Home > Music > News
The Scoop
Mark Schultz finishes two-month bike ride across America; Michael W. Smith sets sail for Alaska with family, friends, and fans; Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and others featured on new country compilation of hymns; and more.
By Andree Farias
posted 07/16/07
 | | Mark Schultz finished his Across America benefit bike ride in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, July 6. |
Singer/songwriter Mark Schultz finished his much-publicized benefit bike ride across America, raising more than $250,000 for various organizations that assist orphans and widows. The 3,500-mile trek concluded in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on July 6, two months after first kicking off May 7 at Newport Beach, California. You can read more about his trip at www.markacrossamerica.org. The journey was made into a documentary that will show up in an expanded CD/DVD edition of the singer's 2006 album Broken & Beautiful, which will also include live songs, behind-the-scenes footage, and a music video, releasing September 25.
On July 14, Michael W. Smith, his family, and more than 900 fans set sail on the artist's first-ever fan cruise to various Alaskan destinations and Canada. Some of the onboard activities during the trip include, among other things, nightly concerts by special guests Leeland, Michael Olson, and comedian Bob Nelson, as well as karaoke sessions with Smith himself providing piano accompaniment. It's a Wonderful Christmas, Smith's third yuletide recording, is scheduled to drop October 16.
Not sure whether to pick up MxPx's new album Secret Weapon, releasing through Tooth & Nail on July 16? The band is offering the album in its entirety as a stream on their MySpace page. You'll also find there a video of the album's title track.
In the spirit of recent faith-based country compilations, Sparrow Records is gearing up for the July 17 release of I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns and Songs of Faith, a new collection of sacred songs sung by some of country and bluegrass's most notable superstars and musicians, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, and Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins. Producer Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Bethany Dillon) began the process by culling through the most revered songs of the genre. "Growing up in North Carolina, I was raised on God and country music, so when [Sparrow] approached me about a country hymns record, it was a no-brainer," said Cash.
Gospel powerhouse Israel & New Breed will release its sixth album, A Deeper Level, on September 4 via Integrity Music. Recorded live over three nights of worship at Grace Church in Humble, Texas, and produced by Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey, the album is another display of the group's penchant for lively, multicultural praise and worship, with guest appearances by Chris Tomlin, Darlene Zschech, Jonny Lang, and T-Bone. The disc will be supported by a 30-city fall tour, set to kick off the same day the project hits stores.
Acclaimed hip-hop collective L.A. Symphony will issue an album of unreleased songs, demos, and rarities titled Unleashed via Syntax Records on August 14. The 22-track compilation collects exclusive tracks from the group's last ten years together, featuring all eight of the original group members. It also features guest appearances by Posdnus from De La Soul and AWOL One, as well as production by Madlib, Flynn Adam, Cookbook, Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas), and Pigeon John, plus shout-outs from the legendary Method Man and Chaka Kahn.
New tween-pop trio pureNRG will release a companion self-titled DVD to their CD debut on July 24. The DVD contains 30 minutes of videos and interviews with each group member, including behind-the-scenes reels and dance rehearsals. The DVD also includes music videos for "What If" and their remake of the Kenny Loggins classic "Footloose."
© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Today's Christian Woman Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
