NQC 2016: Friday Night Recap

Just one night remains for the 2016 edition of the National Quartet Convention.  Lets see how Friday ended.

• 11th Hour came right out of the gate and turned in one of the best performances of the evening to open the show.  The one miss is I wish they would’ve staged the new single, “He Welcomes The Beggar”.
• I’m glad the convention board saw fit to give the Isaacs a 30 minute set.  With this being their only night on the convention stage.  Sonya nearly veered off track generalizing about politics, but re-steered back to the music.
• Karen Peck and New River closed the night on a strong note.  I always enjoy hearing, “On The Banks Of The Promised Land”.
• It was fun seeing Connie Hopper on the piano during the first verse and chorus of “Never Grow Old”.
• Joseph Habedank is Southern Gospel’s next big singer/songwriter, following in the footsteps of greats like Squire Parsons.  His set tonight is about as good as it gets.

• One of the speakers tonight made a statement I found a bit odd.  In talking about America, he mentioned (and I’m paraphrasing) that if things don’t change, our kids won’t grow up in the same America we grew up in.  Of course they won’t.  Things are constantly changing.  When I was a kid in the 1980’s it was nothing like the 1950’s, the decade my mother was a kid.
• The other big miss tonight was me.  I am at that point in the week where I’ve hit NQC fatigue.

**Now to crown the best of the night:

Best single song performances (in order of appearance):  (1) “He Rows Me Over The Tide” – 11th Hour  (2) “I’m Listening For The Shout” – Browders  (3) “Never No Never” – Joseph Habedank  (4) “The Beauty Of The Blood” – Joseph Habedank (**Favorite song performance of the evening)  (5) “Rocks” – Isaacs  (6) “I Love You More” – Isaacs  (7) “Greatest Of All Miracles” – Jim Brady Trio  (8) “Amazing God” – Triumphant Quartet  (9) “On The Banks Of The Promised Land” – Karen Peck and New River

Best Set of the Night:  The set I enjoyed the most this evening was Joseph Habedank.

!!Free Music Monday!!

I hope everyone got out and enjoyed the summer time weather this weekend; at least those of us on the east coast.  To curb some of those Monday morning blues, lets give away some free music.

Up for grabs today is the hit 2015 recording from Karen Peck and New River; Pray Now.

Song Listing:

1. “Calling”
2. “Pray Now”
3. “Hallelujah For The Cross”
4. “Love With All Your Heart”
5. “Blessed”
6. “I’m Not Letting Go”
7. “I Choose Christ”
8. “Peace That Covers All The Pain”
9. “Redemption’s Holy Lamb”
10. “Lord, Send Your Angels”
11. “A Life That’s Good”

The first person to email me (sogospelbackrow@gmail.com) the correct answer to the following trivia question will win, Karen Peck and New River; Pray Now.

**With Karen Peck and New River celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2016, can you name the group’s first radio single from their 1991 self titled debut album?

*Video Credit (Karen Peck – Topic)

Free Music Contest Winner – Programming Note

I want to congratulate Brad for being the first to correctly guess Monday’s free music contest.  The original New River band consisted of Danny Crawford, Ricky Gooch, David Owen and Dale Scragg.  Bryan Sutton would then join shortly after to make it a five piece band.

Also, sorry for waiting so late to announce the winner, but sometimes life happens and you can’t get around to doing everything you want.  We should be back to regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

!!Free Music Monday!!

Welcome to another Monday.  Lets get back to giving away some free music.

Today, you have the chance to win Karen Peck and New River’s 25th Anniversary, Collector’s Edition 2 CD Set.  Twenty five of the group’s biggest hit songs on two CD’s.  And another plus is they are the original recordings of the song, not remakes.

Songs found on the (2) CD Set:

1. “Bend In The River”
2. “He’s Sending Miracles”
3. “God Still Answers Prayer”
4. “Rain And Shine”
5. “When Jesus Passes By”
6. “Ten Thousand Angels Cried”
7. “Daddy’s Home”
8. “God Likes To Work”
9. “God Is Faithful”
10. “Christian In The House”
11. “Four Days Late”
12. “I Wanna Know How It Feels”
13. “That’s Why They Call It Grace”
14. “Hold Me While I Cry”
15. “Hey”
16. “Last Night”
17. “Whispered Prayers”
18. “Ephesians Chapter One”
19. “I Want To Thank You”
20. “Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along”
21. “On The Banks Of The Promised Land”
22. “Good Things Are Happening”
23. “Revival”
24. “Finish Well”
25. “Pray Now”

The first person to email the answer (sogospelbackrow@gmail.com) to the following trivia question will win this special (2) CD set from Karen Peck and New River.

**Karen Peck and New River started with an entire four piece band, some would say one of the best bands to ever be a part of Southern Gospel music.  Name the original members of the New River band.

VOTING: Southern Gospel March Madness – Championship Round

We have reached the championship round in the 2016 Southern Gospel March madness competition.  Readers have chosen the Kingdom Heirs and Karen Peck & New River to battle it out in the final.  Rules have changed for the championship round.

Championship Round Rules:

• All readers of the blog can vote.
• THIS FINAL ROUND OFFERS UNLIMITED VOTING.  That’s right.  Get your group’s fan base out to represent because this final round offers unlimited voting per person.
• This poll will close on Monday (04/11/16).

VOTING: Southern Gospel March Madness – Final Four

We have reached the final four in the 2016 Southern Gospel music March madness competition.  The readers of the blog have spoken and voted the Gaither Vocal Band, Kingdom Heirs, Nelons and Karen Peck and New River as artists to represent the final four.  Here are the rules to voting.

• All readers of the blog can vote.
• I have set it up to where each person is allowed one vote per day.
• This poll will close on Friday (04/08/16).

VOTING: Southern Gospel March Madness – Round 3

We have reached the top eight in the 2016 Southern Gospel music March madness competition.  Here are the rules to voting.

• All readers of the blog can vote.
• I have set it up to where each person is allowed one vote per day.
• This poll will close on Monday (04/04/16).

!!Free Music Monday!!

I trust everyone had a wonderful Easter Holiday.  Some may have today off, others may be working.  Lets give away some more free music.

Several weeks ago I had a wonderful time attending night one of the Whisnants homecoming concert in Morganton NC.  I have (5) brand new CDs from the various artists on the concert, left to give away.  Up for grabs today is the hit 2015 recording from Karen Peck and New River; Pray Now.

Song Listing:

1. “Calling”
2. “Pray Now”
3. “Hallelujah For The Cross”
4. “Love With All Your Heart”
5. “Blessed”
6. “I’m Not Letting Go”
7. “I Choose Christ”
8. “Peace That Covers All The Pain”
9. “Redemption’s Holy Lamb”
10. “Lord, Send Your Angels”
11. “A Life That’s Good”

The first person to email me (sogospelbackrow@gmail.com) the correct answer to the following trivia question will win, Karen Peck and New River; Pray Now.

**Karen Peck and New River has had no less than eight male vocalists in the group during the group’s 25 year history.  Name any four of the eight to win.

*Video Credit (Karen Peck And New River – Topic)

***CONTEST NOW OVER***

Congratulations to Justin for being the first to correctly guess today’s trivia question.  Who were the eight male vocalists who were a part of Karen Peck and New River over the last 25 years.

1. David White (1991 to 1993) and again (1995 to 1999)
2. Eric Morris (1993 to 1994)
3. Craig Turner (1994 to 1995)
4. John Darin Rowsey (1999 to 2003)
5. Joshua Jackson (2003 to 2005)
6. Devin McGlamery (2005 to 2009)
7. Jeff Hawes (2010 to 2015)
8. Ricky Braddy (2015 to Present)