Telly Awards Honor Late Anthony Burger

Nashville, TN (8-13-08) – Pianorama, the two-volume collectors’ edition of the late Anthony Burger’s classic piano performances, has been honored as a Bronze Winner in the Film/Video category at the 29th Annual Telly Awards.   Pianorama was issued by Anthony Burger Productions in memoriam to Anthony, who died in 2006 at the age of 44.   Burger was a popular performer on the Gaither Homecoming videos and tours for a decade.  This is not the first Telly Award for Anthony Burger Productions, which won in 2005 for Masterpiece and More, a Gaither Music Group release. 
 
Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest film and video productions, and groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.  The winners were chosen from more than 13,500 entries from across America and around the world.
 
The Best of Anthony Burger, a DVD celebration of the maestro’s life and career hosted by Bill Gaither, was certified gold recently by the RIAA. 
 
“We are truly astounded and gratified that Anthony’s music continues to touch hearts three years after his untimely death,” his widow, Luann Burger, mused.  “Judging from the calls and emails we receive from across the country, his music legacy stretches beyond the gospel genre and blesses, encourages and witnesses to lives.  It would mean so much to Anthony to know how many lives his extraordinary playing touched.”

Bill Gaither Hosts Historic Reunion of Gaither Vocal Band Members

Alexandria, IN – Special homecoming events are nothing new for gospel music legend Bill Gaither, who has staged musical reunions of great singers from Australia to South Africa.  But the one he hosted at his Indiana studios last month may be the one closest to his heart.   Bill sent out a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to all former members of his Gaither Vocal Band to gather at his studio in Alexandria, IN for the first-ever reunion of the multiple award-winning group. 
 
For 27 years, the Gaither Vocal Band has been widely recognized as the gold standard in gospel vocal groups.  And while members have changed over the years, those members had never all been under the same roof at the same time until Bill Gaither hosted fifteen current and former Gaither Vocal Band members at the historic reunion at his Indiana studio.   In a studio lined with vintage photos and album covers of each of the various configurations of the Vocal Band, a host of video cameras captured what Bill Gaither said was a day devoted to “remembering great songs, wonderful, lifetime friendships and sharing life’s journeys.” 
 
Joining voices and sharing stories were the three men who first stepped before a microphone with Bill Gaither as the newly-formed Gaither Vocal Band in January, 1981: Gary McSpadden, Lee Young, and Steve Green.  Also present were subsequent tenors, baritones, lead and bass singers Jon Mohr, Larnelle Harris, Mark Lowry, Michael English, Jim Murray, Buddy Mullins, Russ Taff, Guy Penrod, David Phelps, Marshall Hall, and Wes Hampton.  The only constant over the 27 years, founder and patriarch, Bill Gaither, hosted the festivities, witnessed by various members of the Homecoming family, the Gaither family and wives and children of the Vocal Band members.
 
      Green, who, with his wife Marijean, started as a back-up singer for the Bill Gaither Trio and went on to become a multi-award-winning solo Contemporary Christian artist, confessed that Bill Gaither had to teach him to sing in southern gospel quartet style.  “The first song we ever sang was ‘Your First Day in Heaven,’ and Bill had to teach me that one as well as all the others that followed,” he laughed.  Gaither remembered that he prepared the members for quartet singing by harmonizing on the words, “ice cream.”
 
Green also pointed out that it was he who provided the name for the group.  “There were lots of names being tossed out, but one of my favorite groups of the time was the Starlight Vocal Band, and in one of our conversations, I recommended we call it the Gaither Vocal Band, and it stuck,” he recalled.  He pointed out that one of the great things about the Gaither Vocal Band was that Bill Gaither allowed each group to have their own personality.  “That’s so refreshing,” he added.  “It’s been thrilling to watch the process through the years, because it’s so unique.”
 
Bill Gaither summed up the experience:  “I love great voices, and I thank God he put me in a place to attract great singers.  The joy comes from God, who is the hero of our stories and the one we’re here to celebrate. These songs we’re singing remind us of what matters.”
 
The two Gaither Vocal Band Reunion videos will be released in early 2009.

New Life Church To Release Counting On God on Sept. 23

CD and Worship Resources Feature New Songs From Ross Parsley and Desperation Band
Mobile, Alabama

(August 15, 2008) - - Integrity Music announces the September 23 release of Counting On God, a new CD with companion worship resources from New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Counting On God, a live recording featuring New Life’s Worship Pastor Ross Parsley and the Desperation Band, offers 12 songs written by Parsley, album producer Mathew Fallentine and Desperation band members Jared Anderson, Jon Egan and Glenn Packiam. 
New Life, a non-denominational, 10,000-plus member church, knows what it means to count on God.  The church has seen its share of heartache following the 2006 scandal involving a former pastor and a fatal shooting on its property last year.  Moving beyond the controversy and tragedy, the worship music emerging from New Life continues to be a reflection of their unwavering dependence on God.
Referring to how he penned the title track “Counting On God,” Anderson says, “This song has come to the forefront in the life of our church because of the recent trials we’ve had to face. The testing of our faith has made us more resolved… we’re nothing like we used to be.”
Another powerful song, “Savior,” which was written by Ross Parsley states, “You rescued me from all my fears and loosed the chains of wasted years.”  “Because of Christ, the chains of our mistakes or failures don’t have to keep us bound,” explains Parsley. “He takes our brokenness, mistakes and failures and in the restoration process makes us better than we were.”
To accompany the Counting On God CD, Integrity Music created worship resources including a songbook, a digital songbook and trax. All will be released through Provident-Integrity Distribution to Christian retail stores on September 23 and also will be made available through online retail outlets.  In addition, Integrity International will distribute Counting On God to more than 160 other countries.
Additional information on New Life Church is available at www.NewLifeChurch.org.

IBMA ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

Dailey & Vincent, Blue Highway, The Dan Tyminski Band and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Top Nominee List

NASHVILLE, TENN.–IBMA is proud to announce the nominees for the 19TH Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, to be hosted by Del McCoury on Thursday, October 2, 2008, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The list of nominees continues a trend of elevating a new wave of stars, as well as honoring the ongoing contributions of the genre’s legends. Read more

Telly Awards Honor Late Anthony Burger

Nashville, TN (8-13-08) – Pianorama, the two-volume collectors’ edition of the late Anthony Burger’s classic piano performances, has been honored as a Bronze Winner in the Film/Video category at the 29th Annual Telly Awards. Pianorama was issued by Anthony Burger Productions in memoriam to Anthony, who died in 2006 at the age of 44. Burger was a popular performer on the Gaither Homecoming videos and tours for a decade. This is not the first Telly Award for Anthony Burger Productions, which won in 2005 for Masterpiece and More, a Gaither Music Group release.

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest film and video productions, and groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The winners were chosen from more than 13,500 entries from across America and around the world.

The Best of Anthony Burger, a DVD celebration of the maestro’s life and career hosted by Bill Gaither, was certified gold recently by the RIAA.

“We are truly astounded and gratified that Anthony’s music continues to touch hearts three years after his untimely death,” his widow, Luann Burger, mused. “Judging from the calls and emails we receive from across the country, his music legacy stretches beyond the gospel genre and blesses, encourages and witnesses to lives. It would mean so much to Anthony to know how many lives his extraordinary playing touched.”

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Ernie Haase and Signature Sound Earn Gold Certification for Get Away Jordan

 Photo:  Gaither Music Group presented Ernie Haase and Signature Sound with plaques commemorating the chart-topping success of Get Away Jordan.  Paul Sizelove, vice-president of GMG (center) presented the plaques to (left to right) Ernie Haase, Tim Duncan, Doug Anderson and Ryan Seaton.  

            Nashville, TN (8-12-08) – Ernie Haase and Signature Sound captured Dove Awards for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year and Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Get Away Jordan earlier this year, and now the long-form DVD of the same title has been certified gold by the RIAA. 
 
            The DVD, which debuted #1 on the Billboard Music Video chart when it was released by Gaither Music Group in 2007, was produced by Bill Gaither.  The Get Away Jordan CD also topped the Contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel music charts in Billboard.  
 
“Every time I hear news about sales and the achievement they signify, I think back to the old school wisdom of my former boss Glen Payne of the Cathedrals,” Ernie pointed out.  “He would say, ‘Liars figure, but figures don’t lie!’  So here is the ‘truth’ about these numbers, we are blessed–blessed with a broad base of friends who believe in us and find some hope in our message.  And so, for this achievement most of all I thank our fans.”
 
            The much-lauded quartet recently taped their second solo concert DVD in Chicago.  Dream On will be released October 28th.

Triple Play For Hopper’s On Radioactive Airplay Top 100 Chart

 

Beginning in December of 2006 with the first radio release titled “He Erased It” which showcased the vocal talent of group member Dean Hopper, the song debuted at Number 1 within 24 hours of being released on the Radioactive Airplay Top 100 Chart and stayed in that Number 1 position for the weeks of December 5th, 2006 and December 12th, 2006. The song remained in the top of the charts for many months after being released.

 

Likewise in March of 2008 when the second song “YAHWEH” was released on the Radioactive Airplay System the song immediately rocketed to the Number 1 position of the Radioactive Airplay Top 100 Chart for the weeks of March 11th & March 18th and is still getting strong airplay and showing up on many of the top charts in the gospel music industry.

 

And now for the third consecutive time the Hoppers latest single “The Dove” has hit Number 1 on The Radioactive Airplay Top 100 Chart. This marks the third consecutive Number 1 radio release from the project “The Ride.“

 
Three times up to the plate and three times the Hoppers have knocked it out of the park! It’s a Triple Play For The Hoppers on Radioactive Aiplay!  

Bill Gaither Hosts Historic Reunion of Gaither Vocal Band Members

 
            Alexandria, IN (8-7-08) – Special homecoming events are nothing new for gospel music legend Bill Gaither, who has staged musical reunions of great singers from Australia to South Africa.  But the one he hosted at his Indiana studios last month may be the one closest to his heart.   Bill sent out a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to all former members of his Gaither Vocal Band to gather at his studio in Alexandria, IN for the first-ever reunion of the multiple award-winning group.  Read more

ivanparker.com Gets Brand New Look

Nashville, TN - Frequent visitors to the website of popular male vocalist, Ivan Parker have recently noticed that the 2007 Male Vocalist of the Year/Soloist of the Year has unveiled a brand new look to his website, www.ivanparker.com. “Our goal was to make the site absolutely amazing, yet easy to navigate, with brand new features that include video clips, personal emails, photo slideshows and a newsroom,” Parker states. “International orders, audio downloads, children’s books and Gaither Videos are some of the many new features visitors to the site can expect to enjoy.”
This ultimate web experience also now allows avid Ivan Parker fans to stay involved in a whole new way by becoming an Ivanizer. Members of this special club can enjoy a more intimate look into their favorite male vocalist’s ministry.

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