This is the March 14th, 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 this week, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA loses a member; new PASSION CD/DVD set for release; C.S. Lewis’ book comes to the silver screen; “Christian Napster” goes online soon; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; Top 10 Least Lucky St. Patrick’s Day Toasts; and much more!

IN THE NEWS:  One of the founding members of the legendary gospel group THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA has died.  75-year-old baritone George Scott died last week at his home in Durham, North Carolina.  According to Blind Boys leader Clarence Fountain, "We're grateful to the Lord for letting us have George for as long as we did.  He and I grew up together and sang together from little boys to old men.”  Fountain added that Scott was a great singer and could sing any part in a song.  “We loved him and he was one of the 'Boys’,” he said.  “George lived a life of service and now he's gone on to his reward." <><

The latest PASSION album is set for release on April 12th.  Passion: How Great Is Our God is the eighth project in the series that has sold over one million units to date.  The CD will feature 13 live tracks recorded by DAVID CROWDER BAND, MATT REDMAN, CHARLIE HALL and CHRIS TOMLIN.  More than 11,000 college-age students attended the four-day “worship gathering” held last January in Nashville.         

How Great Is Our God will also be available in a special 2-disc set that contains a Bonus DVD with footage from the event.  The DVD features four full-length videos, the "Reaching" mini-movie that chronicles Passion's journey to Boston and New York City and founder Louie Giglio's Tuesday night talk entitled, "Waking Up To The Whole Gospel." <><

Walt Disney Studios is promoting one of their new films as a "’Passion of the Christ’ for kids."  Disney executives have organized meetings with several church groups in the U.S. to gain support for their movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  The new film is rumored to be the first of seven Disney blockbusters inspired by the “Narnia” book series written by Lewis, who is known for his strong Christian beliefs.  The epic children's stories, which have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide, focus on a Christ-like figure and use themes such as redemption and sacrifice.  Disney has hired the same public relations company that is credited with the success of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ to publicize the film to faith groups.  The movie, which features an all-star cast, will open in December. <><

OUT OF EDEN will join the Girls of Grace “Championship Edition Conference” at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 1st and 2nd.  The event, open to all girls ages 12-20, is hosted by POINT OF GRACE and will feature REBECCA ST. JAMES; Nancy Alcorn, founder of Mercy Ministries of America; and WNBA stars Tamika Catching, Sylvia Crawley and Ruth Riley.  For more information, visit girlsofgrace.com or call 877-673-2246. <><

As reported several weeks ago in Glory2Glory, Brian "Head" Welch has severed ties with his bandmates in the heavy metal group Korn following his conversion to Christianity.  Now Welch is teaming up with born-again actor Stephen Baldwin to launch a line of "cutting-edge Christian products" to provide young people with "new relevant youth culture material that empowers them to be proud of their faith."  The youngest of Hollywood's Baldwin brothers says he met Welch to talk about both of their recent conversions and to share their faith.  "Brian reached out to me a couple weeks ago because he saw the journey that I've taken in recent years," Baldwin said.   

Welch left Korn last month, telling interviewers that his “newfound Christianity made it impossible for him to continue to play Korn's music and live the band's lifestyle.”  Recently he has worked with fellow church members at the Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, California, and traveled to the Holy Land and was baptized in the Jordan River.  Baldwin already has a successful line of Christian skate clothing found online at ruli.org and has sold more than 80,000 copies of skate videos at livinit.org. <><

A new Christian music online store, billed as a "Christian Napster,” goes live on April 11th.  SongTouch.com is owned by CCLI (the Church Copyright License program), which allows churches to copy music and distribute it to their congregations to sing.  The new service will debut with 15,000 inspirational songs, from gospel to rap, with downloads costing 99¢ each or customers can buy an unlimited monthly download subscription.  Estimates are that 25 billion mp3 downloads are done illegally every year, so this new method of purchasing songs could yield the music industry over 1 billion dollars in additional revenue annually. <><

SOUNDBYTES:  MARK SCHULTZ’s music video for his hit single "Letters from War" has won first place at the Department of Defense’s Visual Information Production Awards for the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center (CRC).  The video was used extensively in the CRC's "Be Safe" accident prevention campaign. <>< SWITCHFOOT has returned to the States from their third tour of Australia in the last 18 months, performing seven concert dates in just eight days while Down Under. <>< Breakthrough Gospel/CCM artist ANTHONY EVANS has been invited to tour with Promise Keepers this summer and fall.  Also Evans’ song "Incredible" was featured last week on the UPN sitcom Kevin Hill. <>< Walt Disney’s new film The Ice Princess will feature SUPERCHIC[K]’s tune, “Get Up.”  The film’s soundtrack releases Tuesday (March 15th) with the movie hitting theaters nationwide on Friday, March 18th.  Also the band’s music is featured extensively throughout the new Playstation 2 game, “Steel Lancers Arena International,” available in stores on Sept. 6th. <><

BIRTHDAYS:

Mon., March 14th - Kim Boyce

Tues., March 15th – “Cobra Joe” (THIS TRAIN)

Wed., March 16th - Bryan Duncan

Thurs., March 17th - Paul Overstreet

Mon., March 21st - Karl Messner (APOLOGETIx)

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

March 14th – Daniel’s Window--First Assembly of God, West Monroe, LA (6:30 PM)

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

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

March 25th – Pillar & Kutless--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 & Watermark--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 (for more info, call 318-680-2609)

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

April 28th – Switchfoot--Thomas Assembly Center, Ruston LA

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

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

May 20th - Todd Agnew--Meadow Grove Baptist, Brandon, 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:

March 15th…

ZOEgirl--Room To Breathe (Sparrow Records)

Nichole Nordeman—[untitled] (Sparrow Records)

Jeff Anderson--Seamless (Gotee Records)

Jump5--The Very Best of Jump5 (Sparrow Records)

Elvis Presley--He Touched Me: The Gospel Music [2 CDs/DVD/VHS] (Coming Home Music) 

Subseven--Free To Conquer (Flicker Records)

The O.C. Supertones--Faith Like A Child (BEC Recordings)

Various--Worship Together Platinum (CD/DVD) (Worship Together)

Various--ConGRADulations! Class of 2005 (interl'inc Christian Music Resources)

March 22nd…

Kurt Carr--One Church (GospoCentric Records)

Peculiar People Band--Not Ashamed (Maranatha! Music)

Lifehouse--Lifehouse (Geffen Records)

Natalie Grant--Awaken (Curb Records)

Jars of Clay--Redemption Songs (Essential Records)

Various--Piper Hymns (with Phil Keaggy) [2 CDs] (Martingale Music)

Various--Spring Hill Worship:  Songs From The Bennett House (Spring Hill Music)

Bryan Duncan--Music City Live (Red Road Records)

Ron Kenoly--Lift Him Up:  Collection (Integrity Gospel)

Hezekiah Walker--Praise And Worship: Live In New York [DVD] (Verity Records)

Various--Songs 4 Worship:  Spanish - En Tu Presencia (Integrity Music)

Bill Anderson--Gospel Favorites (Curb Records)

Pat Boone--Nearer My God To Thee (Curb Records)

Brenda Lee--Greatest Gospel Songs (Curb Records)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

Top 10 Least Lucky St. Patrick’s Day Toasts--

10. Here's peat in your eye!

9. May the cat always drink your spilt Shamrock Shake.

8. Alkie-Celt-er Plus!

7. Me too, U2!

6. May you fall on something with few corners.

5. May you defuse the car bomb in the nick of time!

4. I prefer stuffing over potatoes.

3. I-rish I was an Oscar Meyer wiener…

2. Hey, hey…at least we're not French!

1. May “misfortune” cookies follow you the rest of your life…but may you never learn to read them.

© March 14th, 2005.  Published by Chuck Halley, glory2glory productions, LLC, Monroe, Louisiana.  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 and Modern Worship music!