COUNTRY GOSPEL COUNTRY COLUMN

— In the memorable promotional HAGGARD HAS RECORD BINGE one of most TOP ISXiLBUMS stunts in recent times. Merle Haggard set a world's record at Billy Bob’s Texas Jan. 19 when he sprang for 5,095 C.C. Waterbacks, a Canadian Club Whiskey with a water chaser. The drink is the title of his current single release with George Jones, and Haggard reportedly bought the rounds to celebrate the record’s success, shattering the previous world record (according to the Guiness Book) of 1 ,501 drinks purchased by Paul Dear in Atlanta last year. Haggard’s new mark will appear in the 1 984 edition of Spiritual Inspirational the book. Jones and Haggard played at Winston-Salem’s Memorial Coliseum Jan. 13 is what was supposed to be their first appearance together in the ’83 spring tour before Weeks Weeks 9,000 concertgoers. Unfortunately, although they appeared on the same stage, it was On On 1/29 Chart 1/29 as separate artists and the hoped-for duet performances never surfaced. During the Chari evening, however, Jones introduced 88-year-old Sarah Brim, a cancer victim, to the 1 PRECIOUS LORD 1 AGE TO AGE audience and dedicated his current "Shine On” single to her. Currently, Haggard is AL GREEN (Hl/Myrrh MSB-6702) AMY GRANT (Myrrh MSB-6697) Title Cut "Sing Your Praise To The Lord" gearing upfor the third annual Merle Haggard BassTournament, scheduled for March 2 UNCLOUDY DAY 9-12 at his Lake Shasta Resort (tor those interested in that sort of thing, the resort is MYRNA SUMMERS (Savoy SL 14594) 2 STAND BY THE POWER Unavailable At Press Time referred to in a line In his 1981 single, ”My Favorite Memory”) in Redding, Calif. The IMPERIALS (Dayspring DST-4100) Stranger and Jim Gervaal, president of Gervasi Records, are expecting some 200 3 BROTHER TO BROTHER Unavailable At Press Time 2 13 WILLIAMS BROTHERS fishermen to enter the event at $220 per person, but total prizes for the tourney are (Myrrti MSB 6717) 3 LIFT UP THE LORD including fishing "Call Him Up" valued at well over $20,000, a bass boat. Talent for the affair includes SANDI PATTI (Impact 3799) 4 ALL Haggard, Leona Williams, Mel McDaniel and Gervasi’s Wyvon Alexander. Inciden- WHEN GOD’S "How Majestic Is Thy Name" CHILDREN GET tally, Alexander’s latest single, “Good Lovin Bad,” shipped Jan. 28. TOGETHER 4 AMAZING GRACE STROH’S SETS A TWO-PACK — Hank Williams, Jr. and Jerry Lee Lewis will hook up REV. KEITH PRINGLE B.J. THOMAS (Myrrh 6675) (Savoy SL 14656) Title Cut for one show at the Cincinnati Gardens Feb. 1 2 in the “Cincinnati Country Stroh Down.” Title Cut 5 60 Promoted by Rich MIschell of Full House Entertainment, the concert marks the first 5 LORD, YOU KEEP ON 5 THE Cincinnati appearance by Bocephus in several years. (The Killer plays the Ohio venue PROVING YOURSELF TO VERY BEST OF THE IMPERIALS quite often.) ME FLORIDA MASS CHOIR (Dayspring SST 4025) "Same Old Fashioned Way" 56 OUTLAW GETS TOP BILLING — RCA (Savoy SGL 7078) 6 recording artist Waylon Jennings is the Title Cut 6 39 latest artist to join Top Billing Inter- 6 EDWIN HAWKINS LIVE 6 MIRACLES B.J. THOMAS (Myrrh national, following Billy “Crash” WITH THE OAKLAND 6705) SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Unavailable At Press Time 3 60 Craddock and Jerry Reed into the VOL. II stable at the booking agency. The (Myrrti MSB 6700) 7 SPIRIT WINGS agreement covers the entire road show, "I Know A Man" 7 19 JONI EARECKSON (Word WSB-8878) Unavailable At Press Time including JessI Colter, Sonny Curtis 7 YOU BROUGHT THE SUNSHINE and the Crickets, and Jennings is a THE CLARK SISTERS 8 I SAW THE LORD that further (Sound of Gospel SOG 132) strong addition enhances DALLAS HOLM (Greentree R3723) Unavailable At Press Time MANDRELLS CLOSEUP — The Mandrel! the rebuiiding effort taking place at Top Title Cut 8 A TOUCH OF CLASS sisters — Barbara, Louise and Irlene — Billing. The firm’s president, Tandy JACKSON SOUTHERNAIRES IN recently got together backstage after Bar- Rice, apparently knows a little more (Malaco 4375) I PEACE THE VALLEY "Don't Look Down On A Man" B.J. THOMAS (Myrrh MSB-6710) bara's appearance at the MGM in Las than just the music business: he has ac- 9 REQUEST LINE Unavailable At Press Time Vegas. Barbara has been working of late cepted an invitation to serve as one of MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY 1 on her upcoming MCA album, while the judges for this year’s Miss America (Myrrh MSB 6712) 10 JONI’S SONG "Mighty Clouds Of Joy" 9 15 Louise's "Closeup" mini-LP shipped in late pageant in Atlantic City. JONI EARECKSON (Word WSB 8856) 10 IT’S GONNA RAIN Title Cut 8 40 January. Pictured are (l-r): Irlene, Barbara MILSAP, HARRIS TO CO-HOST MILTON BRUNSON and Louise Mandrell. KIDNEY-THON — The National Kidney (Myrrh MSB 6695) Title Cut THE LIVE CONCERT Foundation (NKF) Is firming up plans for Its third annual Country Music Festival, a two- o DON FRANCISCO 11 THE JOY OF THE LORD IS (Newpax NP 33128) day show featuring 20 hours of entertainment from country performers originating in MY STRENGTH Unavailable At Press Time both Nashville and Los Angeles. Ronnie Mllsap will host the segments from Nashville DOUGLAS MILLER AND THE TRUE WAY CHOIR with co-host Jerry Clower, while Emmylou Harris will be joined in L.A. by Real People (Gospearl Records PL-16008) 12 PRIORITY host Skip for April will Unavailable At Press Time Stephenson. Scheduled 23-24, the program feature a 12-hour IMPERIALS (Dayspring DST 4017) pre-taped show the first day. Including a countdown of the “Country Music Favorite 12 LORD MAKE ME OVER "The Trumpet Of Jesus" 11 40 THE BENNY CUMMINGS SINGERS 100,” an all-time listing compiled from fan ballots. The second day of programming in- (New Birth Records NEW-7057) volves an eight-hour iive show that will air on country stations across the nation. "Hold Out” 13 MORE POWER TO YA 13 SINCERELY PETRA (Star Song SSR0045) CHARLES SHOOTS NEW VIDEO — Ray Charles was in Nashville Jan. 24 to work on THE CLARK SISTERS Unavailable At Press Time 13 some video promotional materials in support of his current “Wish You Were Here (New Birth Records NEW-7058) Unavailable At Press Time Tonight” LP. whiie his "Born To Love Me” single is being re-serviced to all radio for- 14 MIGHTY CLOUDS ALIVE 14 UNFAILING LOVE mats because of the interest generated by his reappearance on the national music MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY EVIE TORNQUIST (Word WSB 8867) scene. Interestingly, the only million-selling album Charles ever had (he’s also ac- (Myrrh MSB-6687) "How I Love You Lord" 10 90 Unavailable At Press Time cumulated seven singles that reached that mark) was his “Modern Sounds In Country- 15 THE RICHARD 15 AMY GRANT IN CONCERT And-Western Music” release in 1962. Of the singles, a number have been covered by SMALLWOOD SINGERS VOL. II country performers in recent years, including “Georgia On My Mind” (Willie Nelson), (Onyx/Benson R3803) (Myrrh MSB 6677) "I Love The Lord" 15 20 "I'm Gonna Fly" “Busted” (John Conlee) and “You Don’t Know Me” (Mickey Gilley). FAMOUS SUB-PUBS — The Famous Music Corp. has acquired the international ad- ministration rights to all Alabama songs worldwide, excluding the United States, the Last notation Indicates the cut receiving the most airplay. The Cash Box Gospel chart is compiled United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada. Working in conjunction with Gee Bee Music from a broad cross-section of sales reports from national distributors and one-stops. (which controls administration in those four territories), the sub-publisher is organiz- ing a worldwide promotional tour for the four-man unit upon completion of their current U.S. tour. LOOK WHO’S A PEPPER — Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Band recently com- pleted 30- and 60-second national radio spots for Dr. Pepper. The Gatlins were the only country act chosen to represent the soft drink in the new campaign, which began in January. WHEN YOU’RE NOT A SINGER — Jim Glaser, whose Noble Vision recording, “When You’re Not A Lady.” is positioned at #25 bullet on the Cash Box country singles chart this week, was spotted at the Music City News post awards show party (see story on first country news page) taking pictures with a camera. Apparently, Glaser is a photography buff and works as a freelance photographer on occasion. He’ll be recording this week with producer Don Tolle in Nashville, and four cuts toward an im- pending solo album are already In the can, including a follow-up to the current release. A FAMILIAR FACE — Epic recording artist Charly McClain has wisely augmented her singing career with television appearances, garnering heavy exposure through the medium in January. For some time, she’s been seen nationally on commercials for Luck’s Country Soups, but she appeared as a presenter on the American Music A wards Jan. 1 7 and guested on the Merv Griffin talk show Jan. 25. Two days prior, she also appeared with Erik Estrada on the CHiPs series; she had debuted as an actress in 1982 with a role in Hart To Hart. PRIORITY STARTS OUT '83 WITH SALES CONFERENCE — Priority Records recently RUSSELL GOES HOME — Sugartree’s Clifford Russell, who was born in Knoxville, held a First Quarter Sales Conference to coordinate plans for the ensuing year and unite has returned to his home in a manner of speaking, as the country artist is playing the the sales force into a cohesive unit. Pictured in the front row are (l-r): Jimmy Bloss, Len leader of the house band at the newly-reopened Jagger’s in tourist-laden Gatlinburg. Marinello, Daniels, telephone sales manager Jeff Law and Carl Bradley. In the His first album for the label was tagged for a January release. Tommy tom roland back row are (l-r): sales director Steve Bock, Jim Howland, Rusty Matz, Mark Schmitt, Bob Gurich and Rob Windoffer.

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