Light & Lexicon Lift their Lamp to the People Light Records and Lexicon Mu- tional. There is a strong contem- 170,000 expected to sell in 1979. sic of Woodland Hills, California, porary market which is just de- And, Lexicon is the first gospel have just completed their most veloping, just as there is a solid music publisher making a major successful year and early 'indica- soul -inspirational market. move into the Spanish market. tions for 1979 show a major leap "If you are willing to go to the The first two projects will 'be a forward. people and use the media, gospel Spanish version of "The New With nine winners in the Rec- music can change the world. For Church Hymnal" entitled "Una ord World Gospel Awards, Light a long time the industry didn't Nueva Alabanza" with 56 hymns, Records scored more winners than go where the masses were. If you including traditional hymns and any other gospel label. Walter go there and turn loose, it will music from Ralph Carmichael, Hawkins was named "Top Male produce results." Bill Gaither, Jimmy Owens, An- Soul Artist" and scored first place Upcoming albums for 1979 in drae Crouch and others. A new for the second consecutive year addition to Tramaine Hawkins song book, "Lo Mejor Di An- in "Top 25 Albums-Soul Spirit- and the Sweet Comfort and in- drae" (The Best Of Andrae") will ual" with his "Love Alive" album. clude The Archers, Jessy Dixon, be produced in Spanish. Others making strong showings Andrae Crouch Children of the Day, Dan Bur- New musicals will include in the awards were Andrae Light Records' goal for 1979, gess, Tami Chere, John Fischer, "Celebrate His Love," by Dan Crouch, Jamie Owens -Collins according to Cole, is to add to Jim Gilbert, Jeremiah People and Burgess, and Clark Gassman's and the Archers. the strength of existing artists by Johnny Mann's new album based new work for children, "Share A "Things are going," says Light adding significant new talent. on Andrae Crouch material. Little Sunshine." president Ralph Carmichael. Carmichael points to the signing Larry Jordan, controller, notes Additional publishing projects "There's a whole new excite- of the Sweet Comfort Band in that 1978 has been the biggest include a choral book based on ment. A year or two from now contemporary gospel and Tra- growth year for both Light Rec- Walter Hawkins new "Love Alive the influence of gospel music on maine Hawkins in soul gospel as ords and Lexicon Music. II" album; a Jamie Owens-Cól- the world will defy the imagina- indications of strong, proven tal- Publications lins solo song book; "Scripture tion ent joining the label. Jordan and Carl Seal, director Praise" with 101 old and new "My secret desire is for Light "The cream is rising to the of publications for Lexicon Mu- scripture choruses; "Inspirational Records and Lexicon Music to be top," he noted. "There's a mar- sic, point to both a major push Soul" song book featuring music on the cutting edge. And, there's velous number of groups kicking and success in publications. Lexi- from Andrae Crouch, Walter no reason we can't lead the way over the traces and gathering a con's "The New Church Hymnal" Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Jessy again with our artists as well as following which is neither young - has over 350,000 copies in print Dixon, Danniebelle and Edward in marketing and promotion." old, black -white or denomina- in two years and with another McCrary; and "Hallelujah" fea- Carmichael sees the number of turing 100 songs for soloists in- sales doubling and possibly more House Top: An Innovative Force cluding "He's Alive" plus last in the next several years. "Gos- year's Dove Award winning In 1978, House Top Records its -kind, Christian disco single, pel music has turned into a high songs. firmly implanted itself as an "Theme From Judas," backed energy product," Carmichael by innovative force in the Christian "Thirty Pieces of Sliver." continues. "Some ten years ago recording world, with an impact Joe Reed, quarterback for the there was little motivation to buy Herald Association that reaches all the way to the Detroit Lions, catapulated into gospel music. A sale of 10,000 al- lighted dance floors of New the eye of the music world with bums was fantastic. Now people Exhibits Strong Sales York's most dazzling discos. the onslaught of his very first want the sound. I believe we'll The Herald Association, one of House Top's new, undergirding album, "Have You Kissed Any live to see the day gospel the newest gospel music record- artists philosophy of "reaching people Frogs Today?" which hit number will sell into eight figures." Car- ing/publishing organizations, is where they live" has caused the one on the gospel record charts. michael bases his prediction on headquartered in Johnsonville, newcomer recording firm to move Likewise, other House Top artists over 100 million Christians in the S.C., and boasts a 30 percent in- into realms where other Christian have carved their notches in the United States and selling a record crease in sales each year. record companies have yet to upper rungs of the gospel charts. to only one in ten for 10 million tread. Cathie Taylor, who joined the The Herald Association, Inc. sales of a single album. Founded in 1976, the Virginia - record company after completing was started in 1974 by gospel Bill Cole, director of a&r, be- headquartered company has contracts with both Columbia singer/songwriter Ery Lewis ta lieves the major move forward scored heavily on the side of and Capitol Records, pulled into locate, produce and market Chris- can be attributed to the Light artistic success for its small the top 20 on the nation's gospel tian records through Herald Rec- label's becoming synonymous "family" of recording artists. The listings with "I Am the Sparrow." ords (MOR), Klesis Records (con- with a high quality product in impact has gone much further Stephanie Boosanda, "Moose" temporary) and the administra- artists, recording and packaging. than just collections of moving Smith and Roger Wiles also found tion and marketing of Mark Five Light and Lexicon are both dis- songs captured in plastic. On one their way to the hearts of music Records (southern gospel) for the tributed by Word, Inc., of Waco, hand, there are major music enthusiasts across the country. Mark Five Studio complex in Texas. "We've really broadened awards received, and top selling Recently, House Top signed on Greenville, S.C. our base effectively in the last albums. On the other hand, there two new artists, tenor Steve year to become the strong leader Roster are raised eye brows from the Roseberry, and Daphne Swilling. in sacred gospel music," he said. traditional religious record com- House Top's success is due to The artist roster has grown to Cole sees the blooming of con- panies, and the more staid, church several factors according to Bob over 20 with the catalogue fea- temporary Christian radio stations element. But everywhere there is Rouse, head of the company, and turing 35 active titles. Recently as a major plus. "By recording excitement. Leon McBryde, who coordinates signed artists include Synda Tay- groups who are artistically com- The excitement reached a new national album promotion and lor, Stan Bailey and Steve Wilson. petent and with a quality con- peak recently when Joe Reed and special projects. "We discovered Other artists on the labels in- tent, we earn the right to be Stephanie Boosanda, two of that some of the established clude Jerry Arhelger, Rick Eld- played on the air. And we con- House Top's best selling artists, methods and styles used to ad- rige, Sandy Bond, Judy Herring, tinually check the commerciality were respectively named "Best vertise Christian product weren't The Singing Echoes, The Church- of the product which is designed New Male Artist," and "Best New effective for the market we were men and Teresa, and Ery Lewis, to expand the exposure. "How- Female Artist" for 1978 by trying to reach," said Rouse. "For who still maintains an active con- ever, we remain firm in our con- Record World. Like all the House one, we've tried to create an cert/speaking activity. viction that the Christian message Top recordings, Joe and Stepha- emotional consumer response The Herald Association also remain clear and unmasked. We nie's albums were the result of based on humor and everyday awns three publishing catalogues allow no compromise with the teaming with producer James feelings. And we focus on com- Silhouette Music (SESAC), virility of the message in order Barden. Barden's own album - on patibility between corporate goals Bridge Music (BMI) and to gain more secular the House Top label Heraldic air play." is a first -of - and an artist's ministry." Music (ASCAP). 36 RECORD WORLD NOVEMBER 11, 1978 GOSPEL www.americanradiohistory.com.