Former Imperials lead vocalist Russ Taff, who also has recorded eight solo albums, is joining the Gaither Vocal Band. Taff join the group for a “Homecoming” taping in Red Rocks, CO, this week and will travel and record with the group soon after. He replaces Mark Lowry, who announced recently he is leaving by year-end.
tobyMac’s current single is giving him his second #1 off of the current dc talk release, ‘solo.’ “Somebody’s Watching Me,” is #1 for the third week in a row on R&R’s Rhythmic chart. It can also be found at #17 on R&R’s CHR
chart and debuts at #20 on The CCM Updates CHR chart. How does tobyMac answer the question, “Why do a solo album now?” He states
simply, “When you’ve spent over a dozen years as one-third of an entity,
then a part of you starts to wonder how much of what the band does is really
you. So, I guess the short answer is because I needed to find out who I was
as a solo artist.”
8/20/01 Essential/Watershed Records’ singer-songwriter Bebo Norman will launch
his 60-city headlining tour on Sept. 3 in Waco, Texas. The Big Blue Sky Tour, named for his current project, will take Bebo and two opening acts, Shaun Groves (Rocketown Records) and Katy Hudson (Red Hill Records), across the nation hitting churches and colleges, including Texas A&M, Pepperdine, Baylor, Abilene Christian and Florida State
University.
8/19/01
Bob Herdman, former Audio Adrenaline band member and current President of Flicker Records and his wife recently welcomed home their third child, Walker. Also, AA band manager, Scott Brickell and his wife are now parents of a healthy baby girl, Sarah Grace, who was born this week! Congrats to the proud new parents! More AA below. The Christian Activities Audio Adrenaline Forum is at:Audio Adrenaline Forum
Pamplin Records female pop trio Sierra released their highly acclaimed fifth
album, The Journey, last Tuesday. The first single, “I Will Exalt the One,”
has already reached # 8 on The CCM Update’s Inspirational Chart! More Sierra below.
The Benjamin Gate’s new single “How Long” moves up the R&R Rock chart from #30 to #17. “All Over Me” – the remix is hitting the charts this week debuting at #19
on R&R’s specialty chart. This week, for the week of 8/11-8/17, The Gate has the #1 video on TV
U…55 plays over a one week period, which translates to approx. 8 plays per day! More Benjamin’s Gate follows. The Christian Activities The Benjamin Gate Forum is at:The Benjamin Gate Forum
Rebecca St. James’ “Wait For Me” tour is off to a good start! Tickets for her
upcoming West Palm Beach show sold out on the first day of sale! By the
end of the day, they fulfilled 1500 ticket orders for a building that seats
2000, and have many orders left to fulfill so they are certain that it is
sold out. “Wait For Me” is continuing to impact Christian radio. According to the
CCM Update, the song crawled up from #8 to #7 on the CHR chart. It also
debuted at #20 on the CCM Update AC chart. On the R&R CHR Chart, “Wait For
Me” is at #6. Rebecca and her band are currently spending a little time in the studio
working on the first three songs for Rebecca’s upcoming studio project, due out in 2002. The video for “Reborn” is still holding fast at the top spot for the eighth
consecutive week according to the Christian Video chart. More on rebecca below.
Congratulations to Geoff Moore and his wife Jan for becoming new parents to a
beautiful little girl named Anna. Geoff and his wife went to China about a month ago to adopt Anna. The Moore’s have been busy introducing little Anna to all of their family and are currently resting at their home in Nashville.
Gospo Centric Records Gospel legend Tramaine Hawkins released her first album
in five years, Still Tramaine, last week. In less than two weeks, the album hit #6 on Billboard’s Gospel Chart and #6 on
Billboard’s Top Mainstream Albums Chart.
This week, Kevin Max’s first solo single, “Be” is a CCM Update Chartbuster. Here’s an interesting little fact: The song “Her Game” on “Stereotype Be” was inspired by the popular video game “Tomb Raider.” Kevin continues to give crowds a taste of his new solo project while on
tour with dc talk. This weekend the guys are playing in South Bend, Indiana.
Tait’s #1 single, “All You Got,” can be found on the CCM Update charts at #4 at CHR, #19 at
AC, #2 at CHR and #16 at AC. If you’re in Michigan, Tait
performs in Muskegon. “Loss for Word,” the second single from ‘Empty,’ goes for radio adds on
August 31st.
Look for tobyMac’s debut release, ‘Momentum,’ to hit streets on November 6th. tobyMac’s current single, “Somebody’s Watching Me,” is #1 for the second week in a row on R&R’s Rhythmic chart, and can be found at #18 on their CHR chart. tobyMac is wowing the crowds on the concert circuit right now.
Burlap To Cashmere are currently recording their 2nd album which is expected to hit stores in January 2002.
Stacie Orrico will be showing her patriotic side this weekend. She’ll perform the
National Anthem at the Minnesota Twins game this Sunday, in Minneapolis.
You can also catching her performing it on Monday, as the Green Bay Packers
take on the Denver Broncos. Stacie current single, “Stay True,” can be heard at radio now, along with
“Without Love,” which is still holding steady on the charts. “Without Love,” can be found on the CCM Update CHR chart at #15, and on the R&R charts at #12 on CHR and #8 on Rhythmic. Stacie’s current project, ‘Christmas Wish,’ will hit stores on October 9th.
Rachel Lampa and Jaci Velasquez team up with with Jerry Lewis on September 2nd and 3rd for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. The 21-hour live show telecast is syndicated nationwide.
steve’s debut album, ‘falling down,’ will hit stores on August 28th. The band’s debut single, “Divine Design,” enters the R&R Rock chart this
week at #28.
Gotee artist Jennifer Knapp was named one of the top 50 touring acts of the Winter/Spring 2001 touring season, and the only
Christan artist on the list, by Pollstar magazine. The Lay It Down Tour sold out 76% of its tour dates and landed Jennifer in the
company of U2, matchbox twenty, Billy Joel/Elton John, and Nelly Furtado.
PAX217’s “Sandbox Praise” is still moving up the Rock charts. PAX217’s current video, “A.M,” has been at #2 for 7 consecutive weeks on the top 50 Christian Video Magazine chart. ET Videos has recently added the video “A.M” to the following reels: Macy’s, 5-7-9, Wet Seal, Steve Madden Shoes, Clothes Time, Transworld Music Stores, Virgin
MegaStores, and their Modern Rock and Top 40 reels.
8/14/01
While in L.A. filming a feature package for CNN Showbiz, Superchick, who the Dallas Morning
News lauded as having “enjoyable music and depth from a band that’s about to blow up,” received news that yet another one of their songs will be used to spice up audio on television airwaves. “One Girl Revolution,” the #2 song on the LEGALLY BLONDE soundtrack, and heard over the films closing credits, was used
again THIS WEEKEND on FOX FAMILY’s “California Summer Countdown,” a show highlighting the top music, fashion and
movies of the summer. The show aired this Saturday and Sunday (August 11/12) at 10 am EST. So far, Superchick’s music has been in hot demand on many shows/films, including:
LEGALLY BLONDE: “One Girl Revolution”
MTV/The Real World/Road Rules Casting Special: “TV Land” and “Get Up”
ESPN “X” Games: “Get Up”
MaryKate & Ashley Olsen’s FOX FAMILY show “So Little Time”: “Big Star Machine”
THE GLASS HOUSE (Leelee Sobieski film releasing through SONY this fall): “Karaoke Superstar”
E! News Daily: “Barlow Girls” video aired during closing credits
WB’s Jack & Jill : “Get Up”
You can also catch print on SUPERCHICK in the new issues of MaryKate and Ashley magazine and Blast! magazine. The
CNN Showbiz feature will air in the next few weeks.
The Christian Activities Superchick Forum is at: Superchick Forum
8/10/01 Word Records vocalist and songwriter Nicole C. Mullen, will kick off the Tennessee Titan’s season as she performs the National
Anthem at their home game Saturday, August 11. Held at Nashville’s Adelphia Coliseum, the Titan’s will take on the Chicago Bears in
their first pre-season game for 2001. Nicole C. Mullen is the first artist performance for the season and the only Christian artist booked
for the entire Titan’s season. Nicole will also be featured on Songs 4 Worship – The Tour set for fall 2001. Proper Management, in conjunction with GET
Management and the Creative Artist Agency will be promoting this special worship tour that will feature 10 shows in 10 days beginning
on Oct. 11, featuring worship leaders Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zschech, Don Moen, Nicole C. Mullen, Caedmon’s Call and
Watermark.
Log on to www.dctalksolo.com on Sunday, August 26 and Monday, August 27 to hear “Stereotype Be” from Kevin Max before you can buy it. This sneak peak, sponsored by Family Christian Stores, will also offer
prizes to those checking out the preview on both nights. To follow along with the songs that will be previewed on dctalksolo.com, open the link, to read the lyrics for all tracks to “Stereotype Be.” *The early bird gets the worm, or in this case the extended CD booklet for “Stereotype Be.” A limited number of CDs will include a 32-page booklet that will feature more photos from Kevin’s latest photo shoot that you can’t find anywhere else. After the first few are gone, the remaining number of CDs will include a smaller, 16-page booklet. So don’t get left behind! Be sure to pick up “Stereotype Be” on its release date, August 28. Kevin’s first solo single is “Be.” The next single to be released to radio will be “Existence.” The Christian Activities Kevin Max Forum is at: Kevin Max Forum
Michael Tait, leader singer for Tait, is featured on the cover of the August issue of Christian Single Magazine. Check it out! Tait is currently on tour around the country. For a complete list of cities where you can catch them LIVE, check out www.TaitBand.com . Tait’s first single of ‘Empty’ is still holding steady on the charts after several weeks in the #1 position. Tait’s next single, “Loss for Words,” will go for adds to AC and CHR on
August 31st. Little piece of trivia: Where is Michael Tait’s favorite place he’s ever gotten to snowboard? Answer: the Matterhorn in Switzerland.The Christian Activities Tait Forum is at: Tait Forum
tobyMac is celebrating another #1 this week. “Somebody’s Watching Me” can
be found at the top of R&R’s Rhythmic chart. The single is also Hitbound on
CCM Updates CHR chart.
*tobyMac is currently in the studio finishing up his debut album, ‘Momentum.
’ Look for that album in stores on November 6th.
*For all the latest tour information on where you can see tobyMac, check outwww.forefrontrecords.com .The Christian Activities TobyMac Forum is at: TobyMac Forum
Pamplin recording artist Sierra recently celebrated the release of their
fifth album, The Journey, with a meet and greet at the Lifeway Christian
Store in Franklin, TN.
As the Audio Adrenaline guys are continuing to work away on their new album, “Lift”, they are also preparing for the first release from that album, “Beautiful,” which
will be hitting radio on August 24.
MARK SCHULTZ is off to South Africa on a missions trip. When he returns this singer/songwriter (aka youth pastor) will gear up for a busy touring schedule including his own tour and also the Child Of The Promise Christmas production.
Stacie Orrico is already looking forward to Christmas. Her Christmas
project, titled ‘Christmas Wish,’ will hit stores on October 9th. Stacie is currently taking some time out just to be a kid. She and her dancers have headed off to camp Kanakuk for some down time. Stacie’s single “Without Love” is still making an appearance on the charts. Stacie’s video for “Genuine” continues to show up on the video charts. It
can be found at #20 on the Christian Video Magazine Charts.
In the midst of a busy Summer U.S. tour, PAX217 has been invited to perform in New York City next Monday (August 13th), along with Hollywood Records artist Simon Says at Wetlands Preserve. For more information, check out www.wetlands-preserve.org . PAX217’s “Sandbox Praise,” is currently #5 on R&R’s Rock chart. PAX217’s video for “A.M” is #2 on the Christian Video Magazine Charts.
Christian vocal/instrumental group Truth will mark its
30th year in ministry as it embarks on its Farewell Tour this fall. To
commemorate the group’s final year, Brentwood/Benson Publishing is releasing
BLESSED, a choir book, ensemble, and praise group project by Truth. Truth
has also recorded a new fifty song collection on three CDs, featuring songs
from their three decades of ministry (1971-1981; 1981-1991; 1991-2001). The
package entitled LEGACY will be available only via concert sales.Roger Breland, who organized the group in 1971, broke the news of the final
tour to group members during a meeting in Fayetteville, North Carolina. “For
the past year my family and I have been praying about our future,” Breland
said. “We believe this final chapter will complete the vision that God
launched 30 years ago.”
Last weekend the Benjamin Gate performed to a crowd of about 500 screaming fans at a free promotional show at the Ground Floor near Grand Rapids, MI. The Gate is now on their way to Europe for a 10-day trip to perform on some
festivals overseas. “All Over Me” is still moving up the Christian Music radio charts.
Congratulations to Rebecca St. James for recently having two songs recognized by
Broadcast Music, Inc. as receiving the most airplay for the year. “Yes I
Believe in God” and “Don’t Worry” were both written and performed by
Rebecca. Rebecca and her band are currently spending a little time in the studio
working on Rebecca’s upcoming praise and worship project, due out in 2002. *The video for “Reborn” is still holding fast at the top spot according to
the Christian Video chart. As Rebecca gears up for her “Wait For Me” tour, the single is continuing to
impact Christian radio.
ERIN O’DONNELL put on her mother hat recently when she gave the devotional for the Mother’s Of Preschooler’s (MOPS) international office in Denver. She has also been asked to be a part of their national convention next year. And, on the recording side of things, MRS. O’DONNELL’s lovely vocals can be heard on the current Prayer of Jabez album.
Next month, Geoff Moore will be the worship leader for a satellite conference
facilitated by INJOY. The “Team Simulcast,” will be hosted by John C. Maxwell and include appearances by “Prayer of Jabez” author, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, and a couple of former castaways from “Survivor.” The conference will be simulcast to over 700 churches across the country and reach over
75,000 attendees. Geoff will be leading the worship sections of the conference, where he will be performing songs from ForeFront’s “Prayer of Jabez Music…A Worship Experience” CD that will be release on August 28.
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