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When it was time to name my new album the choice was easy for me. I just always knew that I would somehow be “Bringin It Home”.
My parents were the last of the family-owned dairy farmers in Anderson County. The big box milk companies ended a generation of ranchers in our family.
—home is where all my first happened. I never moved from home until the day I was married. My first steps, first coffee (as a dairy farmers kid you learn to drink coffee at a very early age as you are expected to milk cows before school) my first and every Christmas, and my first songs were all sung in the same house my parents still live in today.
I was raised on the same farmland my dad was raised on, and our family roots are still firmly planted on FM 837. Bradford is located on Hwy 19, about ½ way between Palestine and Athens.
For years Bradford’s “claim to fame” was “May’s Café”. The café was in the Coon Creek area on Hwy 19. May was a saucy, lively country woman who was just as original as her famous chicken fried steak!
Her café is just a memory to the old timers now, but May was famous for stars stopping by to check in on May and have some of her famous all scratch recipe. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Hank William, Jr were found by locals in the café that only had 7 tables
In the 80’s the population of Bradford was approx. 20 residents. My family, church & neighbors made me who I am today. Singing is my light. I have never been one to close a door or blow the candle out when God is showing me a path. It has taken me 52 years to be able to record an album. My mom was very active in our church and had me singing on Sunday mornings at age 4.
My trust in the Lord led me to Day Wind in Nashville. The producers could not have matched me better when he played me the demo of “The Pages”.
My husband told him immediately, through tears, that this was my song. We would be back to record it for sure, go ahead and line the band up!
“ The Pages” is so close to my heart. My husband Mark recently lost his mother. In her family bible that we inherited, there was so much history, little personal notes, obituaries from the paper, etc. It was a very emotional thing to look through.
When the plan was being finalized for the video, my mom originally was not in agreeance to be in the video. I played her the song again and told her how important it was for her to be in the video to me. She never said a word, but she walked into the house and with tears she showed me where she had written my name in her bible on John 10:29, and it was highlighted from years ago. Mom then simply said “well, I have to do this now”.
My background is service to others. I am a formerly certified paramedic and my family is the original and current volunteers of the Bradford VFD.
My life is now a full circle, I feel “now” is the right time and HIS plan is being revealed each day for me with my music. With friends helping with contacts to DJ”S and musicians, to trying to call local churches to be a part of their schedule to sing means so much to me!
I just ask you to please take a few minutes and let my song touch your heart the way others have said it does theirs.
-Kimberly
We just received a note from Vickie Paxton regarding the creation of the song "These Colors Don't Run"
( "Gary S. Paxton and I had eaten at Mc Farlands in Branson, MO. It was after the horrific 9/11. A van pulled up beside us to park. In the back window was a red, white and blue sign that said "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN!" Gary got his notebook out and wrote the song!! )
Ken Mann & The One Mann Band
Within hours after suffering a heart attack this past summer, I realized that this had been more than a physical event. It had impacted me deep in my soul. As much as I love my family, church, friends and community, there have been times during the recovery that I just needed to get away. When I would feel a little overwhelmed, I would retreat to the studio, where I could spend some quiet time with God. Often during these times of prayer and meditation, I would play the piano. One old song, which came to me often was, “Be Thou My Vision”. Although the words are beautiful, I fell in love with the melody even more, but in my head, I heard it differently than the way it was originally composed. I could hear a different beat with horns and strings.
One day I was listening to the radio and a song came on that the announcer called Electronic Dance Music. You may have heard Dolly Parton has recently released an Electronic Dance Music song called “Faith” with Galantis, so I began to wonder if I could apply that same technology to “Be Thou My Vision” but create traditional sounds like I had been hearing in my head. From there, came ten more songs, from my favorite hymn books and a new album was born.
All of the notes, chords and other data were played (entered) on a Yamaha digital piano keyboard, into a computer. Synthesizer software was used to record it into DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software for editing and mixing. I have to admit I felt guilty and almost afraid to tell the other musicians I play with, what I had done. The voicing of real instruments is different and the way they are played is so different than how you play a piano, for example, you strum a six-string guitar chord, whereas you can play many more notes in a piano chord, all at one time. With the help of the software, creating loops and listening to the live performances of my fellow musicians, I thoroughly enjoyed trying to duplicate the sound of the real instruments.
But, don’t think too much about how the album was created, just enjoy the melodies and harmonies of the music. Recording it brought me a great peace, at a time when I really needed it. Unlike cardiac rehab for my heart, this album was therapy for my soul. I pray it will be the same for you. We almost called the album “Heart Attack” but finally settle on “ONE Mann BAND”.
Gary Gard has announced the release of his first Gospel CD, “Songs The Old Man Sang”. The album is a collection of 9 original songs and a medley of 3 old favorites.
Gary has been performing for most of his life, from the first time he stepped onto the stage at around age 11, to sit-in gigs in Hawaii and California while in the US Navy, to singing with the Southern Gospel group, “Country Sonshine” in the 80’s. Gary took a break from performing for more than 20 years to spend more time with his family. After retiring in 2008, Gary resumed performing, playing “solo gigs” around the Tidewater area and on the Outer Banks of NC.
For the last few years, Gary has concentrated on Writing and recording. The Release of “Songs The Old Man Sang”, marks Gary’s return to Gospel Music.
You can contact Gary at (757) 215-5841 or by email at garygard1@verizon.net and on Facebook at either Gary Gard or Gary Gard Solo Artist
Destiny" is a CD that reflects the sisters' love of variety in Gospel Music. Their songs always are Biblical and reflect a love from God to mankind, reminding us that He is the one who leads and guides us … even through dark times in life … making us into the individual He wants us to be.
To learn more about HEARTS OF FAITH and hear their music, visit their website at:
http://www.heartsoffaith.biz. They also invite you to visit them on Facebook at:
“Friends of Hearts of Faith”.
Jim and April Upton (Maaziah Mountain) began making music together before they were married in 1985. They continued performing Jim’s original compositions together as a couple, then as a family group as their children grew.
Over the years the make-up of the band changed, sometimes even the group’s name changed, but the focus always remained on Jim’s original songs. April, the voice of Maaziah Mountain, has been compared to Allison Krauss, Suzy Bogus, and Karen Carpenter. Their musical stylings were referred to by one radio personality as folk music played with bluegrass instruments. Some of their tunes are true Americana, but overall their music displays clear country, folk, bluegrass and gospel influences.
By the dawning of the year 2017, Jim and April’s musical journey had slowed to a stand-still. Their children and others who had played with them had moved on. “We really had no clear direction or vision for our music any longer,” said Jim. Early that year, however, the hand of Providence seemed to be moving in a new direction. Jim was reconnected to an old friend, Ron Adams, whose wife, Gemma, was in the process of recording an album in Nashville with gospel and inspirational country music legend, Chuck Day. During this process, Ron and Gemma had given Chuck some of Jim and April’s music. As a result, Chuck invited Jim and April to come to Nashville and record a song or two with him. That recording session evolved into a five song EP – The Kingdom Bound.
The first song released to radio (the title cut) rose to #45 on the Inspirational Country Music chart. Other releases are scheduled for the future and for Jim and April and Maaziah Mountain . . . the journey continues . . .
Online At: http://www.maaziahmountain.com
Songwriter/Singer sharing the gospel through song. Loves the Lord and loves ministering in song to encourage and uplift hurting souls. Winner of the 2018 Josie Award Entertainer of the Year Christian/Gospel. We truly thank God for all He is doing.
Online at http://www.troyrichardsonmusic.com