Musicscribe BLOG has moved! Click HERE if you aren't forwarded to the new site automatically.
Old articles have been left intact so links won't expire.

I just received an email from the Crabb Family's newsletter. Here's a screen shot (click to enlarge):


The email went on to say:

We are excited to announce CCM Magazine's growing coverage as The Crabb Family's ministry grows into new territory. CCM has devoted space in at least two of the next issues to present the lives, music and ministry of The Crabb Family! Show your support by purchasing a subscription to CCM here.
Plus, in a partnership with CCM Magazine, a portion of your purchase will go to benefit The Crabb Family ministry! And you'll be sending a message to CCM that fans of The Crabb Family are ready to Blur the Lines!
Here's what Jason Crabb has to say about CCM Magazine: "I can't wait each month until I get my copy of the latest CCM Magazine. The whole family enjoys keeping up with what our friends on the road are doing. Plus, we like the pictures."
Subscribe Today!

Not bad when you can actively sell Singing News AND CCM subscriptions... I have previewed the Blur the Lines project and remember making a comment that it is going to be big. For those who complain and say that it's not Southern Gospel, I say: Play the Crabb Family for contemporary music fans and they'll call it Southern Gospel all day long.

I love the traditional sounds--it's what attracted me to the music! But everything changes and the 1950's style of Southern Gospel is different from the 1980's style. What we're hearing from these "progressive" groups today is simply the natural "evolution" of Southern Gospel.

I think the different flavors of Southern Gospel has given the genre a wider appeal. Kind of the "if you don't like this song, just hang on...it'll change in a minute" philosophy. The Isaacs may be too bluegrass for you, but hang on...Gold City is next.

In related Crabb/Blur-the-Lines news:

XM Radio Announces Crabb Family Day - WASHINGTON, DC--The Crabb Family is set to be the featured artist for Tuesday, May 2nd on XM Satellite Radio's Channel 34 (enLighten) . The day will include excerpts from the brand new album, Blur The Lines, along with numerous other Crabb Family hits, commercial free. Crabb Family Day will begin at 10:00am ET and conclude at 9:00pm ET with the best of the Crabb Family being featured at the top of each hour. The Crabb siblings are the first Southern Gospel artist to have a featured day on the station. "The Crabb Family is very honored that XM Radio would believe in our music to the extent of adding a station that plays only Southern Gospel music 24 hours a day. There is added enthusiasm knowing that Blur The Lines and the Crabb Family will be featured during their broadcast this Tuesday. Many of the Crabb Family members are XM subscribers. How exciting that Southern Gospel music and the Crabb Family are now part of the XM Satellite Radio world," stated Kelly Bowling, the Crabb Family. “Dan Dixon and I are looking forward to doing many exciting things here on enLighten,” says Program Director Marlin Taylor, “now that we are truly America’s Southern Gospel music station, including setting aside a day from time to time to salute one of Southern Gospel’s leading groups. We feel it’s significant that we kick off this series with the Crabb’s, who are leading the way in exposing Southern Gospel to new audiences.” For more information on XM Satellite Radio, check out the release below or log onto www.xmradio.com.

I'm glad to see such creative promotions on XM and not just a seldom-updated juke box format.
-Daniel Britt

posted by danielbritt.com @ 2:57:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink

• Traditional is what many may associate with a quartet style or standard mixed-group sound that features unique four-part harmonies with high tenors, low basses and a 4/4 time pattern. Songs are usually straight-forward and simple: several verses with a familiar chorus that is referred back to several times throughout the song.
  
• Convention-style is what is referred to as a branch of the traditional style that focuses heavily on shape note singing. It’s a very cut-and-dry way of singing. The songs may contain emotion and passion, but usually do not exhibit any “fancy” deviation from the written music. (One usually sticks to the notes on the page and sings as-is without adding or improvising).
  
• Progressive Southern Gospel incorporates or borrows from a contemporary sound and matches it with one of the more traditional styles. The most common “borrowed” sounds are pop, progressive country (often referred to as a Nashville sound), inspirational, and urban. The best way to describe how an otherwise traditional sound is made “progressive” is to think of a song being given a pop flair (or an urban beat, or use of new technology to produce more of an electronic sound). Usually, groups that fall under a progressive sound also fit well under a traditional sound when given the opportunity to “just sing” with a piano and bass. Some examples are The Gaither Vocal Band, Gold City Quartet, Karen Peck & New River, The Nelons, Signature Sound Quartet, The Crabb Family, and Janet Paschal.
  
• Bluegrass has been closely aligned with Southern Gospel, although there is a difference between the two. Usually the twangy mountain bluegrass sound is replaced with tighter harmonies and a more polished delivery, while the instrumentation and bluegrass-style of composition sticks. Groups that have used their bluegrass heritage to produce a popular new sound of Southern Gospel are The Isaacs, The Bishops, and The Crabb Family.
  Mountain Gospel music is a bit different than bluegrass. If you take the traditional Southern Gospel sound (especially the conventional sound) and marry it with the less-polished delivery of bluegrass, you’ll have an example of down home mountain Gospel singing. Two groups that immediately come to mind are The Inspirations and The McKameys. Their talent is no less than the other styles; you’ll just notice their sound is uniquely “mountain.”
  
• Black Southern Gospel is characterized by artists like Charles Johnson & The Revivers, The Reggie Saddler Family, Jessy Dixon, Lynda Randle, Andre Crouch, Babbie Mason, Larnelle Harris, and Alvin Slaughter. Listening to very traditional sounds of Black Gospel like the Blind Boys of Alabama or the Fairfield Four will give you an idea of the similarities between white and black gospel music. Jessy Dixon and Lynda Randle have brought unique sounds, blending their personal roots in black gospel with the songs closely aligned with white southern gospel to provide a “country/western meets soul and blues” sound that is appealing to lovers of both styles.
  
• Country Gospel music has probably one of the most straight-forward definitions: anything the sounds like what the secular country music genre is producing. Obviously it has a wide range as well. Some people associate “old country church hymns” as being Country Gospel, while others associate the sound of a steel guitar, southern drawls like Merle Haggard or Hank Williams, and story-songs that grab emotions to be what defines “Country.” I think both associations are accurate: “On The Wings of A Snow White Dove” is just as much a Country Gospel song as is Randy Travis’ recent hit “Three Wooden Crosses.” Examples of Country Gospel artists are: Jeff & Sheri Easter, The McRaes, Randy Travis, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Mike Bowling.

Southern Gospel Today

The music today falls into two main categories: concerts and churches. Most groups use both to expand their reach.

Concert venues are generally seen as more entertainment, usually charge an admission for the show, have concessions that are for sale, give time for an intermission and feature multiple groups sharing the stage while an emcee or host moves the night along. There is usually a heavy push for the artist’s product available for purchase in a foyer or lobby.

The Bill Gaither Homecoming series is an example of a highly-successful concert production. Gaither has outsold other secular music acts in tickets sales, artists like Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi.

Church venues are typically used more to aid in worship or to minister. These appearances are usually less showy and are more straight-laced than concerts. Admission is rare, but a love offering is common. Interestingly enough, product tables are almost always setup and promoted at church events as well. One common way for a church to land a big name in Southern Gospel is through connections and last-minute bookings where the group is traveling from point A to point B and has an open date in between the two. The group’s booking agency will contact area churches and offer a low-cost booking option in exchange for the group to fill its schedule last-minute.

While there are some groups who only perform at concert venues, there aren’t many who only sing to church groups. When given the chance to perform at a civic hall or on an arena stage, Southern Gospel artists usually take it. Since the music is Christian at its root, artists argue that regardless of “concert” or “church,” ministry still exists and is the main goal. It is, as Bill Gaither’s biographical title states it, “More Than The Music.”

-Daniel Britt

Labels: History

posted by danielbritt.com @ 5:00:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink

Labels: CD Review

posted by David Bruce Murray @ 10:47:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink

Labels: History

posted by David Bruce Murray @ 12:58:00 AM /links to this post/ permalink

[Click to listen]

Labels: audio, Interviews, podcast

posted by danielbritt.com @ 11:03:00 AM /links to this post/ permalink

Traditional quartet doomsday prophets have been proven wrong again. As long as we have groups like the Palmetto State Quartet, you can still get new recordings of groups that sing the old songs in a traditional style.

I can't write a formal review of their latest CD called Gospel Quartet Favorites since I haven't seen the interior artwork and have no liner note information. I have heard the CD, though, so I can tell you they've done a pretty decent job with this table project.

Song titles include:
1. I Know My Lord's Gonna Lead Me Out
2. Who Am I
3. Unworthy
4. How Great Thou Art
5. Just A Little While
6. Samson
7. I've Got That Feeling
8. Living He Loved Me
9. I'm In His Care
10. Cowboy Campmeeting
11. A Good Day's Fishing

Gospel Quartet Favorites is not available in stores. You can buy it from the group directly either at a concert or by ordering it online via the PSQ website.

Labels: CD Review

posted by David Bruce Murray @ 3:47:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink

I had the opportunity recently to interview Lori. Among other topics, we discussed her favorite artists, plans for the future, why she bills herself using only her first name, and her new CD titled One Day. Lori is the daughter of Anthony and LuAnn Burger.

David Bruce Murray: Lori, I'm sure a number of fans know you are the daughter of Anthony and LuAnn Burger, but I'd still like to begin this interview by asking you to share some background. Who are you and what motivated you to record a CD?
I can remember from a very young age that music was a very important part of my life. I participated in every musical at church and sang in school and church choirs, yet I always thought it was more important for someone else to have the lead vocal solo and tended to shy away from the spotlight. Mom and Dad had always encouraged me to develop my talent, but I always thought that they were just being proud parents.

It wasn’t until one night during the Gaither Homecoming Show that I was sitting next to Jake Hess when he heard me singing along with the Vocal Band. He asked me if Bill knew that I could sing like that and Jake decided that I needed to be on stage singing with the others. I was very apprehensive about that whole idea.

At that point, I told Mom to find a vocal coach that didn’t know who “Anthony Burger” was and that I would go and see what they thought of my potential. The vocal coach we chose was Kim Wood Sandusky, who is coach to some of America’s best vocalists such as Destiny’s Child. I was very encouraged and began intense training for several months before I sang for the first time in concert in June, 2003.

I went into the studio and recorded a two song pre-release and saved my proceeds which enabled me to pay for all my expenses for the first CD project and own my own masters. My ultimate goal with this project was to let the words of the songs bring hope and encouragement to the listener while bridging the musical gap between the young and the young at heart.

DBM: When you referred to a "musical gap" between the various age groups, were you thinking of Traditional vs. Contemporary or Southern Gospel vs. Praise and Worship or something else entirely?
Actually, the gap I was referring to was dealing more with the pre-conceived ideas that the listener might tend to have when he/she first hears the musical composition of the song. I wanted to try to find songs that had a great message and then use different musical styles that would appeal to a wide range of listeners. I have been very blessed to be able to sing these songs in settings with very mixed age listeners. Surprisingly, the older listeners enjoyed the more youthful sounding songs as well as the more traditional sounding ones and vice versa.

DBM: Let's tackle the "who is Lori" question from another angle now. Outside of singing, what activities define "having fun" for you?
One of my favorite fun things to do is to go shopping with my mom. We always have a great time doing that even when we don’t purchase a thing…which is rare. She is my wisdom, my sounding board and a great shopper. Dad was always great to come meet us in the mall and take our bags back to the bus so that we could continue to shop. I also love to cook. A lot of the time, my television is turned to the Food Network where I love to watch a variety of cooking styles and get great recipes.

Other things I enjoy include going to the beach, hanging out with friends, and being at home.

DBM: I know a number of artists have done it in the past, but what prompted you to bill yourself simply as "Lori" without a last name?
“Lori” is very simple. I wanted people to hear the music and not dwell on a name. It looked great in graphics and was actually something we all thought was good marketing. Plus, if I ever get married far down the road, I won’t have to change my name.

DBM: Let's talk specifically about the song "It Won't Rain Always." I understand this will be the first single from your CD titled One Day. What makes this particular song special to you?
“It Won’t Rain Always” was the first song I sang in concert. I always loved it when Janet Paschal sang it and she gave me her sound track to use. I love the message of hope that it shares, plus we all agreed that it was a great song. It was also the song I sang each night right after "Clair De Lune/ Jesus Loves Me" and that is also why I chose it to sing at the funeral. [ed. Anthony Burger's]

DBM: Is singing something you see yourself potentially doing as a lifelong career?
Singing is actually a “calling” on my life rather than a career choice. I feel that each of us has talents that God can use when we are willing to be used. It humbles me that people like my singing and are blessed by the words of the song. I am always careful to give God the honor for whatever comes my way. I am a junior in college, majoring in business and music. I will continue to walk through the doors as they open and will leave the future up to Him.

DBM: Speaking as a music fan now, rather than an artist, name three or four artists who you constantly have in your CD player (or iPod) and tell us what attracts you to their music?
As a music fan, I really enjoy David Phelps, Kirk Franklin, and CeCe Winans. I love David’s incomparable talent and value his friendship. He has been a great source of encouragement. Kirk Franklin’s song writing and arranging bring new life to this genre. I especially love the song “Brighter Day”. CeCe has an incredible voice and communicates with the audience with grace and authority. There are many other artists I listen to from many different genres.

Of course it goes without saying that Dad is my all time favorite.
-------------------------
For more information about One Day, visit www.lori.cc. Song titles include: "Blessed," "No More Night," "One Day," "Say The Name," "It Won't Rain Always," "Faith," "Broken Person," "My Worship," "Who Would Imagine A King," and "Of His Kingdom."

Labels: Interviews

posted by David Bruce Murray @ 10:09:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink

Other groups with a long legacy would do well to check out the Dixie Echoes website, study what they've done, and then set out to do something similar on their own websites. The Dixie Echoes have just uploaded several pages that summarize the history of the group, including photos of EVERY group member and EVERY project cover from the group's history.

Click HERE to view what they have done.

Gold City fans will enjoy seeing photos of a young Tim Riley and a young Garry Jones. Several group members who later became household names with other groups first pulled stints with the Dixie Echoes, particularly bass singers and piano players. The group has had the least turnover at the lead position with Jack Toney, Dale Shelnut, and Randy Shelnut being the only three men to hold that position.

In a way, it's a shame that this is so unique. When I was researching my book, I was surprised by the absence or grossly limited scope of any "official" biographical information to be found on major gospel group websites. All groups should honor those who came before by putting this much care and attention into their official website's biographical section. It would sure make life a lot easier on us Southern Gospel historians for one thing, but more importantly, it would give fans a glimpse of the determination that is required for a group to be sustained for decades. I'm glad the Dixie Echoes are setting the standard...hopefully others will soon follow.

Labels: History

posted by David Bruce Murray @ 10:38:00 AM /links to this post/ permalink

Labels: Interviews

posted by danielbritt.com @ 9:17:00 AM /links to this post/ permalink

Labels: CD Review

posted by David Bruce Murray @ 1:06:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink