Spring is officially and finally here! As I sit at my keyboard to write this column, it's a beautiful, rainy spring day. It may be wet, but at least it's not white! Now to the business at hand ... music ... 1994 Grammy winners to be exact. On Tues., March 1, the Grammys were presented in several types of music, six of which were Christian categories. Winning in the Best Rock Gospel Album category was DC Talk with Free At Last. Steven Curtis Chapman's album The Live Adventure won the Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Soul Gospel Album while Shirley Caesar won for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for Stand Still. The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's director Carol Cymbala was smiling when his choir was awarded the Grammy for Live ... We Come Rejoicing in the Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus category. Kathy Mattea took home the Grammy for her album Good News in the Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel category. Christian artists are preparing for the Dove Awards later this month in Nashville.
Kentucky's Steven Curtis Chapman is recovering from his latest Grammy award and looking forward to what could be a busy night at the Doves since he leads the nominations with seven. Steven is in the studio these days working with producer Phil Naish on Heaven in the Real World. The Sparrow project is scheduled for a July release.
Others in the studio include the hot group The Newsboys. They are working with producer Steve Taylor on their next Star Song project, also scheduled to be in the stores in July. Meanwhile former Imperial David Robertson has signed with Star Song and his album will be finished and ready to ship in September. Star Song kept their pens out long enough to sign the father-and-son duo of Jeoffrey and Aaron Benward to a recording agreement. The pair will go by the name Aaron*Jeoffrey. Their project is being produced by Brian Tankersley, Jeff Silvey and Billy Simon. Expect this project to be out in July.
It hasn't been very long since I reported that Sparrow Corporation sold much of their publishing interest to BMG Music Publishing. A few weeks ago Sparrow repurchased BMG Music Publishing interests in the Sparrow catalog ending their joint venture. Sparrow has expanded its A&R and publishing departments to pick up the slack.
It was brought to my attention a few weeks ago that I made an error in a piece about Phil Keaggy in last month's article. My sincere apologies to Keaggy fans and to the guitar master himself. I mistakenly wrote that Phil's wife was Cheri Keaggy when in fact it is Bernadette. I guess it proves that we're all human!
Next month I'll be passing along information on the Ultimate Summer Festival coming to Louisville June 25. Joy Jam '94 will feature Michael W. Smith, Carman, White Heart, 4Him and others.
WJIE Music Pics
The Concert of the Age
Phillips, Craig & Dean
Glory to You Steve Green
I Will Be Free Cindy Morgan
I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb
Ray Boltz
From This Moment On Newsong
More of You Wayne Watson
Talk About Love Paul Smith
Jesus Will Still Be There
Point of Grace
I'll Not Forget You Bryan Duncan
Beyond All Limits Larnelle Harris