Avery Stafford Signs Distribution Deal With Bookworld Music

Gospel Artist Avery Stafford-Undignified (PRLEAP.COM)- Press Release- Charles Brady of SoGospel describes contemporary Gospel artist Avery Stafford as "One of the most moving, smoothest & soulful voices in Gospel Music I have ever had the chance to hear!"

Undignified is the latest album by Avery Stafford, Praise and Worship Pastor from San Jose, CA. It has received incredible reviews from Gospel City, Soul Mag, Gospel Xone, Gospel Cribs, Rap2Soul, Indie-Music, Rikks Revues, and others. Roy Gray of XRadioGospel recently described Stafford in a live interview as "One of the greatest independent Gospel artists in the world today." Yet this anointed vocalist continues to be relatively unknown to the majority of the Gospel industry, UNTIL NOW!

Bookworld Music, Inc. of Sarasota, FL recently signed Avery’s independent record label ASM Records to a major retail distribution deal. Undignified will be ASM’s first distributed project. Bookworld services the top 100 biggest retailers in the nation PLUS 2900 independent and specialized customers. These retailers include WalMart, Target, Costco, Media Play, and many others. Bookworld Music currently distributes Gospel artists including Shekinah Glory Ministry with great success.

So what makes this particular album unique? Is it the incredible Bay Area artists who collaborated with Avery? Is it More...

Bethany Dillon Walks the Red Carpet

Sparrow Records singer/songwriter Bethany Dillon is gaining national media attention for her single, "Dreamer," which is the end credit song of the October 21 DreamWorks motion picture, Dreamer: Inspired By A True Story. Dillon attended Sunday’s Hollywood premiere of the movie, where she walked the red carpet, spoke with media covering the event, and met the film’s stars, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, and Kris Kristofferson, among others.

In conjunction with the film’s release, Dillon is scheduled to appear live on the October 16 broadcast of “CNN Sunday Morning.” During a segment that is also slated to include an interview with Dakota Fanning, Dillon will discuss her inspiration for the song “Dreamer,” which she co-wrote following a screening of the film earlier this year. More...

Album Review - Add To The Beauty by Sara Groves

Artist: Sara Groves
Album: Add To The Beauty
Label: INO Records
Release Date: October 4, 2005


If you like well written songs, great female vocals, and great music, then you should check out Sara Grove's latest album, 'Add To The Beauty.' I'm not usually a big listener to female soloists, but Sara Groves has fast become one of my new favorites. She has her own voice that's easily distinguishable from other artists, but it's polished enough to sound great with any musical backing.

There's a nice variety of songs on here to choice from, none venturing too far from what you'd expect from a good pop album, but enough variety to keep it very interesting and well rounded. I've listened to this album several times through, and it just keeps getting better every time!

If you've been searching for some great Christian pop/contemporary female artists, you'd better add Sara Groves to your list. In fact, why don't you go on ahead and Buy It? More...

Album Review - Life Is A Church by David Phelps

Artist: David Phelps
Album: Life Is A Church
Label: Word
Release Date: September 27, 2005

If there is no other certainty in Gospel Music, there will always be this constant: Bill Gaither will always be able to find talented singers for his group that will later move on and have great solo ministries.

Well, even if that's not always the case, it is the case with David Phelps, a former Gaither Vocal Band member. David's newest project, 'Life Is A Church', is full of great songs and sounds that remind us that every part of life is an act of worship to God. I'd be hard pressed to pick any one song that I liked the best off of this one, but here are a few: 'Legacy Of Love', 'That's What Love Is', 'The Name Lives On', 'Power', 'Life Is A Church'.

This is a great album to listen to from start to finish, because the flow and continuity from song to song is wonderful. David has done an outstanding job on his latest outing, keeping up the high standards he has set for himself, and raising the bar for all that follow. If you are addicted to the sounds of contemporary Christian music performed by one of the best in the business, you need to add 'Life Is A Church' to your collection. Go Buy It! More...

New Album From Brother's Keeper Moves To January

Nashville, TN - Brother's Keeper has announced that the release of their new album Beyond Beautiful is moving to early 2006. The project, which is a follow-up to their 1999 self-titled debut and 2002's Dove Award-nominated Cover Me, was originally scheduled to release October 11, 2005 and will now hit stores on January 24, 2006.

The CD is the next step in Brother's Keeper's musical career which has lasted over a decade, garnered them two Dove Award nominations and a #1 hit radio single, and has seen them touring with the likes of the Newsboys, Rachel Lampa, Salvador, NewSong, Mark Schultz and Ginny Owens. Beyond Beautiful will be available on Training Union Records/Ardent Records. Training Union Records is a new label venture formed by Sanders, who is partnering with Ardent Records. Ardent Records is a 10 year-old independent Christian label based in Memphis, Tenn., whose artists include Brother's Keeper as well as Todd Agnew, Skillet, Joanh33 and Joy Whitlock. The label is associated with the legendary Ardent Studios, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. The CD will be distributed by New Day Distribution. Additional information about Brother's Keeper is available by visiting their website at http://www.brotherskeeperonline.com You can also listen to audio clips from the upcoming project on their Media - Audio page.

Sarah Hart Invites Listeners 'Into These Rooms'

Nashville, TN -Two-time Unity Award winner and founding member of the group Daughters of God, Sarah Hart, steps out with her second solo effort - Into These Rooms. The much-anticipated album released September 13, 2005 on the spiritandsong.com label reflects Hart's varied influences, which include Nancy Griffith, James Taylor, Thomas Merton and Sylvia Plath. The 13-track CD draws listeners in with a lively contemporary blend of folk, pop and rock while offering an intimate look at Hart's life of faith.

"I tend to be introspective about finding faith and glory in the mundane tasks of life," says Hart, the mother of two little girls. This introspection results in an album that is both spiritually deep and incredibly real, while maintaining impressive production and a sophisticated sound. Fans of lyric-driven music will find Hart to be a kindred spirit, particularly after hearing the heartfelt "For a Little While." The tender ballad features beautiful string and piano arrangements that are woven together to reveal the bittersweet pang mothers often experience while holding their newborn child. Her personal favorite, "Brave New World," is inspired by God the Creator and focuses on stepping out in faith each day. "I believe in Creator God, and because I do, I need to create things of worthiness," Hart comments. "We all should be working hard to make our best." More...

Album Review - Mark Schultz Live: A Night Of Stories And Songs

Artist: Mark Schultz
Album: Mark Schultz Live: A Night Of Stories And Songs
Label: Word Records
Release Date: September 27, 2005

Mark Schultz Live: A Night of Stories & Songs (CD/DVD) is the fourth project from Mark Schultz, covering his greatest hits since his highly acclaimed self-titled debut in 2000. It's hard to believe that anyone can have more than a few hits in so short a time span, but this album includes all six of his #1 radio hits: You Are a Child of Mine (#1 R&R AC nine weeks), Back In His Arms Again (#1 AC seven weeks, broke record for longest running #1 single), I Have Been There, Remember Me, I Am The Way and He's My Son.

I was hooked after listening to the first track on this disc, "When You Come Home." Not only is it a great live recording of this song, but after the song he tells a bit about the song and then proceeds to sing an alternate third verse that he claims is a bit more 'accurate'. If you want any more details than that, you'll just have to go get the album!

This CD has all the great songs, great stories, and great humor from Mark Schultz that you could ask for. For fans of Mark, and fans of great CCM in general, this album should be in your collection. Go Buy It! More...

Top Christian Artists Lead Narnia Soundtrack Due Sept. 27

EMI CMG, in partnership with Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media, will release MUSIC INSPIRED BY: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE to stores nationwide September 27, 2005, featuring new songs from today's top Christian artists.

The inspirational project is the first of two major soundtracks sparked by the most anticipated film of 2005, a live action adaptation of the best-selling C. S. Lewis classic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Five-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman performs the first NARNIA single and video, "Remembering You," which goes to Christian radio stations August 5. Other artists who contribute new recordings to the first set include Jars of Clay ("Waiting For The World To Fall), Jeremy Camp ("Open Your Eyes"), tobyMac, Nichole Nordeman ("I Will Believe"), Rebecca St. James ("Lion"), Bethany Dillon ("Hero"), Delirious ("Stronger"), Kutless, Chris Tomlin ("You're The One"), and David Crowder Band. More...

John David Webster's "Miracle" Amazes Stations

Nashville, TN - "Miracle," the first single from BHT Records piano-based pop-rock recording artist John David Webster's debut album, Made to Shine, has leapt into the "Top 10" on R&R's AC Indicator chart and is holding firm to that status for the second week on R&R's AC Monitor chart. It's been an amazing couple of weeks for Webster, whose single jumped from #15 to #10 last Tuesday on the R&R AC Monitor chart. The single has been one of the "Most Increased" songs at both R&R's AC Monitor and Indicator charts for the last two weeks. The song continues to gain momentum on both charts and to pick up adds on stations nationwide. More...

ZOEgirl Grows Up On Room To Breathe

The three young women of ZOEgirl - a favorite pop/rock group among teenage girls-say they’re growing up right along with their audience in a new interview at ChristianMusicToday.com.

Discussing its progressive new album, ROOM TO BREATHE, the group looks back over the past five years, laughing at early fashion crimes and celebrating the highlights (encouraging and being encouraged by the fans). And even though ZOEgirl focuses on the spiritual needs of females, the trio says boys can enjoy the music as well. More...