YouTube Clip #38 – The Singing Greenes

Here is a classic clip of The Singing Greenes.  The first time I saw The Greenes, Amy Lambert was singing with them so it was a treat to find this clip with the 3 siblings together.  I would assume that is their father, Everette, playing the piano.  We will miss you Tony!  I know you and your father must have had a great reunion.

SN Fan Awards Winners

I’m following the Fan Awards announcements via Twitter.  Here’s the list of winners:

• Musician: Jeff Stice, Triumphant Quartet
• Horizon Individual: Morgan Easter, Jeff & Sheri Easter
• Tenor: Michael Booth, Booth Brothers
• Horizon Group: Soul’d Out
• Baritone: Jim Brady, Booth Brothers
• Young Artist: Brooklyn Collingsworth, Collingsworth Family
• Soprano: Kim Hopper, Hoppers (accepted by daughter Karlye, who paid tribute to her uncle Tony)
• Male Artist: Ivan Parker
• Bass: Eric Bennett, Triumphant Quartet
• Lead: Ronnie Booth, Booth Brothers
• Alto: Libbi Stuffle, Perrys
• Mixed Group: Hoppers
• Female Artist: Kim Hopper, Hoppers
• Male Quartet: Triumphant Quartet
• Marvin Norcross/Templeton Award – Primitive Quartet
• Soloist: Ivan Parker
• Trio: Booth Brothers
• Songwriter: Rodney Griffin
• Album: Jubilee, Greater Vision/Booth Brothers/Legacy Five
• Song: “If You Knew Him”, Perrys
• Artist: Booth Brothers

There were several moments where Tony Greene’s recent passing was mentioned, and Michael Booth dedicated the Favorite Trio award to the Greenes.  One other result I was particularly pleased to see was the Young Artist award go to Brooklyn Collingsworth.  She has a very bright future ahead of her in this industry, and it was good to see her recognized.

Congratulations to all the winners!

RIP Tony Greene

Dean Hopper has reported that Tony Greene passed away around 4:25 Eastern this afternoon.  Tony had been touch and go in ICU the last several days.  While it’s a sad day for those left behind, Tony is now meeting the Savior he so faithfully sang about face to face.  Please be in prayer for the family, especially for TaRanda and the girls as they face this difficult time.  Rest in peace, Tony.

Tony Greene

Initial reports of Tony’s passing were incorrect.  Tony has been pulled off of the ventilator, but per Dean Hopper, he is breathing on his own.  Please pray urgently!

UPDATE (2:30 PM): Daniel Britt has an audio interview with Dean Hopper here.

Upcoming Concert: The Dills

Earlier this week, my church booked The Dills for Sunday Night, Oct. 3.  Yes, I know, it’s a week and a half away, but they will be singing at 6:00 PM at Faith Baptist in Atoka, TN.  As always, there is no admission charge, and a love offering will be taken.  If you are in the Memphis area, come out and enjoy a great night of Gospel music!

Pray For Tony and TaRanda Greene

According to TaRanda Greene’s Twitter, Tony is back in the hospital with signs of rejection of the kidney that TaRanda donated to him not too terribly long ago.  Please pray for the Greenes as Tony undergoes testing to determine the best course of treatment, and for TaRanda’s strength to deal with this latest setback.

Bryan Elliott Joins Gold City

Granted this post is a day later than I promised on Twitter, but Bryan Elliott has joined Gold City as their new pianist.  This move was actually rumored during NQC, and was confirmed on Monday.   Elliott is starting with Gold City immediately.   At the present time, the Perrys are not going to be hiring a full time replacement for Bryan, but former pianist Matthew Holt will be filling in occasionally.  Troy Peach is also a more than capable piano player, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him on the ivories from time to time as well, though that possibility has not yet been mentioned.  Best wishes to Bryan, Gold City, and the Perrys.

NQC ’10: Wrap Up

I was able to listen for quite a while Friday night on enLighten.  Here are more thoughts, summaries, etc.:

• Janet Paschal’s female quartet was quite the talk of the Twitter/Facebook/Blogs.  If not hitting the road, those four ladies should definitely consider doing a CD together.
• EHSS did their whole set previewing their Cathedrals Tribute project and it was very solid.  “We Shall See Jesus” was great.
• The GVB was also very well received.
• The 100 Years Showcase on Saturday was the big event, and will be released on DVD by Daywind.
• Gold City was the star of the show, and did 3 full songs: “When I Get Carried Away”, “I Think I’ll Read It Again”, and “Midnight Cry.”
• The Singing Americans were next up in terms of popularity.  Michael English still isn’t totally recovered from neck surgery, he had said Friday night his voice was about 50%, so Clayton Inman joined in on the reunion.
• The Nelons reunion set was also very strong, with Katy Peach and Karen Peck Gooch especially “stealing the show.”

What are your memorable moments from the convention this year?  Who really stands out to you as the noteworthy artists from this year’s NQC that should see a nice bump in popularity?  Who impressed you?

NQC ’10: Thursday Recap

There’s quite a bit more to talk about today.  So, continuing our bullet point format, here we go:

• First, Sarah Palin.  Several artists tweeted that they were given the opportunity to meet her and have their pictures taken together before Palin made her keynote speech.  Her speech itself seems to have been well received, even if the only artists she mentioned were the Nelons and Amy Grant (?).  By most accounts, she came across as having a very genuine faith.
• The Ball Brothers made their debut mainstage appearance to mainly positive reviews.  Good to see them get the exposure they deserve.  I really think these guys have quite a future ahead of them as pacesetters in SG.
• The reviews have been mixed on the “cheesiness” of the song, but either way the Booth Brothers and Sisters collaboration called “Brothers and Sisters” was very much notable, and nothing but positive about the performance of the groups.
• Several commentators have noticed that song selections on the whole last night just seemed to be disjointed.  Not that the songs were bad in and of themselves, but the sets just didn’t seem to flow very well.
• Chris Allman continues to impress with his tenor vocals for Greater Vision.  To start their set, a YouTube clip was played of them singing “Too Near Home” from 1995, and at the conclusion of the clip, Stan Whitmire kicked in the piano intro and away they went with the full song.  Allman truly seems to have stepped out of a time machine vocally.
• The Perrys sang a couple of new tunes from their Blue Skies CD, the title track and “His Love Lights the Way”.  Tracy Stuffle again joined them for two songs, and it’s good to hear that his health is holding up so well during such a stressful week.
• The Greenes, and specifically TaRanda Greene, also had a quite impressive and notable set based on several accounts.  TaRanda continues to cement her place as an elite vocalist in SG.
• Buzz of the Night Award:  The Collingsworth Family.  Again.  The Collingsworths have really seemed to be the buzz of the convention, and their set last night was apparently no less impressive, especially their acappella rendition of the classic hymn “Take Time To Be Holy.”  This group may just come out of the convention with the biggest jump in esteem and popularity, as people have been gushing over their performances this week.

NQC ’10: Wednesday Recap

There still wasn’t too much chatter, though several blogs have decent roundups available.

• Several artists attended the GVB/EHSS showcase (Daniel Riley, Libbi Stuffle, et al) and all said the showcase was spectacular.  Other bloggers and attendees weren’t quite as impressed.
• I discovered that enLighten is broadcasting from the NQC live in the evenings, interspersing mainstage performances with interviews.  I heard the Inspirations set, and as others mentioned, the acappella song they sang was particularly good.  They have a much different vocal sound with Campbell, Ragan, and Hosterman.  Solid all the way around.
• Liberty Quartet had a full set tonight instead of the one song appearance that they made a couple years ago.  Keith Waggoner’s feature song was noted as particularly good.
• Jeff and Sheri had a notable set as well.  In addition to Morgan, Madison Easter joined in on some harmony vocals as well tonight, which one twitter comment said was a throwback to their sound with Rabbit.
• Another show of solidarity tonight between Scott Fowler and Josh Cobb.  I’m glad to see this, as it really makes both guys look good.  Cobb and Fowler shared an embrace at center stage after their groups had been part of a larger singalong of “Boundless Love”, where more than one person praised Cobb’s vocals.
• Buzz of the Night Award:  Speaking of Gold City, they debuted two songs off their soon to be released mainline CD.  One was an unnnamed cover of an old Dixie Hummingbird tune, “It Won’t Be Long”, and the other was Josh Cobb singing “I Stand Redeemed.”  Both went over extremely well, with “Redeemed” drawing the crowd to its feet.