This is the March 21st, 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 some good news this week, WES KING’s prognosis is good; AMY GRANT to star in new NBC-TV reality show; hosts for 2005 GMA Music Awards to include CECE WINANS and DARLENE ZSCHECH; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; Top 10 New Metric Conversions; and much more!

IN THE NEWS:  Christian music pioneer WES KING has just completed his first chemotherapy treatments after recently being diagnosed with lymphoma and is recuperating at home.  Tests have shown there is no cancer in King’s bone marrow but he will continue treatments for now.  A “Message and Prayer Board” has been set up at the singer’s website (wesking.com) and a tribute album is being planned with proceeds from the project helping with King’s medical bills. <><

Five-time Grammy-winning artist AMY GRANT will star in a new NBC-TV special which will also be a pilot program for a new reality series on the “Peacock Network.”  Three Wishes will have Grant lead a team of experts to a small town to help make changes in the lives of some of its residents.  According to Jeff Gaspin, the television network’s president of Entertainment, “Everyone secretly wants the chance to fulfill a lifelong wish that seems beyond their grasp…and this show will help transform those dreams into a life-changing reality.”

The Grant-ed wishes include paying tribute to an unsung hero and helping a hopeless family with a life-threatening medical crisis.  Each wish will involve a deeply personal story as Grant and her team of experts help bring the dreams of the recipients to life.  The pilot episode is set to begin production in Northern California later this month. <><

This year’s Gospel Music Association (GMA) Music Awards will be hosted by six of Christian music’s most popular artists – CECE WINANS, STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DARLENE ZSCHECH, REBECCA ST. JAMES, SMOKIE NORFUL and ISRAEL HOUGHTON.  The 36th Annual Dove Awards will be held Wednesday, April 13th at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.  The GMA Music Awards will be televised in national syndication during June through network affiliates and independent stations that reach a potential audience of at least ¾ of U.S. television households. 

Also the Music Awards will have a new format for 2005.  All awards and performances will be featured in just one program, unlike previous years where the event was divided into a pre-show (where most of the 44 categories of Dove Awards were handed out) and the main show, which primarily featured performances.  For more info, go to gmamusicawards.com. <>< 

SOUNDBYTES:  NEWSBOYS have signed with frontman Peter Furler’s own record label, Inpop Records, with Furler calling executives at their former label, “greedy.”  The band, which has sold over 5 million albums, will release two new studio projects this fall including a new double-disc Rock album featuring over 20 studio recordings and a new studio Worship CD. <>< JARS OF CLAY’s new digital-only EP Roots & Wings can be previewed at their website (jarsofclay.com/website2005/ep). <>< Christian surfer/musicians SWITCHFOOT is hosting a benefit concert and contest to raise money for Care House, a non-profit ministry that serves homeless teens in their hometown of San Diego.  The “Switchfoot Bro-Am” includes a surfing competition featuring members of the band, plus a special concert at the historical La Paloma Theater in Encinitas, California. <>< DELIRIOUS? recently received an award for Song of the Year for “Majesty (Here I Am)” from the Christian Booksellers Association.  The CBA is an international trade association of Christian book retailers and suppliers. <>< JANET PASCHAL is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for reoccurring breast cancer.  The Grammy and Dove Awards-nominated vocalist is best known for her appearances on the “Gaither Homecoming” videos. <>< USA Today is scheduled to print a story in their "LIFE" section on Wednesday, March 23rd featuring Worship leader/singer PAUL BALOCHE.  The article will include an interview with Baloche (pronounced “Ba-losh”--rhymes with “gosh”) about writing songs for the Easter holidays, including his numerously-recorded Worship anthem, “Above All”. <>< Re-broadcasts of the 2004 GMA Music Awards are scheduled during this Easter season on PAX-TV and The Worship Network.  Last year’s program, hosted by Gospel diva YOLANDA ADAMS and football legend Deion Sanders, will air Thursday, March 24th at 8 p.m. CST on PAX and during overnight programming on April 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th on The Worship Network (for air times, visit worship.net). <><

BIRTHDAYS:

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

Tues., March 22nd - Denise Jones (POINT OF GRACE), Brian Johnson (O.C. SUPERTONES)

Wed., March 23rd - Phil Keaggy

Thurs., March 24th - Nathan Walters (PLUS ONE)

Mon., March 28th - Bill Gaither (GAITHER VOCAL BAND), “Evie” Tornquist-Karlsson

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

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

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 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)

March 29th…

Thousand Foot Krutch--The Art of Breaking (Tooth & Nail Records)

Superchic[k]--Beauty From Pain (InPop Records)

Kimberly Perry—[untitled] (Forefront Records)

4th Avenue Jones--Stereo {The Evolution of HipRockSoul} (Gotee Records)

Extol--The Blueprint Dives (Solid State Records)

Steven Curtis Chapman--Abbey Road Sessions/The Walk [CD/DVD] (Sparrow Records)

Mae--The Everglow (Tooth & Nail Records)

Various--X2005 (BEC Recordings)

Living Sacrifice--In Memoriam (Tooth & Nail Records)

Micah Stampley--The Songbook of Micah (EMI Gospel)

Steve Green--The Adventures Of Prayer Bear (Vol. 1, 2 & 3) [DVD] (Sparrow Records)

Out of Eden—Hymns (Gotee Records)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

Top 10 New Metric Conversions--

10. 2000 mockingbirds=two kilomockingbirds

 9. 10 cards=1 decacards

 8. 453.6 graham crackers=1 pound cake

 7. 1/2 lavatory=1 demijohn

 6. 10 rations=1 decoration

 5. 100 rations=1 C-ration

 4. 500 millilaries=1 seminary

 3. 2 snake eyes=1 paradise

 2. 2 wharves=1 paradox

 1. 4 nickels=2 paradimes

© March 21st, 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!