by David Bruce Murray | Nov 14, 2025 | News
NEWS NUGGETS The Southern Gospel Music Guild honored singer/songwriter Joel Hemphill on Tuesday with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Southern Gospel Music Guild also selected Ricky Carden of the Down East Boys to serve as the organization’s new president....
by James Hales | Nov 12, 2025 | LP Review, Reviews
By 1983, the Inspirations were celebrating 12 years with Canaan Records (though “Sing Me a Gospel Song” and “Is That Footsteps That I Hear” were initially released independently, but later picked up by Canaan), and they were enjoying renewed success with such songs as...
by David Bruce Murray | Nov 7, 2025 | News
NEWS NUGGETS The Pine Ridge Boys announced the departure of baritone singer Jackson Smith. Smith, who joined the group in 2022, plans to remain active in the Gospel music scene as a singer and songwriter, just at a slower pace. Justified Quartet announced the addition...
by James Hales | Nov 5, 2025 | LP Review, Reviews
After releasing a couple of independent live albums, along with their previous two studio albums starting out under the “Inspirations Records” umbrella, this is the first purely Canaan release for the Inspirations in 2 years. With the sudden passing of Marvin Norcross...
by David Bruce Murray | Oct 31, 2025 | News
NEWS NUGGETS Legacy Five’s Scott Fowler stated in a Facebook comment on Tuesday that “Lee (Black) is pursuing other interests.” Tenor/songwriter Black had traveled with Legacy Five since 2019. NEW RELEASES Click HERE to listen to this month’s...
by James Hales | Oct 29, 2025 | LP Review, Reviews
By the 1980’s, we reach an interesting point in the Inspirations career as a group, because by this time they had enough hit songs and concert favorites to put on their very own all-night singing all by themselves, and not repeat a single song! Where it seemed almost...
by David Bruce Murray | Oct 24, 2025 | News
NEWS NUGGETS The Kingdom Heirs announced on Tuesday that tenor singer Joshua Horrell is leaving the group. Any tenor singers who are interested in auditioning for the open spot are asked to send contact info, a brief video or paragraph detailing your availability, and...
by James Hales | Oct 22, 2025 | LP Review, Reviews
As I stated in my last article, this particular era of the Inspirations was a bit of a transitional period, brought on by changes within the group and within the music industry. Additionally, with the sudden passing of Canaan Records’ head, Marvin Norcross in June...
by David Bruce Murray | Oct 17, 2025 | News
NEWS NUGGETS The Dominion Agency announced they are now representing young soloist Tate Emmons for bookings. Carolina The Band introduced audiences this week to their new tenor singer, Jordan Wilburn. Gold City announced they will debut music from their new Christmas...
by James Hales | Oct 15, 2025 | LP Review, Reviews
As I mentioned in my last article, after 6 years with the same vocal line-up, changes had settled in, and it basically ended up being a bit of a domino effect over the course of the next couple of years with additional changes. Eddie had been pastoring a church since...
by David Bruce Murray | Oct 10, 2025 | News
NEWS NUGGETS Justified Quartet co-founder/owner/baritone Mark Jacoby announced he is stepping down from the group at the end of 2025. The Akron, Michigan-based quartet was formed by Jacoby and Tim Caldwell in 2010. GloryWay announced that Philip Kolb will be leaving...
by James Hales | Oct 8, 2025 | LP Review, Reviews
In 1979, the Inspirations released 2 studio albums, and “Songs of Love” was recorded during that summer, and released the following fall. “Songs of Love” is a pretty special album to me, as this was the very first record that I ever bought with my own allowance money...
