Eyes Wide Open incorporates the country-styled Gospel harmonies and hints of bluegrass for which the group has been known since its inception and celebrates their family heritage, both past and present. Sheri re-recorded a classic Mahalia Jackson ballad “Standing Here Wondering” that her mother, Polly Lewis Copsey, a member of the legendary Lewis Family, recorded during her lauded career. In turn, Sheri’s daughter Morgan paid homage to Sheri on the new, down-home recording with a re-make of Sheri’s noted ballad “I Wonder If He Ever Cries.”
Keeping things “all in the family,” Jeff performed the tune “I Won’t Have to Worry Anymore,” which is the first radio single from the new release, with a guest vocal from his father, James Easter, a member of the classic Gospel bluegrass group The Easter Brothers. James, who is now 80 years old, also joined the group for a special performance of the song on the main stage at the 2012 National Quartet Convention (NQC).
“Daddy played ‘I Won’t Have to Worry Anymore’ to Mama shortly before she left her tired, broken body here to live in her new one in heaven,” explained Jeff. “I wanted him to join me in recording this song for the release. It has always meant a great deal, but now this song has even a greater meaning to both of us.”
Other song titles on Eyes Wide Open include “Love Is,” “Anything But Happy,” “It Must Have Been You,” “Sitting on Top of the World,” “I’ll Take It,” “A Little Bit of Sunshine,” “A Good Old Gospel Song” and “There Is a Purpose.”
The family ties continue on the new recording as Sheri and Madison Easter co-wrote their first song together–“I Know How It Feels to Survive,” which commemorates Sheri’s victory over breast cancer, a topic about which Sheri remains passionate and active.
“There is nothing like living with eyes wide open,” described Sheri, who is now a four-year cancer survivor. “There is nothing like living with perspective and being able to always see the good in every moment of life. I am thankful that I had a wonderful support system of my family and all our wonderful friends throughout the country and the world. I know all our fans can help make a difference in the lives of others who are facing breast cancer.”
Those fans will have a chance to do just that with Jeff & Sheri’s upcoming 2nd Annual Paint Your Town Pink Campaign. For all of their concerts during the month of October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they are asking everyone to wear pink to create awareness for breast cancer. The group will also be wearing pink nightly, and a portion of their concerts will honor cancer survivors and recognize local cancer care clubs in efforts to raise funds for these organizations.
Eyes Wide Open, distributed exclusively by EMI CMG Distribution, is available now at retail stores and online stores everywhere. The release comes on the heels of Sheri being honored by fans as the 2012 Alto Singer of the Year at last week’s NQC Awards in Louisville, Ky.
The group premiered songs from the new recording recently on “The Grand Ole Opry,” at the National Quartet Convention, during a LIVE listening party on air at WGUS in Augusta, Ga. and also through an in-depth interview on the Solid Gospel Radio Network.
For more information, visit www.jeffandsherieaster.com. Connect with Jeff & Sheri through social media: Facebook - www.fb.com/JeffAndSheriEaster, Twitter – @JSEaster, @SheriEaster.
ABOUT JEFF & SHERI EASTER:
Two-time GRAMMY®-nominated Jeff & Sheri Easter are Gospel music treasures, featured regularly on the Gaither HOMECOMING videos and international HOMECOMING tours in addition to their own heavy schedule of appearances. Jeff & Sheri are the recipients of six GMA DOVE Awards, 15 Singing News Fan Awards, three Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association Awards, two International Country Gospel Music Association honors, seven AGM Ovation Awards, 16 Voice Awards, four Southern Gospel Music Fan Fair Awards, five SGN Scoops Diamond Awards, four Hearts Aflame Awards and three Cash Box Awards.
Formed in 1988 following childhoods as part of their respective, nationally-known family groups The Lewis Family and The Easter Brothers, the married couple is joined today on stage by their children, Madison and Morgan Easter, who round out the group. The group is known for such hits as “Roses Will Bloom Again,” “Praise His Name,” “Thread of Hope,” “Speak to the Mountain” and many others including “Born to Climb,” which garnered a 2010 DOVE Award. They were nominated for a 2011 GRAMMY® Award for their Expecting Good Things (Spring Hill Music) recording, which was recorded while Sheri endured a journey through and victory over breast cancer.
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