Charles Brady

As an artist involved in music ministry great care needs to be taken to protect at all times the public perception of your personal life, your calling and your message. How is your personal life and ministry perceived? What steps do you take to keep the message of your ministry on track and the perception of the validity of your calling in the proper context?

While the internet and all of its promotional possibilities is a wonderful thing for mass exposure, Christian Artists in particular must use caution and care to make sure that their message is heard clearly and not distorted by secular things like personal opinions or secular activities or thoughts from a bad mood day.

I think Jesus summed it up pretty well when He said “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”

Any artist who declares that their “personal life is none of anyone’s business” may need to look for other lines of work….. Because like it or not, your life IS your ministry! Especially when you’re tweeting it to the world!

Charles Brady-Editor & Publisher
SoGospel.Com

“It is a huge honor for The Oak Ridge Boys to be presented with the James D. Vaughan Impact Award,” said Duane Allen, lead singer for the Oaks, when told of the news. “Southern style gospel music is the foundation of harmony, which is the sound of The Oak Ridge Boys. We all grew up loving the great gospel quartets and gospel music. We are very humbled to have been chosen to receive this award and look forward to its presentation.”

Group members Duane Allen, William Golden, Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban will attend to accept the award, named in honor of James D. Vaughan, a Southern gospel music pioneer and one of the genre’s founders.

Past recipients include Bill Gaither, James Blackwood, Les Beasley, Bob Brumley, Mosie Lister, Paul Heil, Eva Mae LeFevre, J.G. Whitfield, Lari Goss, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and the Statler Brothers.

“The name Oak Ridge has long been associated with gospel music,” said Charlie Waller, SGMA Executive Director. “Even today the Oaks are still delivering the gospel sound to their audiences in their own inimitable fashion. “Their endeavors to persevere have not gone unnoticed,” he said. “Their rich gospel music legacy makes us proud to honor them with the James D. Vaughan Impact Award.”

According to Waller, the Oak Ridge Quartet, founded in the 1940s, became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. “Their name was officially changed to the Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1960s,” he said. “This group was one of the all-time favorite quartets in gospel music history and by 1973 began to make their entry into country music by signing with Columbia Records.”

The Oak Ridge Boys enjoyed 25 top ten singles, including 13 number one hits while continuing to tour and record today, he said. Waller said their most popular gospel songs included “I Know,” “King Jesus” and the ever popular, “Jesus Is Coming Soon,” written by SGMA Hall of Fame member, the late R.E. Winsett.

The SGMA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be on Oct. 3, 2012 at DP’s Celebrity Theatre at Dollywood, home of the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame. Seating is reserved, and tickets are $75 ($55 for Dollywood season pass holders) and include one-day Dollywood admission, parking and lunch as well as Dollywood’s more than 40 rides, shows and attractions.

Tickets go on sale March 1st and must be purchased in advance by calling the SGMA office at (865) 908-4040.

The SGMA is a non-profit organization that maintains the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame, the only facility honoring Southern gospel music and dedicated to the historic preservation of the genre’s accomplishments, both for the music and the people. Museum hours coincide with Dollywood’s operating schedule. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information about the museum or its inductees, visit www.sgma.org.

The event will take place February 23-25, 2012, just outside of Pensacola, Florida. Camping and Hotels are nearby. The Three Night event will feature performances by many of Gospel Music’s premiere artists including: The Perrys, Kingsmen, Dove Brothers, Diplomats, Buddy Liles, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Mark Trammell Quartet, Primitive Quartet, Karen Peck & New River, and the Dixie Echoes!

For complete details you can visit: www.stewartvarnado.com

Discounts are available for 3 night ticket packages. V.I.P. Reserved seating is available but limited. For the best seats, order NOW! Make your plans to come to Pensacola, Florida, this winter for a wonderful new event!

MUCH OF THE RESERVED SECTION HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD!!! ORDER YOUR TICKETS TODAY FOR GREAT RESERVED SEATS!!!

The RMLC represents the vast majority of the nation’s radio stations (over 10,000 radio stations) and ASCAP represents the majority of musical compositions played on the radio today through the creative output of its 425,000 songwriters, composer and music publisher members.

The settlement covers the seven-year period from 2010 to 2016. It ended the Federal Rate Court litigation and provided for a return to a revenue-based fee structure as well as expanded coverage to accommodate the radio industry’s newer distribution platforms for reaching listeners by means such as Internet websites, smart phones and other wireless devices. It also greatly simplifies the reporting process and administrative burden through electronic filing.

“This is a gratifying result for the radio industry, which reflects the current realities of our industry and puts the industry back on sound footing insofar as its licensing relationships with ASCAP are concerned,” commented RMLC Chairman Ed Christian, CEO of Saga Communications. “We appreciate the good will which ASCAP has demonstrated in working with our industry to get this resolution.”

According to John LoFrumento, ASCAP Chief Executive Officer, “The process of building this agreement was based on mutual trust and appreciation, and reflected both sides’ clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities we each see for the future. I want to thank the Radio Music License Committee for its creative approach in respecting the value provided by music creators in our negotiations.”

“Mark demonstrates once again that not only is he a gifted communicator, but he is an excellent vocalist,” comments Norman Holland, A&R Director at Daywind Records. “This project contains some of his best-known songs, such as ‘Whatcha Need.’ He has masterfully brought together guest artists such as LordSong, Sisters, and Stan Whitmire. This DVD features a very touching and truly anointed segment with 1980’s artist, Kelly Willard. In sharing with Mark the meaning behind her hit song, ‘Willing Heart,’ her live rendition of this song is a very special moment that I believe will touch all who see it.”

Whatcha Need is available at Christian retail stores across the country and other outlets.

During last Saturday’s Republican Presidential Debate on the ABC television network, hosts Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos directed a lot of attention to the issues of contraception and homosexual marriage.

In rebutting an obvious attempt by the debate panel to spin the issues, some candidates took the liberal media to task by correctly identifying their bias against people of faith.

The Mulls have been instrumental over the years in the success of many southern gospel artists but probably none more familiar than the legendary Chuck Wagon Gang.

Rev J Bazzel Mull passed away in 2006 but the legacy of the Mulls Singing Convention was kept alive through the efforts of Lady Mull.

The Mulls also owned the award winning WJBZ-FM radio station in Knoxville TN at the time of Rev Mulls passing. WJBZ-FM has a long history of great southern gospel programming.

Arrangements are incomplete at the present time.

Chickamauga, GA – A couple of years ago we requested your prayers for Stephen and explained his hearing condition. Stephen states, “First of all I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. We’ve known for a couple years that my singing days could be limited because of my hearing condition. After struggling with constant migraines over the past several months, I began to pray and ask God for His direction. Following God’s leading, I am resigning from the Ball Brothers. I will file paperwork to change my last name immediately. Okay, maybe the name change is taking things too seriously. All kidding aside, I feel the Lord is leading me into full-time youth ministry. I want to thank Andrew, Daniel, Josh, Gibson and Cody for putting up with me the past six years. I whole-hardheartedly believe in the ministry of the Ball Brothers and will be one of their biggest supporters. I also want to say, “thank you” to all of the friends I have made while out singing.”

Left to Right : Daniel Ball, Joshua Lee Ball, Moriah Andrew Ball, Kelly Andy Tharp

For more information on the Ball Brothers, visit: www.theballbrothers.com

DJ’s can get access to the Ball Brothers Quartet radio singles for broadcast at http://www.radioactiveairplay.com/members/1844/