Artistic communities around the world continue to come together in efforts to aid the island nation of Haiti after the devastating earthquakes of January 12, 2010. Music City has done its part with the recent collaboration of the biggest names in Nashville’s own Country, Christian and Gospel music communities.
 
Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY and Dove Award winning artist Michael W. Smith gathered a community of Nashville-based artists on January 27 at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Studio to record “Come Together Now” –   a song written by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan – to benefit Haiti relief efforts.
 
Released under the banner Music City Unites For Haiti (Various Artists), and with the studio’s, artists’ and musicians’ time all donated, proceeds from the single will go to designated charity and relief work through Samaritan’s Purse and American Red Cross.
 
The single is now available at all digital retailers.  
 
Bringing aid and relief efforts to Haiti is a personal mission for Michael W. Smith, who has already traveled to the island with Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian  humanitarian organization, in the wake of the earthquake, and whose wife Debbie has done missionary work in the nation in the past.
 
“I’m deeply grateful to Michael for all his efforts to help those suffering in Haiti,” shares Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse.  “Every artist and every individual who can use their talent and ability to shed light on those in need, when it’s all added together, it makes a huge difference. My prayer is that God will use this song and video to touch the hearts of this nation to give generously to the people of Haiti.”
 
In addition, “Come Together Now” will be the lead track for the March 2nd Healing4Haiti, a full album project featuring songs by artists including Israel Houghton, DecembeRadio, Kari Jobe, The Afters, Hawk Nelson, Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosley, Canton Jones, Lincoln Brewster and Mary Mary. For more information on the album, please visit: www.samaritanspurse.org.
 
Artists part of “Come Together Now” Music City Unites for Haiti include:  
Aaron Shust, Alathea, Amy Grant Vince Gill, Ashley Cleveland, Austins Bridge, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Chris McClarney, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Sligh, Don Poythress, Dorothy Savage, Duane Allen, Echoing Angels, Everlife, Francesca Battistelli, Jaime Jamgochian, Jared Anderson, Jody Davis, John Schlitt, Kate Lazar, Katinas, Kevin Max, Kirk Sullivan, Lee Greenwood, Manic Drive, Margaret Becker, Mark Hall, Matt Dowley, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Meredith Andrews, Michael Tait, MIKESCHAIR, Mike Weaver, Paige Armstrong, Phil Stacey, Point of Grace, PureNRG, Rachael Lampa, Restless Heart, Selah, Steven Curtis Chapman, Toby Mac, Veronica Petrucci, Wynonna, and Yellow Cavalier.  
 

Nominations for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominations were announced this morning at Belmont University’s Curb Café, with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Brandon Heath serving as one of the presenters at today’s nominee press conference.  In addition to announcing the nominees, Heath scored three of his own nominations, including the prestigious Male Vocalist of the Year, an award he won in 2009. Heath nabbed a Short Form Video of the Year nod for “Wait And See,” the second chart-topping single from his 2008 GRAMMY-nominated, sophomore album, What If We, plus recognition for his participation on Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship, nominated in the Special Event Album of the Year category.
 
2009 was a huge year for Brandon, nominated for two GRAMMY awards, and his first American Music Award. Heath also garnered three wins at last year’s Dove Award ceremony, including Song of the Year for his hit song “Give Me Your Eyes,” the blockbuster lead single from What If We. Having captured 14 weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian AC radio chart, plus 27 weeks at No. 1 on iTunes Christian Song Chart, with more than 440,000 total digital downloads, “Give Me Your Eyes” won an Emmy Award, and was used by NASA as the wake-up call for the Endeavour shuttle crew on their first day in orbit.
 
Heath’s new single “Love Never Fails” climbs to No.17 at Billboard’s AC Monitored radio chart this week.
 
For tour dates, and more information, please visit www.brandonheath.net and follow Brandon on Twitter at twitter.com/brandonheath.

With three consecutive RIAA Gold records, multiple GRAMMY® and Dove Award wins, sell out tours and non-stop radio hits, TobyMac has hit yet another career milestone with his fourth solo effort, TONIGHT, giving the Christian music industry icon his highest solo career debut ever.  Selling over 78,000 units, TONIGHT took over the Christian SoundScan charts’ No. 1 position, and amongst acts like Lady GaGa and the Black Eyed Peas, entered the Billboard Top 200 at No. 6 as well as No.3 on overall Current Digital Albums chart.

“Every time I give birth to a new record, it is an intense labor of love,” said TobyMac.  “From the creation of the music, to the production, and then to the promotion, it takes a great team and a huge amount of effort on everybody’s part. I’m truly thankful for the people around me, as well as my fans who seem to show up and represent every time.  For these reasons, I’ll always give it all I’ve got.”                
 
Already critically acclaimed and having garnered the GRAMMY® nominated No. 1 Billboard single “City On Our Knees,” (the fastest charting and selling track in his career with over 225,000 downloads), TobyMac’s digital sales were equally significant, with TONIGHT peaking at No. 2 on the iTunes® overall sales chart, and No. 1 its Christian/Gospel chart.

“We could not be more pleased with the excitement we are seeing surrounding TobyMac’s “Tonight” release,” remarked Peter York, Label Group President, EMI Christian Music Group. ”From radio to retail to the fans at street week events and on line, the enthusiasm for this project is overwhelming.  Toby has cultivated a loyal fan base who look to him for current production values on songs that impact their lives.  Once again he has delivered an extraordinary record filled with diverse styles, hooks, beats and messages.  The sales numbers we are seeing on release week indicate he has truly given the consumers what they are looking for.  We are very grateful to partner with such a gifted artist.”

TobyMac recently donated 100% of his artist royalties from iTunes® week long preview of “Get Back Up,” his new single debuting March 5th, to the devastation in Haiti.  Proceeds will be divided up amongst the Hands and Feet Organization, Restore Haiti, and Compassion International.  He will hit the road on March 4th with Skillet for the AWAKE TONIGHT tour.

For all things TobyMac, go to http://www.tobymac.com.

Grammy Award nominee and five-time GMA Dove Award nominee Francesca Battistelli will be releasing My Paper Heart: Deluxe Edition March 2 on Fervent Records. Featuring all the songs from the original release of My Paper Heart, this deluxe edition will also include two new songs (“Keeping Me Guessing” and “Lead Me To The Cross”) and four new recordings of the hits “Free To Be Me”, “It’s Your Life”, “I’m Letting Go”, and “Beautiful, Beautiful.”
 
The release of My Paper Heart: Deluxe Edition comes after Battistelli finished off an extraordinary year which resulted in the break out singles, "Free To Be Me", "I'm Letting Go", and "It's Your Life."  She was the most added new female artist in Christian radio history and her record breaking "Free To Be Me" held the #1 slot on four radio charts simultaneously.  Additionally, Battistelli had music featured on AOL Music's homepage, in ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8," NBC's "Biggest Loser," Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance," and many other television shows and movies.
 
Francesca is offering fans the opportunity to pre-order My Paper Heart: Deluxe Edition in her official online store offering exclusive downloads and products. Visit http://www.francescamusic.com/store for more information.
 
For more information about Francesca Battistelli, visit http://www.francescamusic.com

Reunion Records flagship artist Michael W. Smith today picked up his latest industry award honor – a GMA Dove Award nomination in the Long Form Music Video of the Year category for the project “A New Hallelujah: The Live Worship DVD” – while previewing another video project close to his heart.
 
Acting as a presenter at the press conference to announce the nominees for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, the veteran singer/songwriter/producer/worship leader also introduced the music video for the song “Come Together Now,” the multi-artist, genre-crossing song released under the banner Music City Unites For Haiti, recorded in late January at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Studios.
 
In addition, “Come Together Now” will be the lead track for the March 2nd Healing4Haiti, a full album project featuring songs by artists including Israel Houghton, DecembeRadio, Kari Jobe, The Afters, Hawk Nelson, Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosley, Canton Jones, Lincoln Brewster and Mary Mary. For more information on the album, please visit: www.samaritanspurse.org.
 

Essential Records artist Red announced its presence with authority as one of the premier rock bands in Christian music with a total of three nominations for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards.
 
The band’s second full-length album project, Innocence & Instinct, picked up a nod for Rock Album of the Year, while two different songs off the record – “Fight Inside” and “Mystery of You” – were included in the list of honorees for Rock Recorded Song of the Year.

The GMA Dove Award nominations come the same week Red is finishing its first big touring jaunt of 2010, headlining the “Nothing And Everything Tour,” which also includes fellow hard rock band (and labelmates) Pillar, along with special guests The Wedding and Me In Motion. The tour wraps Tuesday, February 23 in Dodge City, Kansas.
 
Nashville-based Red, made up of Michael Barnes (vocals), Anthony Armstrong (guitar) Randy Armstrong (bass), and Joe Rickard (drums), has logged an impressive 1,500+ live shows since releasing its debut album End Of Silence in 2006.
 
Red’s GRAMMY-nominated sophomore project, Innocence & Instinct (2/7/09) released with more than 40,000 in first week sales and climbed its way to the Top 5 on iTunes Top Albums chart.  To date, the band has earned eight consecutive No. 1 radio singles, the last three of which are from Innocence & Instinct.  The band simultaneously released a Deluxe Edition of Innocence & Instinct that includes four bonus tracks and a DVD featuring the “Death of Me” music video, a “making of” documentary and more.  
 
Since the 2006 emergence of End Of Silence RED has maintained a near-constant presence on the road, touring alongside notable rock names such as Three Days Grace, Flyleaf, 3 Doors Down, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Saving Abel, Sevendust, Staind, Kutless, Trapt, Third Day, Switchfoot and others, and rave reviews for the band’s live shows have poured in via both print and online outlets alike.

Veteran progressive band Jars of Clay may have reinvented its sound with last year’s The Long Fall Back To Earth, but its peers in the Christian music community continued to honor band members in some familiar ways, with the band picking up six nominations for this year’s GMA Dove Awards.
 
The group was well represented in the GMA Dove Awards’ general categories, picking up mentions in the Artist of the Year and Group of the Year categories, as well as inclusion for Song of the Year for “Two Hands.”
 
The Long Fall Back To Earth was also nominated as Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, as well as notching two slots in the creative category Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, for the standard and limited editions of the project.
 
But the band will not be partaking in any celebratory beverages in honor of its nomination slate, as band members are in the early stages of its annual “40 Days of Water” benefit for its long-time charitable concern Blood:Water Mission. Jars of Clay, along with many other artists and fans, undertake drinking water as their only beverage for 40 days (coinciding with the Lenten season) and donating the savings to support local water projects in Uganda. For more information, go to 40days.bloodwatermission.com.

(Nashville, Tenn.)  February 18, 2010 – Fresh off taking home its fourth career GRAMMY Award at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards, Atlanta-based rock band Third Day, along with frontman Mac Powell, garnered a number of nominations for 41ST Annual GMA Dove Awards this morning.
 
The band picked up mentions in the Special Event Album of the Year category for its contribution to the original motion picture soundtrack for Fireproof, as well as a nod in the Long Form Music Video of the Year category for Live Revelations: On Stage, Off Stage, Backstage, the project that netted the aforementioned a GRAMMY Award.
 
Third Day frontman Mac Powell also picked up a Dove Award nomination for Special Event Album of the Year for his work on the Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship album, as well as a pair of nominations (as artist and songwriter) in the Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year category for “Since The World Began” from that same project.
 

With a music-making history of 59 years, today Word Entertainment, through its artists, projects and other contributors, garnered 62 Gospel Music Award nominations. Fervent Records’ Francesca Battistelli led the way matching last year’s five total nominations including “Artist of the Year,” “Female Vocalist of the Year,” “Song of the Year”(“Free To Be Me”), “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” (“Free To Be Me”) and “Short Form Video of the Year” (“Free To Be Me”).
 
Fervent Records’ newest artist Sidewalk Prophets was honored with their first nominations in this year’s “New Artist” grouping, in addition to a nod in the “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Album of the Year” category. Atlantic Records’ NEEDTOBREATHE received three nominations including “Group of the Year”, “Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” (“Lay ‘Em Down”), and “Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year.” Fervent Records’ popular sister rock act BarlowGirl was nominated for “Rock/Contemporary Album” and “Short Form Music Video.” Word Records’ country music favorite Diamond Rio was nominated for “Song of the Year” (“God is There”), “Country Recorded Song of the Year” (“God is There”), and “Country Album of the Year.”
 
Word Label Group (a division of Word Entertainment comprised of Word Records, Fervent Records, Myrrh Records, and Canaan Records) garnered 27 nominations, including top categories “Artist,” “Song,” “Group,” “Female Vocalist”, “Male Vocalist” as well as “New Artist.”
 
 Word Distribution collected an additional 20 nominations including “Song of the Year” (“Let The Waters Rise”, MIKESCHAIR), “Male Vocalist of the Year” (Michael English), and “Female Vocalist of the Year” (Natalie Grant).
Word Music Print was represented with 8 nominations, including three for “Musical of the Year,” two for “Youth/Children’s Musical of the Year,” and three for “Choral Collection of the Year.”
The Breen Agency, another division of Word Entertainment handling artist touring and booking, was acquired by Word earlier in 2009. This division garnered nominations in “Song of the Year” (“Revelation Song”, Phillips, Craig, & Dean), “Female Vocalist of the Year” (Laura Story), and “Inspirational Album of the Year” (Fearless, Phillips, Craig & Dean) with 3 total nominations.

The reigning five-time Dove Award Group of the Year, Casting Crowns, receives additional recognition from the Gospel Music Association today for a spectacular 2009. The top-selling act in Christian music since 2007, Casting Crowns racks up three nominations for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, announced at Belmont University’s Curb Café. With these nominations, Casting Crowns is again recognized for being at the forefront of Christian music, with top nods in the Artist of the Year and Group of the Year categories.
 
The band’s ninth career radio No.1 song, and title track of its blockbuster fourth album, “Until the Whole World Hears,” receives a nomination for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.  Additionally, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is nominated for his participation on Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship, in the Special Event Album of the Year category.
 
Certified RIAA Gold in four weeks, Casting Crowns’ latest album Until the Whole World Hears sold a historical 167,000 first-week copies, setting a sales record for the group as the highest debuting Christian Music artist in SoundScan history (week ending 11/22/09). To date, all of the Atlanta-based band’s projects are RIAA certified, with a monster tally of two RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, now three RIAA Gold Albums and a Gold DVD, further establishing its unprecedented six-year career.
 
The 41st Annual Dove Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House and televised nationwide on gmc (http://www.gmclife.com), Sunday, April 25, 2010, from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. EST. gmc is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in 46 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.
 
Casting Crowns is currently continuing its highly-successful “Until The Whole World Hears” Tour in 41 more cities this spring. Having started on February 4, in Kansas City, Mo., the tour features a brand new lineup with special guests Kutless on dates in February and March, and Tenth Avenue North rounding out the tour’s final segment of shows in April and May. Indie rock band CALEB, featuring brothers Caleb and Will Chapman, will also join the tour roster.
 
The spring leg of the “Until The Whole World Hears” Tour follows a well-received, 41-city run of fall dates on which Casting Crowns played in front of nearly 150,000 people at multiple sell-out performances.

GRAMMY Award nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West recently partnered with national network K-LOVE Radio for a third consecutive year on its “Next Great Love Song” promotion. The contest drew more than 4,000 submissions from which one entrant was selected to win a custom love song performed by West.
 
Beginning Jan. 29, listeners were asked to submit their love stories as inspiration for the “Next Great Love Song,” written and recorded by West. On February 5, Grand Prize winner Ann Mathews’ story, recounting her husband’s unconditional love during her near fatal battle with breast cancer, was chosen as the subject of West’s original song “Hold You Up.” The song debuts today on the K-LOVE morning show and is currently available for purchase via itunes at http://tinyurl.com/yjsk588. You can read Ann’s story in its entirety at www. http://www.klove.com/promodetails.aspx?i=5531.
 
“Doing this ‘Next Great Love Song’ contest with KLOVE has become something I look forward to every year,” says West. “The thought of writing music inspired by the people who actually listen to my music has been really refreshing, and I was honored to read through so many real life love stories. This story from Ann Matthews, a story of unconditional love through some of the most trying circumstances imaginable, had all the ingredients I needed to write the winning song. Thanks to K-LOVE for the opportunity, and to all the listeners for opening a window into their worlds.”
 
This is the third year West has participated in the “Next Great Love Song” promotion, writing “Waiting For You” in 2008 and last year’s “When I Say I Do.” Mike Tedesco, Promotions Director at KLOVE, comments, “Year after year Matthew West writes a song based on one couples' love story that ends up deeply resonating with the audience as a whole. Listeners hear Matthew's song in February and are still emailing and calling us about it 6 months later. That's powerful.”
 
For more information on the “Next Great Love Song” promotion, visit www.klove.com
 
GRAMMY Award nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, “More,” the most played Christian AC song of 2003. The multi-Dove Award nominee has since released three critically-acclaimed recordings, Happy (2003), History (2005), and Something to Say (2008), while dominating radio as the most played Christian artist of 2003, 2008, and 2009, according to Radio & Records. Having never released a single that charted below the Top 10, West’s memorable hits include “Only Grace,” “History,” “Next Thing You Know” and “The Motions.”
 
Most recently, West was asked to pen the theme song for VeggieTales’ latest Christmas DVD release, Saint  Nicholas – A Story Of Joyful Giving. West recorded “Give This Christmas Away” with best-selling, award-winning artist Amy Grant, who performed the radio single alongside Matthew on Fox News programs “Huckabee” and “FOX & Friends.” West’s latest single “Save A Place,” is currently climbing the charts at Christian AC radio.
 
For more information on Matthew West, visit www.matthewwest.com or www.myspace.com/matthewwest.

*Forefront Record’s multi-platinum, five-time GRAMMY® Award winner and 2010 nominee TobyMac has just released his fourth studio album, TONIGHT, which has already raced to No. 2 on iTunes® overall sales chart.
 
*Just like its three predecessors TONIGHT is drawing the attention of music fans everywhere, with over 1000 people flocking to a local Lifeway Bookstore in Houston to meet the singer/songwriter this morning following a visit to KSBJ radio this morning.  
 
*TONIGHT is also causing chatter from critics across the board including Billboard, Christianity Today, USA Today, The Washington Post and more:
“This five-time Grammy winner always delivers sonically inventive and lyrically substantive music that appeals to a wide fan base. TobyMac never fails to make music that stimulates the mind, nourishes the soul and makes you want to dance—all at the same time.”-Billboard Magazine

“From his days with dc Talk, TobyMac has used his music to proclaim a message of diversity to the entirely too segregated world of Christian music. On his fourth solo album, he lets his music do the talking, as guests ranging from Israel Houghton to Skillet’s John Cooper and Relient K's Matt Thiessen join him as he careens from R&B-infused rock to reggae to Auto-Tuned pop.”
-USA Today
 
“TobyMac is a gifted melodicist -- there may be no contemporary Christian rocker better at writing hooks.”-Washington Post

“The 13 tracks have much in common with previous records Momentum, Welcome to Diverse City, and Portable Sounds—they are designed to be performed live, boast universal appeal, and cleverly mesh hip-hop, rock, reggae, and funk—but a fresh sense of urgency pervades Tonight. there's no argument that Tonight is fastidiously created and executed.”-ChristianityToday.com

“Famed contemporary Christian artist continues to experiment with blending hip-hop, rock, pop and urban elements on his fourth solo outing.”- Dallas Morning News
 
“ Tonight stands as a declaration of refusal to settle ever, both in life and career. Just when you thought he couldn’t take music any farther, you look up, and he’s miles ahead of the pack once again.”-Underthegunreviews.net

"The first 'must have' album of 2010."-NewReleaseTuesday.com
 
“The astounding producing talents of Toby shine through like always, and his fourth album as a solo act should still be a widespread favorite by the year's end. All I can say is, TobyMac's still got it, and it's good to have him back and in good form as we've always known him.”-Jesusfreakhideout.com

“If you're already a TobyMac fan, your allegiance to his music will be further solidified after one listen to this new album. If you're new to TobyMac's music, hang on. You're in for a real treat. Tonight is going to make your day!”- Gospelmusicupdate.com

“Mac skillfully combines that veteran experience with youthful enthusiasm, channeled once again through his remarkably consistent rap/hip-hop/alternative rock aura, but with some extra juice and more attitude than ever before.”-CCM Magazine

* In follow-up to the No. 1 Billboard single “City On Our Knees,” the fastest charting and selling track in TobyMac’s career that hit No.1 on Christian AC Monitored and CHR, “Get Back Up” will be the second single released from the new record. The track goes for ads at AC and CHR on March 5.

*Recently the multiplatinum-selling artist caught up with KLOVE, Air 1 and Christianity Today’s Mark Moring  (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/interviews/2010/tobymckeehan-feb10.html) among others. In addition, TobyMac will be prominently featured in upcoming issue of Billboard, YouthWalk magazine, ChristianMusicReview.org, NewReleaseTuesday.com as well as the covers of Christian Musician and On Course magazines hitting stands this summer.
 
*KLOVE.com is hosting the exclusive music video premiere of TONIGHT for this week only, while Yahoo! Music will debut the “ShowStopper” music video as well as featuring the Then & Now video. Tune in now to hearitfirst.com to catch exclusive interviews with TobyMac and an eye-catching skin of TONIGHT on tangle.com
 
*TobyMac recently took a trip to Los Angeles, CA for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards, in which he was nominated for Best Gospel Song for “City On Our Knees,” his debut single from TONIGHT that also topped Billboard’s singles chart. As he walked the red carpet he saw some friends along the way: American Idol finalists Mandisa and Matt Giraud.  

*TobyMac is preparing to embark on the AWAKE TONIGHT tour co-headlining with popular rockers Skillet. The tour kicks off March 4 in Aurora, IL, and tickets are in hot demand for its 20+ tour markets. For more information on the AWAKE TONIGHT tour and for the latest news and information on TobyMac please go to www.tobymac.com.

NASHVILLE TENNESEE (February 11, 2010)— Saturday’s Haiti Relief Concert starring co-host Point of Grace and Mark Schultz raised over $50,000 to aid the earthquake survivors.  That amount does not include on-line giving made available during the live webcasts.  Over 3,300 tickets were claimed at the event which took place at Brentwood United Methodist Church while others from 10 countries around the world watched via webcast.
 
“Oh my goodness!!!  That is amazing!  Praise the Lord.  What a blessing.  It paid off for sure,” exclaimed Point of Grace member Denise Jones when told of the money donated to the cause.

“The success in the dollar amount raised on Saturday is only exceeded by the volunteer spirit in which it was given.  From all the artists, band members, crew, BUMC staff, UMCOR staff, Word Records and the stream of volunteers that gave their time and talents to help others so desperately in need. From that perspective it was an awe-inspiring evening,” stated Stuart Dill, Point of Grace’s manager and co-event organizer.
 
Joining the co-hosts for a night of uplifting music were Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Dove award winners Selah and Ginny Owens.
 
100% of the proceeds from the night’s concert will benefit the relief efforts of UMCOR.  
If you would like to learn more or give on-line simply go to www.umcorhaiti.org.

(Nashville, Tenn.) Feb.9, 2010 – Nashville singer/songwriter and Male Vocalist of the Year Brandon Heath added a rare highlight to his growing list of accolades with his recent Emmy Award win, presented to the celebrated songwriter for his blockbuster hit “Give Me Your Eyes.” The song served as the catalyst for Nashville Rescue Mission’s Hunger to Hope 2009 PSA Campaign, produced by NewsChannel 5’s Jerry L. Walker, WTVF-TV (CBS).
 
Rounding out Heath’s week of unique compliments is the selection of the award-winning song by NASA as the 5:14pm CT wake-up call for the Endeavour shuttle crew, on their first day in orbit, in honor of first-time flyer Pilot Terry Virts, who is a fan of Heath’s music. Virts invited Heath to join his family as a special guest at the launch yesterday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
 
Listen to NASA crew’s “Give Me Your Eyes” wake up call at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubLobZqp80w
 
Brandon Heath states, “Having my song included in a PSA talking about serving the poor was hugely rewarding. The Emmy is a nice statue, loving Nashville’s homeless is monumental. I’m especially grateful to WTVF NewsChannel 5, and Jackie Pillers, and to Jerry Walker for the idea.”
 
In regards to the NASA wake-up call, Heath adds, “I’m still geeking out over this, it’s the coolest thing ever!”

The Nashville/Midsouth Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented their 24th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards on Saturday, January 30, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
 
Heath’s blockbuster No. 1 hit song “Give Me Your Eyes” appears on his 2008 GRAMMY-nominated sophomore album, What If We. The album has delivered back-to-back No. 1 singles with “Give Me Your Eyes,” which captured 14 weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian AC radio chart, plus 27 weeks at No. 1 on iTunes Christian Song Chart, with 439,000 total digital downloads. The second single “Wait And See” topped Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart in July 2009. The album's current single “Love Never Fails” moves into Top 20 at Billboard’s AC Monitored this week.
 
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a non-profit, professional organization dedicated to fostering excellence in television. The academy has 19 chapters with 15,000 members nationwide. The Nashville/Midsouth Region encompasses the States of North Carolina (except Asheville) and Tennessee, and northern Alabama. This year’s nominations resulted in 74 awards for 30 companies in 68 categories.  The ballots, tabulated by Jennifer Lane of Decosimo Vaden, were judged by the Northwest Chapter of NATAS, based in Seattle, Washington.
 
For tour dates, and more information, please visit www.brandonheath.net, www.providentpress.com, and follow Brandon on Twitter at twitter.com/brandonheath.

Creative Soul Records band Canopy Red has partnered with OneVerse, a ministry organization whose mission is to accelerate Bible translation for the millions of people throughout the world waiting for God's Word to be translated into their own language. Canopy Red will work with OneVerse to raise awareness and funds to help translate the Bible into the Arew language in Tanzania. With a population exceeding 500,000, the Arew people will receive God's Word in their own language for the very first time.

"We are excited about partnering with OneVerse ministries because of their commitment to reaching others with the Word as well as sharing our passion for inspiring the church to be confident and stand firm in God's word in their everyday lives," said Canopy Red frontman Forrest Krazit of the new partnership.

Though it's only been a few months since the November release of Canopy Red's self-titled debut EP, the Creative Soul Records band has been drawing attention from Christian music fans nationwide thanks to a flurry of activity and comparisons to such artists as Sanctus Real and The Afters. Canopy Red has been profiled on Focus on the Family's PLUGGED IN Podcast and Campus Crusade for Christ Radio, and they were featured at HearItFirst.com as part of their month-long ROCKTOBER promotion, alongside established rock acts like Stryper, Pillar and Manic Drive. Their debut music video "Falling Apart" has received significant airplay on major outlets like JCTV, Control Track and Steelroots, as well as online destinations like VideoRocket.com.

With the new year comes the launch of Canopy Red's new radio single "All Around Me," which is shipping to Christian radio stations nationwide this week. "I am really excited to introduce these guys to radio," says Nashville-based radio promoter Chris Chicago. "They have a perfect blend of rock, pop and worship that is perfect for Christian radio. During these times of uncertainty, it's great to be reminded that God is 'All Around Me.' This song will fit right in on playlists all over the country!"

Produced by Eric Copeland, Canopy Red is available exclusively at iTunes from Creative Soul Records.

For more information, visit www.canopyred.com.