03/29/2007
DEREK WEBB PREPARES TO RELEASE THE RINGING BELL IN MAY; USA TODAY TALKS WITH WEBB ABOUT FAITH, POLITICS & MORE
NASHVILLE, TN.March 29, 2007.Beloved singer/songwriter and well-known controversialist, INO Recording artist Derek Webb is releasing his fourth solo studio project, The Ringing Bell, on May 1. With guaranteed confrontational and challenging lyrics, Webb provides his audience with a deep theological approach to today’s issues with great music.”I do not do things in moderation,” Webb admits. “I think The Ringing Bell is a record about peace on the whole.be it literally, conceptually, personally, nationally, or even spiritually.” “I felt like there was more to say about the subject,” he says. “This is too important of a moment historically to not say more about the idea of peace. It’s right in my face at all times if I claim to be at all concerned with anything that Jesus ever said.”
The Ringing Bell, as the title suggests, is a collection that sounds clearly through the noise of the day, beckoning some, and warning others. It’s a call to meaningful conversations and it’s a great time. It injects songs into the cultural bloodstream that will move listeners to reflection and action while moving their feet.
Webb hopes this record is a bit of a surprise. “Inadvertently I feel like I have somehow mysteriously made my most commercial record,” Webb laughs. “It’s definitely my most accessible one. I feel like it brings together the best elements of what people have liked about my music up to this point.”
Fresh on the heels of wrapping up the project, Webb was recently featured in the March 26th edition of USA Today, along with singer Rickie Lee Jones, in a two-column spread regarding the twisted ties of politics and religion. In the article, Webb comments, “I hope to tell people what I really see when I look at the world.it’s the only medium I have, and it’s as good a place as any to start.” To view this article in it’s entirety, go to http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/jones-webb.htm?csp=34.
For more information regarding Derek Webb log onto www.derekwebb.com or www.myspace.com/derekwebb .
03/22/2007
MUSIC LEGEND SANDI PATTY IS “FALLING FORWARD” INTO LIFE. PATTY RELEASES ALBUM AND COMPANION BOOK IN APRIL; PERFORMS AT CARNEGIE HALL, KENNEDY CENTER, WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCES, HER VERY OWN BROADWAY SHOW AND MORE…
NASHVILLE, TN.March 22, 2007. In a 28-year plus career, INO recording artist Sandi Patty has won 39 Dove Awards, five Grammy Awards, four Billboard Music Awards and in 2004, became a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. She’s released 24 albums over the last 27 years, selling more than 11 million units. RIAA has certified three platinum and five gold of her recordings.Patty has performed in front of four presidents, appeared on the Dr. Phil show, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Carnegie Hall and more. Sandi is stronger than ever as she releases her 25th career recording Falling Forward along with a companion book of the same name April 10. In just this year alone, Patty will perform in over 27 Women of Faith conferences, star in her very own three-night Broadway series, “Sandi Patty’s Broadway,” perform at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center and will also be the voice of Helda in the 2008 release of The Easter Story by Animated Family Films and much more. The April 10 release titled, Falling Forward is a collection of both well-known and new songs of worship, leading the listener on a journey of redemption, restoration and the encompassing sufficiency of God. The songs on this record come from recent life events including the joy of seeing her eldest daughter’s marriage to the painful loss of her stepchildren’s mother from cancer. “For me, falling forward is such a metaphor for life, the very act of falling forward into our Father’s arms, not backwards and alone,” says Patty. “I want to talk about a life on the other side of the fall-the joy, the beginning again.” Simultaneous to the album’s release, Thomas Nelson Inc. will release a companion book about God’s continued mercy and grace. Scheduled to appear at over 27 Women of Faith Conferences in this year alone, Patty will perform favorites as well as new songs. She hit the road with the women on March 15 in San Antonio, TX to kick off the conferences. On the heels of finishing her latest album, Patty joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra to perform many popular favorites in four Northwest Airlines Pops Series concerts titled “Sandi Patty’s Broadway.” The series ran March 9-11 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, IN where she performed in front of sold out audiences. This was Patty’s tenth appearance with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and surprised the audience singing a duet with husband, Don Peslis. Performing at Carnegie Hall, Patty will join the New York Pops Orchestra for their 24th birthday celebration on April 30 at 7 P.M. Performing along with Patty is Rock and Roll artist Neal Sedaka and co-hosting the event will be actor Dennis Leary. Patty is also scheduled to perform during the Bradley Prizes at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C on May 3. The awards are funded by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, which, according to its mission statement, are devoted to “strengthening American democratic capitalism and the institutions, principles and values that sustain and nurture it.” In February, Patty performed during the chapel service for the 27th annual NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas, NV. Performing for more than 100 NBA executives, players, family members and pastors, Patty was named the “Michael Jordan of Contemporary Christian Music” by the Las Vegas Sun. For more details on all of Patty’s events and her April releases, log onto www.sandipatty.com or http://www.myspace.com/sandipatty
03/21/2007
Amongst sold out tour dates, MercyMe to sing National Anthem for Samsung 500 Nascar Nextel Cup Series. Performance to be televised nationally on FOX.
* Amongst sold out tour dates on the spring leg of their “Coming Up to Breathe” national tour, multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated band MercyMe will sing the National Anthem at the Samsung 500 in their hometown of Dallas at the Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 15th. The performance will be nationally televised on FOX live at 1:30pm EST. * Currently mid-way through the tour, MercyMe has seen 72% of their shows sell out, including Portland, Spokane, Santa Barbara, Fresno (2 shows), Albuquerque, Dallas, and Milwaukee. * “Hold Fast” remains in the Top 5 at Christian AC radio after giving the band its 8th consecutive #1. “Hold Fast” has recently gone for adds at the Mainstream AC format and is presently New and Active on the chart. “Bring The Rain” will be the band’s 3rd single from their hit COMING UP TO BREATHE project, impacting on Christian AC and INSPO formats on 3/23. * Since their debut in 2001, Grammy-nominated, American Music Award and multiple GMA Music Award winners MercyMe have sold over 4 million units in CD and DVD sales, including MercyMe’s Almost There, nearly triple platinum, their 2003 project Spoken For which is approaching platinum sales, the RIAA Gold certification for UNDONE and the MercyMe Live DVD, as well as their latest, Coming Up to Breathe, which entered the Billboard Top 100 at No. 13. In addition to eight No. 1 Christian radio singles, MercyMe has garnered four consecutive mainstream radio hits with “I Can Only Imagine”, (No. 4 AC/top 25 on Top 40/Hot AC), “Here With Me” (No. 4 AC), “Homesick” (top 10 AC), “So Long Self,” (top 15 AC), and now have released their brand new single for the format, “Hold Fast.” *With their multi-platinum sales, and one of the industry’s most notable talents, MercyMe has sold out venues including Radio City Music Hall and received media attention from the likes of The Tonight Show, CNN, Fox New Channel’s Fox & Friends, ABC News, CBS’ Early Show, and has been seen on the pages of Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Billboard, and more. www.mercyme.org