Last Week’s Happenings
- An elevated portion of Interstate 85 collapsed in Atlanta, Georgia last week after an intense fire underneath weakened the structure. Traveling singing groups will have to steer clear of Atlanta to make it to concerts on time. In other words, it’s business as usual.
- Jim Korn learned he will be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame during the GMA Honors Celebration, Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Well, technically, it’s a singing GROUP that is being inducted. Korn is just one of a few dozen alumni who have passed through the group over the past 35+ years.
- The Gaither Vocal Band announced effective immediately, Bill Gaither has retired as the group’s manager and owner. Former tenor David Phelps will assume all managerial and ownership duties. The group’s next album will be a collection of favorites, re-re-re-recorded with an assembly of existing and newly-cut vocals, as arranged by Phelps.
- The Second Half Quartet announced a name change; they will now be known as Greater Trammell and Pat.
- New Day Christian Distributors, hot on the heels of their landmark Word Records distribution deal, is excited to announce an exclusive distribution agreement with Daywind Records.
- StowTown Records has signed up-and-coming mixed group, The Purgatories, to a recording contract. Their debut album for the label will be titled Almost There.
- Horizon Records announced they have signed America’s next great male quartet, the Superlatives. Combining the the intensity of the best of the Kingsmen, the precision of the best of the Cathedrals, and the sincerity of the best of Gold City, yadda, yadda, yadda…. They’re really good.
- Due to the success of “Old White Flag,” Clayton Inman announced he is leaving Triumphant Quartet to launch his very own bluegrass ensemble. Picking legends Ricky Skaggs and Doyle Lawson will join Inman’s new venture, which will be billed as Old White Men.
Prayer Requests
- Please continue to remember Singing News editor Danny Jones who is mercilessly tormented by Karen Peck, Ivan Parker, and Lauren Talley on a regular basis. He has already lost most of the hair on his head. Now his eyebrows are starting to fall out.
Remembering
- Chuck Barris, host and creator of the Gong Show, passed away on Tuesday, March 21 at the age of 87. His funeral expenses are $516.32, a highly unusual amount. An unknown minister with a paper bag over his head delivered the eulogy consisting mostly of lame jokes.
Upcoming Releases
Please let us know if any significant upcoming releases are missing from this list. Note, the dates listed here are distribution dates when music will officially be available through retail and/or large online outlets. Some titles may be available sooner direct from the artists.
Thanks for the chuckles, David. I especially enjoyed the titles of the upcoming releases. I actually laughed out loud at some of them. Good work, as always. :-)
ROTFLOL…This was great!!!!
Could I be correct in guessing that many of the news items above qualify as “April Fools??”
or Wishful thinking on your part??
It’s all in fun, Bobbie.
Call me first in line for the primitive tribute album to lecrae.
You’ve outdone yourself this year
Gaither is already taking pre-orders on the Guy Penrod CD!
Steven, thanks for the compliment! :)
Excellent, David!!!
You had me going until The Purgatories!
Amazing work as always!
Greater Trammell and Pat sounds like a winner! By the way, which is the greater Trammell?
Thanks for the April Fools Day smiles and chuckles, David. Excellent.
Not too far off base….
Excellent!
Thanks to Kyle Boreing and Daniel Mount who contributed and/or suggested several items for this article!
I heard the first single off the Michael Combs/Amy Grant project, “Baby Baby, I’m Not For Sale” on Enlighten this weekend! Good stuff!