Driving Dottie Rambo to Tears The Lexington Herald-Leader profiles
Dottie Rambo, ahead of her February 23rd
induction to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame:
Dottie Rambo is trying to decide what dress to wear and what song to sing.
She's never been so excited, she says.
Rambo, known as the "Queen of Gospel Music," has been named to several halls of
fame during a 60-year music career, but being inducted into the Kentucky Music
Hall of Fame is extra special, she says.
"I'm the type -- I have a hard time receiving awards or rewards. But I can tell
you this thing will be the one that drives me to tears because it's my home
state," Rambo, 71, said in a recent interview from her home outside Nashville.
February 20th, 2006
The Most Exciting Young Bass Singer in 20 Years Good story in the Jacksonville Daily Progress on the
Florida Boys. Excerpt:
From the boot-heel of Missouri comes one of the finest bass singers to ever
sing a gospel song — Gene Me Donald.
“Gene Me Donald is the most exciting young bass singer to come along in the last
20 years,” said Bill Gaither. His big, booming bass voice is featured on many of
The Florida Boys hit songs. February 18th, 2006
Billy Graham: God's Ambassador Read
here about the new Gaither Film Productions
feature "Billy Graham: God's Ambassador." And watch a five-minute video preview
here. February 14th, 2006
Crabb Family for Marrakech I don't know anything about
Friendship Fest 2006 - to be held in Marrakech,
Morocco, in May, with the participation of the Crabb Family - but it sounds
worthwhile.
Marrekech Regional President Abdelali Doumou called last year’s festival,
which drew a crowd of around 85,000 people, a, “historic opportunity for
Americans and Moroccans to celebrate together, through music, in friendship and
peace,” extending an official invitation to [organizer Harry] Thomas to return
to Morocco at the festival’s close.
According to Christianity Today, Thomas, whose initial efforts to run Friendship
Fest were opposed by some Moroccans who objected against the religious content
of the music, was able to quell tensions by assuring officials that none of the
musicians would be proselytizing during the event – something that didn’t seem
to bother the artists at 2005’s festival.
“We’re not allowed to evangelize but we were allowed to make connections, make
friends, and share Christ that way,” Friendship 2005 performer Joy Williams told
Christianity Today. February 13th, 2006
Jonathan Fisher was raised on Southern gospel, acts such as The Statesmen
Quartet and Jake Hess.
And while most folks his age prefer today's contemporary Christian, Fisher is
still a fan of the old-timey stuff.
Fisher's love of the music led him to organize the Old Fashioned Campmeeting
Gospel Sing. The sings bring together some of the most familiar faces and voices
on the Middle Georgia gospel scene in a concert setting similar to the popular
Bill Gaither Homecoming series.
"A lot of people can't afford to see Bill Gaither," said Fisher. "We just had a
vision to get the old-timers together."
Read the whole inspiring story. February 11th, 2006
Fan Favorite SouthernGospelNews.com has announced 10 nominees for the first
Fan Favorite Artist of the Year award. They
are: Booth Brothers, Brian Free & Assurance, Crabb Family, Dove Brothers
Quartet, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Vocal Band, Gold City, Hope’s
Call, Jimmy Fortune and Karen Peck & New River.
Voting runs
here, from midnight tonight until the end of
the month. February 8th, 2006
This Is My Story Wouldn't you like to belong to the same church as Bill Gaither? It certainly
helped Dave Liverett. The
Lexington Herald-Leader
explains:
Indiana artist and book illustrator Dave Liverett has created books about
bridges and lighthouses and old country churches, but he wasn't sure whether
there'd be a market for artistic portrayals of Southern gospel music stars.
So, he decided to check with Grammy-winning gospel songwriter of the century
Bill Gaither.
"We go to the same church, and he just lives 10 miles up the road from where I
live," Liverett says. "He immediately said, 'I think that's a terrific idea.'"
Thomas Nelson, the major Christian book publisher, also approved. Two years
after Gaither gave the book his blessing, This is My Story: 146 of the World's
Greatest Gospel Singers is on the shelves at Christian bookstores across
America. February 6th, 2006
"Israel Homecoming" Is Number One Congratulations to the Gaither Homecoming crowd for "Israel Homecoming,"
named by the Gospel Music Association as the
top-selling Southern Gospel album of 2005.
According to the Association, the year's top Christian/Gospel album was "Nothing
Is Sound" from Switchfoot, followed by "Lifesong" from Casting Crown. February 2nd, 2006
