We hope you enjoyed our first article on Discovering New Artists & we hope that you found a few new artists or songs that you enjoy.  Please keep the feedback coming, we love it!

This time we are focusing on a specific genre of music – southern gospel quartets.  The southern gospel genre dates back just about as far as any type of “Christian” music.  In fact, even a lot of the contemporary/pop and even rock singers in Christian music today began by singing southern gospel in their churches when they were younger.  And of these southern gospel groups, one of the most popular & widely-recognized has always been the southern gospel quartets.  Three of the oldest & most loved quartets are The Cathedrals, Gold City & The Kingsmen.  There are many other quartets that could fall into this category & we will discuss some later but for now, we will focus on these three time-tested favorite groups.

The Cathedrals
The Cathedrals have been called “favorite” by many a southern gospel fan.  In 1964, what was called the “Cathedral Trio,” which included Bobby Clark, Glen Payne & Danny Koker, added bass George Younce & became the “Cathedral Quartet.”  From 1964 to 1999, the quartet recorded & toured all across the country.  The wide-sweeping appeal & impact of this quartet is certainly hard to measure & their legacy lives on today through the songs that they gave us.  Some favorites that you should check out if you have not heard or performed them include:  ”Can He Could He Would He,” “This Ole House,” “Movin on up to Glory,” “Then Came The Morning” & “We Shall See Jesus.”  Whether or not you’re familiar with their music, you should really check out The Cathedrals – a Farewell Celebration.  This recording is from 1999 when many of the original singers from the group came back and sang with others who were part of the Cathedrals over the years.  It is not only an inspiring collection of music but also a precious tribute to the men who helped form the group & sang with them for much of their lives.  The project is also available on DVD.  The Cathedrals are definitely a southern gospel group to get to know if you have not already.

Gold City
Another timeless favorite in the southern gospel genre is Gold City.  The group began in 1980 & continues singing today.  As with The Cathedrals, a lot of members traded in  & out of the group over the years.  Two artists of note who went on to find their own place in the southern gospel hall of fame are Ivan Parker & Brian Free.  Each of these men was a valuable asset to the southern gospel genre when they were a part of Gold City & also as they went on to follow their separate paths within the industry.  Favorite songs of the Gold City quartet that you just cannot risk missing include:  ”When He Reached Down His Hand,” “It’s Still the Cross,” “One Scarred Hand,” “When I Get Carried Away“  & perhaps THE quintessential song from Gold City – “Midnight Cry” which we carry nine different versions of for you to choose from.  Many a standing ovation has been given to performances of “Midnight Cry” through the years.  There is also a CD you may wish to look into as well:  The Very Best of Gold City.

The Kingsmen
And then there is The Kingsmen.  This southern gospel group has been encouraging & inspiring listeners with their unique style since 1956.  They too have had members come and go during their 54 years of singing.  One artist to note is Anthony Burger who later became the piano player for many Gaither projects & tours until he died suddenly in 2006 at the young age of 44.  He and many other talented musicians lent their gifts to The Kingsmen as they wrote, recorded & traveled across the country performing.  Favorite titles by The Kingsmen include:  ”When Mama Prayed,” “What a Day That Will Be,”  “Hello Mama,”  & what is probably their most popular and emotional song – “Wish You Were Here” – nine versions on our site to choose from  One other interesting fact to note is that in the early 90s, Gold City & The Kingsmen joined forces to create a series called “Kings Gold.”

We hope that these artists & songs have either brought back some wonderful memories to you or introduced you to some music that you will be able to use in your personal ministry.  As always, let us know what you think.   We love hearing from you.

More in this series:
Discover New Artists

One of the sweetest events in which to participate is a baby dedication service.  What an honor it is to stand with parents and musically be a part of their child’s dedication service.  This is handled differently in different churches but for those who attend or sing in churches that allow a soloist to participate in the ceremony, there are some really precious songs that can make a sweet moment even sweeter.

Sandi Patty’s “Masterpiece” is a great song to add to your basic repertoire for baby dedication songs.  This one  has really stood the test of time.

Masterpiece (Christian World)
Masterpiece (Daywind)

Other staples that you can’t really go wrong with include:  “Fingerprints of God” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “I Want to be Just Like You” by Phillips Craig & Dean, “Dreams I Dream For You” by Avalon and “We’ll Be There” by the Gaithers.  In addition, you may also want to consider songs like “Another Child To Hold” by Ray Boltz, “The Greatest Gift” by Steve & Annie Chapman, or maybe even the classic hymn “Jesus Loves Me.”

Please take time to listen through these songs to find some that touch you personally and that you feel you can add to your repertoire.  The perfect song can provide the finishing touch to an already precious moment in the life of a new baby.  Feel free to post below and share some of your favorites.

See our complete list of Baby Dedication Accompaniment Tracks.

Establishing a Musical Repertoire
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 1, Funerals
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 2, Baby Dedication

So we promised to help you discover new artists in 2010 and we’re keeping our word.  We’ll have several articles dealing with this subject over the next few weeks & on throughout the year.  This first article will deal with a few lesser known artists that have some great soundtracks you may be able to add to your collection.

Christy Nockels

This wife & mother of 3 is a worship leader in her church.  Her style is contemporary praise & worship & the messages in her music are quite powerful.  Her CD “Life Light Up” is filled with uplifting, encouraging, modern worship praise songs.  She has a strong mezzo voice but even if that doesn’t describe your voice, her soundtracks are available in multiple keys so you can perform in the appropriate key for your instrument.  Check out “Life Light Up” an “No Not One” on our site.

Life Light Up (Daywind)
No Not One (Christian World)

Britt Nicole

If you’re a fan of music that is a little more upbeat, you should check out the new CD from Britt Nicole.   “The Lost Get Found” ranges in musical styles from pop songs to ballads.  Several songs are available on soundtrack & can be very powerful songs to share with younger crowds.  The title song, “The Lost Get Found” is an upbeat song that deals with missions & being bold about sharing your faith.   “Walk on the Water” is more of a ballad and speaks into having such faith in God that you can deal with whatever faces you in life.  If you find yourself singing for younger people or in more contemporary settings, be sure to check out Britt Nicole.

The Lost Get Found (Christian World)
Walk on the Water (Christian World)

Jason Crabb

Okay so this guy may not be as “lesser known” as the others we’ve discussed but did you know that he has his own solo record now?  No longer singing with the Crabb Family, Jason now has a solo cd absolutely filled with great new songs ready to be discovered.  The CD is self-titled.  It includes an outstanding new version of “Through the Fire” that is not to be missed.  His vocals shine in every cut on the album.  You’ve got to have a fairly big, powerful instrument to keep up with Jason but if this fits you, you might not find a better source for new soundtracks than this new CD.

Walk on Water (Christian World)
Walk on Water (Daywind)
Somebody Like Me (Daywind)
Sometimes I Cry (Daywind)
One Day at a Time (Christian World)

We hope that these suggestions are helpful to you in your search for new music.  Check back soon for an article about some great new songs by some old favorite artists.

More in this series:
Southern Gospel Quartets

2010. It’s a new decade and another chance to start again. Consider what you accomplished in 2009. Did you sing as many places as you had hoped? Did you find new songs to add to your repertoire?

As you think back over the past year, consider making some goals for what you want to accomplish musically in 2010. We are here to help you!

Avalon has a song called “New Day.” The chorus is: “It’s a new day. Oh, it’s a new time & there’s a new way. Gonna live my life; all the old has passed away & the new has come. Thank God it’s a brand new day!”

Is it a goal to discover new artists & new music? Is it a goal to expand your ministry geographically? Or maybe just sing more often where you already are? Or perhaps you want to make sure that you have more family time this year. Whatever your goals may be, we want to help.

Starting soon, we will have a series dedicated to discovering new artists & new music. Check back often as we introduce more & more music over the course of this year.

New Day by Avalon (Daywind)
New Day by Avalon (PraiseHymn)

Have you ever caught yourself staring at your closet trying to figure out what to wear for a concert, church service, or other event?  This can be a very important decision and not always an easy one.

Here are some basic rules of thumb:

• Do not make a wardrobe decision that will be distracting to your audience.
• When singing for formal occasions, deeper, darker tones are usually more appropriate than flashy colors or busy prints.
• If in doubt, the more conservative choice is the way to go.
• Women, spend time on your appearance but be aware that excess makeup or “pageant hair” can be a distraction.

The bottom line is – Be professional but also be yourself & be comfortable.  And most of all, be confident that the Lord will use your ministry to further His kingdom.  And isn’t that our primary purpose anyway?

One of the more important categories to make sure you have included in your list of musical offerings is funeral music.  Deaths are sometimes very sudden & you may often be called upon to sing for a funeral just 24-48 hours prior to the event.  For the sake of the family as well as your own, it is extremely beneficial to have several solid “stand-by” selections ready to go.  You can also have a more extensive list should the family prefer something more specific.  Here are some suggestions you might consider adding to your collection of funeral soundtracks.

More traditional churches will often prefer hymns or classical songs.  Several widely used hymns include How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace & It Is Well With My Soul.  An example of a more classical piece is The Lord’s Prayer. There are quite basic soundtracks available for these songs as well as some that make the hymns sound a little more contemporary in case that better fits the style of the funeral service.  One great example of this is Chris Tomlin’s Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone soundtrack.  He merges the traditional hymn with a more contemporary chorus, giving the song a more current feeling

If the service has a more contemporary flare to it, you might consider some of the following selections:  Homesick (Mercy Me), I Can Only Imagine (Mercy Me), If You Could See Me Now (Truth), This One’s With Me (Newsong) or Untitled Hymn (Chris Rice – this song is sometimes called Come To Jesus).  For the unpleasant task of singing in a child’s funeral, I cannot think of a more appropriate song than With Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman).  This song can apply to all ages but seems especially appropriate for the funeral of a child.

In the case of a service for a crowd that prefers southern gospel music, there are quite a few additional titles that work quite well.  Some selections include: Another Soldier’s Coming Home (Janet Paschal), Come Spring (Jessica King), I Sure Miss You (The Crabb Family), Jesus’ Rocking Chair (The Greenes), Midnight Cry (Gold City), Roses Will Bloom Again (Jeff & Sheri Easter), Serenaded by Angels (Kirk Talley), Sweet Beulah Land (The Nelons) & Wish You Were Here (The Kingsmen).

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but hopefully it will help introduce you to a few new soundtracks that will help you increase your collection of funeral soundtracks.  If you have a favorite that is not mentioned above, please post & introduce us to your favorite songs. May God bless you as you strive to serve Him & His people through the gift of music.

See our complete list of Bereavement Accompaniment Tracks

Establishing a Musical Repertoire
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 1, Funerals
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 2, Baby Dedication

As singers, we are often asked to share significant moments in the lives of others.  Whether weddings, funerals or other events, we will no doubt participate in many various events and ceremonies during our music ministries.  Building an extensive repertoire of soundtracks from which we can choose appropriate songs can be very beneficial.  It is helpful to have multiple selections available and can also be a good idea to vary the styles offered.  This way you will be able to better cater to the musical preferences of the group for which you are singing.

Upcoming is a series of articles that address many of the various celebrations, occasions and ceremonies you will likely encounter throughout your career.  Listen through samples of the various songs recommended for each event and see if you can find some to add to your personal repertoire.

I hope this series helps you expand your musical offerings and equip you to better serve the Body of Christ through your musical gifts.

Establishing a Musical Repertoire
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 1, Funerals
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 2, Baby Dedication

Words can not really express the depth of gratitude we feel for what the King has allowed us to accomplish in 2009.  You, our customers, now number just shy of 30,000 – and if every one of you just touched 34 souls with your music this past year, that would number those affected by great Christian music at over a million lives.  Moreover, if 1, or 5, or 10 or 20 lost souls were pointed to Jesus Christ through songs you sang, and subsequently came into a personal relationship with Him, the year can certainly be counted as a complete success.

As stewards for the King, we count it a necessity to continue hunting, searching, signing, contracting, displaying and purveying products from the present and the past that uniquely convey the Gospel message to the lost, and encourage the hearts of believers everywhere.  Our service has met with both tremendous acceptance among the body of Christ, and (not surprisingly) enormous resistance from secular bodies.  We contend that the music is the Lord’s, and He will have His way, ultimately.  (Well, you just have to open your Bible to know that!)

As we stand at this moment, we have the rights to sell 21,369 Christian music products.  We also know that over 4,000 albums and 1,400 accompaniment tracks still exist with labels that are in the process of considering proposals from us to again make these available to you.  And there are probably just as many that we have yet to unearth or contact.  Would you please speak this prayer to our Father, who is always listening, on behalf of the entire Christwill operation and customers everywhere?

Father, for the good of the Body that remains in these last days, would you loose the minds and hearts of those who stand in the way in Nashville and beyond, and demolish Satanic strongholds worldwide that have undue control of these products that are yours, and make a way for this music to again reach the hearts of this world? In the name of Jesus, our Creator and King, Amen!

Thank you for your patronage in 2009 and we encourage all of you to continue to use your gifts for His glory and the growth of His kingdom this coming year.

-Andrew and Valerie Criswell
For the entire Christwill team

As we approach the end of the year, I find myself pausing and reflecting on the opportunites the Lord has placed before many of us in music. What an awesome gift to be given from our Savior. He has called us to a powerful ministry and with that comes much responsibility. So, let us stop, pause…

and rejoice over who He is and why He came to this earth.

The Advent season is a very busy time for musicians, and I have heard from many that they are “so busy.” In that, I find great sadness, for it seems to me that even those seeking to serve our Lord can lose perspective if they are not careful. This is not a time for “performing.” It is a time for rejoicing and worshiping, as it should be anytime we, as musicians, stand before a group of people sharing the love of the Lord through music. It is an amazing tool created by Him.

“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28

Let us be sure to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10) every day before we press on in the path set before us each day. Let us lay our heart’s desire at the foot of the Cross making sure that our hearts are in line with serving Him and not seeking any glory for ourselves through any music we may be preparing.

A new year is approaching with new opportunities with music. Let us be prayerful for those that compose lyrics or music, that their hearts seek to magnify His name and convey a strong message of Truth. Let us be faithful to pray for the many who are searching for music and Truth to present this Sunday, and the next. I, for one, search long and hard for the right messages that He wants to be shared. I am often discouraged for there is often, it seems, much music out there with watered down messages, but I press on knowing that He has something somewhere and I must be still and know that He is God and He will reveal it.

So, in closing, as we press on to the day we celebrate His birth, let us be mindful that it is Jesus’ birth that we are celebrating. If we find ourselves in a hurry and losing perspective, stop, look up and thank our Savior for loving us enough to set us free from who we were without Him and for allowing us to be called children of God. We have been blessed to serve Him with music.

Be Still and Know – Christian World
Be Still and Know – PraiseHymn Soundtracks
Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapman

Remember the favorite Christmas song “We Are the Reason?”  I always love remembering the chorus at this time of year.

We are the reason that He gave His life.
We are the reason that He suffered and died.
For a world that was lost,
He gave all He could give to show us the reason to live.

We are reminded throughout this season that “Jesus is the reason for the season.”  Are you taking time to remember that and be thankful amidst the hectic schedule of the month?  December is the time of year we set aside to celebrate His coming to earth as a baby in order to take our place on the cross many years later.  Take time this year to remember and give thanks that He did this for us – for YOU.  Take time to remember that WE are the reason that He came to earth at Christmas.

And if you find yourself singing ”We Are the Reason” this Christmas, sing it with all the strength you have, confident that you ARE the reason that He came!

We are the Reason – Christian World
We are the Reason – Christian World (Spanish)
We are the Reason – Daywind
We are the Reason – MasterTrax
We are the Reason - PraiseHymn Sound Tracks
There I Go Again by David Meece