Exciting Times For Naomi And The Segos April 29, 2003
Press Release- Legendary gospel music group Naomi and The Segos are proud to make the following announcement to gospel music fans everywhere.

According to S.G.M.A. Hall of Fame member Naomi Sego, "This is such an exciting time for our group. We recently made our first appearence for Frank Arnold in Tulsa, Oklahoma and were well received. November of 2003 will start my 45th year of singing full-time, and we are planning on taking our type of music to markets we have either never been to or places we haven't visited in years. Our new project, my 71st, will be available in mid-summer from Son Sound Music Group. It was produced by Danny Funderburk, and were going to call it "Full Circle". The reason we chose that name is because when I first started singing, the Sego Brothers and Naomi conisisted of me singing alto, my late husband James sang tenor, and his brothers W.R. and Lamar sang baritone and bass respectively. I am proud to announce that we have hired our friend Ralph Earnest from Cleveland, Tennessee become our group's first bass singer in many, many years. We will be taking Ralph into the studio on May 21st to add his voice to our project. So you see, this truly is a "Full Circle" movement for our group. Southern Gospel music has changed so much over the years as an industry, but one thing that has never changed is the message and the saving power of the music we sing. It is our hope and desire that with bringing Ralph on board to be our bass singer, we can develop a broader range of people to come and hear the message in our music. God is so good to us, and I am thankful he has given me the health to do this for going on 45 years full-time now. I am blessed".

Naomi and The Segos are still one of the busiest acts in any genre of Christian music with over 250 dates scheduled for 2003 alone. For more information on this legendary group, or to schedule a concert on one of the few remaining dates available in 2003, visit their website at http://www.naomiandthesegos.com, or call their office at 478-953-5261.

Crabb Family to return to Grand Ole Opry April 29, 2003
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn.-The Grand Ole Opry has enjoyed some great performances by the Crabb Family in the past few months. Jason, Kelly, Aaron, Adam and Terah have garnered unprecedented response from their appearances on the 75-year-old production in February and March, and are scheduled to return Saturday night, May 3rd, for two performances. Fans in the Nashville area are invited to attend and show their support of the Opry's inclusion of Christian music. Tickets may be purchased at www.opry.com or by calling 615.871.6779.

SGMA postpones Harmony Awards until 2004 April 29, 2003
After careful deliberation, the Executive Committee of the Southern Gospel Music Guild has decided to postpone the inaugural Harmony Awards until May of 2004. "It was the Guild's desire to produce a quality industry awards program with the highest possible standards of production and credibility that would be a benefit to the entire Southern Gospel Music industry," states Southern Gospel Music Guild President Clarke Beasley. "We knew that it would be a challenge to accomplish this in the amount of time we had when we decided to initiate these awards early this year, especially with the challenges of securing a venue. The constraints of time and artist schedules are such that we feel the quality of the Harmony Awards would be compromised by producing the show this year."

Unlike other awards given in the Southern Gospel arena, the Harmony Awards are the only ones where Southern Gospel Industry professionals have an opportunity to recognize what they consider the "best" for that year.

The Southern Gospel Music Guild does plan to launch the inaugural Harmony Awards next May in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on the day following the Southern Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame induction. This will give the Guild time to plan the caliber of show they believe the awards deserve and give the multiple artists that would be involved time to plan the awards into their schedules. Details about the Harmony Awards and all other activities of the Southern Gospel Music Guild can be obtained on their web-site at www.sgmg.org.

SGMA 2003 Hall of Famers named April 18, 2003
(Press Release) - The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is pleased to announce the class of 2003 for the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame: Dwight Brock, Martin Cook, Howard Goodman, Fred C Maples, John Alexander McClung, Otis McCoy, Jacob Bazzel Mull, Homer Rodeheaver, Marion Snider and Bobby Strickland. These 10 will be honored in a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Tribute Concert on Tuesday, May 13 at the Governor's Palace in Pigeon Forge, TN. These inductees will be permanently enshrined at the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum located in the Dollywood entertainment park in Pigeon Forge, TN.

The evening festivities will also include a Tribute Concert by the top names in Southern Gospel Music. There will be performances by Dixie Melody Boys, Dove Brothers Quartet, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Florida Boys, Gold City, Greater Vision, Hoppers, Inspirations, Kingdom Heirs, Karen Peck and New River and the Specks.

Tickets for this spectacular event are available by calling the Southern Gospel Music Association at 865-908-4040 or by mailing your request to SGMA, PO Box 6729, Sevierville, TN 37864. Ticket prices are $50 artist circle seats and $20 general admission seats. The event will start at 6:30pm. The doors will open at 6:00pm.

For more information on the Southern Gospel Music Association, please visit our website at www.sgma.org.

Georgia Gospel Music Convention moves to new location April 18, 2003
(Press Release) - The directors of the Georgia Gospel Music Convention (GGMC) have moved the annual convention to the Central Square Center in Douglas, GA. For the past three years the convention has been held in Ashburn, GA, however Douglas has a strong base of Gospel Music supporters as well as very strong Gospel radio (WULS).

The two day convention will be held June 13-14, and feature some of the southeast's most popular groups. On Saturday, July 14, there will be a seminar on group promotions and management.

Please email sggmc@hotmail.com for more information on the convention and seminar.

2003 Dove Award presented April 11, 2003
In the area of Southern, Bluegrass and Country Gospel the following awards were given:

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year “Don't You Wanna Go?”

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year “Walkin' and Talkin'

Country Recorded Song of the Year “The River's Gonna Keep On Rolling”; Legacy...Hymns & Faith; Amy Grant; Vince Gill

Southern Gospel Album of the Year A Crabb Collection; The Crabb Family

Bluegrass Album of the Year 50th Anniversary Celebration; Lewis Family

Country Album of the Year Rise And Shine; Randy Travis

For a complete list of all Dove Award winners, visit the following website: http://www4.doveawards.com/winners.html

Former Oak Ridge Boys Noel Fox passes away April 11, 2003
Noel Fox was one of the Oak Ridge Boys' most beloved bass singers passed away April 10th, 2003. He had suffered a massive stroke several day earlier. Noel was with the Oak Ridge Boys from 1969-1972 while they were still full time in Southern Gospel Music. He sang on Oak hits such as, on such hits as "Jesus Is Coming Soon", "I Know", "House of Gold", and "Wings of A Dove."

Noel replaced Herman Harper when Herman decided he wanted to come off the road to be with his family. Before joining the Oaks Noel sang in the Tennesseans Quartet with Dale Shelnut. He joined the Harvesters Quartet in 1964.

Douglas Noel Fox was born October 31, 1939 in Columbia, Tennessee. He was the son of T.P. and Elizabeth Fox. Noel is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.

Singing Echoes release new project April 8, 2003
Lamp Music Group of Whitesburg, GA is pleased to announce the release of the latest project for The Singing Echoes of Cleveland, TN.

The brand new project is entited, "In His Service" and contains several exciting original compositions and a few songs that we recorded early on in their 35 year history in Gospel Music.

Listeners have grown to love their enthusiasm for the Lord and for Gospel music and this proves to be their best project to date.

Lamp Music President, Mike Pillow, has engineered and mixed their projects for the past decade. He had this to say of the new project, "It has been a pleasure to work with SE over the past 10 years, they are wonderful Christians that believe every word they sing. The Singing Echoes are definitely known for their own unique style - - this project contains their classic sound, yet it turns the corner in their ministry to a new and fresh direction . . . this will be a must have for any Gospel fan!"

For more information about the Singing Echoes please contact http://www.lampmusic.com

Testimony completes vocals on new recording April 4, 2003
(Press Release)
The talented trio, Testimony completed their vocals on their new recording with Son Sound Platinum Records. Vocals were produced by 3 for 1’s, Brad Hudson and the session was engineered by Scott Barnett. Guest appearances by Chris & Audra Collins of The Griffiths and Holly Robinson-Blanton & Brad Hudson of 3 For 1was made on the cut “I Sing”. The album is awaiting overdubs by Milton Smith and will be in the mixing stage soon. For more information on Testimony visit their new website at www.testimonytrio.com.

3 For 1 Recognized by World Vision April 4, 2003
(Press Release) 3 For 1 Ministries has been artist associates for a child sponsership organization called World Vision for about two years now. Holly gives us a little more details, “What we do is present an opportunity to our audiences to literally change a kid’s world. By folks donating a small offering every month, they provide medical attention, clean water and schooling to children in need all over the world.” World Vision recently presented 3 for 1with an award for sponsoring over 300 children last year alone. If you would like to help a child in need please contact 3 for 1 at 704/868-4807 or email them at email3for1@aol.com. Visit their website at www.3for1.com.

Caption: Mike Robinson, vice president of Son Sound Music Group present Holly Blanton & Jim Leonard of 3 for 1 with their Artist Associate Award from World Vision.

Son Sound Group signs Gospel Jubilee Singers (no affiliation) April 4, 2003

(Press Release) Son Sound Music Group announces the signing of Rev. Johnnie Holloway & the Gospel Jubilee Singers (no affiliation to The Gospel Jubilee radio program) to the Son Sound Platinum label. The Gospel Jubilee Singers were founded in the late 1940's by Edward Holloway and his brothers, sister and brothers-in-law. This family group ministered throughout the state of North Carolina and was always well received. Brother Holloway sometimes had a little helper attached to his leg. Little Johnnie Holloway would join them on stage holding nervously to his father's leg, singing at an early age.
When the founding members started families and began migrating to other parts of the country, Brother Holloway replaced them with a new generation of family members and began recording the group in the early 1960's. The Gospel Jubilee Singers recorded several records, had a radio broadcast and brought the gospel to many areas of the eastern United States. The group had the opportunity to perform on both Christian and secular stages with such artists as The Soul Stirrers, The Spirit of Memphis, Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, Dionne Warwick and many others. Several national projects were recorded in the 1970's and 1980's. In 1994 a new generation of singers led by Rev. Johnnie Holloway and Rev. Spencer Montague revived the ministry of The Gospel Jubilee Singers. The group presently consists of Rev. Johnnie Holloway, his two sons, Sean and Joel Holloway, Rev. Montague and his two sons, Tim and Jon Montague and Andre Curtis.

Caption: The Gospel Jubilee Singers with Bill Robinson and Mike Robinson of Son Sound music Group

Dove Brothers Qt. to record one-of-a-kind song April 3, 2003
(Southerngospelnews.com) Have you ever wished you could get a Southern Gospel quartet to record a song just for you?

For some lucky listener of Paul Heil's "The Gospel Greats" syndicated radio program, the Dove Brothers plan to do exactly that.

On "The Gospel Greats" programs that air nationwide the weekends of April 5/6 and 5/13, the Dove Brothers quartet will invite listeners to send in the name of a favorite classic quartet song from the past - perhaps sung by a legendary Southern Gospel quartet such as the Blackwood Brothers or the Statesmen. That is the style of song and singing that has become the Dove Brothers' trademark sound.

One listener's entry will be drawn at random April 21st. The Dove Brothers will then record that song especially for the winner. In fact, a special CD of the song will be made for the winner and that will be the only copy of that recording ever made!

According to McCray Dove, they originally intended to do the contest on their web site, but then got a better idea. "We have a lot of people who come to our web site, but I believed it would get a bigger audience and give more people an opportunity to be a part of it if we could somehow get it on the radio. I said there's only one name that comes to my mind that can do that, and that's Paul Heil and 'The Gospel Greats.'"

Heil said McCray Dove didn't have to twist his arm very hard to get the contest on the air: "We're always looking for new and interesting things for our listeners, and when McCray called with this idea I knew it was something our listeners would love. After all, it's a chance for a true one-of-a-kind collector's item."

The winner's CD will be signed by the Dove Brothers and will be the only copy in existence of the recording. In fact, Dove says even they won't keep a copy, and, emphasizing the one-of-a- kind nature of the winner's CD, "we would never, ever record that song again."

Dove says comments from their fans actually sparked the idea. "Every night people would come up to the table and would say, 'y'all ought to do this particular song that I remember the Rebels did.' Or, we'd hear someone say, 'you ought to do this song that I remember the Blackwoods doing or the Statesmen.'"

Paul Heil's "The Gospel Greats" program airs on more than 200 radio stations each week throughout the United States and in Canada. Details of the giveaway will also be found on the program's web site, www.thegospelgreats.com, by April 5th.

The Dove Brothers, who have been voted "Male Quartet of the Year" by the Southern Gospel Music Association and readers of Singing News magazine, are represented by the Beckie Simmons Agency in Nashville, TN. ( www.bsaworld.com ).