Need hope in these troubled times? Then Joel Osteen, pastor of the nation’s largest church, is your man.
Osteen will be in Denver for a “Night of Hope” on June 1 at the Pepsi Center, but you can meet the “Smiling Preacher” on Thursday, May 31 at the Tattered Cover in LoDo starting at 7 p.m. Osteen will be signing his book, “Every Day a Friday.”
If you want to experience his positive message at the Pepsi Center, you better hurry up because tickets are going fast.
Third Day, the Atlanta-based multi-platinum Christian rock band, will be in Denver for a concert after the Rockies’ game on Sunday, Aug. 19 at Coors Field.
Third Day is currently working with veteran rock producer Brendan O’Brien at the band’s studio — The Quarry. O’Brien has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Denver’s The Fray.
“Our time with Brendan has been nothing less than an amazing experience,” said Mac Powell, Third Day’s lead singer. “Brendan has definitely stretched me as a songwriter and vocalist more than any other producer ever has.”
Faith Day will be a treat for Third Day fans as the band is on limited tour schedule this summer with the album in the works and fans can expect to hear some new songs at Coors Field.
The major-league baseball team has been hosting Faith Day for seven years and each year the event grows. Last year, Rockies’ fans were treated to a concert by Casting Crowns.
Third Day, the Atlanta-based multi-platinum Christian rock band, will be in Denver for a concert after the Rockies’ game on Sunday, Aug. 19 at Coors Field.
Third Day is currently working with veteran rock producer Brendan O’Brien at the band’s studio — The Quarry. O’Brien has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Denver’s The Fray.
“Our time with Brendan has been nothing less than an amazing experience,” said Mac Powell, Third Day’s lead singer. “Brendan has definitely stretched me as a songwriter and vocalist more than any other producer ever has.”
Faith Day will be a treat for Third Day fans as the band is on limited tour schedule this summer with the album in the works and fans can expect to hear some new songs at Coors Field.
The major-league baseball team has been hosting Faith Day for seven years and each year the event grows. Last year, Rockies’ fans were treated to a concert by Casting Crowns.
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Dove Award winner and Grammy nominee Brandon Heath shares his favorite stories about his songs while recording “Give Me Your Eyes — The Acoustic Sessions.”
One story includes a woman, who lost her daughter in a car accident after a drunken driver hit her, and after hearing “I’m Not who I Was” went to the prison to forgive the person who caused the accident. Another story is about a blind boy who typed the words to “Give Me Your Eyes” on a Braille typewriter and sent it to Heath, who has it framed in his house.
Check out the video. It reveals what an impact Heath has on his listeners.
Christian artist Chris August suffered a head injury in a skateboarding accident last week and after spending five days in the hospital he is at home resting. August asked for prayers on his Twitter account and also included photos of himself in the hospital.
It is not known if he was wearing a helmet. Keep up to date by following him on Twitter
Most people snub the Dove Awards because they hear “Christian music,” but the industry has changed dramatically in the past decade. Major record labels have subsidiaries that focus just on Christian music, thus bringing in top producers and musicians, and ultimately raising the bar — and that’s a synopsis from a legendary Christian musician. And it’s the only music awards that includes all genres of music from traditional Gospel to hip-hop, bluegrass, heavy metal to alternative rock.
If you like music, I dare you to watch the Dove Awards on the Gospel Music Channel, which is re-airing the event Saturday, April 28 at 9 p.m. MDT.
Former Denver resident and hip-hop artist LeCrae performs along with Tedashii, another rapper. LeCrae, who has become friends with mainstream rappers, won a Dove Award for his song “Hallelujah.”
Rocker Michael Tait, a former member of DCTalk –the band that changed the face of Christian music, sings a duet with Group 1 Crew’s Blanca Callahan. There’s even a set by former “American Idol” finalists, Ruben Studdard, Phil Stacey, Mandisa and Danny Gokey. And then there is Natalie Grant, who won Female Vocalist of the Year for the fifth time.
Bluegrass fans will get a treat when The Isaacs perform “Walk On” and traditional Gospel fans have Jason Crabb, who won Male Vocalist and Artist of the Year Awards this year, and a tribute to legend Russ Taff.
Below is a taste of The Isaacs, but this video doesn’t compare to the band’s Dove appearance. And there’s a video from Grant and Crabb.
As Hawk Nelson frontman Jason Dunn pursues a solo career, the band will keep the name with guitarist Jon Steingard taking over the lead singing roles.
Steingard has been with the band for eight years and grew up with Dunn. The band will also retain bass player Daniel Biro and drummer Justin Benner. I had the pleasure talking with Steingard right after Dunn announced his departure and here’s a link to the story.
“The chemistry we share as a band cannot be fabricated. In other words, we know we have something special here,” Biro said in a statement. “We’re very excited to be working on a bunch of new songs for everybody. It’s a new day, and we want to make the most of it.”
The band is working on a new record and Steingard said, “these are some of the most inspiring songs we’ve ever worked on.”
Dunn is working on a solo project called Lights Go Down. Here’s a clip of a song he is working on. I’m liking what I hear.
Classic live video of Russ Taff above.
The 2012 Dove Awards honored legendary Gospel singer Russ Taff, a five-time Grammy winner, at the awards show last week in Atlanta, and he had some sage words of advice for young artists.
“The advice I’d give to someone starting out is to be yourself,” Taff said. “When I started in 1976 it was wide open. Now the Christian music industry has turned into this mammoth business. So now people try to change you, change your look, change your sound, style. Just be yourself. That is what God has given you and what has gotten you this far. Be yourself. Fight to be yourself.”
[/media-credit]Gospel legend Russ Taff chats with the media after a tribute to him at the 2012 Dove Awards.
In his long career Taff has faced ups and downs with the help of his friends.
“When I started off I had a rough time and was wondering where God was, and I was told to ‘Read the red. Read what Jesus said not what someone has told you,’ ” he said. “And I fell in love with Jesus. I’m finally the man I’ve always wanted to be. The husband I always wanted to be …”
This video above shows you the real Laura Story, a down-to-earth person.
Laura Story came home the big winner by garnering five Dove Awards, including song of the year for “Blessings,” last week in Atlanta, but don’t expect the South Carolina native to become big headed. The self-described “Birkenstock and granola” singer remains humble.
Story wrote “Blessings” after her husband Martin was diagnosed with a brain tumor and then contracted meningitis during the surgery to remove the tumor.
“I would have rather written a song about winning the lottery, but you have to write about the hard times and how God showed up,” said Story, who will be in Denver on Dec. 5 at the Denver Coliseum.
Story also won a Grammy Award for “Blessings” in the Best Contemporary Christian Song category.
[/media-credit]Laura Story won five Dove Awards, including song of the year for “Blessings.”
Story was asked about being on tour with Manidsa, who is more “bling and glitter” than the Southern singer.
“You know heaven is going to be like this, so get over it or you are going to be left out,” Story said. “Mandisa is great. She’s taught me how to tweet and Facebook. It’s like Birkenstock meets bling or granola and glitter. It’s great.”
When asked about what’s next, Story, who is pregnant and due in September with a baby girl, said while raising the Dove Award, “I’ve done this pretty well, now I just want to be a good mom.”
Above is a video of Russ Taff performing at Red Rocks. A tribute to Russ Taff was one of the highlights of the 2012 Dove Awards.
The Dove Awards will be aired again at 9 p.m. MDT Saturday April 28 on the Gospel Music Channel.
Here’s a quick peek at what you can expect on the Dove Awards show airing on the Gospel Music Channel. (FYI the Dove Awards are the only music awards that incorporate all genres of music from hip-hop, heavy metal to traditional gospel, and the show features performances from a wide-range of artists.)
[/media-credit]LeCrae, a former Denver resident, will perform tonight when the Gospel Music Channel airs the Dove Awards. He also won two Dove Awards.
The show is co-hosted by comedians David Mann and Chonda Pierce, who keep the show going at a quick pace with light moments.
Getting a chance to cover the Dove Awards is a privledge, but it’s not as glamorous as it seems. Just as any journalist, especially sports reporters, will tell you. As a former sportswriter, I can tell you it’s a long day covering a baseball game. You are at the stadium hours before game time, even before the athletes, and hours after everyone has left the stadium — but that’s for another post. This is about the Dove Awards. I don’t know if they do this for the Grammys, but here’s a look at what happens in the Doves’ pressroom.
We don’t get a seat in the venue — this year at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta — to watch the awards show, journalist are in a backroom, watching the show on a big screen TV. Even at the Grand Ole Opry, we were in a room below the stage area. I actually bought a ticket when I covered my first Dove Awards just so I could pop in and watch a bit of the show to get the feel for the show and the legendary Opry.
Usually tables are set up for journalists, especially ones that are working on deadline, along with power outlets for our many computers, phones, etc. This year, there were so many media passes given out tables were not available, just chairs facing a stage area. Luckily my pals in the press helped me set up my “nest” area along the wall. I used a piano bench as my table; Terry DeBoer used a chair as his table. And fortunately he had an extension cord as other journalists were plugging in to recharge phones and laptops. I had an extra phone charger, and I charged numerous phones through my computer. Here’s a pic of Ryan from Jesus Freak Hideout and how he rolls at the Doves.
So now after setting up shop in our makeshift “press row,” the Dove Awards began with the preshow presentation of awards. While the presentation was shown on the TV, once an artist is brought into the press area, the TV is turned down so we can take pictures of the artists and then ask questions. In the meantime, the show must go on, so awards are presented while we are interviewing and taking snaps. The funny part is after that artist leaves the press area most of the journalists are asking, “Who just won?” “Who performed?” It’s rather humorous trying to keep up and keep you the reader posted on what is happening.
And then there’s the “Are you tweeting?” “What did you tweet?” “I missed that, what happened?” “Do you have a list of winners?” “How did you do that?”
So as you can see I didn’t get to watch the show live while I was working, so I’m DVRing it tonight so I can see the performances. And you also get a glimpse of the camaraderie among reporters that tends to spread across a variety of events we cover.
[/media-credit]Michael Tait, second from left, talks about change in the Christian music industry.
Michael Tait performed at the Dove Awards last week and the former DCTalk member talked about being a pioneer in changes to the Christian music world.
“I’m excited when things change,” Tait said. “It’s a tremendous calling. It’s exciting to see someone like Jamie Grace come along. I love that we are all mixed together. I try to remain relevant. You know music is very powerful. Sometimes the only way to get through to a kid is through the headphones.”
Quick hits from the 2012 Dove Awards.
Former mainstream rapper Montell Jordan was a presenter at the 2012 Dove Awards in Atlanta on Thursday, April 19. While backstage at the GMA awards Jordan, who is known for the popular “This is How We Do It,” chatted about becoming involved in the Christian music world.
“I get asked that a lot,” Jordan said. “But I quit the music business and I became a minister.”
Victory World Church is a multicultural church in Norcross, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, that Jordan helped start. Last year, Jordan recorded “Shake Heaven” with with Beckah Shae.
“I bring different cultures together. Different genres. We are opening the world up to all styles of music,” Jordan said. “There’s not a white Jesus, a black Jesus, an Asian Jesus. We all come together, and when we do we become closer to what heaven really looks like.”
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[/media-credit]LeCrae, who grew up in Denver, won two Dove Awards in Atlanta on Thursday.
2012 Dove Award winners : Easy to read list
Song of the year
“Blessings” Laura Story
Male Vocalist of Year
Jason Crabb
Female Vocalist of Year
Natalie Grant
Group of the Year
NEEDTOBREATHE
Artist of the Year
Jason Crabb
New Artist of the Year
Jamie-Grace
Producer of the Year
Ed Cash
Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“Hallelujah” LeCrae
