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Gregory Luke Sponberg, infant son of Curb recording artist Nicol Sponberg and her husband Greg, passed away Tuesday, May 27, at the family’s home in Georgia. The 2-month-old died in his sleep, apparently of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Nicol (formerly of Selah) and Greg also have a 2-year-old daughter, Summer. The family is grateful for your prayers and support at this time. Condolences can be sent to:
Sponberg Family
PMB 186
8161 Hwy 100
Nashville, TN 37221

5/25/8 Acclaimed singer/songwriter and New Artist of the Year (39th Annual GMA Dove Awards), Brandon Heath is set to release his anticipated sophomore album What If We on Aug. 19. Teaming up again with producer Dan Muckala, Heath’s What If We follows up his breakthrough debut project, Don’t Get Comfortable, which delivered the No. 1 smash-hit, and Song of the Year nominee, “I’m Not Who I Was,” granting Heath his first nomination for Songwriter of the Year at last month’s GMA Dove Awards.

5/23/8 Dove Award-winning rock band Red will see its brand-new music video, “Already Over,” added into rotation at MTV2, starting tomorrow (5/24). The video is already being featured at MTV2’s “You Rock the Deuce” section of its website. Red will rock it out this Sunday night (5/25), in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Time Warner Cable Amphitheater, with Seether.

Warren Barfield’s third, in-studio album, Worth Fighting For, hit stores this past Tuesday, May 20. The week has been non-stop for Barfield, who was in South Bend, Ind. on Tuesday (5/20), for a live TV performance on “The Harvest Show” (LeSea Broadcasting). Following the TV performance, Warren did radio interviews in ten different markets. On Thursday (5/22), Barfield performed at a WBFJ brown bag event in Winston-Salem, N.C. Tomorrow (5/24), Barfield will be in Zellwood, Fla., to perform as part of the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival. The br! and-new music video for “Love Is Not A Fight” is currently being added to music video playlists, nationwide.

Pillar’s lead singer, Rob Beckley, will serve as a celebrity guest judge, during the upcoming “Incredible Rocket to the Top Singing Competition,” presented by KXOJ-FM and sponsored by Drapp Studios and Incredible Pizza Company.

The soulful soundtrack to the faith-based film A Good Man Is Hard to Find, filled with all-star performances from gospel greats including Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Deitrick Haddon, Men of Standard and more, will release Tuesday, June 24th on Codeblack /Releve´ distributed through Central South.

5/21/8 The five-year old adopted daughter of Stephen Curtis Chapman was killed in an auto accident on the family property today. Details at Daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman Killed in Auto Accident. Please keep the family in prayer. More Steven Curtis Chapman below.

5/15/8 As his debut CD, Running Back to You holds steady as the No. 2 best-selling Christian album on iTunes ®, the project from Chris Sligh that has wowed critics from USA Today to CCMmagazine.com has the highest debut on Christian SoundScan this week as well.

5/13/8 The multi-Platinum selling rock band Switchfoot will perform “This Is Home” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight. “This Is Home” was written and recorded by Switchfoot for the highly anticipated Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media May 16 theatrical release, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The song will be heard in the body of the film and over the end title credits of the film, and will appear on the Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack CD releasing May 13. More Switchfoot below!

5/11/8 Dottie Rambo, who performed Christian music for more than 50 years, died early this morning when her tour bus ran off a road in southwest Missouri and struck an embankment. Rambo was on her way to a Mother's Day performance in North Richland Hills, Texas. She was 74.

Clay Aiken was interviewed on ABC's "Nightline" tonight about what music influenced him the most. Among his top five were Steven Curtis Chapman with "The Great Adventure" and Kirk Franklin's "Lovely Day."

5/8/8 Switchfoot has been chosen to record a song for the official Prince Caspian movie soundtrack! Jon and the guys will be shooting a video with footage from the movie interspersed. Prince Caspian hits theaters May 16!

As his debut project hits nationwide today and has already become the 2nd best selling download on iTunes® Christian and Gospel chart, American Idol Season 6 finalist Chris Sligh is wowing critics from coast to coast with “Running Back to You.” In addition to the album’s launch, Sligh’s first single, “Empty Me,” is already a top 20 R&R Christian AC hit and is swiftly climbing R&R’s CHR chart as well.

Grace River LLC is gearing up for the upcoming release of The Beginnings Concert, an all- new live concert DVD/CD collection featuring fresh performances by some of the founding pioneers of contemporary Christian music, including Dallas Holm, Leon Patillo, Barry McGuire, Don Francisco, Chuck Girard, Steve Archer, Janny Grein, Dony McGuire, Reba Rambo McGuire and David Meece. Captured over two evenings, The Beginnings Concert event at Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas, marks the first time that all of these artists have ever appeared together on one stage.

5/1/8 Seattle-based alternative rock band and winner of the 2007 “MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout,” The Myriad, is scheduled to release their highly anticipated sophomore project With Arrows, With Poise on May 13, 2008. Mixed at Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany by Michael Ilbert (The Cardigans, Kent, The Hives) and mastered at historic Abbey Road Studios in London, England by Adam Nunn (AIR, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, George Martin, Mogwai) as well as acclaimed Sterling Sound in New York City by Greg Calbi (Beastie Boys, John Mayer, Interpol, Norah Jones), With Arrows, With Poise features lyrics of hope, doubt, heartache, and love.

Essential Records announces today the upcoming debut release from newly-signed pop/rock artist Brooke Barrettsmith. The 26 year-old Chicago native has written a collection of uniquely crafted songs, melding her love of musical influences Jeremy Camp, Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson, with passionate lyrics reflecting messages of faith and encouragement. Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Jeremy Camp, Kutless, The Almost) and Rob Hawkins (Fireflight, Jackson Waters), Brooke’s self-titled, 10-track album hits stores June 10.

Longtime fans of the epic, rock sound of Third Day got their first taste of the band’s upcoming studio album Revelation (7/29/08) with the release of the project’s debut single, “Call My Name,” which became an instant smash hit at radio across the country.

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