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GEORGE YOUNCE PASSES AWAY AT AGE 75
AKRON, OHIO - Singing News has learned that the legendary George Younce has
passed away. According to George's son-in-law, Ernie Haase of Signature Sound,
George passed away at approximately 3:30 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2005.
Calling hours for George are Monday April 18th, 2005 / 4pm -9pm at the Akron
Baptist Temple. The funeral will be held Tuesday, April 19th, 2005 at 11
am at the Akron Baptist Temple.
Meanwhile, Ernie asks for everyone's prayers for the entire Younce family during
this difficult time. He further states that the family wants everyone to know
that George loved the people of Southern Gospel Music and often spoke of the
kindness and love he encountered from the fans. George never forgot the fans . .
. and the fans will never forget George.
"There is no way in the world
that I can sit here and be thankful enough for what I've been able to do....
How in the world could I complain about anything? All I can do is praise
God."
George Wilson Younce was born near Lenoir, NC, February 22, 1930, George
Washington's birthday. According to George's brother, Eugene (Brudge, as he is
known by many Southern Gospel Music followers), their dad just couldn't resist
naming the baby George in honor of the country's first president. Mr Younce also
added a middle name of Wilson - not for President Woodrow Wilson, but for the
doctor who delivered George.
From a very early age, George was a "natural" on stage. Brudge
recollects that as early as age five, George would sing and dance on a local
storehouse porch. When George finished, he'd pick up pennies tossed on the porch
by passerbys and quickly turn them into candy inside the store. On Sundays,
after returning home from church, George would "treat" the family to a
complete rerun of that morning's sermon, mimicking the pastor while preaching
from a chair or, on occasion, from the top of the living room table.
George experienced his first taste of quartet singing right after World War II.
When George was about 16 years old, he worked in a furniture factory that was
located about a hundred yards from the Younce home. George got off from work at
4:30 in the afternoon, the same time that the Blue Ridge Quartet came on with
their radio program. This was the beginning of George's desire to sing
professional Gospel Music. George took advantage of an opportunity to attend a
Stamps-Baxter School of Music. He studied shaped-note singing and made good use
of his learning by singing with a local group called the Spiritualaires. At the
time he joined the group, George was singing lead. Then the inevitable happened.
In an interview several years ago, George recalled the day his voice changed.
"The group was supposed to sing one night at a church nearby. I got up that
morning and while I was cleaning up, I started to run over some of the songs we
would do. When I hit that first note, I thought someone had cut my throat! All
day long, I tried my best to practice my lead part. Just when I thought I had it
right, I lost it again. That night, we tried to sing 'I'm Winging My Way Back
Home' and it was awful. That was the night I went from the lead part to bass.
I've been there ever since."
Uncle Sam called on George for military duty in 1950. Brudge had been a
paratrooper during World War II and cautioned George about the hazards of
following in his footsteps. Naturally, George became a paratrooper, making
nearly 30 jumps before leaving the army. One of those jumps that George made was
over the atomic bomb blast in Desert Rock, NV. George would make the comment in
later years that he was a "complete idiot to volunteer to make that jump -
but it was a pretty good fireworks show!" After his return from serving his
country, George's interest once again turned to singing Southern Gospel Music.
His love for singing was so great that when he got the opportunity to join a
part-time group, he took it, ignoring the fact that it was based far away in
West Virginia. George got the job by chance. While he was in the service, George
had become friends with a boy from the Beckley, WV, area. The young man lost his
life during the service and after George was discharged, he took an opportunity
to visit his friend's bereaved parents. When he was visiting in Beckley, he met
a quartet who was there that day. The group's bass singer had just moved to
California, so they were looking to replace him. George announced to the group
that he could sing bass, so after rehearsing a little bit, George was offered
the job. The group, the Watchmen, was sponsored and promoted by Joe McAley, a
coal mine superintendent who loved Gospel singing. George lived with Mr McAley
and his family the entire time George sang with the group. It was in 1954 that
George joined the Watchmen. From there, George would join the Weatherford
Quartet, who would team up with Rex Humbard in 1956. George then re-formed the
Watchmen Quartet before joining the Blue Ridge Quartet in 1957. George would
recall several years later that it was astonishing to him to think that he would
sing bass for the group he had grown up listening to.
George would sing for the Blue Ridge Quartet for five years, receiving what he
would call the greatest encouragement he's ever received from anyone in Southern
Gospel Music from Elmo Flagg, who was the manager of the group during the years
of George's tenure. According to George, "When I joined the group, I was as
green as grass. I thought I knew how to sing with a quartet, but I found out
that I really didn't. Elmo never once in anger told me that I wasn't doing
something right. He would also approach a problem by telling me that he believed
he could help me. We would keep working on it until we got it right."
George also studied under "The Professor," Lee Roy Abernathy, during
this time. He would travel to Abernathy's home in Canton, GA, often staying with
the instructor a week at a time.
As the winter of 1964 approached, George received a telephone call that would
forever change his career. Back in 1963, Glen Payne, Bobby Clark and Danny Coker
had formed a trio to sing for television evangelist Rex Humbard at his Cathedral
of Tomorrow in Akron, OH. After only a few months, Humbard felt impressed to
make the trio a quartet. Thus, the search began for a bass singer. It was in
November of 1964 that the search ended with the hiring of George Younce. All was
going well with newly formed Cathedral Quartet. Steady salaries, comfortable
homes and national attention gained while singing on Humbard's syndicated
telecasts were enabling the group members to enjoy their jobs immensely. Yet,
there was a growing feeling among each singer to do more than just sing at the
Cathedral of Tomorrow. Finally, under Glen and George's direction, the Cathedral
Quartet became a full-time quartet, leaving the securities to which they had
become accustomed. George, in an interview with Singing News in 1983, summed up
the early days of the Cathedral Quartet on its own by saying, "We nearly
starved to death!"
But, as history has recorded, the Cathedral Quartet prospered to become what
many people feel was the finest Southern Gospel group to ever grace a concert
stage. The group was the most awarded group in Southern Gospel history, taking
home no less than 70 Singing News Fan Awards alone. Of those 70 awards, at least
18 bear the name of George Younce. Fifteen plaques are in the Younce household
today, proclaiming George as Southern Gospel's Favorite Bass Singer. This year,
the readers of Singing News awarded George the Favorite Male Vocalist Of The
Year Fan Award.
The George Younce name is also enshrined in the Southern Gospel Music Hall Of
Fame, having been awarded this honor in 1998. In September of this year, George
was featured with his late friend Glen Payne on the Southern Gospel Music
Association's second commemorative print, Precious Memories.
In September of 1987, George suffered a massive heart attack that threatened to
end his career. The Cathedral Quartet was in Englewood, CO, that day, following
an appearance the previous night at Englewood's huge First Nazarene Church.
George, who had suffered discomfort throughout the night after retiring to his
hotel room, summoned (then) Cathedral baritone Mark Trammell around 6:00am,
explaining that he couldn't breathe.
Trammell immediately notified paramedics, who rushed George to a local hospital.
X-rays revealed an enlarged and damaged heart. New X-rays on the following
Monday showed that George's heart had returned to near-normal size. A heart
catherization was completed later that week to determine the extent of the
damage.
As he began the recovery process, George not only had to deal with the damage to
his heart, but because of side effects and stress induced by the heart attack,
he had to face the fact that he could not utter one sound. At first, George was
sure that God was through with him. But slowly, the voice began to come back.
It was in Stuart, FL, that any doubt that George may have had about God's plan
for him was completely put aside. George stated in many interviews that he
dressed for the concert and when he was alone on the bus before the concert, he
got down on his knees and asked the Lord for help. "I told the Lord that I
would sing for Him if He would touch me because I knew that was the only way I
could do it."
Initially, George planned to open the program with a few songs that featured the
entire group so he could build up his voice to do a solo. But when the group
walked on stage, George felt impressed to call "The Plan Of
Salvation," a song that featured the bass part on the verses. The Lord
touched George and he made it through the song. George admitted that it wasn't
the prettiest singing, but that experience was his answer from the Lord that He
wasn't through with him. Anyone who knew George Younce knows that he had a real
zest for life. He was always trying to find the positive side of every
situation. For example, during his recovery from his heart attack, George was to
exercise by walking every day, no matter whether he was at home or on the road.
George had been back on the road about three months and The Cathedrals were in
Bel Air, MD, when George stepped off a curb during his walk and broke his arm.
His first thought? "Hey, I've got a new joke I can use!" As countless
audiences would hear for the next several months, George couldn't resist
mentioning that he broke his arm in three places and someone told him to stay
out of those three places! Despite those moments when it's easier to cry than
laugh, George stated often that he would not have traded one moment of his time
as a Cathedral Quartet member for anything that the world could offer. As the
group grew, George's walk with the Lord also grew stronger. An often-printed
quote from George says "I like to think of myself as still being the same
as I started out. But, of course, I'm not. I thank the Lord I've been able to
adapt myself to the different styles of music, but I guess the biggest change in
me has been wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ because when I started singing, I
loved to sing but I really didn't know the one I was singing about. I loved
Gospel Music, but I really wasn't a Christian. Once I devoted my life to The
Lord, the songs that I was singing took on a new meaning and I've never been the
same."
Following the retirement of the Cathedrals in 1999, George continued to fulfill
a limited appearance schedule, often singing as a soloist and most recently,
with the Old Friends Quartet. George's appreciation of the goodness of the Lord
remained strong until his passing. In a 1996 Singing News cover feature, George
summed up his life by saying "There is no way in the world that I can sit
here and be thankful enough for what I've been able to do. I've put clothes on
my kids, raised a good family, sent them to school, lived in a comfortable home,
driven a nice car and I still get to eat good food. How in the world could I
complain about anything? All I can do is praise God."
George is survived by his wife of 49 years, Clara; four daughters, Gina, Dana,
Lisa and Tara; one son, George Lane; three grandchildren. He was 75 years old.
-- source: the Singing News -- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
EXCLUSIVE ACAPPELLA WINS AWARDS FOR BEST RELIGIOUS
ALBUM AND SONG
EXCLUSIVE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -
The results are in from The Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards presented
by the Contemporary Acappella Society of America.
The contemporary Christian group Acappella wins in the categories of Best
Religious Album for 'Heaven and Earth and in the Best Religious Song category
for 'War With Myself'.
"It's great to be recognized by
your peers."
"It's great to be recognized by your peers," stated Keith Lancaster,
the group's founder and producer of the award winning project.
The 2005 CARA coordinators were Julia Hoffman and Jon Pilat. This year,
they chose 60 fans and performers of varied backgrounds from over 150 applicants
to spend months considering each of the albums submitted to the CARAs.
Anyone holding a current or former affiliation with a group or album under
consideration is not allowed to take part in the consideration of that award.
-- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL TO HIT MUSLIM NATION NEXT MONTH
MARRAKECH, MOROCCO -
Last year the political leader of Marrakech, Morocco extended a unique
invitation - bring a festival of contemporary Christian music to this Arab
nation that is 99% Muslim.
Accepting the invitation is Friendship Fest, an organization that has planned a
groundbreaking event that will bring two diverse faiths together in peace and
hope.
The Friendship Fest will be May 6-8, 2005 in Marrakech, the cultural capital of
the Kingdom of Morocco. It will be a 3-day, high-profile musical celebration
featuring Contemporary Christian artists Jeremy Camp, Delirious, newsboys, Joy
Williams, Phil Keaggy, Out of Eden, and the Rock N’ Roll Worship Circus, as
well as Contemporary and Traditional Moroccan music. It is anticipated that this
free event will draw over 100,000 people daily from all over the world.
"Exciting projects such as the
Friendship Festival in Marrakech will serve to reinforce good will and
understanding between our two peoples."
Morocco was named by Economist Magazine as the top-rated Arab country for
democracy out of 18 nations. It was the first country to recognize the
independent USA and has the longest unbroken Treaty of Friendship with the
United States, dating back to 1786. With this history in place, Friendship Fest
is sure to be an event that shows Christians and Muslims can be friends and live
together in peace, despite religious differences.
It all began in April 2004 when Creation Festival co-founder Harry Thomas was
sitting in his church office in New Jersey. He received an invitation to go to
Morocco as part of a delegation, led by Michael Kirtley of Friendship Caravan
and Mr. Joseph K. Grieboski of the Institute On Religion & Public Policy.
The purpose was to research religious freedom and democratic reform in that
country. A week later, Thomas was in Morocco meeting with top government and
religious leaders, including the Prime Minister. During the meetings, he was
asked by the Wali (Governor) of Marrakech to present a “Human Rights” award
at the Khmissa 2004 to Assia El Quadie, a woman who works in prison reform and
education.
At first the audience was unsure of what to make of Harry when he was introduced
as an American Christian clergyman. With great aplomb, he quickly won them over
with his warmth, humility and sense of humor. He gave the award, referred to
Scripture, and stated something to the effect that those who work with the poor
touch the face of God. When his words concluded, the crowd broke out in a
three-minute standing ovation!
Thomas says, “It was an experience I will never forget. The program was
televised throughout the Arab world. I had never spoken to thousands of Muslim
people but I felt right at home. People greeted me afterwards and a common
remark was, “Thank you for mentioning God! You were the only one who mentioned
God.”
Returning home, Thomas received a letter from the Moroccan Ambassador confirming
an invitation from the Wali of Marrakech to bring a festival of Contemporary
Christian music to Morocco.
Aziz Mekouar, Moroccan Ambassador to the U.S. states, “Exciting projects such
as the Friendship Festival in Marrakech will serve to reinforce good will and
understanding between our two peoples. As Rick said to Captain Renault at the
end of the film Casablanca, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful
friendship.”
Team leaders have been chosen to assist with the organization of Friendship
Fest. Their goal is to set a good example of religious tolerance by bringing in
some of Christian music’s finest artists to share the love of God through
songs and testimonies. These leaders are helping with much of the
planning, including the organization of the musical artists.
A "Dialogue of Muslim and Evangelical Leaders," to be held during the
week of May 2-9, 2005, will bring together top evangelical officials with their
Moroccan counterparts in such fields as religion, humanitarian relief, culture,
and human rights. For further information, contact the Dialogue Coordinator,
Rev. Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, National
Association of Evangelicals, Washington, D.C. Call 202-789-1011 or go to NAE.net.
Humanitarian efforts will also take place with Dr. Sameh Sadik and Operation
Serve International. Rev. Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council is the
coordinator for several humanitarian efforts.
Ultimately, this musical event is not about politics amidst the current world
events or about a clash of civilizations. This festival is about getting beyond
negative imagery in order to proclaim peace and hope. This is truly an historic
event that has the potential to affect world events. The goals of the event are
to use the universal language of music to bridge diverse cultures and make
friends. It will set a good example of religious tolerance by engaging in
respectful dialogue and by confronting stereotypes on both sides that lead to
extremist rhetoric. By loving our neighbors as ourselves, Christians and Muslims
can be friends and live together in peace.
For more information visit FriendshipFest.org. -- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM
BREAKING NEWS
THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH AND PILLAR ARE 'ABOUT TO ROCK'
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Tooth and Nail Records, and
Flicker Records announce the Trivo Wireless presents, “FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK
TOUR.”
Thousand Foot Krutch and Pillar have joined touring forces and have partnered to
bring a great rock tour to many cities this spring. Included in the package are
Gotee recording artist John Reuben, and newcomer EMI CMG recording artist Dizmas.
"These sponsorships have
allowed the us to put together the best live presentation possible for this
tour, an audio visual experience."
Thousand Foot Krutch is going on tour to support their upcoming release The Art
of Breaking, which will be in-stores nationwide on July 19th. This tour will
feature several songs from their new album.
Joining Trivo Wireless, are Songtouch.com, CCMTEES.com, Ticketforce.com, and
Thorn Clothing as tour sponsors.
“These sponsorships have allowed the us to put together the best live
presentation possible for this tour, an audio visual experience. We truly
encourage people to come see the concert, and to check out each of the
sponsors," says Joel Bruyere, bassist for Thousand Foot Krutch. -- ©2005
CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON CELEBRATES
30 YEARS
NEW ORLEANS,
LOUISIANA - In a year that has already proven successful for Bishop Paul S.
Morton, Gospel Music Channel and Cox Communications will honor this gospel music
star's 30th Year Pastoral Anniversary and celebrate the New Orleans launch of
the first 24/7 cable network entirely devoted to all things gospel, with a
community event featuring: Tonex, J. Moss, Men of Standard, Williams Brothers,
Angella Christie, Joann Rosario, Comedian Thor Ramsey and Gospel Dream Winner
Stephanie Dotson. Bishop Paul S. Morton's 30th Anniversary Celebration is hosted
by Jonathan Slocomb and Jasmine Ross, and will take place at 7:00 p.m. CST on
Wednesday, April 20 at Greater St. Stephens in New Orleans, located at 5600 Read
Blvd. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
"We are honored to celebrate
Bishop Paul S. Morton's exceptional life and career, and thrilled about the
successful launch of Gospel Music Channel in the New Orleans area."
"We are honored to celebrate Bishop Paul S. Morton's exceptional life and
career, and thrilled about the successful launch of Gospel Music Channel in the
New Orleans area," said Charley Humbard, president and CEO of Gospel Music
Channel, the cable network that can be found on Cox Channel 339, featuring
original and world premiere programming from all genres of gospel, from
traditional, country, southern, and urban gospel, to adult contemporary, rock,
hip-hop, Latin, and R&B.
Bishop Paul S. Morton is enjoying a successful year after the release of his
latest album, Seasons Change, which was nominated for a Dove Award in the
"Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year" category and received
three Stellar Awards in January. He was also nominated in February for induction
into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame in October 2005, alongside
Aretha Franklin and other gospel legends. -- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM
BREAKING NEWS
REALITEEN PUBLICATIONS LAUNCHES MAGAZINE FOR CHRISTIAN TEEN GIRLS
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - More than
100,000 copies of a cool, new Christian teen girl magazine are being distributed
for free across the United States.
Realiteen published by a small group of entrepreneurial women in their twenties,
is a lifestyle magazine covering the gamut of teen girls' interests from a
Biblical perspective.
The 52-page premiere issue of Realiteen (pronounced ree-AL-ih-teen) includes
sections on beauty, boys and relationships, entertainment, fashion, God, health
and exercise, and faith-focused features.
The 125,000 copies -- distributed mostly through youth groups, conferences, and
camps -- are generating buzz and interest.
Subscriptions will begin with a Back to School (August/September 2005) issue in
late summer. -- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
BY THE TREE JOINS SALVADOR FOR 'SO NATURAL TOUR'
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
- Fervent Record’s band By The Tree will join Latin-influenced band Salvador
on the ‘So Natural Tour.’
The spring tour began April 1 in Miami, Florida to complement their growing fan
base and mission for impacting the church.
The tour comes at a perfect time for By The Tree, as they have seen great radio
success in recent months. Their fourth studio project with Fervent Records
released June 2004 and has impacted listeners with such songs as the # 1 AC/CHR
hit “Beautiful One” and the rising single “Hold You High”, currently #9
on AC Indicator charts according to R&R.
"We want to be a band that
gives itself fully to the expansion of the church locally, nationally, and
internationally."
Two-time Dove award winning band By The Tree returned to their worship based
music style and included their mission toward impacting and supporting the
church body- a goal that will also be reflected in their next studio album to
release fall of 2005. Basing their mission statement around Acts 2, lead singer
Chuck Dennie describes their focus on building up and gathering around those in
the body:
“The church is where God is moving- we want to be apart of that movement by
inspiring people, writing songs, and facilitating the addition and salvation of
people into the church. We want to be a band that gives itself fully to the
expansion of the church locally, nationally, and internationally.”
In addition to By The Tree, the ‘So Natural’ tour features Salvador, most
recently known for their # 1 hit “Heaven,” and newcomer independent,
singer/songwriter Ricardo and will visit many area churches in diverse
population areas such as Miami, FL, Corpus Christi, TX, and Indianapolis, IN.
-- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
PRESENTERS AND PERFORMERS FOR THIS YEAR'S GMA MUSIC AWARDS
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
- The GMA Music Awards will showcase fresh faces, musical diversity and all 44
Dove Awards winners this year, according John W. Styll, president of the Gospel
Music Association (GMA).
Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, Selah, J Moss, BarlowGirl, Bethany Dillon,
Natalie Grant, Watermark, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Tonéx
and Skillet have been confirmed to perform at the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards
at the Grand Ole Opry House starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13.
“This year’s GMA Music Awards will be a reflection of the impact that many
younger, newer artists are having in gospel music. The diversity and freshness
of this group of performers will make for a unique and exciting show,” said
Styll, who added that every performer is also a Dove Award nominee and will
perform the music for which they were nominated.
"The diversity and freshness of
this group of performers will make for a unique and exciting show."
Also announced today were presenters for the GMA Music Awards including MercyMe,
Michael W. Smith, Joy Williams, Jeremy Camp, tobyMac, Matthew West, Building
429, Nicole C. Mullen, Day of Fire and Phillips, Craig & Dean. Radio
personalities Delilah and Rick & Bubba, “The World’s Strongest Man”
Shane Hamman and NASCAR Driver Bobby Labonte will also present at the GMA Music
Awards. Denver & The Mile High Orchestra will be the awards show house band.
Previously, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rebecca St. James, CeCe Winans, Smokie Norful,
Israel Houghton and Darlene Zschech had been announced as hosts for the annual
gathering of the gospel music industry.
In a change from previous years, all 44 Dove Award categories will be presented
during the awards show, offering deserved honor to every recipient and giving
the audience a chance to see many of their favorite artists on stage in addition
to the announced presenters and performers.
Tickets are still available for the Doves at GMAMusicAwards.com or by
telephoning 615-242-0303, ext. 238.
The 36th Annual GMA Music Awards will be televised in national syndication
during the month of June. Central City Productions of Chicago, Ill., will handle
first run syndication through network affiliates and independent stations
nationwide, with an expected audience reach of at least 75 percent of U.S.
television households. Central City Productions, which is most known for
syndicating the Stellar Awards, is a full-service television production company
that produces, syndicates and manages advertising sales for all of its programs.
Network affiliates and broadcast stations interested in the 36th Annual GMA
Music Awards for syndication can contact CCP at 312-654-1100 or 303-771-3513.
-- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
DEREK WEBB EMBARKS ON HEADLINING TOUR
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - On the heels
of releasing his much-lauded sophomore release I See Things Upside Down, INO
Records’ singer/songwriter Derek Webb has announced his headlining tour this
spring. The tour began March 31st in Webb’s home state of Texas, kicking
off at Baylor University in Waco and ends April 17th in Charlotte, NC.
Webb’s wife, singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken, and Steven Delopoulos (Burlap
to Cashmere) are joining Webb on the month long nationwide tour.
This tour is certain to be one you don’t want to miss. Unlike his recent
concert dates, Webb will be appearing with his full band and McCracken singing
background vocals of songs from his debut release, She Must And Shall Go Free as
well as from I See Things Upside Down. Opening each evening, McCracken and
Delopoulos will perform songs from their own solo projects.
In addition, fans will be able to take home the “live” experience with the
release of Webb’s first-ever live DVD, “How To Kill And Be Killed,”
releasing October 11th, 2005. The DVD will feature live concert footage as well
as a unique and extensive behind-the-scenes interview with Webb. Well-known song
favorites such as “Wedding Dress” and “I Repent” will be featured.
Thanks to his recent partnership with Apple©, fans can now download exclusive
Derek Webb songs on Apple© iTunes. The “iTunes Unplugged EP-Special
Edition” includes acoustic versions of new songs and unreleased tracks from
his live CD The House Show. Tunes from I See Things Upside Down, such as “I
Want A Broken Heart” and “Medication” are included as well as the rare and
previously unreleased version of “Nothing Is Ever Enough,” which was
originally recorded as part of The House Show. Downloading is available for both
Mac and PC by visiting Apple.com. -- ©2005 CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
MAT KEARNEY & MUTEMATH KICK OFF SPRING TOUR
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
- Aware/Columbia/Inpop artist Mat Kearney and Word/Curb/Teleprompt Records band
MuteMath will co-headline a spring tour to kick off March 31 in Dallas, Texas.
The tour will hit over 50 cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle,
Dallas, New York City, and other key college campuses.
The strong pairing of these two rising acts is already generating excitement
along the tour route. “These are two artists I never take out of my CD
player,” says Bryan Myers of Creative Artists Agency, booking agent for
MuteMath, “and the buzz is swelling!” Continues Tim Beeding of CAA,
Kearney’s booking agent, “It is truly an honor and a pleasure to work with
these two phenomenal artists.”
"These are two artists I never
take out of my CD player."
Last month Kearney inked a general-market partnership with Aware/Columbia
Records, home to multi-platinum singer/songwriter John Mayer, Grammy-winning
rock band Train, and alternative pop outfit Five for Fighting, among others.
Kearney’s music features a blend of acoustic guitar, thoughtful lyrics and
driving rhythms. His Aware/Columbia/Inpop project is slated for release this
fall. Kearney released his Inpop Records debut, Bullet, last October to critical
acclaim. “Undeniable,” the first single from Bullet, broke the record for
the largest number of out-of-the-box adds for a radio single on Radio and
Records’ Christian CHR chart. He recently returned from a winter tour run with
alternative-rock outfit Graham Colton Band and select dates with Cary Pierce and
Glen Phillips.
Comprised of Paul Meany (vocals, Rhodes, bass), Darren King (drums, samples,
programming), and Greg Hill (guitars), MuteMath melds organic instruments with
electronic elements for a cutting edge, distinctive sound. MuteMath’s debut
EP, Reset, released last September and combines elements of jazz, rock, and
electronica. The band’s full-length project is slated for release this summer.
“I’ve been in seclusion in the studio for the last few months, so I’m
ready to get out and play some of new songs and see old friends on the road,”
says Kearney. “MuteMath is a very talented band, and they put on a great show.
I’m more than excited about this tour,” Kearney says. -- ©2005
CCAUTHORITY.COM BREAKING NEWS
SKILLET AND AUDIO ADRENALINE FEATURED ON VH-1 SPECIAL THIS WEEKEND
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - Ardent/Lava
artist Skillet and Forefront/EMI CMG artist Audio Adrenaline will be featured on
an upcoming VH-1 News special, RELIGION: A POP CULTURE HISTORY.
Interviewed last summer at the Creation Festival, the program will air at 11 am
and 11 pm EST on 3/26, and 6 pm EST on 3/27, with future airdates to be
announced.
VH-1 has released the following copy on the program:
Until a few years ago, religion and pop culture kept a safe distance from each
other. Hollywood was reluctant to back movies and TV shows that treated religion
seriously. Christian musicians were reluctant to make records that might compete
in a godless pop marketplace. But in the changed landscape of the
post-millennial, post-9/11 world, Hollywood seems to have found God, and men of
the cloth seem to have found, in Hollywood, a chance to reach out to the masses
in a way they never have before.
In the half-hour documentary RELIGION: A POP CULTURE HISTORY, VH-1 charts the
recent explosion of religion and pop, from the blockbuster movie "The
Passion of the Christ" to Kanye West's hip-hop smash "Jesus
Walks" to the aggressive marketing of Christian hard-rock bands to
Hollywood's sudden interest in Kabbalah. We'll dip into history to look at
"Davey and Goliath," an early attempt to promote Christianity through
a TV show, and take viewers behind the scenes of such present-day phenomena as
the marketing of "Jesus Is My Homeboy" t-shirts, the staging of a
Christian version of Woodstock, and former child star Kirk Cameron's
re-emergence as an evangelical Internet and TV host.
RELIGION: A POP CULTURE HISTORY is the next installment of a VH-1 News series
that began with the award-winning AIDS: A POP CULTURE HISTORY (2003) and has
also included POLITICS: A POP CULTURE HISTORY (2004). In addition to movie and
TV clips and vintage footage, the documentary features interviews with such key
figures as Kanye West, Run-DMC's Reverend Run, born-again actor Stephen Baldwin,
actor-turned-televangelist Kirk Cameron, Christian rockers Skillet, Audio
Adrenaline and Rev. Al Sharpton.
Skillet's GRAMMY and Dove-nominated project Collide is now approaching 200,000
units sold. Recently featured in the New York Times, Skillet closed out 2004
with one of the Top 100 Alternative Rock songs (R&R) of the year, and have
toured with mainstream acts 3 Days Grace,