Family Group Garners Three 2013 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Nominations Including a Nod for Song of the Year
Group Receives Back to Back Nominations in 2013
NASHVILLE, Tenn--August 22nd, 2013—Multi-award-winning family group The Isaacs are celebrating the street week of their all-new recording, The Living Years, (Gaither Music Group) which landed at the #1 spot on the bluegrass chart, #1 on the southern gospel album chart and #9 on the contemporary Christian album sales report for this past week. In addition the group’s newly released Up Close and Personal DVD took the #1 position on the Christian Music Video chart and the #3 position on the Billboard Music Video chart, surrounded by Carrie Underwood, One Direction and The Eagles.
“We are so thrilled to have these spots on the charts for our new releases," stated Lily Isaacs. “It's a joy to see projects we poured ourselves into being received so warmly by the public, and what an honor to hold such prestigious chart positions alongside some of the music industry’s most respected artists!”
Produced by Ben Isaacs and Bill Gaither, the new release, recorded acoustically, captures the intricate family harmonies that have made this group a household name among Gospel music lovers and showcases the type of arrangements and musicality that have made them known for their “pedal-steel blend.”
The Isaacs garnered three Gospel Music Association (GMA) DOVE nominations for the 2013 awards show as announced at the press conference yesterday at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville, TN.
The group’s title cut from their last recording, Why Can’t We, written by Rebecca Isaacs Bowman, Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Jimmy Yeary, was nominated for Song of the Year as well as Southern Gospel Performance of the Year. In addition, group member Ben Isaacs, who received seven nominations in all, garnered a nod for Producer of the Year.
“It’s an honor to be nominated along with such great guys whom I have looked up to and respected,” stated Ben. “I’ve been very blessed to work with some very talented artists who make my job a joy, and I am thankful for the opportunity day in and day out to serve them and to be recognized in this way.”
Ben co-produced the song "Glorious Freedom" and the album Pure and Simple, by the Gaither Vocal Band (Gaither Music Group), alongside Bill Gaither, Michael English and David Phelps. The song was nominated in the Southern Gospel Performance of the Year category, and the album is up for Southern Gospel Album of the Year. He also co-produced Country Album of the Year nominee Mercy, by Aaron & Amanda Crabb, (co-produced with Aaron Crabb) as well as Back Home Again, by the Oak Ridge Boys, also nominated for Country Album of the Year.
In addition to his official nominations, Ben was also co-arranger of Bluegrass Song of the Year nominee "Standing in the Need Prayer," by the Oak Ridge Boys.
The Isaacs’ creativity is further captured on their new release which features a new rendition of “The Living Years,” the pop hit from the 80s originally recorded by Mike + the Mechanics as well as a cover of The Judds’ “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Ole Days).” It features the group’s unique version of the Dottie Rambo-penned classic “If That Isn’t Love,” an acapella rendition of “Walk Together Children” that features a signature “boom boom” bass part by Bill Gaither and the classic all-American tune “Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive.”
The Up Close and Personal DVD contains an intimate time of conversation and performances around the piano with Bill [Gaither], numerous appearances from various Homecoming stages ranging from Alaska to Jerusalem and a moving tribute to Lily’s mother, a Holocaust survivor.
The Living Years CD and the Up Close and Personal DVD are exclusively distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution and are now available throughout general market stores and the Christian marketplace in addition to online retailers including iTunes, Amazon and www.gaither.com.
The releases are being featured on tv networks including RFD, PBS, DISH TV, DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, TBN, Family Net, FFE, RURAL TV, TNN, Airtime, CTN, The Walk TV (formerly Legacy), TCT and TLN and also in Canada on Vision TV, CTS, Grace TV and the Miracle Channel. The DVD is also featured on Gaither TV (available on Roku, Google and the Internet).
Today’s GMA DOVE nominations came on the heels of more good news for the Tennessee-based group following this week’s announcement that group member Sonya Isaacs Yeary has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year at the 24th Annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards, while Ben is currently nominated for Producer of the Year at this year’s National Quartet Convention (NQC) Awards to be held in Louisville, KY.
To connect with The Isaacs, visit www.theisaacs.com or www.facebook.com/TheIsaacs. For more information about the GMA, visit www.gospelmusic.org.
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About The Isaacs
The Isaacs, a multi-award winning family group who began singing 30 years ago, are based out of Nashville, TN. The vocalists are Lily Isaacs, Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman. Playing their own acoustic instruments and joined by other band members, The Isaacs have a unique style that blends tight, family harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation that appeals to a variety of audiences.
Their musical influences emerge from all genres of music including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, country, contemporary acoustic and southern gospel. They perform frequently at The Grand Ole Opry, are active members on the Gaither Homecoming videos and concert series and travel throughout the year performing internationally. Concert venues include civic centers, auditoriums, arenas, fair grounds, parks, churches and other locations. They have performed the National Anthem for many sporting events as well as various political gatherings. They also received a standing ovation for their patriotic performance at Carnegie Hall.
