This is the September 12th, 2005 edition of Glory2Glory Christian Music E-zine!, a contemporary Christian music and modern Worship newsletter distributed to gospel music enthusiasts around the world. 

Please continue to pray for the individuals and families in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast that have been displaced due to Hurricane Katrina.  Also please consider donating to “Convoy of Hope”, a Christian disaster relief organization that has already delivered more than 80 semi-truckloads of food, water and ice to the hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast area.  To donate to Convoy of Hope, click here or copy & paste this URL in your browser’s address field:  www.convoyofhope.org   

IN THE NEWS: 

<><  Seventh Day Slumber will clear the remainder of their touring schedule for the next two months in order to tour Hurricane Katrina evacuee camps and shelters.  After honoring their previous commitments to church venues, the band will focus on scheduling free concerts for as many evacuee sites as possible.  These concerts will also be open to the public for a donation of food, water or relief supplies and afterwards there will be a time of worship and prayer.  For more info, visit their official website at www.seventhdayslumber.com.

<><  Casting Crowns’ sophomore project, Lifesong, has debuted at no. 9 in its first week out on Billboard Magazine’s Top 200 mainstream album chart.  The new project sold over 71,000 copies, which is the highest first-week sales for a Christian artist in almost two years.  Lifesong also garnered a record breaking 1,824 full album downloads altogether on services including iTunes, Sony Connect and Napster.  This achievement sets a new first-week record for Christian album downloads on these mainstream internet services.

<>< New Orleans’ native son George Huff is staying busy after the Katrina catastrophe with several guest television appearances in the coming weeks.  On Monday (Sept. 12th), Huff was shown on Inside Edition reuniting with his father in Baton Rouge and surveying the hurricane damage in his hometown of New Orleans.  Dr. Phil’s show on Tuesday, Sept. 13th will air some footage of Huff at a Louisiana airport.  Also on the same date, The 700 Club covers Huff in the storm ravaged Big Easy “finding hope in the midst of the devastation.”  Then this Thursday (Sept. 15th), Huff will be in Washington, D.C. to tape BET's Bobby Jones Gospel program where he'll be performing his song "Brighter Day."  Also the American Idol finalist will be in Nashville on Tuesday, Sept. 20th for a taping of Praise the Lord on TBN that will air later that week (check your local listings for exact times and channels of all these programs.)

<>< Celtic Christian band Ceili Rain has signed with TAG Artist Group to release a greatest hits CD and DVD entitled Anthology: 1995-2005 .  The CD will include 15 fan favorites including "That’s All the Lumber," "God Done Good" and "You Then Me."  Also the companion DVD will feature 17 videos of live performances,  television appearances and the music video for "Like a Train" from 2004’s Change In Your Pocket.

<>< Shaun Groves is the spokesperson for a new relief agency founded after the hurricane catastrophe.  FindShelter.org, an organization established to provide assistance for Katrina victims, will serve as a liaison between families displaced by the storm and local churches wanting to offer long-term aid.  Groves’ agency will help fulfill many other essential needs of the evacuees, such as supplying them food, employment, spiritual and psychological counsel, and health care for up to one year.  For more info, visit their website at www.findshelter.org.

SOUNDBYTES: 

<>< Scott Stapp, former lead vocalist for rock band Creed who proclaimed his faith in Christ last year, is not releasing his debut solo album until November 22nd, but fans can hear a free preview now of the title track to The Great Divide on Stapp’s official website (www.ScottStapp.com). <>< Falling Up is losing guitarist Joe Kisselburgh, who has decided to “pursue some of his other interests in life," according to their official website at www.fallinguponline.com.  The band's sophomore release Dawn Escapes hits stores on October 25th.  

THIS WEEK’S ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:

Sept. 13 - Aaron Benward (Aaron-Jeoffrey), Gary Mullett (Geoff Moore and the Distance)

Sept. 14 - Brandon Thompson (The Waiting)

Sept. 16 - Chris Eaton, Mark Schultz

Sept. 17 - BeBe Winans

Sept. 18 - Kerry Livgren (Kansas)

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

(NOTE:  MANY CONCERTS SCHEDULED IN THE GULF COAST AREA HAVE NOT  BEEN OFFICIALLY CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE KATRINA, SO PLEASE CHECK WITH THE VENUE BEFORE TRAVELING!)

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

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

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. 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—Brookwood Baptist, Shreveport, 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 with David Crowder Band & Shane and Shane—First Baptist, Jackson MS

Oct. 27th – “Strong Tower Tour” with Kutless, KJ-52, Disciple & Krystal Meyers--North Monroe Baptist, Monroe, LA (produced by glory2glory productions)

Oct. 28th - Yolanda Adams & Israel Houghton--Thaila Mara Hall, Jackson, MS

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

Nov. 6th – Stryper--House of Blues, New Orleans, LA

Nov. 10th - Big Daddy Weave & Ginny Owens—First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

Nov. 11th–13th - “Ark-La-Tex Festival” with Franklin Graham, Nicole C. Mullen & Salvador—CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, LA   

Nov. 13th – Jeremy Camp, Bethany Dillon & TheAfters--Clear Channel Metroplex, Little Rock, AR

Nov. 20th-22nd – Salvador, Overflow & Brock Gill--Youth Evangelistic Celebration (Southern Baptist Convention), Alexandria, LA

Jan. 31st, 2006 - Acquire the Fire: Run to the Battle—Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA

March 31st, 2006 - Women of Faith - Extraordinary Faith w/ Sandi Patty—CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, LA

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

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & VIDEO RELEASES:

<>< Sept. 13th—

Switchfoot-Nothing is Sound (Sparrow Records)

Shane & Shane-Shane & Shane Live [CD & DVD] (InPop Records)

Seventh Day Slumber-Picking Up The Pieces [re-issue] (BEC Recordings)

Aaron Neville-Aaron Neville Christmas (EMI Gospel)  

Mark Lowry-Mark Lowry Goes To Hollywood [CD-Rom/DVD/VHS] (Gaither Music Group)

Rita Springer-I Have To Believe (Floodgate Records)

CeCe Winans-Purified [Dual Disc] (Pure Springs Gospel)

Bishop Eddie Long And The New Birth Total Praise Choir-For Such a Time as This (EMI Gospel)

Byron Cage-An Invitation To Worship (Gospo Centric)

Da' T.r.u.t.h.-The Faith (Cross Movement Records)

Disciple-Disciple [DualDisc] (S/R/E Recordings)

Hillsong-God He Reigns [CD & DVD] (Hillsong/Integrity Music)

Debra Killings-Ready Or Not (Verity Records)

Reuben Morgan-World Through Your Eyes (Rocketown Records)

the ric blair band-Fields of Freedom (Martingale Music/Celtic Isle Records)

Various-Verity's First Decade: Christmas (Verity Records)

Walt Disney Records Read Alongs-Sunday Morning Series: David and Goliath (Walt Disney Records)

Walt Disney Records Read Alongs-Sunday Morning Series: Noah's Ark (Walt Disney Records)

<>< Sept. 15th-

Clay Crosse-Eternity with You: Live Worship (Holy Homes)

<>< Sept. 16th-

Josh Bates-Perfect Day (Beach Street Records)

<>< For a FREE subscription to Glory2Glory Christian Music E-zine! with the latest issue sent  to your e-mail inbox each week, e-mail:  glory2gloryezine@... or copy & paste this URL in your browser’s address field:  http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Glory2GloryChristianMusicE-zine/

<>< 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. 

© September 12th, 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!