Later it was the songwriters showcase featuring the songs nominated for Song of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards Wednesday night. Bart Millard, Mark Hall, Mac Powel, Chris Tomlin, Cindy Morgan (who was absolutely incredible) and others sang the songs they wrote and explained the stories behind those songs. Leeland Mooring performed “Tears of the Saints” and was followed by Cat Gravitt, the author of “In Better Hands” the Natalie Grant mega hit. Cat is best known as she says for writing songs about “pickup trucks and tobacco” for some the biggest Country acts. She said what many have said after hearing Leeland’s passionate performance, ”Who was that kid and why do I have to follow him”. A testament to the resolve and power our music has on those that may be believers but are not surrounded daily by the music we have come to love and sometimes take for granted.
Monday morning’s session with the “One Minute Manager” and Christian Ken Blanchard was, to use a overused cliché “Eye Opening”. His thoughts and life style truly reflect that Jesus himself was the first and best “One Minute Manager” ever!! He strongly suggested that we follow that example of leadership principles of servanthood and love above all the “usual” business practices found in most Secular and unfortunately Christian business and Churches.
The EMI luncheon showcase was hosted by Matthew West and featured performances by West himself, as well as, Chris Tomlin, This Beautiful Republic and others.
Other things we picked up while we were there include:
Price Caspian, the second installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series releases May 16th and will be on DVD in time for Christmas 2008
Toby Mac has a live DVD/CD releasing May 26th
Chris Tomlin should be touring with Israel Houghton in early 2009
Jason Crabb has a solo record coming out this winter
August 18th sees David Crowder releasing a new Live DVD
A new Keith Green DVD is being released April 26th. It features all unreleased live performances by Keith and runs over 4 hours. They showed us a part of the DVD and as someone that agrees that Keith was and is so instrumental in this industry, I am very excited about this. If I have never seen this material it must be something new and unreleased. Keith’s wife, Melody, was seen roaming the halls here this weekend. She in fact stopped Matthew West to pray for him and told him she “Saw something about prison” in his future. Matthew humorously mused he hoped that was not meant to say he was going to prison!!.
This morning in a separate meeting Matthew West was asked to visit a prison ministry that wants him to come a do a concert!!! A truly rare but welcome GMA memory!!
Chris Tomlin drops a new CD in September, following his upcoming World Tour. He performed, for the first time the one “Jesus Messiah” from the disc. It will be another classic for the man that Time magazine says is the most “Sung” artist EVER ANYWHERE! Over 63 MILLION performances every Sunday in churches across the world.
There is much more to come so check back tomorrow for more highlights, and don’t forget the GMA Dove Awards Wednesday night on GMC. You’ll have all the results in your inbox, thanks to KNET come Thursday morning if you can’t watch the show.
