This is the June 6th, 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 this week’s music news, faith-based songs infiltrate mainstream radio; THE AFTERS are everywhere!; PAX217 calls it quits after 10 years; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; Top 10 Signs You Know It’s Summertime In Louisiana; and much more!

**D-DAY—June 6th, 1944...I pay homage to those young Americans who fought so valiantly and died so bravely 61 years ago today on Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and the Pointe du Hoc at Normandy, France.  On this date, a mighty armada crossed a narrow strip of sea from England to the beaches of Normandy, along with courageous paratroopers who dropped from the dark skies only to be shot by German ground troops while still dangling from their chutes.  This prodigious invasion, with God’s blessings, cracked the Nazi grip on western Europe and changed the course of history.**

IN THE NEWS:  In a refreshing trend on mainstream radio stations these days, many faith-based songs are now hitting the same airwaves that used to be reserved for tunes containing sexual innuendos and materialistic worldviews.  MERCYME, MICHAEL W. SMITH, SWITCHFOOT, RELIENT K, P.O.D., CHEVELLE, PILLAR, LIFEHOUSE, DAY OF FIRE, and ALTER BRIDGE, artists with strong links to the Christian community, are all showing up on Radio and Records magazine’s Adult Contemporary, Hot AC, Alternative and Rock charts.   

One such artist band that is starting to make major strides in the mainstream is THE AFTERS.  The Dallas-based band currently has a top 30 mainstream Hot AC hit with "Beautiful Love" from their debut project, I Wish We All Could Win.  This song has been selected by American Eagle stores for their Back-to-School campaign and will be featured in more than 860 of the chain’s stores, as well as online.  In addition, American Airlines also selected "Beautiful Love" for their “American Way Road Warrior" promotion, which airs during their in-flight videos during the months of June and July.  The "Beautiful Love" video was also featured on Rolling Stone magazine’s website for three straight weeks and an interview with the band aired on American Top 40, a weekly countdown program hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

If that is not enough, The Afters also were recently chosen to appear on MTV's “Advance Warning,” a show featuring up and coming artists that airs several times during June on the Music Television channel as well as its sister network, MTV2.  And the band, whose members all met while working together at a Starbuck’s in the “Big D,” will join “The Restore Tour” on October 21st in Seattle with JEREMY CAMP and BETHANY DILLON. <><

PAX217 has decided to officially disband.  In an announcement from the stage at the Spirit West Coast festival last weekend in Del Mar, California, frontman David Tosti told fans the band is finishing out their summer dates that are already booked and will then plan some “spectacular last shows” in the early fall.  Tosti spoke for about an hour after the band’s set to share his testimony and answer questions about his personal struggle with pornography.  PAX217’s lead singer will start doing speaking engagements to share the story of how his wife discovered his “dark secret.”  Tosti will be leading discussions related to porn addiction at conferences and to youth groups.  For more info, visit xxxchurch.com or davidtosti.com. <><

VICKY BEECHING has released The Journey on Sparrow Records with all five songs from her limited edition EP available as downloads on various Web sites beginning on June 28th.  The 25-year-old worship leader, who holds a Masters Degree in Theology from Oxford University, is already well known in Europe as a writer and vocalist on several Vineyard Music albums including Hungry, Holy and Surrender.  For more information and music samples from The Journey, visit Beeching’s official website. <><

A compilation album that is the audio companion to the book Every Young Woman's Battle is being released on June 28th.  Fervent Records hopes the audio project will “speak to teens and young single women on the topic of guarding one's heart, mind and soul when it comes to relationships.”  The CD features previously recorded songs from many popular female artists including REBECCA ST. JAMES, JACI VELASQUEZ, RACHAEL LAMPA, ZOEGIRL and BETHANY DILLON. <><

SOUNDBYTES:  Spring Hill Worship is entering the Hispanic Christian music market with the release of Adorar ("Adore") on Sept. 24th.  The album features Spanish versions of popular worship songs, including ISRAEL HOUGHTON’S "Friend of God," PAUL BALOCHE’S "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and DELIRIOUS?’ "Majesty." <>< Rocketown Records has signed REUBEN MORGAN, one of HILLSONG AUSTRALIA’S worship leaders who works alongside DARLENE ZSCHECH.  Morgan’s debut solo CD World Through Your Eyes is set to hit stores in the United States on Sept. 13th. <>< RELIENT K is releasing their latest album Mmhmm on a double 12-inch vinyl record this summer.  The project will include a new song, "Apathetic Way to Be," that is only available on the 12-inch.  You can listen to the brand new tune on the band’s “Purevolume” website page at purevolume.com/relientk. <><

ARTISTS’ BIRTHDAYS:

June 8th - Nathan Nockels (WATERMARK)

June 9th - Mark Robertson (THIS TRAIN, A RAGAMUFFIN BAND)

June 11th - Tai Anderson (THIRD DAY), Chad Chapin (TAIT), CHRIS RICE, Glenn Lavender (DOWNHERE)

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

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

June 14th – BarlowGirl--First Baptist, McComb, MS

June 17th - Phillips, Craig and Dean--Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport, LA

June 25th - Jump5--Dixie Landin’/Blue Bayou Water Park, Baton Rouge, LA

July 2nd – “Celebrate Freedom” w/Avalon & Casting Crowns—Southfork Ranch, Dallas, TX

July 9th – Overflow--Wood Institute, Mathiston, MS

July 14th - tobyMac & Kutless--Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX

July 15th - Third Day & David Crowder Band--Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX

July 15th & 16th - “Savage Fest” w/Bebo Norman, Downhere, Ginny Owens, The Elms, Superchic[k], GRITS, Ten Shekel Shirt--Walking Through the Light, San Angelo, TX

July 16th - Third Day & Thousand Foot Krutch--Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX

July 29th – Everlife-- Arkansas Catholic Conference, Clear Channel Metroplex, Little Rock, AR

Aug. 6th – “Joy Fest” with tobyMac & Skillet—Six Flags Over N.O., New Orleans, LA

Aug. 6th – “Christian Youth Day” w/Jars of Clay & Taylor Sorensen--Timberwood Amphitheater/Magic Springs, Hot Springs, AR

Aug. 12th - David Crowder Band--Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport, LA

Aug. 14th - John Tesh--Prestonwood Baptist, Plano, TX

Aug. 20th – Jeff Deyo--Glad Tidings Assembly of God/CenturyTel Center, Shreveport, LA

Aug. 27th – ApologetiX--West Monroe High School, West Monroe, LA

Sept. 3rd – Overflow--Ridge Avenue Baptist, West Monroe, LA

Sept. 29th - Natalie Grant--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA 

Oct. 1st - Audio Adrenaline, Pillar, Superchic[k], Sanctus Real & Kids in the Way--Pine Bluff Convention Center, Pine Bluff, AR

Oct. 7th - Randy Travis--Mississippi State Fair, Jackson, MS

Oct. 11th – FFH--Mississippi State Fair, Jackson MS

Oct. 14th - Casting Crowns--Park Hill Baptist, North Little Rock, AR

Nov. 13th – “Restored Tour” w/Jeremy Camp, Bethany Dillon & The Afters-- Clear Channel Metroplex, Little Rock, AR

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

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & VIDEO RELEASES:

June 7th—

MARK HARRIS—The Line Between The Two (INO Records)

KIMBERLY PERRY—Kimberly Perry (Forefront Records)

KRYSTAL MYERS—Krystal Meyers (Essential Records)

SOULJAHZ—untitled (Warner Bros. Christian)

DISCIPLE—Disciple [Autographed] (SRE Recordings)

VARIOUS—The Road To Jerusalem (Provident Music)

EAGER SEAS—People Like People (Tooth & Nail Records)

VARIOUS—X2005: Christian Rock Hits! The Videos: 2005 (BEC Recordings)

June 14th—

KATE MINER—Prodigal Martha (Floodgate Records)

MXPX—Panic Side One (Dummy Records)

THE MYRIAD—You Can't Trust a Ladder (Floodgate Records)

OSCAR WILLIAMS, JR. & PERFECTED PRAISE—Unstoppable (Aleho International Music)

June 21st—

MATTHEW WEST—History (Universal South)

JOHN REUBEN—The Boy vs. The Cynic (Gotee Records)

CAROLYN ARENDS—Simply Carolyn Arends (Brentwood Records)

CLAY CROSSE—Simply Clay Crosse (Brentwood Records)

AL DENSON—Simply Al Denson (Brentwood Records)

DINO—Simply Dino (Brentwood Records)

KIM HILL—Simply Kim Hill (Brentwood Records)

RICH MULLINS—Simply Rich Mullins (Brentwood Records)

PLUMB—Simply Plumb (Brentwood Records)

RELIENT K—mmhmm [double vinyl w/bonus song] (Gotee Records)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

Top 10 Signs You Know It’s Summertime In Louisiana--

10. The sparrows have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground. 

9. The Pine trees are whistling for the dogs. 

8. The best parking spot is not determined by distance, but by the amount of shade. 

7. Hot water now comes out of both sink fixtures. 

6. You can now make “instant sun tea.” 

5. The temperature drops below 90 and you feel a little bit chilly. 

4. It only takes two fingers to steer your car. 

3. You find out that asphalt has a liquid state. 

2. Farmers feed their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs. 

1. The Jersey cows are giving evaporated milk. 

© June 6th, 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!