David Bruce Murray
Feb 14, 2008
Observations
Canaan Records – It’s All About Historical Names
Doug Harrison and others react with questions and surprise at the Canaan Records/LeFevre Quartet deal. I had decided not to comment, but then a thought hit me that I don’t remember anyone else raising.
The label has signed two groups to date. One is the Hoppers. They never recorded on the “old” Canaan label as far as I know, but they’re the type of group that could have been part of the Canaan family.
The second group is the LeFevre Quartet. Notice how Canaan played up the historical connection to the original LeFevres in the press release: “The LeFevres are one of the oldest, most awarded and respected family names in the world of Gospel music.”
In 1965, the LeFevres recorded their first Canaan label LP titled Songs Of Happiness. They would record a total of 13 over the next 12 years. In 1977, upon Eva Mae LeFevre’s retirement, the group name was changed to the Rex Nelon Singers and the Nelons continued to record on the Canaan label until 1987. By that time, Eva Mae’s nephew Mike LeFevre had joined Gold City where he sang baritone alongside Tim Riley, Ivan Parker, and Brian Free for seven years.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Mike’s cousin Mylon LeFevre had an extensive impact on the contemporary Christian world in the 1980s and 1990s.
Canaan is looking at more than just talent and an established track record. They’re going for names that come with a reputation built-in, be it directly as with the Hoppers or indirectly as with the LeFevre Quartet.
It seems like they’ve tried to use molasses for their big splash announcements, it’s true. At this rate, it’s going to take two more years before they have four artists on their roster. Although the label has been up and running for nearly a year now, they haven’t released any newly recorded tracks to date. (Canaan has released singles off the Hoppers’ The Ride project, but that CD was recorded and released before the group signed with Canaan.)
I have to admire Canaan for not picking the pockets of other labels, though. They picked up the Hoppers when the Hoppers were producing their own recordings independent of a label. They technically took the LeFevre Quartet from Song Garden, I suppose, but that hardly counts when David Staton was running the label.
Here’s a fun guessing game to play. Who will Canaan sign next? Will it be another group carrying a name with a lot of weight such as the Hoppers? Will it be another group carrying a name that brings back memories such as the LeFevre Quartet? Will it be a group with no recognizable name that has been around a few years without catching their big break yet? Will the label create a new group using recognizable individuals? I can think of several possibilities in each category that would be worth getting excited about.
