Jonathan Wilburn Announces Formation of “Wilburn And Wilburn”

Jonathan Wilburn recently announced that he and his son, Jordan, will be traveling full-time as “Wilburn and Wilburn”. The duo is currently recording their first CD and will release another new project in time for the 2011 National Quartet Convention.

Wilburn and Wilburn will be doing select dates with Jonathan Wilburn’s former group, Gold City Quartet, as well as performing with Jonathan’s parents, The Wilburns.

For more information, please call (256) 504-4396

Photo courtesy Jonathan Wilburn

An Open Letter From the Unthank Family

Dear friends and loved ones,

We can not begin to express the amount of gratitude that is in our hearts for the outpouring of love and grace that you have showed our family over the last three weeks. Susan's death was as unexpected to our family as it was to all of you. We knew that her health had been steadily declining over the last year, but we never had any inclination that 2010 would be the last year we had with her.

We want to give specific thanks to everyone who has donated financially to the family to help cover medical and memorial costs. Susan was uninsurable due to her diagnosis with Chacot-Marie-Tooth Disease (a form or Muscular Dystrophy). Your blessings to our family have made these last few weeks a much easier burden to carry, though it is far from over for our family.

We would like to extend special thanks to those artists that were a part of Susan's memorial as well as those that were going to be included but didn't get make it due to the weather and scheduling conflicts. Thank you to the Booth Brothers, Bowling Family, The Freemans, Jason Crabb, Devin McGlamery, Jason Morales, Shannon Smith, Jeremie Hudson, Ian Owens, Johnny Minick, Karen Peck & New River, The Perrys, Mystery Men Quartet, Kathy Crabb Hannah, Donna Beauvais, and Bev McCann for your willingness to be a part of such a hard but special day for our family.

The good news is that Susan had already set things in motion so that we could continue AbsolutelyGospel.com until long after she was gone. She was in the process of teaching our son, Chris, how to update the site and maintain it if something should happen to her. Chris has now stepped up and taken over editorial duties for the site in addition to running his own company, Southern Spin Entertainment. However, she didn't get around to teaching us everything we need to know. So, we ask that you, the readers and industry, be patient with us as we learn in a matter of weeks what it took Susan 15 years to learn and develop herself.

Susan left us and you, the industry, much too early. We feel inadequate to even try and fill the huge void that she left. Your prayers during this time of transition are very much appreciated. We envy your thoughts and prayers during this time, and we thank you in advance for continuing to visit the site that she so loved and poured her heart in to.

We have no plans of ending anything, and like she would have wanted, the show will go on. We still plan on holding the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards on April 12, 2011 in Smyrna, TN and are already making plans and confirming artists for the 12th Annual AG/SGN Music Fest this summer.

Once again, thank you for your support - both in prayers and finances - and we look forward to the future that God still holds for AbsolutelyGospel.com and our family.

In Christ,
Deon Unthank, Aaron Unthank, Leslie Hill, Scott Bandy, Amy Marie Unthank, and Chris Unthank

Dove Brothers Start 2011 On Top!

Group Earns #1 Song of the Year and #1 Most Played Artist title of 2010

New Album – Unshakeable – Named Among the Best Releases of
2010


BLADENBORO, N.C. – (January 27, 2011) – Multi-award winning quartet the Dove Brothers were recently honored with many accolades at the start of 2011.

According to AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com), the Dove Brothers were named the most played artist of 2010 at Southern Gospel radio. Due to the group’s #1 hits “Hold On” and “If I Knew Then,” the Dove Brothers ranked #1 on the site’s Top 20 Most Played Artists of 2010 list.

“This news is unexpected and extremely humbling,” mentioned McCray Dove of the Dove Brothers. “We really had a good year at radio, but we never expected to earn this title. Thank you to DJs for playing our music and getting these songs out there!”

The Dove Brothers have previously been named the most played artist of the year according to the site. This is the third time the Dove Brothers have claimed that title. The group was also named the most played artist of 2007 and 2008.

In addition, the Dove Brothers’ #1 hit, “Hold On” (which was penned by McCray Dove), was named the #1 Song of the Year according to the site’s Top 100 Songs of 2010 list. The quartet’s other #1 single, “If I Knew Then,” ranked at #10 on the list as well.

“If I Knew Then” is the debut single from the group’s latest, critically-acclaimed hit album Unshakeable. Unshakeable was also named one of the best releases of 2010 by James Hales, staff writer for AbsolutelyGospel.com.

When speaking about Unshakeable, James said, “They have effectively set themselves apart from every other quartet in the business and have such a strong musical palette to work from that they can design a concert program that reaches everyone, and that’s not easy to do. This latest recording builds on what they started a few years ago, and will no doubt continue to solidify the Dove Brothers as a force to be reckoned with.”

You can find out more information on the Top 100 Songs of 2010, Top 20 Most Played Artists of 2010 and Staff Picks by visiting http://www.absolutelygospel.com.

The group just released the second single from Unshakeable. “I Recall” (also penned by McCray Dove) has an immediate add date.

More information on the Dove Brothers can be found at http://dovebrothersquartet.com

About the Dove Brothers
Voted Favorite Male Quartet of The Year by the Southern Gospel Music Association and the Singing News Fan Awards, the Dove Brothers’ high energy presentation and progressive arrangements reflect a tangible link to the good old days of gospel music. Their peers regard them as a class act representing the industry with dignity and respect. Their latest recording for Sonlite Records is entitled Unshakeable and spawned off the #1 hit “If I Knew Then.”

Eighth Day Named One of the Most Played Artists of 2010

Hit Song “Heaven’s Mine” Ranked In Top 20 Songs of the Year


SPARTANBURG, S.C. – (January 27, 2011) – Popular Southern Gospel trio Eighth Day was recently honored with news that they were named as one of the 20 most played artists of 2010.

According to AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com), Eighth Day ranked #14 on the Top 20 Most Played Artists of 2010 list – in between mainstays and hit makers The Isaacs and The Bowling Family. The list was compiled by the AbsolutelyGospel.com Top 40 Weekly Chart year-end figures.

“We are absolutely humbled by this news,” mentioned Scott Robinson of Eighth Day. “Accolades and numbers have never been something that we’ve tried to attain, but we are so honored that God would bless us with this. He’s hasn’t disappointed us yet!”

The group also had both of their singles from 2010 earn positions on the Top 100 Songs of 2010 list. Their hit single “Heaven’s Mine” ranked at #19 for the year, while the ministry driven “Trust His Heart” ranked at #41 for the year.

Joni Robinson of Eighth Day interjected, “While we had a very difficult year in 2010 personally, God proved faithful to us in our ministry. We are so grateful for his provision and timing. He’s just so amazing!”

You can find out more information on the Top 100 Songs of 2010 and Top 20 Most Played Artists of 2010 by visiting http://www.absolutelygospel.com.

Eighth Day just released their fifth single from the SGN Music Award nominated project Everything Holy. The song – “May I Never Get Over the Cross” – hit radio earlier this year through Spin-N-Motion Promotions.

More information on Eighth Day can be found at http://www.eighthdaymusic.com.

About Eighth Day
Eighth Day is a popular trio based out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. The group has quickly established itself as one of the top new talents in Gospel music today. Their fresh and progressive sound has been described as a little bit country, a touch of bluegrass, and a whole lot of Gospel!

Jeff & Sheri Easter Announce The Marriage of Madison Easter to Shannon Norman

NASHVILLE, TN (January 27, 2011) - Jeff & Sheri Easter announce the marriage of their son Madison to Shannon Norman, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Tony Norman and Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Fain, of Lincolnton, Georgia. The double ring ceremony took place on Sunday, December 12, 2010 in Augusta, GA at Sacred Heart Cultural Center. The ceremony was performed by Madison's grandfather, Reverend James Easter, of bluegrass gospel music legends The Easter Brothers.
"This is such an exciting time for us. We are so proud of Madison and are so glad that Shannon is now a part of our family," said Jeff & Sheri.
Madison is a vocalist and guitarist for Jeff & Sheri Easter, and Shannon serves as office and ministry assistant for the group.
Madison and Shannon are high school sweethearts and have dated for six years. After a beautiful reception following the ceremony, the couple traveled to Paris and London for their honeymoon.
About Jeff & Sheri Easter:
For Jeff and Sheri Easter, gospel music is genetically programmed into their DNA. As members of acclaimed musical families—Jeff’s father is one of the Easter Brothers and Sheri’s mother is a member of The Lewis Family—they grew up surrounded by the sound of people praising God through their musical gifts. Jeff & Sheri traveled and sang as part of The Lewis Family for several years. In 1988 they left the group and formed the group. Joining Jeff & Sheri on the road is their son, Madison, who plays guitar for the group and their daughter, Morgan who completes the vocal blend. Jeff & Sheri have been nominated for numerous Dove Awards and won five. Sheri has been named the Singing News Favorite Alto ten times and the Singing News Female Vocalist four times. Jeff & Sheri’s wall of awards also include three Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association Awards, two International Country Gospel Music Association, nine Voice Awards for Female Artist, five Voice Awards for Song/Single of the Year, two Voice Awards for Christian Country Group, four SGM Fan Fair/USGN awards, five SGN Scoops Diamond Awards, four Hearts Aflame Awards, and three Cash Box awards. They have also participated in the Gaither Homecoming Video Series since 1993, which has sold over 15 million units. Their latest release Expecting Good Things is nominated for a 2011 Grammy®.