3 For 1 In The Studio June 24, 2003
After waiting almost two years, 3 For 1 is back in the studio working on not one, but two new recordings on Son Sound Platinum Records. June 2nd and 3rd the group worked with great musicians such as Jeff Collins, Tony Creasman, Kevin Grantt and David Johnson on their track session for "Shine Where You Live," scheduled to be released the end of summer. Holly and Brad shared that they think this will be the best 3 for 1 recording to date. Also, June 11th 3 for 1 started working on an acoustic recording. Jim Leonard, baritone for the group, states, "We are excited to try and capture Southern Gospel Music in traditional acoustic style." Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder bass player, Mark Fain played on the session and even provided a piece of history for the recording. One of the original stage mics from the old Ryman Auditorium was used to record some of the sounds on this recording. Mark was joined by fellow musicians, David Johnson, Richard Putnam and Donnie Marshall on track day. Both projects were produced

Pictured left to right (top picture): June 11th recording: Scott Barnett, Holly Robinson-Blanton, David Johnson, Richard Putnam, Donnie Marshall, Mark Fain and Brad Hudson.

Pictured left to right (bottom picture): June 2-3 recording: Glenn Tabor, Jeff Collins, Holly Robinson-Blanton, Brad Hudson, Tony Creasman, Kevin Grantt, Scott Barnett, David Johnson and Jim Leonard.

Singing News Fan Award finalists announced June 16, 2003
BOONE, NC(Singing News) - The ballots are in! Here are the results of the first round of voting in the annual Singing News Fan Awards. Subscribers of Singing News will be voting from this list that will appear in the August issue of Singing News. Winners will be announced at the National Quartet Convention during the Singing News Fan Awards on Thursday, September 11, 2003.
Please note that all nominees are listed in alphabetical order.

2003 Singing News Fan Awards Finalists



Soloist
Bishop, Mark
Bowling, Mike
Combs, Michael
Parker, Ivan
Talley, Kirk

Songwriter
Crabb, Gerald
Cross, Phil
Griffin, Rodney
Parsons, Squire
Rowland, Kyla

Alto
Easter, Sheri (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Hopper, Connie (Hoppers)
Penhollow, Terah (Crabb Family)
Stuffle, Libbi (Perrys)
Talley, Debra (Talley Trio)

Soprano
Bowling, Kelly (Crabb Family)
Fortner, Connie (McKameys)
Gooch, Karen Peck (Karen Peck & New River)
Greene, TaRanda (Greenes)
Hopper, Kim (Hoppers)

Pianist
Bennett, Roger (Legacy Five)
Eleton, Channing (Gold City)
Ishee, Andrew (Palmetto State Quartet)
Stice, Jeff (Integrity Quartet)
Varnado, Stewart (Dixie Echoes)

Musician
Crabb, Aaron (Crabb Family)
Fortner, Roger (McKameys)
Free, Ricky (Brian Free & Assurance)
Lovelace, Tim (Tim & Mary Alice Lovelace)
Murphy, Dennis (Kingdom Heirs)

Bass
Dustin, Glenn (Legacy Five)
Holcomb, Mike (Inspirations)
McDonald, Gene (Florida Boys)
Riley, Tim (Gold City)
Stuffle, Tracy (Perrys)

Baritone
Dove, Eric (Dove Brothers Quartet)
Griffin, Rodney (Greater Vision)
Howard, Scott (Legacy Five)
Shelnut, Jr, Randy (Dixie Echoes)
Trammell, Mark (Mark Trammell Trio)

Lead
Dove, McCray (Dove Brothers Quartet)
Fowler, Scott (Legacy Five)
Rice, Arthur (Kingdom Heirs)
Wilburn, Jonathan (Gold City)
Wolfe, Gerald (Greater Vision)

Tenor
Free, Brian (Brian Free & Assurance)
Haase, Ernie (Signature Sound Quartet)
Jarman, Tony (Legacy Five)
Parrack, Jay (Gold City)
Waldroup, Jason (Greater Vision)

Band
Crabb Family Band
Dixie Echoes Band
Gold City Band
Isaacs Band
Kingdom Heirs Band

Traditional Male Quartet
Brian Free & Assurance
Dove Brothers Quartet
Gold City
Inspirations
Legacy Five

Traditional Mixed Quartet
Crabb Family
Hoppers
Hoskins Family
McKameys
Perrys

Trio
Booth Brothers
Greater Vision
Karen Peck & New River
Talley Trio
Whisnants

Female Singer
Bowling, Kelly (Crabb Family)
Easter, Sheri (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Gooch, Karen Peck (Karen Peck & New River)
Hopper, Kim (Hoppers)
Stuffle, Libbi (Perrys)

Male Singer
Crabb, Jason (Crabb Family)
Fowler, Scott (Legacy Five)
Free, Brian (Brian Free & Assurance)
Parker, Ivan
Wolfe, Gerald (Greater Vision)

Young Artist
Crabb, Adam (Crabb Family)
Inman, Scott (Integrity Quartet)
Shelnut, Jr, Randy (Dixie Echoes)
Talley, Lauren (Talley Trio)
Thompson, Amber (Nelons)

Favorite Song
God Handled It All (Gold City)
God Sits On High (Carolina Boys)
He Is To Me (Greater Vision)
I Can, I Have, I Will (Perrys)
I Found Grace (Legacy Five)
Lord, Lead Me On (Dixie Echoes)
Mary Knew (Brian Free & Assurance)
The Walk (Crabb Family)
We Need To Thank God (Inspirations)
What You Took From Me (Whisnants)

Favorite Album
Changed Forever (Perrys)
London (Legacy Five)
Quartets (Greater Vision)
So Close To Home (Brian Free & Assurance)
The Walk (Crabb Family)

Favorite Video
Anthem Of Praise (Whisnants)
Hometown (McKameys)
Live At First Baptist Atlanta (Greater Vision)
Live At The Palace (Greater Vision/Legacy Five)
London (Legacy Five)

Horizon Group
Integrity Quartet
Mark Trammell Trio
New Found Road
Signature Sound Quartet
Sons Family

Horizon Individual
Anderson, Doug (Signature Sound Quartet)
Atkinson, LaBreeska (Ricky Atkinson & Compassion)
Hosterman, Jodi (Kingdom Heirs)
Jackson, Jason (Karen Peck & New River)
Smith, Andrew (Dove Brothers Quartet)

Small Market DJ
Foster, Richard - KWNS, Winnsboro, TX
Holland, Amy - WRJL, Eva, AL
Tittle, Phil - KPAE, Port Allen, LA
Whisnant, John - WCIS, Morganton, NC
Wishon, Jon - WWWC, Wilkesboro, NC

Medium Market DJ
Britt, Noah - WOSM, Ocean Springs, MS
Park, Bruce - KAOW, Fort Smith, AR
Richardson, Gary - WJCR, Upton, KY
Roberts, Bill - WLWI, Montgomery, AL
Snavely, Jim - WBTX, Broadway, VA

Large Market DJ
Baucom, Rodney - WXRI, Winston-Salem, NC
Davis, Jack - KSKY, Irving, TX
Hicks, Ken - WUSY, Chattanooga, TN
Wallace, Wayne - WDJC, Birmingham, AL
Wells, John - WCGW, Versailles, KY

Syndicated Radio Program
America's Gospel Countdown
Celebration USA
Sunday In America
The Gospel Greats
The Old Gospel Ship

If you would like to subscribe to The Singing News magazine,click here!

Whisnants celebrate number one song June 16, 2003

(Press Release) - The Whisnants celebrated their number one song, "What You Took From Me," this week in their hometown of Morganton, NC. There were plenty of guests on hand to help them celebrate. A few that were able to attend were Danny Jones of the Singing News (the host for the event), Mylon and Wendy Hayes (Hayes Family), former group member, Curt Davis (The Perrys) and his wife Carol, Rodney Griffin, Jeff's brother (and former member) John Whisnant, Jeff & Susan's parents and many relatives, several DJ's and also many concert promoters, pastors and church music directors from around the country.

For Radio Information on The Whisnants call Lighthouse Promotions at: 423-357-7785. or www.lighthousepromo.com or www.whisnants.com
Photo: (L-R): The Whisnants, Rodney Griffin (songwriter), Mylon Hayes (Producer), and Shane Ferrell (Lighthouse Promotions)

New Speer Revival working on new recording June 16, 2003

NASHVILLE, TN(Press Release) - New Speer Revival began work on their second project with producer Ben Speer. Group manager and baritone Marc Speer comments, I m so excited to be working with Uncle Ben. He s been making records longer than anyone I know so if he s involved in a project, you know it s going to be good. Not only do we have the privilege of working with Ben but we ve got our hands on songs from writers like Gerald Crabb and Joel Lindsey as well as continuing the tradition of recording some of the old Speer Family classics. I believe we will have something for everyone.

The release for this new NSR project is scheduled for late summer, 2003. Current New Speer Revival members are Marc Speer, Karen Apple (soprano), Doug Young (bass) and Jackie Harling (alto).

Additional resources: www.newspeerrevival.com

For more information: John Mathis/The Avid Group, 615-331-0900,
jmathis@theavidgrouponline.com
Photo:(L-R): Doug Young, Marc Speer, Ben Speer, Karen Apple and Jackie Harling.

Jake Hess has heart attack June 16, 2003
Last Wednesday, June 11th, after having a new pacemaker/defibulator put in, Jake Hess, had a heart attack early the next morning. He had emergency surgery where a blocked graph was repaired. Doctors believe this may have been the legendary singers problem since February. He remains in ICU where his kidney function is almost non-existent. The family continues to be supported by your prayers and thoughts.
Jake Hess was one of the original members of the Statesmen Quartet during their heyday back in the 1940's and 50's. He has been a regular on the Gaither Homecoming's and for the past several years has make limited solo appearances.

Naomi & Segos named second busiest touring act June 4, 2003
Centerville, GA (Press Release) - Christian Concert Authority, the world's largest Christian concert search engine, has named Naomi and The Segos as the second busiest touring act in any genre of Christian music for the week ending June 6, 2003.

According to their website, www.ccauthority.com, on their Hot 25 List, Naomi and The Segos jumped from #21 to #2, a total of 19 places in one week, with a total of 113 concerts scheduled through the end of their current tour, second only to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee's Integrity Quartet, with a total of 137 concerts scheduled.

Scott Spangler, baritone singer and manager for this Centerville, Georgia based group comments, "Our group is a mixed quartet and we sing traditional Southern Gospel music, and we do stay quite busy on the road singing the music we think is the greatest music in the world. We don't do this for awards or acclaim, but to tell people the plan of salvation through our music, and to uplift and entertain as well. We have not had a song on the Southern Gospel music charts in many years, however, the Lord has blessed Naomi with longevity, and we are still out here performing an average of 250 concerts each year throughout the United States and Canada. A lot of the renewed interest in our group has come from Naomi's exposure on the Bill Gaither Homecoming videos. We are just extremely grateful and honored that the Christian and Southern Gospel music public still love Naomi enough to have us appear in their concerts and church services. God is good, and we plan to keep singing and telling people about Him until He returns".

Other Southern Gospel artists on the Hot 25 included: Jeff and Sheri Easter, the Crabb Family, Crossway Quartet, Gold City, Dr. Jerry Goff, The Anchormen, Michael Combs, The Pfeifers, Dove Brothers Quartet, Jody Brown Indian Family, and the Palmetto State Quartet.

November will mark the start of Naomi and The Segos 45th year in full-time Gospel Music/Christian Entertainment. They record for Son Sound Music Group's Platinum label. Naomi is a 2001 inductee into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. Their concerts are now scheduled through the newly formed Angelic Talent Agency based in Atlanta, Georgia. To schedule this legendary group, contact Robbin Poole at 678-772-6707.

CC Authority's Hot 25 chart is determined by the total number of scheduled appearences of artists in any genre of Christian music, excluding duplicate scheduled performances by artists in the same market. The CC Authority's Hot 25 is the most respected performance chart used by professionals in the Christian music industry.

For more information on the Christian Concert Authority's Hot 25, visit their website, www.ccauthority.com For information on Naomi and The Segos, visit their website, www.naomiandthesegos.com

Jake Hess re-admitted to hospital June 4, 2003
After returning home last weekend, doctors have re-admitted Jake Hess to a Columbus, GA hosptial for more observation. The family thanks you for your continued uplifting prayers