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guests as J Moss, Shirley Murdock, Darwin as the title indicates, the event was unscripted. Hobbs, Bell Armstrong and Clark Sheard, who Swope, who produced and directed the proj- joins Jones for the first single, "Can't Nobody." ect, says that he knew shooting without a script "I believe it is healthy for Dr. Jones to have or a game plan was a risky venture but felt sure two CDs in the market concurrently," Zomba that bringing together all those talented peo- Gospel senior VP/GM James "Jazzy" Jor- ple and turning the cameras on would produce dan says. "Fans are sure to find their way to memorable moments. Gathered in Nashville's 'The Ambassador' even though 'Faith Un- Ocean Way studio, the artists serve up impas- scripted' has already come out." sioned versions of such gospel standards as Though it's been more than a decade since "Oh Happy Day," "Amazing Grace" and "Oh Jones has released a new album, he's never been How I Love Jesus." away from the spotlight, as he continues to host Swope plans to make "Faith Unscripted" a BET's "Bobby Jones Gospel," the longest -run- series, and says a portion of proceeds from this ning program on cable TV. Through the show, and future projects will go to the Dr. Bobby Jones Jones has introduced many of the gospel corn - Complex for Gospel Preservation and Museum. munity's top talents and has kept the genre highly visible in the mainstream. GMA INDUCTS HALL OF FAMERS: It was an "Bobby has been famous for being the am- evening that saw an entertaining mix of humor bassador for gospel music for 34 years, intro- and heartfelt homage as the Gospel Music Assn. ducing people you've never heard before to inducted the Winans, the Statler Brothers, the world," says Swope, founder /president of Larnelle Harris, Phil Keaggy and Joe Sunrise Entertainment, a veteran film /TV Moscheo into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame production company that recently launched at Nashville's Richland Country Club. The event a music division being distributed by Central opened with a hilarious performance from the BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE South Entertainment. Glory Bugles, who professed to put the "fun Jones is actually signed to Zomba, but Swope in fundamental" and served up such musical says Jordan was more than happy to greenlight numbers as "If Your Hair Is Too Long, There's "Faith Unscripted." "It took Jazzy and I a whole Sin in Your Heart." three minutes to work this out," Swope says. The comedy soon gave way to the serious Jones is satisfying his creative urges with his business of inducting the new members, and They're The two new albums. "The Ambassador" is a there were numerous memorable moments. straight -ahead studio project, produced by "I was absolutely shocked," Harris says of his PAJAM, Donald Lawrence, initial reaction to learning of the honor. "It's a Teddy Riley and Victor and thrill. I went to the list to see who was in there, Cedric Caldwell, while "Faith Un- [including] Mahalia Jackson and Billy Gra- Inspiration scripted" is a live CD /DVD record- ham, and thought, 'This is a pretty good group MercyMe Ditches Covers Album Plans ing being issued as a two -disc set. And to be a part of. Thank you, Lord!' " In Favor Of New Songs hough most artists generally com- ways what we kind of evolve around -songs plete an album, then decide on a title, of the church." MercyMe frontman Bart Millard says the The first single, "God With Us," is already opposite approach was key to the con- one of the band's fastest-rising hits at Chris- tent on "All That Is Within Me," due Nov. tian radio. Another track that is garnering 20 via INO Records. much attention is "Finally Home," which Mil- "I always come up with the album title lard describes as a sequel to "I Can Only first and then start writing songs around it," Imagine," a song he wrote about his father's Millard says, noting that the new project death. "I wish my dad could see all of this, was initially going to be a covers album of because he passed away in 1991 right before well -known worship songs. "I always we started the band," says Millard, who sees thought 'All That Is Within Me' was a great "Finally Home" as offering closure. "People title for a worship album. Then we started always say he's probably looking down from nated and were nurtured at writing new songs and that phrase showed heaven, which I don't think is the truth. I think classical labels -namely, up in a couple of songs, and it kind of cre- he's got better things to do than stare at me, Charlotte Church and even ated a little bit of consistency with the but I think there will be a day that I finally the Three Tenors -were a record and the theme." get to see him and talk about all of this." significant force on the Sea- But last May, as the deadline was approach- In advance of an early -2008 stint on the sonal chart. In 2001, for exam- ing to enter the studio, Millard says the band multi -act Winter Jam tour, MercyMe will make ple, Church's "Dream a didn't have any new material written and was promo appearances during street week in Min- Dream" hit the No. 5 ranking in a bit of a panic. Then, inspiration struck. "We neapolis, Chicago, Nashville, New York and in terms of all holiday music just started writing, and the next thing we knew Dallas, according to INO Records senior VP of sales across all genres. the Grand Valley State Uni- poser /conductor Bill Ryan - we had 10 songs that we thought needed to be marketing and promotions Dan Michaels. Be- versity New Music Ensem- spent nothing short of a year on the record," he says. "We could have done yond the regular CD, there will also be a deluxe REICH AND ROLL: Every- ble from Allendale, Mich. The painstakingly working on this the worship thing, but I really wanted to get package available, which will include a link to body loves an underdog. That music: one of Reich's most one mammoth piece. The re- these out." access a ringtone, footage from an electronic fact, plus a deep and abiding popular and influential works. sults were, by all accounts of One of the most successful bands in the press kit and three extra acoustic tracks that passion for Steve Reich's If that was too early for you, those who greeted dawn with Christian market, MercyMe's four previous aren't on the record. Music for 18 Musicians, is the GVSU players recently re- these young musicians, simply albums have been certified either gold or INO will work MercyMe in the Christian what might have originally leased their recording of Music exhilarating. It wasn't that they platinum. Though the Texas -based group world and will get a hand in the mainstream driven hundreds of listeners to for 18 Musicians on the inde- were simply able to negotiate a has achieved mainstream crossover success via an agreement with Columbia, which mar- checkout a 5 a.m. performance pendent label Innova. The re- work that is famously excruci- with several singles, most notably the hit "I kets and distributes INO product to the gen- of the piece by a group that al- sult is a hyper- propulsive and atingly difficult to play; instead, Can Only Imagine," Millard says the new re- eral market. "We are doing a satellite media most no one had ever heard of. yet silkily beautiful. entrancing they fully and confidently lease is a return to the church -oriented fare tour in conjunction with the Columbia pro- The setting: the annual and utterly alive interpretation claimed it as their own. And that has been the band's foundation. "Our motions department," Columbia VP of sales Bang on a Can marathon, held that more than holds its own. Reich's writing, by turns ebul- favorite moments in concert are any time and marketing Tyler Pittman says. "We are at the World Financial Center's The group -mostly com- lient and meditative, proved the we have the crowd singing along in wor- being very aggressive with our accounts to Winter Garden in lower Man- prising students and entirely perfect match to greet the light ship," Millard says, "and regardless of what make sure it's priced and positioned in as hattan last June. The players: of volunteers, led by com- of a new day. takes place at mainstream radio that's al- many places as possible." NOVEMBER 24, 2007 www.billboard.biz I 55 www.americanradiohistory.com.

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