Award-winning Sparrow Records’ band Newsboys continue to dominate the Christian radio charts and break records. Since the release of their first single from Thrive, ‘It Is You’, Newsboys have held the No. 1 position for 12 consecutive weeks on the CHR (Christian Hit Radio) chart. Never before in the history of Christian music has a single dominated the No. 1 position for such an extended amount of time. Originally writing ‘It Is You’ for another band, Newsboys frontman Peter Furler played the demo for his wife. “When she heard the song,” laughs Furler, “she said ‘you can’t give that song away!’ Being the submissive husband that I am, I obeyed.”
Look for CeCe Winans in the May issue of InStyle magazine where she is pictured with Nikka Costa. CeCe recently appeared on Oprah with some of Winans family to speak about a miracle one of her brothers experienced. The family also sang a medley of gospel songs. CeCe recently received her 7th Grammy for her latest album that includes a classic remake of Marc Anthony’s “No One”. On May 6th, CeCe appeared on the WB Television Network’s “7th Heaven” drama series. CeCe acted and sang in the episode, called “The Unknown Soldier” which is based on a true story. She will also co-star in an upcoming episode of PAX Television’s “DOC” staring Billy Ray Cyrus. The episode will air next season.
Multi-Platinum, multi-GRAMMY and Dove Award winning band Jars of Clay will release its first DVD, 11 Live: Jars of Clay in Concert, August 20. The DVD, also available on VHS, features almost two hours of performance footage, including a full concert setting and an intimate acoustic set, plus behind-the-scenes interviews with the band. The project also offers a complete musical retrospective of one of the most innovative groups in our industry.Amy Grant’s much anticipated Word Records release Legacy* Hymns & Faith is just around the corner from the May 21st street date. Also upcoming on the media front for Amy is a Lifetime Channel “Intimate Portrait” television interview. Look for the piece to start airing in June. Michael W. Smith announced last week his support of The Presidential Prayer Team by joining its prestigious honorary committee. Smith is good friends with President Bush. n
