This Week's News

Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee was filled with the unmistakable sound of Mike & Kelly Bowling Thursday, August 14th as friends, family and industry members joined together at the Warner Brothers building to celebrate the trio’s two number one songs, “We Have A Saviour” and “Your Cries Have Awoken The Master.” Mike & Kelly Bowling earned their second consecutive #1 on the Singing News National Radio chart in August 2008 with “Your Cries Have Awoken The Master,” which was written by Sonya Isaacs and Becky Isaacs Bowman. The latest number one was the follow-up to the group’s hit song written by Carroll McGruder “We Have A Saviour,” which claimed the number one spot in December of 2007. Both singles are included on Mike & Kelly Bowling’s debut Canaan Records release Faith To Believe. Word Entertainment distributes the brand new project to stores worldwide and was released on August 12th. “A Miracle Today” is currently playing on radio from the trio.

For booking information on Mike & Kelly Bowling, contact The Harper Agency (615-851-4500, http://www.harperagency.com or e-mail: . For more information on Mike & Kelly, visit http://www.mikeandkellybowling.com . For more information on Canaan Records, log onto http://www.canaanrecords.com

Forgiven has announced that Chris Little of Nashville, TN has joined them as their new vocalist, replacing Jes Adam who has decided to return to college. Born and raised in West Virginia, Chris has been involved in gospel music for many years. He traveled with Tommy Parsons (Squire’s brother) in The New Creations, The Faithmen Quartet and more
recently The Dan Keeton Quartet. Chris will also be utilizing his keyboard skills with the group.

Forgiven, a mixed trio from Lawrenceburg, IN, is made up of husband and wife team, Cloid & Debbie Baker. Cloid and Debbie have many years’ experience in gospel music with a travel schedule, singing in over 200 concerts each year. They will be in the studio soon, with producer John Darrin Rowsey, working on their new independent recording, I Choose To Believe. This project will feature songs by many great writers, including John Darrin Rowsey, Dianne Wilkinson, Chris White and Woody Wright. For more information on Forgiven, visit their home page at: http://www.forgiventrio.com

King’s Cause recently completed vocals for their upcoming project at Gat3 Productions, Charlotte, NC. This is the second project that they have teamed up with Gat3 Studios and Nashville Producer, Donna Beauvais on. The group’s last album, Love, Mercy and Grace was well accepted among those that the group had the opportunity to minister to this past year, as well as industry professionals.

“I am so pleased to be working on this new album with King’s Cause”, remarked Donna Beauvais. “This group has such an amazing spirit, and are so dedicated to their ministry that it makes the work that goes into the project seem effortless”.

Mixing is scheduled to be completed soon and the project is planned to be released this fall. For more information about King’s Cause visit http://www.glennmarkpromotions.com . For more information about this release or Gat3, contact Susan Tabor at Gat3 Productions, or visit http://www.gat3.com

Nashville, TN - The Gospel Music Trust Fund has announced plans to host an informative financial seminar for Southern Gospel Music recording artists and industry leaders attending the National Quartet Convention, which will take place September 8 through 13 at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center in Louisville, KY.

The event, known as Dave Ramsey’s Wealth Coach Program, will be presented by Chris Hogan, Director of the Entertainment & Sports Division of the Dave Ramsey Group. The seminar, will focus on the basics of handling finances, from getting out of debt to building wealth. Hogan works with many professional athletes, as well as country music and Christian recording artists helping them to manage their day-to-day financial issues, as well as making wise spending decisions, planning their financial future and researching major purchases. Dave Ramsey, founder of the Dave Ramsey Group, serves as host of the nationally syndicated radio program, The Dave Ramsey Show, which is heard by nearly three million listeners over 350 radio stations throughout the United States, as well as XM & Sirus Radio.

Ed Harper, President of the Gospel Music Trust Fund, organizer of the seminar says the goal of the event is to assist Gospel groups with various financial issues faced on a daily basis. “The music industry is structured in a way that, oftentimes, artists go through peaks and valleys regarding cash flow,” Harper states. “The topics Chris will discuss will address those issues and enlighten them on ways they can more effectively deal with those issues, both professionally and personally.”

The seminar will take place on Wednesday, September 10 in the South Wing of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center in Room C-101 from 10:00am until 11:30am. To obtain complete information regarding the many activities held in conjuction with the National Quartet Convention visit http://www.natqc.com. To obtain additional information regarding Dave Ramsey’s Wealth Coach Program, visit http://www.daveramsey.com

The Stutzman Family has just finished vocal production on their new project. The latest CD, produced by Donna Beauvais, was recorded at Daywind Studios in Hendersonville, TN. “We are so excited about this new project,” says Ryan Stutzman of The Stutzman Family. “God has really blessed us with some wonderful songs from great writers. We had been looking for over a year for just the right songs and God sent them right on time. They speak to us and we know that God will use them to bless others.”

The new project is expected to be released sometime in September and includes songs by some of gospels best writers like: Dianne Wilkinson, Twila LaBar, Sue Smith, Rebecca Peck and Joel Lindsey to name a few. Their first single from the new project, “The Story of My Life”, will be released on Spin-N-Motion’s September compilation. DJ’s can get the single early by contacting The Stutzman Family thru their web site at http://www.thestutzmanfamily.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Amy Marie Unthank and Chris D. Unthank, administrators of SSE Group, Inc., are proud to announce the talent line up and details regarding the Southern Spin Entertainment Showcase during the week of the National Quartet Convention. The event will feature a number of Southern Spin Entertainment’s artist roster as well as friends of the company.

The SSE showcase will take place on Thursday, September 11, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Canterbury Room at the Executive Inn (East), which sits at the entrance of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

“We love getting a chance to show off our artists,” mentioned Amy Marie Unthank of SSE Group. “We feel like we have some of the best artists currently touring the nation, and we are happy to provide them with a platform in which they can let their ministries be showcased.”

The Southern Spin Entertainment Showcase will feature performances from
2nd Generation
Amazed
Bev McCann
Cerces
Eighth Day
English Family
Faithful Crossings
Gardners
Glovers
Heartland Harmony
Misty Freeman
Pathfinders
Rod Burton
Sharron Kay King
Sunday Edition
Vertical Praise
Wendy Word + forgiven

(Artists are listed in alphabetical order.)

Other Southern Spin Entertainment artists, such as the Dove Brothers, The Freemans, and The Webbs, will be in attendance during the National Quartet Convention, but due to prior commitments, won’t be able to perform on the showcase.

Artist listing and performances are subject to change.

For more information on the showcase, please email or .

Southern Spin Entertainment is one of three divisions of the 501c non-profit organization SSE Group, Inc. The company is operated by siblings Amy Marie Unthank and Chris D. Unthank. The company currently represents artists, companies, and organizations in all genres of Gospel music – including the Dove Brothers, the Freemans, The Webbs (formery the Rick Webb Trio), The Imperials, SoGospelNews.com, Southern Brothers, Beyond the Ashes (formerly Anthony Facello & Crossroad), Misty Freeman, the Diamond Awards, myTeamABC, Johnny Minick, Eighth Day, the Glovers, Sharron Kay King, HisSong, the Prophets Quartet, Wendy Word + forgiven, The Pathfinders, Amazed, and many more.

For more information - visit http://www.southernspin.com

About Southern Spin Entertainment
Southern Spin Entertainment is one of three divisions of the 501c non-profit organization SSE Group, Inc. Southern Spin Entertainment focuses on publicity and marketing for Southern and Country Gospel artists. The company currently represents many artists, companies or organizations in all genres of Gospel music.

For more information on Southern Spin Entertainment, go to http://www.southernspin.com .

SSE Group, Inc.’s three divisions include Southern Spin Entertainment, SSE Design Group, and Southern Spin Radio. SSE Group currently owns and operates Glorious Creations, SGBlogNews.com, and TheBridgeLive.net.

For more information on SSE Group, go to http://www.ssegrouponline.com.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Popular Southern Gospel trio Eighth Day spent last week in the studio recording tracks for the group’s upcoming new studio release.

The as-of-yet untitled project is being produced by Monty Lane Allen. Mark Capps is serving as engineer for the new recording. Tracks were recorded at The Soundshop in Nashville, Tennessee.

The new recording features some of Nashville’s top studio players – including Kevin Grantt, Gary “Bud” Smith, Mike Sever, Robert Arthur, and Seth Rausch.

Scott Robinson of Eighth Day said, “We are so excited to begin work on this new recording. We have chosen some really fantastic songs, and we can’t wait to start using them at our concerts and services.”

Eighth Day has chosen songs from respected songwriters like Monty Allen Lane, Robert Arthur, Christie Gilliam Capps, Jeff Bates, and group member Scott Robinson.

“This is going to be our best record to date,” mentioned Joni Robinson of Eighth Day. “Getting to record a new record is always an exciting time for our group! We can’t wait to be able to let people hear these songs!”

The group is recording vocals this week. More information on the new recording will be released shortly.

Eighth Day recently scored their first Top 20 hit. Their current single, “Rolled Away Stone”, will sit at #18 on the upcoming September 2008 issue of the Singing News Top 80 chart.

“Rolled Away Stone” is the latest from a string of hits from the group’s last release, Headin’ Home. All four previous singles released from that critically acclaimed project have broken the Top 40 on the Singing News Magazine’s Top 80 chart, the industry’s most recognized chart.

Eighth Day encourages everyone who is attending the National Quartet Convention next month to visit them at booth #1128-1130. The group will be participating in Monday’s Featured Artist Showcase from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in East Hall A-B in the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center. The group will also be featured on the Southern Spin Entertainment Showcase on Thursday from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Canterbury Room of the Executive Inn.

More information on Eighth Day can be found at http://www.eighthdaymusic.com .

About Eighth Day
Eighth Day is a popular trio based out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. The group is made up of husband and wife team Scott & Joni Robinson and newest member Dave Mann. The group has quickly established itself as one of the top new talents in Gospel music today. Their fresh and progressive sound has been described as a little bit country, a touch of bluegrass, and a whole lot of Gospel!

Jimmy and Jennifer Layne, from the group Back Home, would like to announce they are expecting a baby. The due date is March 19th. They have also completed their vocals and background vocals for their first CD project with Lamp Music. Hopeful date of availability of project will be late September. Please pray for great health for them as they continue to travel and fulfil dates.

http://www.backhomesings.com

Heritage Communications' Jeff O'Neal's fifteen year old son, Russell, is scheduled for surgery Monday at 8:00 am for a cancerous brain tumor.

Jeff O'Neal stated, "The surgery will last around 4 hours. They have said that it is cancer and it could be 2 types. One can respond to cemo and one doesn't, I'm already have peace that the Lord will take care of this and HE WILL BE HEALED."

Russell can receive email through the Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC. Visit: http://www.levinechildrenshospital.org , and click on "email a child." Please pray for the entire O'Neal family.