Essential Records’ artist Bebo Norman launched his highly anticipated third label project, Myself When I Am Real, September 10. In support of its release, Norman hopped the bus this week for his “Fall Circa 2002” tour, ready to premier new music from the record for audiences in 42 cities nationwide. Additionally, the week included other promotional events.
Fellow singer-songwriter and labelmate Sarah Sadler also celebrated the release of her self-titled debut offering September 10. Sadler, joined by additional guest artists David Crowder Band on the first half of the tour and Ten Shekel Shirt on the remaining tour dates, will open for Norman on the entire tour.
The tour kicked off Sunday, September 8 at Mt. Vernon Nazarene Christian University in Ohio and traveled to Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, where Lifeway Christian Stores sponsored a post-concert midnight release party and signing. Moving on to College Station, Texas, on Thursday, the three artists performed for a packed-out Rudder Theater at Texas A & M. The three opening concerts drew nearly 3,000 fans.
In Oklahoma City on Friday, September 13th, Norman and Sadler visit Mardel Christian & Education Supply’s headquarters for lunch with the staff. Mardel has planned a free concert, with the purchase of Myself When I Am Real or Sarah Sadler, at nearby Journey Church that evening, followed by an album signing session. The event will be promoted in conjunction with local radio station KOKF. The week’s activities will wrap up in St. Louis on Saturday with a show and album signing in partnership with One Way Book Shop.
In promotion of Myself When I Am Real, Bebo Norman will be interviewing with radio stations across the country, as “Great Light Of The World,” the debut single from his upcoming project, climbs its way up the charts. The song currently ranks at No. 22 on R&R’s Adult Contemporary Christian radio chart after only three weeks of airplay. This week the song also debuted at No. 27 on R&R’s Christian Hits Radio chart. Print media have been equally enthusiastic about Myself When I Am Real, as indicated by early reviews of the album. Christian Retailing raves, “For singer-songwriter Bebo Norman, the third time is still a charm . . . [t]his acoustic-based light pop with pretty, poetic lyrics smoothly reaches into the quiet spaces of the heart.”
Critics are applauding Sadler’s release as well. Musicforce.com affirmed, ” . . . Sarah writes fully realized pop songs that place her alongside artists like Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch, young female artists re-establishing the credibility lost with one too many Mickey Mouse Club alumni.” Sadler, too, is leaving her mark on radio, having debuted last week at No. 30 on the R&R Adult Contemporary Christian chart with “Beautiful,” while jumping four spots to No. 12 this week on the R&R Christian Hits Radio chart.
Bebo Norman’s following continues to grow steadily, as a result of the success of his critically acclaimed projects, Ten Thousand Days (1999) and Big Blue Sky (2001), the latter ranked No. 1 on Amazon.com’s list of the 10 Best Christian and Gospel CDs of 2001. Norman maintains a loyal fan base nationwide, built by years of consistent touring initially as an independent artist and later after signing to Watershed Records, a division of Essential Records, in 1999. In 2002 alone Bebo has wrapped a 53-city tour with Third Day, enjoyed his first multi-format Top 10 radio hit (“Holy Is Your Name”), performed at summer festivals around the country and appeared on the August cover of CCM Magazine.
New artist Sarah Sadler is not completely unknown to Christian music listeners. She most recently contributed her voice to three popular compilation projects: the Dove Award-winning The Prayer of Jabez: Music… A Worship Experience; Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green and Essential Records’ April 23 release Our God Of Wonders. Sadler wrote her first song, “I Will Pray,” at age 9, and two years later it was chosen to be included on an Integrity Music children’s record.
