck) - Karen Peck Gooch released her first solo project in many years with many guest vocalists. Definitely worth a listen!