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Here's a Christmas tradition I
love! Gary Chapman and his brother Keith came in for the
fourth or fifth year (I can't keep up!). Besides all the fun, we actually
had video cameras in the studio and will soon have fun you can SEE too.
-Dec 21 |
 |
We were WAY overdue for
a visit from Phil Keaggy. Fortunately for us, he was in town on Dec
14th. As a matter of fact, he took part in an annual Christmas concert
that evening with Andrew Peterson. As always, Phil brought in music
he is working on and/or has just finished recording. (I love my job!) |
 |
One of the things I love about
being in Nashville is people like Buddy Greene. He is one of the
most giving people I know. His music is infectious and he's not afraid to
use a harmonica when he needs to. Buddy came in to promote an upcoming
Lighthouse Coffeehouse concert. Master guitar-guy Pat Flynn joined
in and we had some great live music that morning.
-Dec
7
|
 |
Take a look at the credits on
your favorite Christian CD and chances are, this guy is on there
somewhere. It's Tom Hemby. Artists and groups like: Paul
Overstreet, The Martins, Larnelle Harris, Bob Carlisle, Michael English,
Carman, Point of Grace, Twila Paris, 4him, Faith Hill, Wynonna Judd, Dion,
Charlie Daniels, Barry Manilow, Rich Mullins, and so many others. Tom had
just released an excellent instrumental Christmas project as well as
having just produced Bebe Winan's great new Christmas CD.
-Nov 30 |
 |
Mark Schultz is fun! It
was no surprise to me that his new project would be called "Stories
and Songs"... he's got LOTS of both!
-Nov 23 |
 |
Michael English was the
first artist to cut the song, "Mary Did You Know" a few
years back. He's been through a great deal since that first solo project.
I'm proud to call him my brother and thrilled that he and beautiful wife,
Marcie are expecting their first baby in June of next year.
-Nov 16 |
 |
Take a look at the picture. I
am standing next to the guy who, in the late 50's sold more records than
anyone except Elvis! He still holds the Billboard Magazine all time record
of 200 consecutive weeks on the charts selling more than 45 million
records and charting 60 songs. Pat Boone is also a pioneer in
Christian music. It was an absolute thrill for me to have Pat on the show
and talk about a wide range of subjects: an upcoming concert, his ancestor
Daniel Boone, his grandson Ryan, baptisms in his swimming pool, and
growing up in Nashville.
-Nov 2 |
 |
What a God-gifted woman!
Bonnie Keen has shared that gifting over the years in so many ways. An
actress, incredible singer, songwriter, founding member of First Call,
author and speaker. That's the side the public sees. She is also a good
friend. I am a fan! On Sept 28th we premiered her latest CD, "God of
Many Chances". Find her at
www.bonniekeen.com |
 |
It has been such a pleasure to
watch Kim Hill over these years! From her first visit in 1988 to
this visit on Sept 21st, she has realized her place as a worship leader
singing for hundreds of thousands of women each year in conferences. Her
latest CD, "Surrounded By Mercy" had just released. It was
good to be my friend again! |
 |
You have GOT to get a copy of
the new rock opera, "Hero"! It's the brainchild of
Eddie DeGarmo and Bob Farrell (Yes!, Eddie DeGarmo from DeGarmo
& Key and Bob Farrell from Farrell & Farrell!). It was great to have these
two old friend in the studio to talk about this project that was 10 years
in the making. These guys are STILL making incredible music!!! -Sept
14 |
 |
20 years is a long time to
wait for an interview, but we did! Carman had never been with us
live in the studio before this day. I'm happy he was with us and allowed
us to world premiere his latest, "House of Praise"
CD. Visit his web site at www.carman.org.
Standing next to me makes him even look BETTER!!!
-Sept 7 |
 |
Jamie Slocum dropped by
the show on Aug 31st with his brand new CD, "My Heart Knows".
I love Jamie's enthusiasm for people, music and mostly what God can do.
Jamie had a CD release concert that night.
|
 |
How about a visit from the
most successful debut artist in the history of Sparrow Records (scanning
nearly one million units on their two studio projects)!?!?! It's
ZOEgirl... actually, two-thirds of ZOEgirl! The ladies had just
returned from a benefit in Cape Girardeau, MO. That's Kristin Swinford's
hometown, so she stayed to visit family. We were delighted to get a visit
from Chrissy Conway and Alisa Girard.
-Aug 17 |
 |
I can hardly believe
Rebecca St. James' schedule these days... she constantly touring, she
was appearing on the 700 Club the following day, she is about to have a
leading part in the upcoming rock opera, "!Hero". When I
arrived at the station shortly after 5am, a very large touring bus was in
our parking lot. She had arrived in town from the road and left
immediately from the interview to sing at her church. This is a very
special young lady!
-Aug 10 |
 |
I LOVE having Margaret
Becker on the show! She is incredible!... and so is her new CD, "Just
Come In" (which includes some of her classics- redone in a more
acoustic setting). Her birthday was just a few days before this show. As a
surprise, several people, including her sister, Kate, came to
Nashville to celebrate. Kate was with us for the show. They shared some
wonderful memories of growing up with two loving parents.
-July 20 |
 |
There are names I've read for
years in CD and cassette credits. One kept popping up: Steve Siler.
He's written incredible songs, including: "Circle of Friends" for Point of
Grace, Kim Boyce's "Not Too Far From Here", and so many, many more. Visit
Steve's organization on the web:
www.musicforthesoul.org.
-July 13 |
 |
July 6th, we had the best of
it all! A first-class singer/songwriter headlining an upcoming benefit
concert and an outstanding ministry. Gordon Kennedy (writer of Eric
Clapton's "Change The World" among many others) joined us along
with "Men of Valor", a very successful prison ministry here in Tennessee.
l-r: Gordon Kennedy, Michael Sweatt (Men of Valor), me,
Malinda Wilson, Ricky Cook, and JR Davis (all from MOV
as well).
http://www.men-of-valor.org |
 |
This was a great show! How
could it miss with the likes of Buddy Greene and his friends?!? Buddy put
together a benefit concert for the Mercy Children's Clinic and some
of the performers joined us on June 22nd. Live music too!!! l-r:
Dr. Tim Henschel, me, Tricia Walker, Kenny Meeks, and
Buddy Greene. |
 |
Don't like to laugh? If you
were listening on June 8th, you had no choice. Chonda Pierce and
Mark Lowry were on hand to talk about... well... LIFE! Separately,
these two are hilarious, but together there's no stopping them. I had one
listener call in and ask that they leave so that he could go on to church! |
 |
It was so good to see my
friends from Alathea again. Alto it had been only 3 months since
the release of their first project (and their last visit), a major,
life-changing event took place a few weeks ago. They visited Equator with
Compassion International. They met 8-year old Maritza, the
girl they sponsor. Many others went on the trip as well, including
Garett Buell from Caedmon's Call. Please visit
www.compassion.com.
l-r: Garett, Carrie Theobald, Mandee Radford, me, and
Cristi Johnson. |
 |
One of my favorite people on
the planet.... Bob Halligan, Jr from Ceili Rain. We met just a
couple of years ago, but I deeply appreciate his friendship as well as his
musicianship and abilities as a songwriter. During GMA week I asked him to
do the show sometime without the rest of the band (Don't get me wrong... I
LOVE Ceili Rain!!!). He graciously agreed and appeared May 25th. He
brought his keyboard and guitar, but we never got around to the guitar! |
 |
The Gathering is an
event here in Nashville which encourages believers here to come together,
crossing denominational barriers (which is a BIG deal in this town!). That
night, Nicole C. Mullen, Jeff Deyo and the Katinas performed. Dr Tony
Evans and Titan coach Sherman Smith spoke. With us on the show that
morning (May 18) was: Jimmy Pickle and Howard Harvey (both
with Operation Andrew Group), and Sam and Jesse
Katina. |
 |
An incredible day on the show
today!... May 4th. Our program began this day in 1980 on WSM-FM... 23
years ago today!!! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with
Ken and Connie Mansfield. Ken has had a rich and varied
career in the music business; including being hand-picked by the Beatles
to run Apple Records in the US. I highly recommend his book, "The
Beatles, The Bible, and Bodega Bay". |
 |
The folks associated with
Mercy Ministries are truly extraordinary! They help young girls
literally all over the world with life's most difficult problems.
Preparing for a benefit concert, we had ministry founder Nancy Alcorn
join us with Shelley Breen and Denise Jones from Point
of Grace along with Jonathan Pierce. -Apr
27 |
 |
It was Easter Sunday (4/20)
and we had an opportunity to make some new friends. It's Detour180
from New Zealand! Their project is to be released later this year. l-r:
Cain Coulton, Adrian Robertson, me, Evan Cooper, Matt
Chapman, and Jono Scarlet. |
 |
Jim Cole is always a
welcome guest... as was the case on April 13th. He was preparing to be the
opening act for "1964... The Tribute", the world's #1
Beatles Show. He's pumped! He is also working on a new project he hopes to
have out later this year. Check out Jim's web page at
www.jimcoleonline.com |
 |
A very busy morning... April
6th! GMA week kicked off this day. It was GREAT to have Avalon in the
studio. Celebrating 7 years of hits, a new project released a few days
earlier, "The Very Best of Avalon" Pictured l-r: Jody
McBrayer, Janna Long, me, Melissa Greene, and Michael
Passons. At right, my long-time friends Jenny Lockwald,
Morgan Cryar, and Bob Souer were on hand as well. |
 |
 |
It is always a joy to see
Cheri Keaggy. She had an upcoming concert in the Nashville area to
talk about. With no new project to push, we just talked and played music.
Cheri even brought in her teenage son, Cameron (he took the picture at
left).
-Mar 9 |
 |
Listeners and I met Alathea
together for the first time on March 2nd. I must say- I am a fan. These
ladies are a delight! OK, maybe it helped that they brought in cookies! I
think they will be around for a long while. We were able to premiere their
new Rocketown project: "What Light Is All About", and even
listen to live music! l-r: Mandee Radford, me, Cristi Johnson,
and Carrie Theobald.
|
 |
The tough thing about doing
this interview with Gary Pigg was that I basically knew all of the
answers before I asked the questions! I have known Gary since he moved to
Nashville in the mid-70's. He was one of the founding members of the
Christian band, "Fireworks" and, due to his extensive
talents as a studio singer, he is probably one of the most recorded people
on earth. Gary's new CD, "Like Him" is a true treasure. I
highly recommend this project.
-Feb 16 |
 |
A true pleasure to meet a
fellow-Floridian and new artist... Freddie Colloca (Coy-O-ca)! He
has a fascinating story, being born in Argentina and moving to the Miami
area when he was 4. His father, a pastor, came to the US considering it a
mission field. Today, years later, he still serves as pastor of a
Spanish-speaking church. Freddie and his brother serve as worship leaders
and youth ministers. I highly recommend Freddie's CD, "Unconditional"
-Feb 9 |
 |
The Feb 14th Lighthouse
Coffeehouse concert will feature John Cowan (formerly singer
and bass player for New Grass Revival). Our good friends Two Or More
will be the opening act. We talked about this show on Feb 2nd. I also love
the fact that we got live music! Top left: Renato Aguas (Two Or
More) Pat Flynn (former guitarist from New Grass Revival and
Lighthouse rep), me, John Cowan, and Walter Aguas (Two Or
More). Left bottom: John sings with Renato and Walter. Right: Pat Flynn
plays while I mix! |
 |
 |
A true pioneer in Christian
music, Steve Camp was our first guest of 2003. His new CD, "Desiring
God" contains his heart and an intimate look at where he's been
during these past few years. It's always good to have Steve on the show.
-Jan 12 |
