North Metro Gospel Singing September 13

North Metro Gospel Singing Presents .. Shiloh Hills Baptist Church at 75 Hawkins Store Road in Kennesaw, Ga. will host the music ministries of former NBC and CBS star and IBMM bluegrass legend Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” of TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” acoustic Southern gospel award winning Watkins Family and Solid Gospel radio and Harmony Road TV host Les Butler on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 at 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 at the door or $15 advance and are available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to Robert York, 4030 Ebenezer Drive, Marietta, Ga. 30066. For more information, call (770) 926-6021.

The Watkins Family gains new chart song and adds a new musician

The Watkins Family adds talents of a full-time musician to their ministry as their latest song climbs the charts-.

The group which includes matriarch Judy Watkins and two of her adult children Todd and Lorie. They continue a path sharing their love of Jesus through acoustic music touring across the United States and Canada since 1982.

Josh Blankenship, 26, of Floyd County, Va., who plays guitar and mandolin, recently joined the group.

Blankenship was previously part of the bluegrass gospel band – Statement with his sister Ashlee Blankenship.

“We often meet talented musicians but Josh is more than that, he also has the heart for ministry it takes to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Judy Watkins.

Blankenship who began playing just six years ago said his focus is to reach the lost and encourage people through the music.

“The reason I wanted to play with the Watkins Family is I could tell they really believe what they are singing about,” he said.

Lorie and Todd agree that his talents add wonderfully to what they share musically.

“Josh and his wife Brooke, who also lends her support to our work, are wonderful additions to our ministry,” Lorie said. “He ably adds to what we do musically and vocally and brings a wonderful songwriting talent to the mix of our material as well.”

The group’s latest project “Heaven's Worth Waiting For” including their new chart single “What a Wonderful Name.” Gerald Crabb penned the song.

“We are excited to have our third Singing News chart recording from this CD,” Lorie said. “It is a wonderful song that we have seen touch those that attend our concerts.”

Grammy winner Mark Fain, Grammy nominated Karen Peck Gooch, and Danny Jones, produced the CD.

For more information, visit www.watkinsfamilymusic.com.

The Watkins Family Adds New Musician

The Watkins Family of Toccoa, Ga. adds to its stage show by bringing another full-time musician to their ministry. The group which includes matriarch Judy Watkins and her adult children - Todd and Lorie continue a path sharing their love of Jesus through acoustic music touring across the United States and Canada since 1982. Daniel Holt, 22, of Savannah, Tenn. joined the group full-time playing a variety of instruments. Holt began performing with his family – The Holt Family, at the age of 9.
“I grew up playing most weekends at churches and festivals around Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi,” he said. Holt recently graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entertainment Management. “In order to graduate, I had to do an internship,” he said. His internship was with the Singing News Magazine and its parent company Salem Communications in Nashville.
“The internship gave me an opportunity to learn a great deal about the Southern gospel music industry first hand and meet some wonderful people including the Watkins Family,” Holt said. “I am very thankful for this job with the Watkins Family.”
Multi-award nominee Lorie Watkins said that Daniel is a wonderful addition to the group as he share his talents on a several instruments.
“Daniel has a wonderful personality that our audience connects with,” Watkins said. “He also is tremendously talented in what he does musically and with all the support he provides off stage. We are honored to have him as part of the group."
The group’s latest project “Heaven's Worth Waiting For” is promoted by the Rick Hendrix Company. Grammy winner Mark Fain, Grammy nominated Karen Peck Gooch, and Danny Jones, produced the CD.
For more information, visit www.watkinsfamilymusic.com.

The Watkins Family Garner Two Chart Songs in Two Genres

Just shortly before thousands cheered their opening of the Front Porch Fellowship Bluegrass Gospel Awards on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention at Freedom Hall in Louisville, the Watkins Family discovered they had two songs climbing the charts.
The group which includes matriarch Judy Watkins and her three adult children Todd, Lorie and Shanon, and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Maness continue a path sharing their love of Jesus through traditional music touring across the United States and Canada.
“This has been a whirlwind month for us,” said Lorie Watkins. “We were honored to appear at the National Quartet Convention. The audience was so receptive to our latest material.”
Lorie was nominated for two of the awards presented at the event including Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Instrumentalist.
Among their performance set, they sang both the chart songs from their project “Heaven’s Worth Waiting For.” It features a collection of their unique crossover sounds that help the group to reach audiences in several gospel genres – Southern gospel, bluegrass and country.
Their latest single “Sometimes You Got to Rock the Boat” is rising in Southern Gospel’s Singing News charts beginning its climb at 68. The late Dr. Jerry Falwell is featured at the beginning of the song written by Jerry Salley and James Elliot.
Their previous top 50 Singing News chart song “She’s Working on Her Testimony” since the convention has risen four slots from number 7 to number 3 on the Power Source Bluegrass Charts. The song was penned by Greg Day and Sheri LaFontaine.
Both songs are performed by Shanon and she said she is so pleased with how audiences are receiving them.
“The Lord is blessing these songs and allowing them to reach a wider radio audience because they are touching hearts,” Shanon said. “I am honored to simply be singing these messages of hope and encouragement.”
For more information, visit www.watkinsfamilymusic.com