This is the January 31st, 2005 edition of Glory2Glory Christian Music E-zine!, a contemporary Christian music & modern Worship newsletter distributed to Christian and Worship music enthusiasts via the World Wide Web.  If you would like a FREE subscription with the latest issue sent to your inbox each week, e-mail glory2gloryezine@....

IN THE NEWS:  Several Nashville Christian artists and musicians raised over $50,000 for tsunami relief at last week's "An Evening for Restoration" concert.  More than $27,000 came from donations made at the show, while the rest of the proceeds came from ticket sales. The concert featured MICHAEL W. SMITH, CECE WINANS, STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, JACI VELASQUEZ and TOBY MAC. <><

A song that benefits tsunami victims is being released through Apple's iTunes music store and features a couple of Christian music stars.  P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval, former SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER vocalist LEIGH NASH and former EVANESCENCE guitarist Ben Moody joined together to record "Forever in Our Hearts" with proceeds distributed to the Red Cross through the multi-artist organization Music for Relief.  Also a music video with footage from the recording sessions will be released soon. <><

JARS OF CLAY’s next project is a collection of songs based on ancient hymn texts and spiritual songs.  The GRAMMY®-winning  band researched ancient hymns (some more than two centuries old!) and rerecorded 13 timeless melodies for Redemption Songs.  Included on the album are guest appearances by THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA on two songs (“Nothing But the Blood” and “On Jordan’s Stormy River Banks I Stand”), SARAH KELLY (“I’ll Fly Away”) and DELIRIOUS’ frontman Martin Smith (“Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder”).  Redemption Songs is set to be released to retail stores on March 22^nd. <><  

A recently released compilation CD, The Pinnacle Project: Last Say So is causing some good vibrations in the Christian music scene with a remake of an old Pop radio song.  “Hosanna,” the album’s first single, is a variation of the early ‘80s hit “Rosanna,” recorded by mainstream band Toto.  The original single reached No. 1 across the nation and helped Toto nab five GRAMMY® Awards including “Record of the Year” and “Album of the Year”.  “Hosanna” was re-written and arranged by producer Marc Harris (Michael McDonald, BEBE & CECE WINANS) who received permission from Toto keyboardist and songwriter David Paich, who was excited about the idea for a new version of his band’s “signature” song. 

Harris assembled some diverse singers and musicians for the remake, including Worship leader CINDY CRUSE-RATCLIFF of Houston’s Lakewood Church, 12-time GRAMMY®-winning group TAKE 6, gospel vocalist Montrel Darrett (COMMISSIONED), vocalist/producer CHRIS RODRIGUEZ, critically-acclaimed blues guitarist Jonny Lang and GRAMMY®-winning producer and keyboardist Keith Thomas. <><

SOUNDBYTES:  After first rejecting the ad for Zondervan Publishing’s Today’s New International Version, Rolling Stone magazine has agreed to run a half-page ad for the new youth-oriented Bible in this week’s (Feb. 24th) issue. <>< The first LEIGH NASH song after the breakup of SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER is featured on the soundtrack for the new movie, Because of Winn-Dixie (which was filmed in the New Orleans area).  To hear a sample of "I've Gotta See You Smile" on ReelPlayer, click here. <>< TREE63 will re-release their latest CD, The Answer To The Question, in an “Expanded Edition”.  The re-released project features five new tracks not available on the band's 2004 album, including "Paradise", "Maker Of All Things", and three new acoustic versions of "King", "You Only" and "All Because." <><

ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:

Mon., Jan. 31st - Elliot Torres (Salvador)

Tues., Feb. 1st - Nee-C Walls (Anointed), Babbie Mason, James and John Katina (The Katinas), Toby Penner (Jake)

Wed., Feb. 2nd - Ashley Cleveland, Aric Nitzberg (Caedman's Call)

Thurs., Feb. 3rd - Dan Dean (Phillips Craig & Dean), John Schlitt

Fri., Feb. 4th - Randy Hoslapple (Caedman's Call)

Sat., Feb. 5th - Janna Long (Avalon)

UPCOMING CONCERTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

Feb. 3rd – Selah--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

Feb. 3rd – Everyday Sunday, Liptocoal, Bliss, & Waiting for Isaac--Cactus Jack’s, Ruston, LA

Feb. 10th – downhere--Louisiana Baptist Convention, Alexandria, LA

Feb. 11th -  “Absolute Worship Tour” w/Big Daddy Weave & Todd Agnew--First Baptist, Lafayette, LA

Feb. 18th – NewSong & tobyMac--River Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Feb. 18th – “I Choose You Tour” w/Point of Grace & Scott Krippayne--Faith Church, New Orleans, LA

Feb. 24th – Carman--Victory Church, Camden, AR

March 3rd - Caedmon's Call--Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport, LA

March 4th - Big Daddy Weave & Todd Agnew--World Harvest Church, Slidell, LA

March 4th – “First Friday Fire” w/Bishop T.D. Jakes--United Pentecostal Campground, Tioga, LA

March 11th – “Wonderful Weekend for Women” w/Natalie Grant & Lori Salierno--First Baptist, Bossier City, LA

March 12th – “Awaken Tour” w/Natalie Grant & Trevor Morgan--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

March 13th – Point of Grace--First Baptist, Bossier City, LA

March 18th - Watermark--First Baptist, Shreveport, LA

March 18th - Gaither Homecoming Tour--Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge, LA

March 25th – Skillet--Six Flags, New Orleans, LA

April 1st - “Women Of Faith” Conference w/Chonda Pierce, Sandi Patty, & Sheila Walsh--CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, LA

April 9th – “Healing Rain Tour” w/Michael W. Smith & Selah--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

April 16th – “Acquire the Fire” w/Skillet--River City Centroplex, Baton Rouge, April 22nd - “All Things New ’05 Tour” w/Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, & Chris Tomlin--Cajundome, Lafayette, LA

April 27th – “The Un-Done Tour” w/MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, The Afters, & Monk & Neagle--Monroe Civic Center Arena, Monroe, LA (7:00 PM)

April 28th - Wayne Watson--First Baptist, Minden, LA

May 6th - Nicole C. Mullen & George Huff--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

May 13th - Gaither Homecoming Tour--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

June 6th - Denver and the Mile High Orchestra--Broadmore Baptist, Shreveport, LA

(For the latest concert information, visit www.glory2gloryproductions.com)

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & VIDEO RELEASES:

Feb. 1st…

Anberlin--Never Take Friendship Personal (Tooth & Nail Records)

Benjiman--Activate (BEC Recordings)

KJ-52--Behind The Musik (BEC Recordings/Uprok Records)

The OC Supertones--Unite (BEC Recordings)

Phillips, Craig & Dean--Favorite Songs of All Vol. 2: The Worship Collection Sparrow Records)

Seventh Day Slumber--Once Upon A Shattered Life (BEC Recordings)

Feb. 8th…

Chris Rice--Snapshots: Live and Fan Favorites (Rocketown Records)

Jadyn Maria--Choices (Sparrow Records)

John Michael Talbot--City of God (Troubador Records)

Allen Asbury--Stand (Doxology Records)

David Crowder Band--Sunsets and Sushi: Experiments in Spectral Decorating (Sixsteps Records)

Feb. 15th…

Troy Sneed--A State Of Worship  (Word) 

Stellar Kart--all gas. no brake. (Word Records)

Various--Crabb Fest Live 2004 (Daywind Records)

Steve Green--Somewhere Between (Sparrow Records)

Ashley Cleveland--Men And Angels Say (Rambler Records)

Joel Engle--Made For Worship (Doxology Records)

Lisa McClendon--My Diary, Your Life (Shabach Entertainment)

© January 31st, 2005 from glory2glory productions, LLC®; published at g2g’s offices & studios @ 697-1 Horseshoe Lake Road, Monroe, Louisiana; publisher, Chuck Halley.  All rights reserved.  No part of this e-zine may be reproduced without prior written consent.  Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals because we value each subscriber and respect their privacy.  Start spreading some good news by forwarding this issue to five friends who have an interest in contemporary Christian music & modern Worship!