|
 09-14-07
SCOOP-
Louisville, KY - No one can argue that the National Quartet Convention is a Gospel Music lover ’s paradise. Musical showcases and concerts fill six days and nights, where music rings from the rafters of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center for at least 15 hours each day, making it Southern Gospel Music’s premier event; however, those who attend each year will attest to the fact that this prestigious happening is about a lot more than just music. For some it’s the one time of the year when business associates make deals face to face, rather than through emails, text messages, phone calls and other modern means afforded by advanced technology. Yet amidst the hustle and bustle that always takes place throughout the week, friendships are rekindled and the true message in the music rings loud and clear.
That message can be heard in one-on-one conversations, Award acceptance speeches, song introductions and through the music itself. That message is clearly conveyed in each Bible study, chapel service, showcase spectacular and evening concert. “It’s the message that makes this Convention unique,” states NQC Executive Vice President Clarke Beasley. In fact, as Beasley attests, one of the highlights of the week came in the form of a surprise guest, who never sang a note. “Jim Cymbala, Senior Pastor of the famed Brooklyn Tabernacle, and the Brooklyn Tab Singers were featured in one of the afternoon showcases today (Friday). Pastor Cymbala showed up with a surprise guest. This guest was a man who had been sentenced to life in prison 50 years ago. During his time in prison, back in 1964, he accepted Christ. His amazing Christian testimony earned him the name of ‘Bishop,’ which is the name that he continues to go
by today. As a result of his testimony and the efforts of Pastor Cymbala and the Brooklyn Tabernacle, recently his life sentence was commuted by the governor of Louisiana, and he was released to the custody of Brooklyn Tabernacle. He is 73 years old and is enjoying freedom for the first time since the early 1950s. His testimony was tremendous, and may have been THE moment of the week thus far.”
Truly, the National Quartet Convention is about more than just the music. It ’s all about the message - the message that continues to live on. This year marks 50 years for this one particular Convention and it is still going strong.
 09-14-07
SCOOP-
This year's Diamond Awards recipients have been announed: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Eva Mae LeFevre. LOU HILDRETH AWARD: Jim Black. J.D. SUMNER LIVING LEGEND AWARD: Claude Hopper. GROUP OF THE YEAR AWARD: The Hoppers. SOLOIST OF THE YEAR: Gerald Crabb. MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Dean Hopper. SHARON SMITH AWARD: Paul Heil. PAUL HEIL AWARD: Chuck Peters. TRIO OF THE YEAR: Alan Harris Family. DUET OF THE YEAR: Amazed. SUNRISE AWARD: Faith 3. ANTHONY BURGER INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: Roger Bennet. CHRISTIAN COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR: Mark Lowry. SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Gerald Crabb. FAVORITE ARTIST WEBSITE: Brian Free & Assurance (brianfreeandassurance.com) FAVORITE INDUSTRY WEBSITE: SoGospel News (sogospelnews.com) FEMALE VOCALIST: Kim Hopper. VIDEO OF THE YEAR AWARD: "Live in NY City" -Brian Free & Assurance. ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "The Ride" -The Hoppers SONG OF THE YEAR: "He Saw it All" -The Booth Brothers. Congratulations to all of this year's winners!
 09-13-07
SCOOP-
Louisville, KY - The SGMG (Southern Gospel Music Guild) recognized industry leader and author Joe Moscheo with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honor at a special VIP reception held during the 50th Anniversary of the National Quartet Convention. Individuals on hand to present this honor were a group of industry friends and colleagues, including Gospel Music Association President John Styll, NQC President Les Beasley, NQC Executive Vice President Clarke Beasley, former long-time Imperials’ member Armond Morales and Judy Nelon, SGMG Vice President and organizer of the event.
Moscheo began his Gospel music career playing piano for The Harmoneers and The Prophets before later becaming a part of the Elvis Presley story as a member of The Imperials Quartet, who toured with the late musical icon. Moscheo recently reorganized the popular group to perform at Elvis tributes.
Moscheo coordinated and co-produced He Touched Me: The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley video project with Bill Gaither. Most recently he authored The Gospel Side of Elvis, a book detailing Elvis’ roots in Gospel music.
Moscheo’s many experiences and contributions to Gospel music include serving for 16 years at BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated), as well as serving as President of the GMA (Gospel Music Association), He has received numerous Grammy and Dove Awards, as well as honors from such organizations as NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) and the GMA.
The presentation in Louisville was a moving celebration of Moscheo’s pioneering efforts and love of Gospel music. Judy Moscheo, stood by her husband as he expressed his appreciation and gratitude for this moving tribute honoring him for something he loved doing.
Last night (Wednesday) Moscheo was featured at a book signing, presented by Daywind Records and New Day Christian Distributors in the Exhibit Hall of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center. Fans attending the Convention had the opportunity to visit with Moscheo as he signed copies of The Gospel Side of Elvis.
 09-13-07
SCOOP-
Louisville, KY - The legendary Hoppers continued their winning streak in Louisville, KY yesterday during NQC 2007. Claude, Connie, Dean, Kim and Michael took home Group of the Year, Album of the Year (The Ride), Male Vocalist of the Year (Dean Hopper), Female Vocalist of the Year (Kim Hopper) and the J.D. Sumner Living Legend Award (Claude Hopper) during SGN Scoops' Diamond Awards.
Earlier in the week, Kim Hopper was named Favorite Female and Favorite Soprano during the Singing News Fan Awards at a ceremony held in Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center. Kim was awarded the prestigious honors by fans and readers of the Singing News magazine.
The accolades were awarded on the heels of the Hoppers signing with Canaan Records and releasing their debut project, The Ride, earlier this month. The family is currently celebrating 50 years of ministry and will host a very special afternoon showcase today in Freedom Hall.
The Hoppers, whose name has been synonymous with traditional Gospel Music for over three decades, can certainly be labeled as the faithful and the devoted. This family has enjoyed many rewards of the faithful servant. These rewards are the result of constant faithfulness and continual rededication.
While The Hoppers have enjoyed tremendous success through three decades, the `90s ushered in new found accomplishments. Although this talented musical family has enjoyed many popular hit releases, their first Number One release came in 1990 with the song entitled "Here I Am." It stayed at the top of the charts for 4 months and was awarded song of the year for 1990.
In addition to enormous radio success, The Hoppers have enjoyed other national recognition. In 1981, The Hoppers represented Southern Gospel Music at the Religious Inaugural Celebration for President Ronald Reagan. Shortly thereafter they appeared at the National Rally to restore prayer in the public school system. On June 27 1998 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta,GA. They performed a song for Bill Gaithers video entitled "Shouting Time." That would forever change their life and their Ministry. They have toured with the Gaither Homecoming show that played to over 900,000 people per year in most major sports arenas around the country. They have also enjoyed much success as a result of many group and individual awards and accolades.
09-13-07
SCOOP-
The results of this year's Singing News Fan Awards are in. MALE VOCALIST: Ivan Parker (Soloist). FEMALE VOCALIST: Kim Hopper (The Hoppers). YOUNG ARTIST: Scott Inman (Triumphant Quartet. HORIZON INDIVIDUAL: Nick Trammell (Perrys). HORIZON GROUP: Paid in Full. TENOR: Jason Waldroup (Greater Vision). LEAD SINGER: Scott Fowler (Legacy Five). BARITONE: Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision). BASS: Glenn Dustin (Legacy Five). ALTO: Debra Talley (Talley Trio). SOPRANO: Kim Hopper (Hoppers). GROUP OF THE YEAR: Booth Brothers. MUSICIAN: Roger Bennett (Legacy Five). ALBUM: Live in Music City (Legacy Five). SONGWRITER: Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision). SONG: I Have Not Forgotten (Inspirations).
 09-10-07
SCOOP-
Louisville, KY - A special VIP Reception was held as the National Quartet Convention kicked off its 50th Anniversary Celebration on Monday in Louisville. The Reception was attended by Southern Gospel Music industry leaders, the National Quartet Convention Board of Directors, as well as Louisville dignitaries, including Mayor Jerry Abramson and Harold Workman, President of the Kentucky State Fair Board. Mayor Abramson presented National Quartet Convention Board President Les Beasley with a special proclamation in honor of the Convention’s 50-year history.
The National Quartet Convention, after residing in such cities as Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville, moved to Louisville in 1993 and has enjoyed tremendous success, generating 10 million dollars in economic impact for its host city. Approximately 40,000 people attend the event throughout the week, representing 40 states and a half dozen countries, including Canada and New Zealand, making it Christian music’s largest marketplace and largest annual week-long event.
Tickets are still available for evening concerts, as well as afternoon showcases and may be purchased at any Ticketmaster location, online at www.natqc.com or at the door. Musical showcases are held each day beginning at 9:30am in the Expo Center’s South Wing and in Freedom Hall nightly at 6:00pm.
 09-10-07SCOOP-
Louisville, KY - A special highlight of the National Quartet Convention has become the Bluegrass Pickin Jamboree. This event is one of the numerous musical showcases held each afternoon during NQC Week, which is currently underway at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center in Louisville through Saturday night. Organizers of the event, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, have announced that multi-Grammy Award winning recording artist, Earl Scruggs will be a part of this year’s Bluegrass Jamboree.
Scruggs is a revolutionary banjo player and one of the most well-known artists in the history of country music. He has received four Grammy Awards, a National Medal of the Arts, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, among other distinctions. He is an inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor. Scruggs began his career in 1945 with Bill Monroe. While a member of Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, he met singer/guitarist Lester Flatt, with whom he would start Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1948. The group became the most prominent band in bluegrass history and made popular this sound to millions of listeners with their theme to the enduring TV series The Beverly Hillbillies, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett." Scruggs also wrote and recorded the instrumental "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" that was used throughout the movie Bonnie and Clyde.
Most recently, the 83-year-old musical pioneer released a trio recording with Little Roy Lewis, long-time member of the famed Lewis Family and talented newcomer Lizzy Long. The project, entitled Lifetimes, features bluegrass and Gospel songs and was released on the Vine/Crossroads label in April and has already spawned two Number One releases on bluegrass radio. Scruggs received his latest honor earlier this week when he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Monday.
In addition to Scruggs, the NQC Bluegrass Pickin’ Jamboree will also feature Lizzy Long, as well as noted female vocalist Janet Paschal, The Primitive Quartet, in addition to many other bluegrass Gospel favorites and will be hosted by Les Butler and Tim Surrett. The event will take place in the South Wing Conference Center at the Expo Center tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:00noon.
Tickets are still available for evening concerts, as well as afternoon showcases and may be purchased at the any Ticketmaster location, online at www.natqc.com or at the door. Musical showcases are held each day beginning at 9:30am in the Expo Center’s South Wing and in Freedom Hall nightly at 6:00pm.
 09-10-07SCOOP-
Atlanta, GA - Multi-talented RSI Music Group recording artist, Gordon Mote, will be featured on XM’s Daniel Britt & Friends throughout this week (September 10). This hour-long documentary, produced by the show’s host, Daniel Britt, features songs from Mote’s soon-to-be-released RSI Music Group recording, DON’T LET ME MISS THE GLORY. “Gordon is a relatively new friend to a lot of us,” Britt states, “but his experience shines through the quality of music he produces. Gordon and I spend the hour discussing his life, family and music. He shares stories of how he deals with his blindness, the fun he has serving as the official Gaither Homecoming pianist, and the joy he takes in producing great music.”
Daniel Britt & Friends is heard each week throughout the U.S. and Canada on XM Satellite Radio's enLighten 34 on Mondays at 7:00PM , Thursdays at 10:00PM, and Saturdays at 12:00 Noon. All times listed are Eastern time. Listeners can also tune in online at xmradio.com, AOL Radio or through DirecTV Channel 828. After the broadcast, the extended interview can be downloaded via www.danielbritt.com.
Complete information regarding Gordon Mote may be obtained at www.rsimusicgroup.com or www.gordonmote.com.
Back to Scoops main page.
|
