Grammy Award-nominated Integrity recording artist NewSong was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame at ceremonies held Saturday, September 17 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
In addition to NewSong, who was inducted in the Group category, the 27th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards also honored country artist Patty Loveless; producer/songwriter/music executive Doug Johnson; and foundational spiritual/gospel group The Sunshine Boys. In addition, the Bill Lowery Horizon Award was presented to “American Idol” finalist Diana DeGarmo.
Previous Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees include music legends Ray Charles, Chet Atkins, James Brown, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, Lena Horne, “Little Richard” Penniman and the Allman Brothers Band, along with such contemporary hit-makers as Trisha Yearwood and Alan Jackson, and producer/songwriter/music executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid.
“We are so grateful that God has used NewSong for 25 years to spread His message of love and hope through music,” said Eddie Carswell, NewSong founding member. “To be honored among such great musical giants is humbling. All of the credit belongs to God.”
The Hall of Fame induction follows the success of NewSong’s 18th #1 single, “Rescue.” Written by Jared Anderson, “Rescue” recently reached the #1 position on multiple national Inspirational singles charts, including R&R, CRW and The PDAdviser. “Rescue” is the first single from NewSong’s latest recording, Rescue – Live Worship, which released May 24 on Integrity Records.
NewSong was also recently recognized at the Second Annual Soul2Soul Honors, held in Louisville, Kentucky. The group was one of seven artists honored for their “enduring ministries and their artistic endowments to Christian music.” Highlights from the Second Annual Soul2Soul Honors will be broadcast on Christian television in early 2006, as well as internationally on the Soul2Soul Radio Network.
Television audiences across the country will have a chance to watch NewSong perform during “Gospel Angels, A Concert To Restore Hope,” airing September 22 from 7 – 9 p.m. ET/6 – 8 p.m. CT on the Gospel Music Channel, Paxson Communications Corporation’s i (formerly PAX TV), the Worship Network and XM Radio (8 – 10 p.m. ET/7 – 9 p.m. CT). The televised benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina will originate from Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.
NewSong is one of Christian music’s best-loved groups, having recorded 14 albums featuring such signature songs as “Arise My Love,” “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down,” “Red Letter Day,” and the recent cross-over hit, “When God Made You,” a duet with Natalie Grant. Their holiday anthem, “The Christmas Shoes,” became a #1 mainstream radio hit, and inspired a New York Times-bestselling book and CBS Movie of the Week. The album of the same name was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2003. Their multi-artist “Jam” Tours, which they began hosting in 1995, have grown to become the largest attended Christian music tours in the industry.
Rescue – Live Worship, a DVD filmed at First Baptist Woodstock in Atlanta, released September 13 on the Integrity label. For further information: www.newsongonline.com.
