2018 Southern Gospel Picnic - Silver Dollar City - Day 10

The Southern Gospel Picnic is about to wrap up with only two days left! It's hard to believe it's almost over and time to get back to the real world. It's been a great festival so far, and I'm looking forward to the last two days.

Yesterday, I got out to the park to see three different artists. Here are the highlights -


The Taylors
It was good to hear several songs from their new project, Faithful Again.

• "Faithful Again"
• "Anything Less" - One of my favorites from their new album!
• "Love Still Flows"
• "Beulah Land" - Jonathan asked if the audience would rather hear Chris sing "Beulah Land" or "In the Garden" there was no contest about what the people wanted to hear. They did an a cappella reprise of the chorus and it was amazing!
• "I Pray Every Day"
• "I'll Worship You Again" - Love hearing Suzanne sing this one live!

Jonathan Wilburn

I've been to A LOT of shows and sets in the past 10 days, but I have to say, the show I went to of Jonathan's had one of the sweetest spirits in the room I had experienced.

• "Without Him" - Jonathan said this was not on any project, he just felt God leading him to sing this song with just the keys. And I'm so glad he did!
• "Heaven's Jubilee"
• "Peace in the Valley"
• "Had It Not Been"

The Martins

This is the one time of year I get to hear the Martins and I just soak it all in. They sang several from their new project and of course their classic a cappella songs. It was an incredible night!

• "He Leadeth Me" - I love getting to hear them sing this song a cappella!!
• "Wherever You Are"
• "Running"
• "The Promise" - This song speaks to me every time. If I had to list my favorite gospel songs, this would be in the top five easy. It's always a treat to hear this one live!
• "You'll Never Walk Alone"
• "Love's Gonna Drive This Train"
• "Good"
• "Days Like This"
• "Still Standing" - This is the title track, it's a must listen!
• "Except for Grace"
• "Beautiful" - Joyce said they hadn't staged this one before, but they were going to try it out last night. And I'm sure glad they did!
• "Doxology"- They were going to end the night with this one and what an ending, but Duane asked if they would do one more!
• "So High" - This was the finale to a great night!

In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - June 16

Here are some news items from this week in Southern Gospel -

• Bryan Elliot announced his resignation from Gold City. He has been the group's piano player for eight years. He plans to take some time off the road and minister with his wife Kelly. 
• Kasey Kemp, Corey Lackey and Jacob Lagesse have now formed Avenue Trio. The group is planning its debut album to be released this summer.
• The Troy Burns Family announced the additions of Cole Watson and Ethan McNelly to the group. 
• Long-time Singing News columnist Bob Crawford has been hospitalized following complications from a fall at his home on Sunday. 
• Congratulations to Jonathan Taylor who announced his engagement to Lynsey Vicars this week. The two are planning an April wedding.

Anything I've missed?

In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - July 29

Here are some news items from this week in gospel music -

• Keith Erwin posted pictures of their bus on Twitter last night. They had a blown tire that caused them to run off the road, but thankfully everyone is ok. They did have to cancel their weekend dates, and there is damage to the bus. If you would like to help with their expenses, this fund has been set up. 
• The Taylors announced a booking agreement with Michael Davis and the Dominion Agency. They also announced Mike Wheeler will be the general manager for the group.
• The Music City Show held its live tapings in Nashville this week. The next season of the show will feature the Nelons, Perrys, Tribute Quartet, Mark Lowry, Michael English and more. 
• Congratulations to the Singing News Ultimate Talent Contest winner Exodus from Gadsden, Alabama. The runner-up was Matt Linton and third place was Then Came Sunday.
• Prayers go out to the family of Bob Cameron who passed away on July 17. He sang bass for the Crusaders and Bob Wills & The Inspirationals. 
• The Florida-based group the Walkers signed an agreement with Mansion Entertainment.

Anything I missed?

Feeling Happy on Day 9 - Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel Picnic 2016

It's Day 9 of Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel Picnic, and things are winding down. And as much as I love this, I am wearing out. I still managed to see six groups today, three trios, a family group and two quartets.

I'm sorry that I feel like my recaps are getting shorter and shorter, but here is how my day went -


Greater Vision

My day began at the park at the 12:30 p.m. Greater Vision show. They started with the fan favorite "My Name Is Lazarus."

They also sang a few newer ones like "The Blood Hasn't Ever Changed," "I Do Know" and "Put Out the Fire."

Gerald said he had some requests to play the piano so he accompanied Chris as he sang "Like I Wish I'd Lived in the Past," such a great song! They ended the set with "When They Ring the Bells of Heaven."


Taylors


This was my first time seeing the group since Leslie left earlier this year. They opened with their single, "He Won't Fail You." Loved hearing this one live. Chris was featured on another one from their latest release, "Somebody's Praying."

They sang a few familiar favorites like "Joy Bells" and "My, My, My." They also sang a couple of classics, "Victory in Jesus," where they had the audience join in, and "I Believe in a Hill Called Mt. Calvary," love their version of this song!

They ended with "We Are Not Ashamed," such a powerful song!


Goulds

From the Taylors, I went to see the second family group of the day, The Goulds. This family is from the Joplin, Missouri area so not far from Silver Dollar City. They opened with "Bigger Than Any Mountain" and then sang "Glory Hallelujah Song."

Kelsey and Kristen sang "This Is the Stuff" accompanied by their dad on guitar. This is a song made popular by contemporary artist Francesca Battestelli. It's a great song about how God can be in the little interruptions in our lives.

They sang a few hymns, "In the Sweet By and By" and "At Calvary," which they did a cappella. Tim told Kristen to pick a note and start it. He joked that when he told her to do that he could either end up like J.D. Sumner or Ernie Haase. He sounded just like Tim Gould this time! :)


Downing Family

The Downing Family is from Oklahoma. I think I remember seeing them a few years ago at Silver Dollar City. They have a more bluegrass sound to them and use all live instruments on stage.

They opened with "The Grass Will Be Greener." They then let the next generation of their family come up and sing "He Holds Me in His Hands."

They sang a song made popular by the Isaacs, "If That Don't Make You Wanna Go." One of the daughters writes a lot of their music. She wrote a song from the viewpoint of the child who died as a baby about growing up in Heaven, such a beautiful, touching song!

They ended their set with "Walk the Sea With Me."


New South

New South was awarded Branson's favorite gospel group last year. This quartet performs nightly at the Grand Country Music Hall. You might recognize of their quartet members, David Ragan, who has sung with a few gospel groups. They opened with "Riding High."

They talked about the history of the Foggy River Boys in Branson and paid tribute to them with a few songs, "Low Down Chariot" and "Glory Road."

They brought out their comedian from the show, Jamie Hagee, who did entertain at Silver Dollar City for a number of years. He was featured on "By the Time."

They sang a few more classics like "The Lighthouse," "Getting Ready to Leave This World" and "Just a Little Talk With Jesus."


Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

Last year was my first time seeing this group live in person. They sang mostly songs from their recent hymns CD and Happy People.

They opened with "One of These Mornings" and then Devin was featured on "He Hideth My Soul."

They sang "Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord," which is always a fun one to hear them sing live!

But I loved hearing all the hymns that they sang from their Fanny Crosby hymn sing! Paul and Ernie were featured on "Blessed Assurance," one of my all-time favorite hymns. They also sang "Near the Cross," "Redeemed" and "I Am Thine Oh Lord."

It wouldn't be a night with EHSS without "Oh What a Savior," which they did right before intermission and had the crowd on its feet. They also sang a few Cathedrals classics like "Step Into the Water." Once they started "Step Into the Water," the audience immediately started clapping.

They featured piano player Tyler Vestal not only with an instrumental but also turned him loose to sing "Who Am I." He did an outstanding job!

It was also good to hear "A Soldier Fighting to Go Home" and "Jesus Changed Everything Live."

They ended with a reprise of "Happy People" that they sang in the first half.

Three more days of the festival left!

Hope and Healing - The Taylors - CD Review

The Taylors released their sophomore project Hope and Healing with StowTown records just a few weeks ago. This is the group's first recording as a trio with the departure of Leslie Taylor Perkins. Even though the group goes from quartet to trio, they stay true to their style. They take on a few more progressive numbers, but overall it's the same sound fans have come to love.

To me, this family is one of the most underrated in Southern Gospel. They have some of the purest voices in gospel music.

This project also has a "who's who" of Southern Gospel writers. They got the best of the best with Marcia Henry, Sue C. Smith, Kenna West, Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun, Tony Wood, Joseph Habedank, just to name a few. Hope and Healing has 13 songs, so listeners are treated to a few extra tracks than normal. The song choice for the project is just incredible!

The album starts off with "He Won't Fail You" which definitely has a different sound than the rest of the project. This is a more country sound than what we are used to with the Taylors, something you would be used to hearing from labelmates the Browns. That being said, it works for them! I like that it's different from anything else making it stand out. I think this is also their first single.

Chris Taylor is featured on "Somebody's Praying." His move from bass to baritone with the trio really allows him to be showcased more. I love the message of this song. It really speaks to feeling the power of prayer when we need it.

Suzanne Taylor Hise takes the lead on "For What I Don't Know." This is probably my favorite song on the project. For what we don't we can trust Him; he understands what we don't know. Suzanne's delivery of this song is spot on. She also is featured on "That's What the Cross Is For." I love these type of story songs, definitely another highlight of the project.

"Between Here and Heaven" picks up the tempo with a more progressive sound. Jonathan Taylor takes the lead on this song. "Right Now" is another song that has a more progressive flair. I like their sound on these songs and it's good to mix it up some with all the great ballads they have on this album.

Jonanthan and Suzanne share the verses on "Call Out My Name." This is a more contemporary sounding song. It's a great encouragement for believers.

Jonathan shines on "The Day I Lay My Isaac Down." This story is familiar, but I love their take on this song and message.

"I Hope He Smiles" features the duo of Chris and Suzanne. This is the perfect closer, and one of my favorites on the project. The song is a sweet prayer of wanting the Lord to be pleased with our lives that they would bring Him glory.

Don't miss this project from the Taylors! It's a must-buy album this year!

In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - March 26

Here are some news and tidbit items from this week in Southern Gospel -

• The Taylors have announced that Leslie and Aaron Perkins will be leaving their ministry to minister at a church in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The group will continue on as a trio.
• Speaking of the Taylors, congratulations to Chris and Amanda Taylor who welcomed a baby girl this week. Emma Rose was born on March 18 and weighed 7 lbs, 12 oz. Mother and baby are doing well.
• Archie Watkins is recovering after triple-bypass surgery. He has been moved out of CICU and is expected to stay in the hospital a little bit longer before being released. 
• Tickets for this year's Absolutely Gospel Music Awards are on sale. E-mail seats@absolutelygospel.com or call 423-488-5924 9am - 8 pm CST to reserve your seat for this exciting event. There are a few more Artist Circle seats still available. It will be held in Nashville at the Nashville First Church of the Nazarene on April 12 at 7 p.m.
• Mark209 announced Dustin Hood as the group's new baritone singer this week. He has previously sung with the Harper Family, By Grace, Mercy's Harbor and Appointed Quartet.
• It seems that the Lesters are once again an all-family group with the addition of Bailee Lester singing alongside her husband and father-in-law. Matt Felts left the group a few months ago to become a part of Butler Music Group.

Anything I've missed?

Changes for the Taylors

The Taylors announced this morning that the group will transition to a trio with the departure of Aaron and Leslie Perkins.

This is from the Taylors' press release today.

"Beginning April 16, The Taylors will transition from a quartet to a trio as Leslie and Aaron answer the call to minister at a church in Myrtle Beach, SC. Aaron and Leslie have accepted the position of Pastor of Music and Students at Socastee Baptist Church. Although we are sad to see them leave us, we are excited for Leslie and Aaron as they follow the Lord’s direction. Leslie sang with us for nine years and was a blessing not only to our friends and fans, but also to our ministry team as we traveled every week! Aaron ran sound for The Taylors for two years and also filled in many times when Chris was not able to be with us, and he will be greatly missed too! Ever since Leslie can remember, she has wanted to be a mom to a little boy and a little girl. When doctors told her that she would never be able to have children, she and Aaron trusted the Lord and prayed for a miracle! Three years later, God is blessing them with the family that they prayed for. We are so proud of what God is doing in their lives and in their ministry. Would you join us in praying for The Perkins family as they transition into this new chapter of their lives?

"To celebrate the time that Leslie spent with The Taylors, we have scheduled a farewell concert at the place where it all began - Fellowship Baptist in Lillington, NC. The concert will be held on April 15 at 7:00 PM. We hope you’ll be able to join us in wishing Leslie and Aaron the best in their new ministry! Due to the limited amount of seating in the church, reservations are required in advance. The concert will be a love-offering event, and you can reserve your seat by calling Lisa Taylor at (910) 658-8757."

This is one of many big changes for the Taylors recently. Both Suzanne and Chris have welcomed baby girls this month, and Aaron and Leslie will be adding a baby girl this summer.

The Taylors will release a new record as a trio on April 8 entitled Hope and Healing. 

In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - March 12

Here are some news and tidbit items from this week in Southern Gospel -

• Congratulations to Aaron and Suzanne (Taylor) Hise on the birth of their baby girl Adaline Gayle. She was born March 10 and weight 7 lbs. and 5 oz. Mother and baby are doing well!
• Miles Cooper passed away after suffering injuries from a car accident. He sang lead for the Pine Ridge Boys. 
• Martin Cook of the Inspirations had surgery for physicians to put in a pacemaker. He is at home recovering and doing well.
• Chris White of Crossroads Music and Sonlite Records founder will be having open heart surgery on March 18. He will be having a heart valve replacement. Keep him in your prayers.
• The Bowling Family celebrated their #1 song this week, "One Glorious Moment of Faith." The song feature Hope Bowling making her the youngest person to have a #1 in gospel music. 
• Brian Free & Assurance announced that the “VIP Event Packages” for their upcoming fall Unashamed Fan Retreat at Lifeway’s Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina are sold out. Due to demand, a very limited amount of event passes are being released for fans who want to attend this exclusive weekend October 14 – 16, 2016. The pass will allow fans to stay off campus yet still be a part of this monumental event, celebrating a first in the group’s 22 year history.

Anything I've missed?

National Quartet Convention 2015 - Tuesday night recap

I tuned in tonight just in time to catch the end of the Lesters' set. I'm sure I missed some highlights and I know I missed several good groups early in the night! But here is what stood out to me from what I saw:

The Collingsworth Family absolutely nailed it tonight! Definitely one of the strongest sets I saw. I loved getting to hear so many of their new songs, "That Day is Coming," "Gotta Get to Jesus" and "You're About to Climb."

The night ended with the Cathedral Family Reunion set with Gerald Wolfe, Scott Howard, Mark Trammell, Ernie Haase, Danny Funderburk and Pat Barker. They used photos and clips of George and Glen in tribute to them. They gathered around the piano for "Jesus We Just Want to Thank You." It was a beautiful moment, but I loved them ending the night on "We Shall See Jesus."

I tuned in just in time to catch Jonathan Lester recognizing his dad for his years of service to the group. The Lesters have carried on the tradition of singing gospel music longer than any other group on the road today and a great deal of that credit goes to Brian Lester. He was featured on "He Didn't Throw the Clay Away," great moment!

The Taylors and the Talleys both had solid sets! I loved hearing Suzanne Taylor Hise on "I Tremble," always been a big fan of that song! The Talleys sang a new song "People in the Line." Lauren does an outstanding job on it and such convicting lyrics! We never know what the people around us are going through. 

It was neat seeing Mark Bishop share the stage with his daughters tonight. They are a great young talent. He also had a full band on stage with him. 

Greater Vision also had a solid set. It was good hearing Chris featured on "Hallelujah Square!" I also love the song "As We Speak" from their new project that Gerald sings. 

Of the quartets I saw, I really enjoyed the Inspirations' set. I haven't heard this group in a while (I missed them in Branson a few weeks ago.), and they pulled out several old familiar favorites. They sang a version of "Beulah Land" that was incredible!!

Highlights

• "He Didn't Throw the Clay Away" - The Lesters
• "I Tremble" - The Taylors
• "Hallelujah Square" - Greater Vision
• "As We Speak" - Greater Vision
• "People in the Line" - The Talleys
• "Beulah Land" - The Inspirations
• "Gotta Get to Jesus" - Collingsworth Familiy
• "We Shall See Jesus" - Cathedral Family Reunion

NQC Day 4 Highlights - National Quartet Convention Recap

I actually got to watch most of the webcast in its entirety tonight. Now, I'm not going to promise that I was glued to the screen the entire night to catch every detail, but I caught almost everything! :)

Probably the moment of the night happened early on during the Booth Brothers set. They sang several and then called Paul Lancaster (who will replace Jim Brady) and the Collingsworth Family up to join them. They sang "Jesus Saves" which featured Paul. It was absolutely incredible!! I love how the Booth Brothers and Jim Brady have handled this transition. It was great to see them all so supportive of each other. Paul did an amazing job on the song, and it was great to hear them backed up by the Collingsworth Family!

A lot happened toward the beginning tonight with Karen Peck and New River and the Bowling Family being two of the first groups. KPNR had a solid set as always. I'm disappointed to see the Bowling Family with only one set this week. They had a great set and featured the Bowling girls on one song. These girls have great harmonies now, so I can't wait to hear them in a few years! Hope continues to amaze me. I love that they have brought "Jesus Pilots My Ship" back!

The Collingsworth Family also brought up additional family members tonight. They had all their children's spouses join them on stage for "We Will Serve the Lord." Another great moment!

It was a night for the younger generation of singers to stand out! Karlye Hopper was featured on a verse of "I'll Worship Only at the Feet of Jesus." The Taylors had a great night that featured not only songs from their latest project but also their brother-in-law Aaron Perkins on a few songs. It was cute to see Leslie and Aaron bring up Isaiah to the stage.

Brian Free and Assurance also brought up Lauren Talley Alvey to sing "Where There's a Will" with them live. She was a guest vocalist on their album, so it was neat to see them sing it live together!

Lauren and Gerald Wolfe co-hosted the evening and did a fantastic job!

Here are the highlights from the night (in no particular order) -

• "Jesus Saves" - Booth Brothers (with Paul Lancaster) and Collingsworth Family
• "Jesus Pilots My Ship" - Bowling Family
• "We Will Serve the Lord" - Collingsworth Family
• "Where There's a Will" - Brian Free and Assurance with Lauren Alvey
• "Until You Know the Love of God" - Greater Vision
• "Broken Ones" - The Talleys
• "I'll Worship Only at the Feet of Jesus" - The Hoppers
• "Up Above My Head" - The Taylors 
• "The Living Years" - Isaacs
• "Little Is Much" - Dixie Melody Boys

Enjoying a New Day - Silver Dollar City Recap Day 6

Since I had to miss Tuesday, I wanted to make up for it. It was a new day, and I wanted to see all I could. I got to the park early yesterday to see the first shows of the morning. In fact, I had the chance to see several groups twice!

My morning started with Spoken 4 Quartet. I walked into the front of the park just a few songs into their first show. They had a special guest performing with them Tuesday and Wednesday, their producer Jeff Stice! I was able to catch part of their first show and all of their second show. They did sing a few that I heard them sing Monday, but I didn’t mind! Jon Charles sang the song about the prodigal song, “Back to Me,” love this song from their latest project. Steven was featured on “Who Am I” and “Beulah Land,” love hearing him sing those classics. Cecil showed off his bass skills on “Life’s Evening Sun.” Jeff Stice made him repeat the chorus and go even lower!! Of course, when you have Jeff playing keys for you, you’re going to let him show what he can do. Jeff played a couple of songs solo. It was great to hear him play again, because he is definitely one of the best!! The highlight of both sets had to be the song “That’s My Boy.” They closed the second show with this song!

I also two shows of the Taylors. They started each show with “New Day Dawning,” but from there did completely different sets. I love that they sang several from their latest project like “I’m Committed to You, Lord,” “He Goes Before Me” and “Measure of Grace.” However, my favorite had to be “I Tremble.” I’ve always loved this song. They featured Suzanne on the song. They brought out Leslie’s husband Aaron Perkins and son Isaiah in each set I saw. Jonathan told that he was a miracle baby. Not only had doctors told Leslie that she would probably never be able to have children of her own, but he was born with one functioning kidney and doctors thought that it wouldn’t be functioning at the level it needed to be. However at the last checkups, it was functioning at 100%. Aaron is a bass singer, so he joined them for two songs, one in each set, “Roll Away” and “Up Above My Head.” Leslie held the baby as the five of them sing together. Little baby Isaiah seemed perfectly content on stage in his mom’s arms. They had two great sets!!

The Kingsmen were at Red Gold Hall yesterday afternoon. I had the chance to also see them twice. They sang a mix of favorites and new songs. It was good hearing “Meet Me at Table,” “Travelin’ Home” and “Glory Road.” They sang probably my favorite Kingsmen song, which is “That’s All I Need.” They sang a couple of newer songs including their single, “Oh Yes I Am,” which they closed both sets with. They also sang “Beautiful City,” a newer one and Randy joked they might have to sing watermelon a bit with this one. Ray Dean threw watermelon in there a few times at the end for some laughs. Chris, their tenor, sang “Look for Me at Jesus’ Feet” in both sets, which was a definite highlight. However, one of the sweetest moments occurred in the second set. They told that a brother and sister came to the table and requested a song for their dad who is serving in Afghanistan. They didn’t know the song that the siblings requested but still wanted to sing something for them and their dad, so they sang “Land of the Free.” The siblings and family were on the front row and the group acknowledged them. I’m not sure there were many dry eyes in the house!

The Martins were the headline group tonight! I love seeing them back in Echo Hollow. The night started with “New Day” featuring Judy. They sang several of their a cappella songs, which I love to hear them do! They sang some classics like “Holy Holy Holy” and “Softly and Tenderly” and a couple from their new project like “Shut De Door” and “Never Walk Alone.” The last one was a highlight of the night!! They even sang a little bit of “Count Your Blessings” a cappella, but it wasn’t exactly intentional. Apparently the sound guy couldn’t find the track, so Joyce just started singing a bit of the chorus and Jonathan and Judy just jumped in!

Being from Arkansas, their parents were there sitting proudly on the front row and Jonathan had several family members there as well. Jonathan recognized his mom and talked about what an incredible influence she was on their lives. She’s the one who taught them to sing. She and his daughter Amelia were celebrating birthdays this week, so he had the audience sing to both of them.

Each sibling gave a bit of testimony. Judy talked about her struggle with depression and how God had allowed this struggle to remain in her life, but it was a reminder to her that we all have a desperate need for Jesus. Then they sang "Wherever You Are." Jonathan talked about the struggles in life and no matter what we face there is nothing that hasn't passed through the Father's hands. This set up "The Promise." I love this song, and for me this was the highlight of the night!!

Joyce talked about how they started out at Silver Dollar City at the gazebo. Then, they gradually moved up and now had sung at Echo Hollow for several years. She talked about their challenges and struggles that they have overcome over the years as a family. Then, they sang "Unredeemed."

They ended the night with "Love's Gonna Drive This Train" with everyone on their feet! It was a great night!!

Taylors - Measure of Grace - CD Review

The Taylors are a brother-sister quartet from North Carolina. The siblings are no strangers to gospel music earning Favorite New Mixed Group in the 2013 Singing News Fan Awards. The group was signed to StowTown Records earlier this year so Measure of Grace is their first release with their new record company.

The project starts with "I'm Committed to You, Lord." It's a great opening number. It really shows the great blend of these siblings. I love the message of the song, "with each breath I am given, I will lift your Holy Name." May that a prayer for all of us.

The album has some incredible ballads, but it is not lacking in strong upbeat songs either. "He's My Guide" is a great uptempo song that was previously recorded by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. It's a highlight for me. "I Want the World to See" is another great upbeat song. I like how the features are shared to show the siblings' strengths. "Heaven is Ready" is another fun song that is convention style. "The Least I Can Do" is stylistically a little different than the rest of the album, but this is one I found myself repeating!

Some may remember "I Tremble" that TK and McRae recorded several years ago. I have always been a huge fan of this song. While it's hard to rerecord a song that Katy Peach was featured on, Leslie does an incredible job on this song. And I'm so glad that they chose to include it on this project to bring new life to the song.

"Measure of Grace" is a beautiful ballad and a must listen, but my favorite new ballad on the album is "The Cross Is Calling" written by Rachel McCutcheon. The song features Suzanne. The message makes it standout in itself, but I love the orchestration and the way the song builds.

I love how the Taylors are a such a family unit. One sibling does not stand out and seem to be featured more than others. They have a great natural blend together that is evident throughout the project.

The project is full of 11 great songs. The sibling group made a great move with StowTown Records. I think this has been a great fit for their style and to get them more exposure that they deserve. If you haven't heard the Taylors before, pick Measure of Grace up today. You won't be disappointed!

Song List - 
1. "I'm Committed to You, Lord"
2. "He's My Guide"
3. "Measure of Grace"
4. "I Want the World to See (Jesus Lives in Me)
5. "I Tremble"
6. "The Least That I Can Do"
7. "The Cross Is Calling"
8. "He Goes Before Me"
9. "The Greatest Wonder"
10. "Heaven Is Ready (And Waiting for Me)"
11. "That Will Be Heaven to Me"

Fun Clip Friday - The Taylors Measure of Grace

The Taylors will be releasing Measure of Grace  next week. The album will be officially released on June 10, but the group is having a pre-release party on June 7 at Lifeway in Fayetteville, N.C.. This is the second (I believe) StowTown artist to do something like this. Southern Gospel Yankee had a great post this week on StownTown and how they are Southern Gospel's most cutting-edge label.

Here's a preview of Measure of Grace for today's Fun Clip Friday post. Enjoy!

Fun Clip Friday - Taylors

Happy Friday to you all! Arkansas is prepared for serious winter weather. I've always wanted to experience a white Christmas, but not sure about all this ice before Christmas.

For the Fridays in December, I'll be featuring "Christmasy" Fun Clip Friday clips. Here's this song by the Taylors on the "popular" Christmas fruitcake. Enjoy!

NQC 2013 Final Night

The final night of NQC 2013 is over, and the end of its era in Louisville is too. I've never had the privilege of attending NQC but I couldn't help but feel nostalgic as different people related stories and acknowledged all the memories that room held. But hopefully we will feel the same way about the new venue in Pigeon Forge in 20 years!

I really liked hearing Clarke Beasley share the different standout moments in Louisville to him tonight. While they see the move as a positive change, you can tell Louisville will always hold a dear place in convention history.

Last night was so incredible, I wasn't sure how tonight could hold up, but there were plenty of special moments tonight that will forever be remembered -

• I think if you have to crown a moment of the night it was the long standing ovation for Libbi. People were standing and clapping long after she left the stage. Dean even asked at one point, "Are you through?" and the clapping just increased! Libbi was FaceTiming with Tracy during all of this, and the camera man got to her and put his face from the phone on the screen, and it just kept going. It just showed how much the Perrys mean and how many prayers had been going up for them! I loved that they included a video message from Tracy during their set. And I thought it was really neat of them to include Leah on their last two songs!
• An impromptu performance by Michael English also tops the list tonight. He came up on stage after the Talleys' set and sang "Going Home" with some help from Kim and Dean Hoppers. In the middle, he stopped to talk about his dad who died recently and how it had been him who taught him to sing. He said how much that song meant to him, and then preceded to nail the rest of the song!
• Early in the evening during the Whisnants' set, Susan asked Melissa Brady, the writer of "All Is Well" to come up and tell how she had written the song. She did this earlier in the week during the Songs of Lifetime showcase. She talked about how she had written the song not realizing how just when she needed it, it would come full circle and minister to her when both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer. Susan sang the song and Melissa joined her! Beautiful moment!!
• I'm not sure what other groups could have followed the extended standing ovation for the Perrys, but the Collingsworth Family did and did well. Magic happens when you have family harmonies behind just piano accompaniment, especially with this family. They sang "Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary," and it was incredible!! They had an amazing overall set that featured hymns!
•  The Talleys also had a strong overall set. Most of it was done with just Roger playing piano and their voices. Lauren told a story of how someone had shown her a video this week of a girl singing "The Broken Ones." The girl wanted to sing it at her church after this lady had played it for her. The girl was in an abusive situation at home and wanted to learn the song and sing it. Lauren sang the song mixed with "Orphans of God."
• Mark Trammell Quartet had a strong last night in Louisville as well. I loved how Mark dedicated the final song to his fellow gospel singers. He wanted to sing it for them, "Too Much to Gain to Lose." 
• It was a strong night for newer groups as well. Both 11th Hour and Taylors had great sets to start the night. I also enjoyed hearing from the showcase winner High Road III. The Taylors started with an a cappella song that was really impressive of itself, and I loved Suzanne singing "I'm Gonna Make It" at the end!
• Legacy Five sang appropriately during their set "Til We Meet Again" as a tribute to leaving Louisville and the people there. They then kicked off the finale portion with "Boundless Love." 
• The entire finale included "Testify" by Talleys, "I Want to Know" by Mark Trammell Quartet, "I Wish I Could Have Been There" by Perrys, "How Great Thou Art" by Kingdom Heirs, "Show a Little Bit of Love and Kindness" by Collingsworth Family and then "Statement of Faith" by various groups. 

It was a great end to not only NQC 2013 but also the end of the Louisville era! Here's to many more great years ahead in Pigeon Forge!

Shoutin' on Day Four of Southern Gospel Picnic - Silver Dollar City

You would think Mondays would be a slower day for the festival, but it proved to be a record-breaking day at Silver Dollar City and even ended with a little bit of shoutin'!

Today started with the Taylors for me. The first time I saw the Taylors was two years ago at Silver Dollar City. It was great to see Leslie back with her siblings! There's just something about great sibling family harmony, and they definitely have it! Loved hearing them sing the a cappella "I Call on Jesus!" The highlight of the show though had to be them ending with "I Believe in a Hill Called Mt. Calvary." Absolutely beautiful!!!!

I caught the Perrys twice today, and Libbi was able to be with them! Before the first show, General Manager of Silver Dollar City Brad Thomas and D.A. Calloway, entertainment director at the City, presented Libbi with a bouquet of flowers  to show their support for her and letting her know all of Silver Dollar City was continuing to pray for Tracy and appreciated her being there. Everyone was standing applauding, and I don't think there were many dry eyes in the house! 

During the first show, Libbi sang "Through the Night," which definitely was a highlight!! Bryan introduce Libbi and she got another standing ovation. We all loved Libbi being there!! She talked about having to learn to totally trust God 100% and learn to rely on Him day by day. Praise God Tracy was able to go back to rehab today! 

The second highlight of the show was definitely David singing "Calvary Answers for Me!"

In between Perrys shows I caught Tribute Quartet. The crowd really got into "Homesick Angel!" But the last two songs they did were my favorite! Riley absolutely tears up "Safe Thus Far!" And then they closed the show with "Good News from Jerusalem," which they turned around a couple of times! Such an incredible song!

The final Perrys show featured Libbi on both "Celebrate Me Home" and "Jesus Hold My Hand." I have video of the latter which had some pretty funny moments with David and Bryan being anti-bluegrass! 

Bryan shared his testimony also during the show. He talked about how he thought he was saved at a young age, but never really knew Christ until some time later. He said he knew it wasn't typical to take time to do this at a theme park show, but I think it really showed his heart and the heart of the group to take time and make sure that people had a chance to hear the gospel not just through songs.

They sang "When He Spoke," which I love, and was a highlight for me! Then ended with "I Wish I Could of Been There!"

The Hoppers were in Echo Hollow tonight and set a record for the number of people tonight with more than 5,900!!

Even though I've seen the Hoppers earlier this year twice this was my first chance to see Kim. The other two times TaRanda was filling in for her, and I'm still a little disappointed I've never seen her and Kim sing live together.

However, tonight was fantastic from the opening song to the last shoutin' time!

Kim had a couple of highlights with "He Didn't Just Carry the Cross" and "Grace Will Always Be Greater Than Sin."

I love hearing Connie sing "I've Come Too Far to Look Back," and of course Kim helped her restart the chorus! :)

One of my favorites though was "I'll Worship Only at the Feet of Jesus." So beautiful!!! They ended the show with "Shoutin' Time," and I lost count of the number of times they turned it around! The entire audience was on its feet clapping and singing along!!!

Incredible night, and now ready for day 5!

Names You Might Not Know Yet - The Taylors

Some groups I was a little hesitant to ask to do this series because I feel like they have been on the
gospel music scene for a while, but since they were still nominated in a "new" category for the Singing News Fan Awards, I figured it would be ok.

So this week's post is on the Taylors, a brother, sister group based out of North Carolina. While still considered a young group, the Taylors have demonstrated their commitment to their ministry and sharing Jesus through southern gospel music.


Question: Did you grow up with a strong southern gospel influence? When did you first become interested in southern gospel?

The Taylors: We grew up in a small Southern Baptist church singing traditional hymns. Southern gospel music was not introduced to us until we were in our teenage years. A trio came to perform a concert, and we immediately fell in love with the songs and style. It was shortly after that concert that we became interested in singing that style of music.


Q: How did you get started singing and traveling as a family?

The Taylors: Our mom taught us 4 part harmony around our family piano -an upright, out of tune, Wurlitzer. She picked songs from her choir books and we learned to love singing together, although it wasn't very good at the time! I don't remember how we got our first singing engagement, but I know there were a lot of sweet people who encouraged us. With dad behind the wheel of our minivan and older brother, Matthew, as sound technician, we would travel locally to sing for banquets, club meetings, and fundraisers. God truly blessed those early years as we continued to follow his leading.


Q: What's the one thing that you want people who walk away from your concerts to know about the Taylors?

The Taylors: We would love for each of our listeners to know two things. First, that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. That is the reason we leave our families for over 170 dates a year. As glamorous as it may seem to be a musician/group, we can honestly say that if it weren't for God's calling and anointing, we would have chosen different careers. He is the reason we exist, so we want to share his love with as many people as possible before He returns, and music is a great way to do that. Second, we will always give an invitation for those listening to accept Jesus as Savior.


Q: Do you have a favorite song that you sing? And what song from another group has ministered to you?

The Taylors: Currently, we love to sing "I'm Going to Make It."  This song has a special place in our hearts as we find life to be discouraging at times, to say the least. "If Only Just a Few" by the Mark Trammell Trio is one of our favorites.


Q:  What artists have been your biggest influence (musically and/or personally)?

The Taylors: There are so many. Really we couldn't even begin to name them.


Q:  What has been your favorite memory so far in your ministry? Do you have a certain concert that stands out?

The Taylors: We performed a concert in Florida at a very small Methodist Church where a 93 year-old woman gave her heart to Christ for the first time in her life. That concert was not our best performance as we were weary from traveling the roads for two weeks straight. God spoke to our hearts by reminding us that when we are weary, He is strong. It was a bittersweet concert, in that, this woman came to know Christ, but when we asked her why she waited until that age to ask Jesus to save her she said no one ever gave her the chance to know the Lord. We never take a concert for granted anymore.


Q:  What new things are coming up for the Taylors?

The Taylors: We have some very exciting things in the works, but we can't tell just yet! Keep an eye on our website for latest news in the coming weeks. We can't wait to let you know what's happening soon! www.thetaylorsmusic.com.

NQC 2012 Day 5 Highlights

I had the webcast going all evening, but I was doing other things while watching too. So I can't say I caught everything tonight, but here are some thoughts and tidbits from the night:

• It seemed to be a great night for a cappella numbers with Sisters, the Nelons, Scotty Inman and the Isaacs. Sisters have been singing the a cappella moments all week long, and they are just outstanding. Although the Isaacs and the Nelons both had strong a cappella numbers Friday night as well!
• Jordan James impresses me more and more as the new bass singer for the Dixie Echoes.
• The Nelons and the Taylors both had strong sets tonight with their only appearance on the main stage. Both made the case to see more of them next year!
• Bill Gaither officially announced Matthew Holt as their new piano player.
• I love Christmas music, but even for me Christmas in September I think is a little much. However, I really enjoyed the Christmas set tonight! I loved getting to hear TaRanda Greene sing "O Holy Night" with the Hoppers!

Standout groups of the night:

The Perrys - Another strong set tonight showcasing several more of their new songs. They finished with a song they recut "When He Spoke." It's such a great song, and it was a great decision to recut the song! Great finish to their set!!

Gaither Vocal Band - I thought it was really neat that they started singing "One Voice" with a dark stage. The highlight of the set was definitely "The Love of God!" Beautiful song and amazing harmonies from the vocal band.

Triumphant Quartet - Scotty Inman had the moment of the night with his testimony of his baby girl. He choked back the tears as the camera also showed Kasey in the audience crying. They both expressed their greatest appreciation for all the prayers for Embry. Then, Scotty sang "Only God Knows" a cappella. It was a beautiful, tender moment and the highlight of the night! They ended with "Old White Flag" which was quite a contrast from the sweet moment right before this, but it worked.

Mark Trammell Quartet - Again, this quartet had one of the strongest sets of the night. I thought they might recognized Dustin Sweatman since it was his last night with the group, but I think they did a big tribute at their homecoming this year. We got to hear more from Nick on "Standing on the Solid Rock." Mark also recognized Ray Flynn and then sang "Too Much to Gain to Lose." They closed with their "Golden City Medley." Eric nailed the high notes at the end. They got a much-deserved standing ovation!!

The Hoppers - They started with "Jerusalem." During "I've Come too Far to Look Back," Connie brought up TaRanda to come up and join them on an encore. I thought it was sweet for them to have TaRanda sing with them tonight. TaRanda and Kim are two powerhouse singers and still had probably one of the best moments of the week on Tuesday night with "There Is a Fountain." They also sang "Something's Happening" with TaRanda still on stage and it got a standing ovation from the audience that was definitely deserved!!

Day Seven of Southern Gospel Picnic at Silver Dollar City

It's hard to believe that the festival is close to being over! With Isaac approaching, Thursday was probably the last nice weather day for a couple of days. We managed to see three groups today: the Taylors, Palmetto State Quartet and the Hoppers.

The Taylors

I think the Taylors are one of the most prominent up and coming groups in Southern Gospel. This was my first time seeing them since last year at Silver Dollar City. So this was my first time seeing them since Leslie left and Lindsey Graham joined them. Lindsey fits the group so well, and I think she could pass for a Taylor sibling. It's hard to beat that family blend and sound, but I don't think the group took a step back at all with Lindsey's addition.

The Taylors really shined on the a cappella River medley they did. Suzanne was featured on a song their mother wrote, "There is Power in the Blood." It is a beautiful song, and Suzanne was spot on!

Another a cappella song that they sang was "Old Camp Meeting Days" which showed off all members' vocals! One of the highlights for me was hearing them sing the classic "The Love of God."

Palmetto State Quartet

It has been several years since I've seen the Palmetto State Quartet live. In fact, I'm pretty certain the whole group has changed since the last time I saw them. Larry Strickland was not with the group.

Paul Lancaster has always been a stand out singer for me. I first saw him when he was with the Martins. The highlight of their set for me was the song, "A Moment of Grace," which featured him.

David Staton really impressed me as well. He reminds me a little bit of Gary LeVox with Rascal Flatts in his sound. Another stand out song for me was him singing, "Don't That Sound Like Heaven."

Another favorite in their set was "All Hail the Power." They put a new spin on this classic song.

They closed with "Living Like I'm Leaving." I couldn't help but chuckle a little as they turned the house lights on during the encore of the chorus so people could see as they left the theater. So they all started leaving during "Living Like I'm Leaving."

The Hoppers 
The Hoppers broke the record attendance for the year at Echo Hollow with 5,149 people. They sang several of their most well-known songs as well as some new ones from their most recent project. Here were the highlights for me:

•  “Count Me In” and “I’ll Take You Home” – Both of these are songs from their latest project. From the sounds of these two songs, it’s going to be another dynamite album from the Hoppers. 
• “I’ll Worship Only at the Feet of Jesus” - Great classic song that they sing beautifully! 
• “Something’s Happening” – This has become one of my favorites that they sing. I love Connie recitations during the song. The song has such a great buildup especially when they sing it live. 
• “I’ve Come Too Far” – I love hearing Connie sing this song. She had Kim start the chorus again as only Kim Hopper can do. At the end, the audience was on its feet. 
• “Jerusalem” – The audience stayed on its feet through this song, which they closed the first half with. 
• “The Woman in my Little Girl’s Room” – I’ve always really liked this song, but never heard them sing it live. Kim and Dean went into the audience and found a couple of little girls and sang to them and their parents. It was such a sweet moment. 
• “Shouting Time” – They outdid themselves on this song. They did several encores of the chorus at the audience’s request! It’s always a crowd-pleaser, and most of the crowd was on its feet from the first note to the last.