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| Third Day partners with Habitat for Humanity Third Day members are pictured with Habitat for Humanity president and founder Millard Fuller, along with his wife Linda, at the Habitat for Humanity International headquarters in Americus, Ga.: (l-r) Mac Powell, Mark Lee and David Carr, Third Day; Millard and Linda Fuller; and Tai Anderson and Brad Avery, Third Day. |
Third Day has committed to building three of these homes in cities across the United States, including Nashville, Tenn., West Palm Beach, Fla., and their hometown of Atlanta.
Through its partnership with Habitat, the band hopes to encourage its fans to become socially aware of the many people who need shelter worldwide and to provide an opportunity for them to help through volunteer efforts. Third Day will be actively involved in recruiting volunteers for each of the construction sites and helping with some of the building themselves. Earlier this year, the band even challenged its own record label staff to come out and participate in the future construction of the Nashville home, an appeal for help that has already been eagerly accepted.
Third Day member Tai Anderson explains the band’s desire to help, saying, “We have an amazing view from stage. At every show, in every city, we see God’s diverse people united in worship to the Lord. These experiences have made a significant impact on how we view our role within the body of Christ. We hope to use this platform to challenge God’s people to extend the unity of worship experienced at our concerts to a unity of worship expressed through service to the world around us.”
Third Day will launch the “Come Together Tour” in mid-February and continue through early May. The major market tour is slated to perform in 51 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Detroit and West Palm Beach. The tour also will feature special guests Bebo Norman and Paul Colman Trio, the newest Essential Records artist. Throughout the duration of the tour, Third Day will coordinate efforts with local Habitat affiliates.
Jars of Clay readies for pay-per-view
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| Jars of Clay |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Jars of Clay will premiere its first pay-per-view concert Sunday, March 3, on DIRECTV. “Jars of Clay – The Eleventh Hour Concert” will be a part of a one-night-only series of pay-per-view events.
Celebrating the release of their first new album in more than two years, Jars of Clay will debut music from their new album, “The Eleventh Hour,” for the exclusive two-hour special, as well as feature the hits that have garnered 13 No. 1 songs and more than 5 million albums sold.
Fans who order the Jars of Clay – The Eleventh Hour Concert on pay-per-view will be treated to a preview of the highly anticipated new recording, which releases two days after the pay-per-view event (March 5). The live concert special was recorded in Nashville, Tenn., at the Gaylord Entertainment Center Annex Jan. 16 with encore performances on pay-per-view available for at least 30 days following its March 3 debut.
Reaching 45 million households on pay-per-view services throughout North America, the special will be featured on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, EchoStar and TVN.
“We wrote this record to inspire people to dig deeper into their soul,” said Jars of Clay member Charlie Lowell. “We want people to feel the depth, height and width of love and longing through this collection of songs. Only our fans will be able to tell if we accomplished our goal.”
“For a while it seemed like rock ‘n’ roll had become a passionless wasteland,” added Jars of Clay’s Dan Haseltine. “Even before the Sept. 11 attacks, it also seemed like songwriters were gaining back their strength, stirring people to think and feel and grow and act. For people taking up searching again, we’ve taken up writing songs for them again.”
Point of Grace on cross-country tour
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Point of Grace fans across the country will have a chance to see the popular band on their cross-country Free To Fly Tour.
Following a successful 30-city Free To Fly fall tour, Point Of Grace, along with special guest and award-winning Essential Records artist FFH, embarks on a 13-state winter/spring leg of the tour. Featuring a full band with a significant stage and light production, the tour begins in Denver Feb. 2 and includes performances in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, San Jose, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Nashville and Miami.
“We wanted to make the concerts on our tour something special for our faithful friends,” said Point Of Grace member Heather Payne. “So, we decided to have an all-request segment in the middle of our concert. The interaction as we come into the audience and take requests makes it fun for the audience, as well as for us. We also have two new band members that we can’t wait for everyone to meet.”
Provident artists sweep Stellar awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Provident Music artists won 18 Stellar Awards at the 17th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards held recently at the Atlanta Civic Center. The Stellar awards showcase the best in gospel music. Winners included:
— Verity recording artist Donnie McClurkin was awarded in the categories of Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year, Traditional CD of the Year and Music Video of the Year while the Kyle Matthews-penned/Donnie McClurkin-performed “We Fall Down” won for Song of the Year.
— Gospo Centric’s Kurt Carr led this year’s nominees with a record nine nominations. He took home five Stellar Awards in the categories of Group or Duo of the Year, Producer of the Year, Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year.
— Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers opened the ceremony with their hit, “In The Sanctuary,” marking the beginning of a spectacular night of performances from Gospel’s elite, including Donnie McClurkin, The Commissioned Reunion featuring Fred Hammond, Tonex, Richard Smallwood and Kirk Franklin who closed the show with “Hosanna,” a new song from his Feb. 19 release titled The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin.
— John P. Kee & New Life Community Choir (Verity) garnered two Stellar Awards for Choir of the Year and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year while new Verity artist EXCELSIOR claimed the award for New Artist of the Year. WOW Gospel 2001 was named Special Event CD of the year.
— The Kingdom Come Soundtrack was awarded in the area of Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year — “Thank You” by Kirk Franklin & Mary Mary — and as Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year.
Girls of Grace record music
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Jaci Velasquez and Rachel Lampa, along with many of Christian music’s female voices, will record a compilation CD to accompany the Girls of Grace conferences scheduled for this fall.
Girls of Grace conferences were originated by Point of Grace and focus on issues involving teenage girls.
The album will offer new songs to support and encourage the topics the ladies of Point of Grace will discuss during the single day events for young teens.
ABC News to focus on Christian music
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–An ABC News camera crew recently flew to Nashville to interview Jaci Velasquez and conduct research for a two-part series on the current growth and direction of the contemporary Christian music industry.
The segment will air on all 250 affiliate stations nationwide multiple times a day during the competitive February sweeps.
Essential Records signs Paul Colman Trio
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| Paul Colman trio signs with Essential Records Gathered for the official signing are (left to right sitting): Paul Colman of the Paul Colman Trio; Robert Beeson, President, Essential Records; and Nina Williams, Senior Director of Marketing. Pictured standing are (left to right): Steve Thomas of Alabaster Arts Management; Bob Wohler, Director of A&R; Jordyn Thomas, A&R Manager; and Brian Mitchell, VP/General Manager of Essential Records. Not pictured: Grant Norsworthy and Phil Gaudion. |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Essential Records recently welcomed the energetic, acoustic-driven Paul Colman Trio to its roster. A household name among Australia’s music lovers, this three-man band has relocated to the U.S. in preparation for its first label project, due in stores May 21, and the 53-city “Come Together” tour with label mates Third Day and Bebo Norman this winter/spring.
“We are delighted to have the Paul Colman Trio join us here at Essential,” said Robert Beeson, president and founder of Essential Records. “I’ve been following their ministry for some time and truly believe they are a natural fit with the values and goals of our company.”
Named “Artist of the Year” in 2000 and 2001 by The Rock Across Australia (TRAA) chart, the trio has dominated the Australian airwaves with relentless radio success. The band’s nine singles have all charted in the Top 5, including two No. 1 hits with “Turn” and “Sundown,” and “Your Sweet Voice” reaching No. 2, while spending 44 weeks on the charts.
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