Manafest Receives JUNO Nod
Jan 30, 2015 Artist Updates
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POWERHOUSE VOCALISTS THE McCRARY SISTERS FIRE UP SPIRITUAL CLASSICS ON NEW ALBUM ‘LET’S GO’
Jan 30, 2015 Artist Updates
Performing “Fire” during BBC Radio’s Celtic Connections 2015 – bit.ly/1zd9bON
Soulful sister vocalists The McCrary Sisters – long known in Nashville circles as first-call session aces supporting some of music’s most vibrant artists – will release its latest 16-track collection of soul-stirring gospel titled Let’s Go on March 10.
Possessing a unique familial musical history of their own as daughters of longtime Fairfield Four tenor Rev. Samuel McCrary, The McCrary Sisters – Alfreda, Ann, Deborah and Regina – each bring a unique energy and virtuosity to the group, not to mention varied experiences within the worlds of pop, rock, R&B and gospel music.
“That is the essence of what makes music great, it’s the essence of what makes singing great, and we really hear it in artists like the McCrary Sisters,” says NPR music correspondent Ann Powers.
The end result on Let’s Go – produced by Nashville music supervisor and the sisters’ longtime musical champion Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, others) – is a tight knit vocal style that can only be generated by women who’ve sung together their entire lives.
“There’s something in them that becomes a whole ’nother thing besides four people singing together, and it’s because they’re sisters,” Miller says. “They know what to do, and they’re genius. There’s not another word for it.”
That meshing of voices with faith and with family creates dynamic new music, steeped in the tradition of church and contemporary music. Songs like “That’s Enough,” “I Am Free,” “Walk In The Light,” “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and the title track all showcase the sisters’ talents in ways where it’s easy to recognize they’d be called on for background vocals for artists such as The Black Keys, Martina McBride, Eric Church, Jonny Lang, Robert Randolph, The Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Mike Farris and so many more.
“The McCrary Sisters have a way of bringing the traditions of gospel into another format that’s unique,” says Jed Hilly, executive director of the American Music Association, whose 2014 festival featured a PBS taping titled “Rock My Soul” that showcased both The McCrary Sisters and The Fairfield Four, and which can be seen on PBS stations nationally this spring during the network’s pledge drive season.
Let’s Go Tracklist:
1. Let’s Go
2. I’ve Got Jesus (And That’s Enough)
3. By The Mark
4. I John
5. I Love The Lord
6. Fire
7. Use Me Lord
8. Don’t Let You Nobody Turn You ‘Round
9. I Am Free
10. Hold On
11. Drivin You Mama Crazy
12. I’d Rather Have Jesus
13. He Split The Rock
14. Old Shoes
15. Hold The Wind
16. Walk In The Light
Point of Grace Releasing New Album April 7
Jan 30, 2015 Artist Updates
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EMPIRE by DEREK MINOR IN STORES TODAY
Jan 30, 2015 Artist Updates
EMPIRE Debuts at #1 on the iTunes Rap/Hip Hop Charts
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On the Heels of His Fifth Album,
Minor Announces Spring FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER Tour with Propaganda and KJ52
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![]() Nashville, TN – 2015 has already launched as a pinnacle year for acclaimed rap artist, producer,and entrepreneur Derek Minor. As co-owner and CEO of Reflection Music Group (RMG), Minor is poised to impact the market with releases from an impressive roster of groundbreaking artists who share his musical vision, including Canon, Deraj, Tony Tillman, B. Cooper, & Chad Jones. Today, Minor unveiled his new album, EMPIRE, via RMG, and is preparing to kick off a two month run on the “From Now Until Forever” tour.
No stranger to success, Minor’s most recent project MINORVILLE peaked at #1 on the Billboard Gospel Album Chart and #2 on both the Christian and Rap charts. With Dove Award and Stellar Award nominations under his belt, Minor has no plans to rest on these accolades.
EMPIRE is Minor’s fifth studio album, and marks his debut under his RMG moniker. Already receiving early attention from fans and critics, EMPIRE is also turning heads in the sports and music community at large. The album received early success from fans, reaching the #1 spot on the iTunes Rap and Hip Hop charts.
Minor takes the album’s theme of growing the Kingdom of God seriously, and enlisted an all-star cast of like-minded artists to join him on the project. Derek shoulders much of the production on EMPIRE but also features producer heavyweights such as SykSense (Drake, 6god), Gawvi (Lecrae, Andy Mineo), Tyshane (Lecrae, Tedashii), Black Knight (KB, Andy Mineo) and Dirty Rice (2015 GRAMMY Nominee for Lecrae’s “All I Need Is You”), and taps the vocal talents of A-list artists, including Lecrae, Colton Dixon, Tedashii, Anthony Evans Jr., and Leah Smith, to name a few.
On the heels of the album release, Minor will launch the “From Now Until Forever” tour with Humble Beast Recording artist Propaganda and KJ-52 (TPC MUSIC). Special guests include DJ MORPH on each show and many others throughout the tour. Kicking off March 5, the tour is slated to hit 32 US Markets and opens up the first night at the infamous SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX. Sponsored by NGEN and Spotify Music, the tour offers a unique advanced purchase exclusive pre-show offer to include a hip hop panel, exclusive un-released tour digital EP along with early entry to the show and one on one time with the artists from the whole tour.
The tour promises to be a night focused on building and investing in the future of youth in each individual community. With a commitment to encourage, equip and enable young people to take ownership in their voices and celebrate diversity in their lives, the tour continues the EMPIRE theme, starting here on earth, “from now until forever”.
“I’m super excited to be traveling the some amazing artists and friends,” explains Minor. “The goal of this tour is to encourage us to love one another today because forever begins now. “
Derek Minor has partnered exclusively with GOA for booking and Teresa Davis and The Paradigm Collective for management services.
EMPIRE track listing:
Intro
All Hail the King (featuring Deraj & nobigdyl.)
Empire (featuring Traneshia “Truth” Chiles)
Who You Know
Babel 1
Kingdom Come
Slow Down (featuring Tony Tillman & Tedashii)
Stranger (featuring Roz)
Last Forever (featuring B. Cooper & Leah Smith)
Save Me (featuring J Paul)
Babel 2
Fly (featuring Colton Dixon)
Oceans (featuring Move Aside)
Right By My Side (featuring Chad Jones & Anthony Evans Jr.)
Party People (featuring Social Club)
Until the End of Time (featuring Lecrae & Canon)
Derek Minor – EMPIRE. In stores and online January 27, 2015. The RMG label is distributed through eOne Entertainment.
FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER Tour dates (more dates to be confirmed in the coming weeks):
March 19 – SXSW / Austin, TX
March 20 – Houston, TX
March 21 – Dallas, TX
March 22 – San Antonio, TX
March 26 – Charlotte, NC
March 30 – Tampa, FL
April 2 – Tampa, FL
April 3 – Miami, FL April 4 – Orlando, FL
April 10 – Hartford, IN
April 11 – Galloway, OH
April 16 – Popular Bluff, AR
April 17 – St Louis, MO
April 18 – Cincinnati, OH
April 19 – Spring Arbor, MI
April 22 – Kansas City, KS
April 24 – Lubbock, TX April 26 – Midland, TX
April 30 – Las Vegas, NV May 1 – Los Angeles, CA
May 2 – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
May 3 – San Diego, CA
www.theparadigmcollective.com
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Rapture Ruckus Set to Release Invader Vol. II Tomorrow
Jan 30, 2015 Artist Updates
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Yancy Releases Promotional Video for Little Praise Party: Taste and See Available on CD and DVD February 10th
Jan 30, 2015 Artist Updates, DVD
Video features testimonies from parents, pastors and recording artist Jaci Velasquez
Little Praise Party started as a collection of songs for my local church to use, says Yancy. Its been amazing to see how God has used those songs in churches and homes around the world.
Taste and See, the fourth release in the popular worship music series for young children, will be available on CD and DVD, featuring 15 easy-to-sing songs (plus two bonus tracks exclusively available at iTunes). The Little Praise Party series is available online and in Christian bookstores everywhere via Elevate Entertainment and Syntax Distribution. For church and classroom use, there is also a Church DVD available that includes all 15 songs plus the soundtracks, mp4 files and a group viewing license.
Hearing children sing Gods praises never gets old, says Yancy. And it gives me chills hearing their sweet little voices sing their love to the Lord. Music is a powerful thing. Its an important tool that we have to use in our homes and churches to plant Biblical truth in the hearts of kids. Its the very reason we started making Little Praise Party music.
Yancys Little Praise Party series engages kids from the very start with non-stop sing-along fun for the entire family. In addition to CDs, each project in the series has a companion DVD filled with exciting animation with on-screen lyrics to help visualize the words and stories portrayed within the songs. The popular Little Praise Party app, available in both iOS & Android formats, features new videos each month in English and Spanish.
“I introduced my kids to Little Praise Party, from Yancy, and its really adorable listening to them sing their songs, said recording artist Jaci Velasquez. “As a mom, my hope and my prayer is that everything that Im putting into my kids is positive and good and encouraging and hopeful. Because whatever goes in, comes out.”
We need to begin the process of passing on our faith and Christian values to our children at an early age, says Yancy. We really cant start too soon. My heart and prayer is that this generation would Taste and See that the Lord is good.
For more than a decade, Yancy has been making music for Christian music fans of all ages. As a songwriter, she has penned songs with Third Day frontman Mac Powell, wrote the Jaci Velasquez hit Something Beautiful and Avalon’s chart-topping I Dont Want To Go. As an artist, Yancy has released radio-friendly pop/rock albums and multiple projects for kids and young adults, while sharing the stage with Michael W. Smith, Newsboys, Plumb and many more. Yancy also pens a monthly column for KidzMatter Magazine, and has written and produced the music and videos for Standard Publishings Vacation Bible School curriculum since 2012, reaching over 1,000,000 kids each year.
For more information, visit www.yancynotnancy.com.
Pre-Order Little Praise Party: Taste and See at iTunes: http://syntax.cr/1zUynZF
Andrew Peterson Begins 2015 with Blogger Award for Best Author, United Kingdom Tour, Rabbit Room Retreat, Preparing for New Album
Jan 25, 2015 Artist Updates
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Lauren Daigle and Centricity Music Receive First K-LOVE Fan Awards Nomination with “How Can It Be” for Worship Song of the Year
Jan 25, 2015 Artist Updates
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Chemo Duck Launches First App Ever Created for Kids with Cancer
Jan 25, 2015 Uncategorized

Walk into most any pediatric healthcare setting and one thing is universal patients are usually glued to some kind of electronic device, says Chemo Duck founder Lu Sipos. Her son, 12 year-old Gabe Sipos, is no different. Except now, 10 years after spending countless hours in clinics and the hospital during his treatment of rhabdosarcoma, he had an idea.
It was such a fun experience coming up with all the different ideas and aspects for the games, said Gabe. I sort of knew what types of games I thought kids would like and how I wanted the whole thing to look.
Talk Like a Duck, Exercise Wheel, Touch and Learn, Call from Chemo Duck, Hospital Bingo and Mix and Match are all interactive activities geared toward keeping kids engaged while providing teaching opportunities.
I really like the idea that in order to move ahead in the games, you have to earn a coin to unlock the next level, said Gabe. It makes you want to keep playing. I do think kids will like it. I know I wouldve liked to have had something like that when I was in treatment.
Phil Earnest, the app designer, was impressed with Gabes vision for the apps. One of the coolest things about this project was hearing from Gabe what he wanted and working with him on the different elements. It was neat knowing that his dream was becoming a reality, that what he envisioned was coming to life. It was a great feeling to be a part of that.
The app, Chemo Ducks first, is an additional way for the non-profit to impact the lives of pediatric cancer patients. And as Lu quickly discovered while doing research for the app, the market was ripe for such a product.
I searched for an app to both entertain and educate kids living with cancer but couldnt find one, says Lu. When I mentioned this to Gabe, his face lit up. He was thrilled to develop one. He has really found his place within the foundation. He has a way to give back. Helping others is a simple way to bring us fulfillment. But seeing Gabes passion about this, its the start of a next chapter for Chemo Duck.
To download the app go to apple.com/itunes and search for chemo duck.
ABOUT GABE’S CHEMO DUCK PROGRAM
Gabes Chemo Duck Program is a program of the Nashville-based nonprofit organization, Gabes My Heart, which was established in 2004 to provide education and comfort to children living with cancer through medical play using therapeutic tools. The goal of the program is to enable hospital staff and parents to prepare children for chemotherapy treatment and eliminate the fear of the unknown. Chemo Duck is a stuffed yellow duck dressed in blue hospital scrubs with a bandana around its head, a chemotherapy port on its chest and an immobilizer on his arm. In a gentle, age-appropriate manner, children learn what to expect during cancer treatment and have a friend to share the experience. In turn, children can use Chemo Duck to help friends, siblings and classmates to understand and empathize with their experience. For more information, visit www.chemoduck.org.
SHOW HOPE KICKS OFF 2015 HIGHLIGHTING THEIR ADVOCATE PROGRAM;
Jan 25, 2015 Artist Updates
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