This is the August 16th, 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 our latest issue sent to your inbox each week, e-mail:  glory2gloryezine@... or click here (or cut & paste this URL in your browser’s address field:  launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Glory2GloryChristianMusicE-zine/.)

In some good news this week, LOU GRAMM of Foreigner to release Christian project; BART MILLARD of MercyMe releases special Dual Disc this Friday; CLAY CROSSE back with new record & book after three year hiatus; release date for new THIRD DAY studio album is set; artist birthdays; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; 10 MORE Signs That It's Time To Go On A Diet; and much more!

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...Remember the 70’s and 80’s FM radio hits "Urgent," "I Want to Know What Love Is" and "Waiting For A Girl Like You"?  LOU GRAMM (born Lou Grammatico) was the lead singer and co-writer of these classic tunes recorded by platinum-selling rock band Foreigner.  But these days the vocalist, who sung on over a dozen gold and platinum albums and nearly 20 hit singles, has relinquished his Foreigner frontman duties to sing about Jesus.  Gramm recorded nine songs for a new Christian album before embarking on a summer tour of Europe (Germany, the Netherlands), Canada and the United States with the Lou Gramm Band, and hopes to release his new project in September.  "I've been wanting to do this since I gave my life to Christ in the early '90s," says Gramm.  "When I went through rehab…for all of my illegal habits…although, I still buy too many cars."

Nearly thirty years after Foreigner ruled the airwaves with Top 10 singles such as “Feels Like The First Time” and “Cold As Ice,” Gramm is now almost 50 pounds heavier due to steroids taken in his personal battle against a life-threatening brain tumor.  Although surgery and radiation treatment have eliminated the cancer, the physical impact on Gramm has been difficult – an occasional stammer in his speech, a second divorce and the constant wrestling over control of the band with it’s founder, Mick Jones, who owns the name.  "We've played so many places where we've pulled up to the club and it says ‘Foreigner’ on the marquee," says Gramm. 

But when the Lou Gramm Band’s new album is released, the aging singer will shift from pop icon to Christian rocker.  Gramm says his desire to be a Christian singer was re-awakened when he went through his operation in '97 and made a guest appearance on PETRA’s "We Need Jesus" later that year.  But how will his old fans react when they come out to hear the lyrics, "I’m a dirty white boy…" and instead get, "the closer I move toward the light…"?  "These are only images in the drama that is my life," Gramm says of the new songs.  "The closer you get to the Lord, the more you'll be tested by the Devil." 

Of course, songs about lust ("Hot Blooded") and drugs ("Double Vision") don't get a lot of play on Christian radio stations. <><   

IN THE NEWS:  Bart Millard, MERCYME’s frontman and the writer of their no. 1 song "I Can Only Imagine," recently released Hymned—No. 1, a collection of the singer’s childhood favorites.  The project features guest vocals from Vince Gill, RUSS TAFF and DEREK  WEBB and guest musician appearances by country singer Steve Wariner and steel guitar virtuoso ROBERT RANDOLPH.  Hymned contains 10 hymn classics including "Precious Lord Take My Hand," "The Old Rugged Cross" and a song dedicated to Millard’s grandmother, "Mawmaw's Song (In the Sweet By And By)” (click here for a FREE download  from Integrity Records.)  A special DualDisc-formatted CD releases on Friday (Aug. 19th), which features studio footage and a diary of the making of the album. <><

We haven’t heard from CLAY CROSSE in more than three years, but the singer/songwriter known for his no. 1 hits "I Surrender All" and "I Will Follow Christ" is getting ready for a September 15th release of his first live worship album and DVD.  Eternity with You: Live Worship coincides with the release this summer of his new book, I Surrender All:  Rebuilding a Marriage Broken by Pornography, co-written with his wife Renee.  Along with the new worship project, Crosse is seeing a new facet of his ministry emerge with HolyHomes Ministries, which involves honest and dynamic testimony with his wife.  "Renee and I have seen His hand on our marriage — teaching, loving and guiding us through some difficult times.  We are now entering a new season of God’s blessing upon this ministry.  HolyHomes, the ministry that Renee and I started out of our rededication to Christ in 1998, is gearing up for the numerous speaking engagements that God is sending our way," says Crosse.  <><

SOUNDBYTES:  THIRD DAY will release a new studio album on November 1st.  Wherever You Are  is the Atlanta-based band’s eighth major project and their first album since Wire hit stores in May 2004. <>< TOBYMAC’s "Gone" video is currently featured on MTV’s Asia web site.  To see it, go to mtvasia.com. <>< THE ELMS are back in the studio working on their latest CD with producer David Bianco (Tom Petty, Rage Against The Machine, Black Crowes) for new label Universal South.  Check out demos of new tunes “She’s Cold,” “Towers and the Trains” and “Rock In Your Blood” on the band’s myspace.com webpage. <><

ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:

Tues., Aug. 16 - Brian McSweeney (SEVEN DAY JESUS)

Wed., Aug. 17 - Kevin Max (DCTALK)

Thurs., Aug. 18 - Edwin Hawkins (EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS)

Fri., Aug. 19 - Gary Chapman, Neal Coomer (EAST TO WEST), Jeremy Deibler (FFH)

Sat., Aug. 20 - Brad Avery (THIRD DAY), Nikki Leonti

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

Aug. 18th - Mark Schultz--Bay Vista Baptist, Biloxi, MS

Aug. 20th – Jeff Deyo—Glad Tidings Assembly of God, Shreveport, LA

Aug. 25th – Matthew West & Hawk Nelson--A.E. Wood Coliseum/Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

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

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

Sept. 3rd – Shane & Shane with Monk & Neagle--Word of Life Church, Shreveport, LA

Sept. 8th - Phillips, Craig & Dean--Louisiana College, Pineville, LA

Sept. 8th – “Fusion 05” with Jason Morant--Chi Alpha Campus Ministries/Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA

Sept. 17th – Rachael Lampa--Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles, LA

Sept. 18th - Shane & Shane & Mitch McVicker--Rose Heights Church of God, Tyler, TX  

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

Oct. 1st – “Post Football Game Rally” with TheAfters--Thomas Assembly Center/LA. Tech University, Ruston, LA (9:00 PM)

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

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

Oct. 13th - Big Daddy Weave & Ginny Owens--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

Oct. 14th - Casting Crowns & Building 429--Park Hill Baptist, North Little Rock, AR

Oct. 14th – “A Mother & Daughter Event: The SHE Concert” with Rebecca St. James & Evie Karlsson--First Baptist, Gulfport, MS

Oct. 19th – Avalon--Washington Parish Free Fair, Franklinton, LA

Oct. 21st – Todd Agnew, Starfield & Inhabited--Louisiana College, Pineville, LA

Oct. 23rd - Point of Grace--First Baptist, Natchez, MS

Oct. 23rd - Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman & Louie Giglio--Immanuel Baptist, Little Rock, AR

Oct. 26th – “A Collision” Tour w/David Crowder Band & Shane and Shane—First Baptist, Jackson MS

Nov. 4th – Casting Crowns & Building 429--First Baptist, Jackson, MS

Nov. 10th - Big Daddy Weave--Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport, LA

Nov. 13th – Jeremy Camp, Bethany Dillon & The Afters--Clear Channel Metroplex, Little Nov. 20-22 – Salvador, Overflow & Brock Gill--Youth Evangelistic Celebration/Southern Baptist Convention, Alexandria, LA

(for the latest concert news, visit:  www.glory2gloryproductions.com.)

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & VIDEO RELEASES:

Aug. 16th-

STRYPER—Reborn (Big3 Records)      

LEON PATILLO—Live Experience 2 (Tag Distribution)  

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

CANTON JONES—Love Jones (EMI Gospel)

WILLIAM MURPHY—All Day - The William Murphy Project (Epic/Sony Urban Music/Integrity Gospel)

JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT—Monk Rock (Troubadour Records)

JENNIFER KNAPP—The Collection [Single Disc release] (Gotee Records)

Various Artists—Hip Hope 2006 [CD/DVD Combo] (Gotee Records)

Aug., 19^th—

BART MILLARD—Hymned [Dual Disc CD] (Simple Records/INO Records)

Aug. 23rd-

CHRIS RICE--Amusing [Autographed] (eb+flo/INO Records)

SELAH--Greatest Hymns (Curb Records)

NEWSONG--Rescue (Live Worship) [DVD] (Integrity Music)

PAPA SAN--Real & Personal (Gospo Centric)

RON KENOLY & HIGH PRAISE--Fill The Earth (Right Hand/NGMR/Taseis Media Group)

Various Artists--Hymns and Choruses Top 40 (Dana Point Music)

Various Artists--My Kind of Worship (Spring Hill Music Group)

Aug. 26^th—

THE ROCKET SUMMER--Hello Good Friend [Free Bonus Sampler] (SRE Recordings)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

10 MORE Signs That It's Time To Go On A Diet...

1. Your neighborhood grocery store offers to pick you up in a rented limo. 

2. Your order at a fast-food drive-through window is delivered to your car on a hand truck. 

3. You’ve burned out more than two refrigerator bulbs in the past month. 

4. People standing behind you in an office building decide to take the next elevator. 

5. Your fork suddenly comes up missing at the all-you-can-eat buffet. 

6. You break out in a cold sweat when you see the latest Taco Bell TV commercial. 

7. There is a restraining order against you from McDonald’s. 

8. The Captain orders you to stay in the center of the ship on your Caribbean cruise.

9. Picnics with your family involve renting a U-Haul. 

10. The left side of your car seems to bottom out a lot. 

Glory2Glory Christian Music E-zine! thanks Kim Jones, the Editor and Guide of About.com’s “Christian Music Guide," for providing a link to us!  To subscribe to Kim’s FREE newsletter, click here: christianmusic.about.com. 

© August 16th, 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!