Keep Watch, Dear Lord,” a poignant new single from acclaimed singer/songwriter and podcaster Rick Lee James, is now available on digital platforms. Penned and produced by James with instrumental contributions from Dove Award-winner Craig Adams, the tender piano ballad pays tribute to the care and compassion selflessly administered each day by doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals around the world.
Inspired by James’ role as a chaplaincy resident at Kettering Health in Ohio, “Keep Watch, Dear Lord” is not only a song of encouragement but an earnest prayer for God to bestow comfort and peace upon those who have embraced a sacred calling to care for the suffering, dying and grieving.
“After a particularly difficult night when I sat by a patient’s bedside and, along with the staff, sang to him as he went home to the Lord, I read part of the Compline Prayer,” James shares of the song’s inspiration. “The prayer begins with, ‘Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,’ and I thought of all the people who do the kind, compassionate work that takes place in healthcare settings.
Now I sing the song to myself as I do my rounds at the hospital as a way of praying for the staff, for myself, and for all who are working for the sake of others.”
“They aren’t thanked enough for their tireless work, but I have heard many of the nurses at my hospital say to their patients, ‘This is not our hospital; this is God’s hospital.’ I hope ‘Keep Watch, Dear Lord’ will remind each of them—from the custodians to the cooks to the care teams to the techs—just how important and valued they are and that we are thankful for them.”
Daywind Records has announced the addition of 4-time BMI awarded singer/songwriter Scotty Inman to its stellar lineup of artists.
Having spent more than two decades as part of the fan-favorite quartet, Triumphant, Scotty Inman recently announced his intentions to move into a solo career; a decision that will allow him the opportunity to be even more present in the lives of his young family and growing church home.
It was a decision made with a great deal of prayer and counsel and with the faith that God would open doors as he walked in obedience to His calling.
“With any huge life change such as this, it gives you a moment to step back and evaluate how you want to continue forward, and who is best suited to partner with you along the way,” shares Scotty Inman. “When I looked at my options for a record label partner, Daywind was a front-runner from the beginning.
After meeting with their team and sharing my heart on where I feel the Lord is leading me as I step into this new venture full-time, they were immediately supportive of my vision. I’m excited about what we can achieve together!”
“We are so excited to be walking alongside Scotty Inman on this part of the journey of his illustrious career and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome him into our Daywind Family of artists,” shares Daywind A&R Director Dusty Wells. “Scotty is no stranger to Daywind, so when our team sat down and listened to his heart and music, we all walked away and said to one another, ‘we want to walk alongside of him and get his music out there.’
I love how Scotty has such a pure heart of wanting his music, his life, his story, his faith, his love for family, his friendships along the way, to all point to his relationship with Jesus.
I’ve known Scotty for 20 plus years, and I am a fan and I admire him for all he has contributed to the ministry and music of Triumphant. Now, it’s Scotty’s time to step out in this new venture alongside of our team here at Daywind and continue on with what God is doing in his life with his music.”
Scotty’s debut solo project, Anywhere Jesus Is, released in 2022 with an enthusiastic reception from long-time fans and new listeners alike. The album, produced by Josh Swift (The Isaacs, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver), blends Scotty’s Southern Gospel roots with a Country flair, and features strong themes of faith, family, and life.
The latest radio release, ‘Anywhere Jesus Is,’ has soared up the Southern Gospel radio charts and currently sits in the Top 10.
In addition to the full album, listeners have enjoyed multiple single releases from Scotty Inman, including a nod to growing up in church in the South, entitled ‘Southern Gospel,’ as well as ‘Hallelujah, You Are Good,’ a collaboration with GRAMMY nominated artist, Joseph Habedank.
The new partnership with Daywind Records has Scotty Inman excited about producing new music very soon. “I’m currently writing new music for a follow up project, and I’m eager to begin working alongside the knowledgeable and experienced team at Daywind to make this project the best yet!”
Daywind Music Group is home to an award-winning roster of artists including Adam Crabb, Blackwood Brothers, Crabb Family, Brian Free & Assurance, Greater Vision, High Road, Jim & Melissa Brady, Joseph Habedank, Karen Peck & New River, LeFevre Quartet, Nelons, The Sound, Southbound, Tim Menzies, Tribute Quartet, and Wilburn & Wilburn.
Daywind is distributed to retail through New Day Christian Distributors and the Orchard, covering all physical, digital, and streaming outlets.
The 54th Annual Dove Awards nominations are in and the list runs deep this year for the Reach Records artists Hulvey, WHATUPRG, Limoblaze, 1K Phew and Lecrae.
The same week his first headline tour launched, Hulvey received a nomination for New Artist of the Year, and a nomination for best rap song of the year for No Longer Bound with Forrest Frank. The celebration for Reach Records continued with first ever nominees WHATUPRG and Limoblaze, each nominated for Rap Album of the Year for “New Hollywood” and “Sunday In Lagos.”
Limoblaze was nominated for Rap Recorded Song of the Year for his hit single with Lecrae and Happi, “Jireh (My Provider)” and 1K Phew was nominated for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for his latest album “As I Am.”
Lastly, Lecrae was nominated for Rap Recorded Song of the Year and Short Form Music Video Concept of the Year for “Spread The Opps” as well as Rap Album of the Year for his latest album “Church Clothes 4.”
As second round voting for the Dove Awards launched today, Lecrae dropped a video message on social media thanking the Gospel Music Nomination for his nominations, and also encouraged voters to support the up and coming artists on his label as opposed to himself.
“I’ve had my time and my moment, but more importantly I’ve seen the work these artists have put into their craft and these projects and singles that have been nominated. They deserve acknowledgement and to be celebrated.”
On the heels of three Stellar Award wins last month, Gospel recording artist Zacardi Cortez has received his first two Dove Award nominations—all for his breakout album, IMPRINT: Live in Memphis, from ZetRoc Entertainment / Black Smoke Music Worldwide.
IMPRINT: Live in Memphis, produced by Morgan Turner, AyRon Lewis, Lucius Hoskins, and Nicholas Humes, has been nominated for Gospel Worship Album of the Year.
The project’s hit single, “You’ve Been Good to Me,” which recently spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart, has been nominated for Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year. The song was written by Cortez, Marcus Calyen, Morgan Turner, Kerry Douglas, Alonzo J. Keeton, Tyrone Belle, and Tyrell Belle.
“IMPRINT is the first record under my company, ZetRoc Entertainment,” says Cortez. “I had no idea how it would be received; I just knew what God put on my heart. To now be nominated for two GMA Dove Awards for the album feels incredible!”
“As a 2023 Stellar Awards co-host, it was awesome to watch Zacardi perform and win for the first time,” says Grammy Award-winning Gospel recording artist Jonathan McReynolds. “It’s cool to see he’s been nominated for the Dove Awards as well! On top of us sharing the same birthday (September 17), his vocals are inspiring and the anointing is apparent.”
Cortez, who came home from the 2023 Stellar Awards last month with wins in three categories, including Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Album of the Year for IMPRINT: Live in Memphis, and Praise & Worship Song of the Year for the project’s hit single, “You’ve Been Good to Me,” following earlier nominations from the Grammy Awards and the BET Awards, as well as a 2021 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Award for his No. 1 Billboard hit, “You Don’t Know.”
With seven No. 1 Billboard hits and over 227 million TikTok views, Cortez, known to his fans as Generation Z’s favorite Gospel singer, is poised for further success.
His award-winning album, IMPRINT: Live in Memphis, a thirteen-track collection of down-home, heart-and-soul Gospel songs, features Cortez’s incomparable voice, which combines the power and grit of classic soul singers like Al Green and Donnie Hathaway with the cathartic power of the pulpit.
It is the Houston native’s most poignant and personal project yet and the first for his own ZetRoc label, in partnership with Black Smoke Music Worldwide. The current single from the project, “Lord Do It For Me,” is in the Top 10 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart, currently holding the No. 6 spot.
Zacardi Cortez’s Breakout Album Scores His First Two Dove Award Nominations On The Heels Of Three Recent Stellar Award Wins
IMPRINT: Live in Memphis, features guest performances from some of Cortez’s favorite singers, including Kim Burrell, Tim Rogers, and Lisa Knowles-Smith. All those sonic threads mesh to weave a mesmerizing collection of modern songs that reflects the passion of traditional Black church music.
“Zacardi’s voice is his imprint,” says Black Smoke Music Worldwide founder Kerry Douglas, who first discovered Cortez when he was just a teenager singing in churches around Houston. “His voice is leaving a mark on the music industry. When people hear it, they know instantly know who it is because no one sounds exactly like him. His God-given talent has left an undeniable stamp on Gospel music.”
Cortez’s riveting vocal stylings and compelling message of faith have connected profoundly with fans around the globe.
In addition to the Stellar Award-winning “You’ve Been Good to Me,” that fascinating combination infuses each of Cortez’s seven No. 1 Billboard Gospel radio hits, including the retro anthem “Oh How I Love You,” the `80s throwback groove “YDIA,“ and “You Don’t Know,” a bluesy plea for divine intervention that ends with an infectious praise team call and response.
“God Held Me (Together),” an emotional ballad which praises the “glue” that God often represents in our lives when all things seem to be going awry, and “One More Time,” featuring Pastor John P. Kee, as well as the acoustic calm of “1 on 1,” which stayed at No. 1 for five weeks.
Cortez, who has released three Top 10 albums—The Introduction (2012), Reloaded (2014), and IMPRINT: Live in Memphis (2022)—has appeared on many on major platforms, including The Stellar Awards, Black Music Honors, P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Reunion Tour and BET’s “Sunday Best.”
IMPRINT: Live in Memphis is the first time I’ve been able to write or be this involved in a project,” says Cortez, who wrote, co-wrote, or arranged everything on the album, alongside ASCAP Award-winning composer Marcus Calyen (Zacardi Cortez) and producers Morgan Turner (Tamela Mann), AyRon Lewis (James Fortune, RiZen, Bryan Popin), Nicholas Humes (Zacardi Cortez), and Lucius Hoskins (Marvin Sapp, Shirley Caesar).
As a testament to his next-level popularity in the industry, Cortez has also been showing up as a guest soloist on the recordings of other artists, such as Grammy® winners Kirk Franklin and PJ Morton, and Grammy® nominee John P. Kee.
“This record is all of who I am, in all the different styles and ways I love to worship and sing,” says Cortez. “It’s 100% my imprint.”
2023 continues to propel Colton Dixon’s career, most recently receiving a GMA Dove Award nomination for Song of the Year with his massive hit “Build A Boat.” The nod for the 54th annual event follows the song’s K-LOVE Fan Award nomination for Song of the Year and what ultimately became the longest-running No. 1 Mediabase Christian AC song of 2022.
Also featured on Dixon’s April release of his bestselling 7-song EP, CANVAS (Atlantic) is his current single, “My Light,” which continues to impact radio, rising to No. 10 on the Mediabase Activator Chart, and inching closer to such on others, currently sitting at No. 11 on Billboard’s AC Monitored, at No. 12 Mediabase Christian AC, and No. 13 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart respectively.
Earlier this spring, Dixon and Jordan Feliz announced “The Love & Light Tour” coming this fall, and last week they revealed where they’ll be headed (see full listing below). Kicking off September 28 in Searcy, AR., the tour will hit U.S. 28 cities this fall, also including Dallas, TX., Portland, OR., Denver, CO., Cleveland, OH., and Lancaster, PA. RSVPs for on-sale alerts and limited VIP Q&A tickets are available at www.coltondixon.com.
Along with touring the festival circuit, Dixon has made several national television appearances this summer, starting with a live appearance of “My Light” on FOX & Friends outside on the FOX Plaza, followed by opening the K-LOVE Fan Awards performing “Build A Boat,” with multi-platinum country star Gabby Barrett. On June 8, Dixon then appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show performing a special version of “My Light.”
“The Love & Light Tour” (all dates subject to change):
September:
28 – Lions Arena, Searcy High School– Searcy, AR
29 – Abundant Life Christian Center – La Marque, TX
30 – Hippodrome Theatre – Waco, TX*
October:
1 – Fellowship Dallas – Dallas, TX
3 – Moody Coliseum – Abilene, TX
5 – Without Walls Church – Mesa, AZ
6 – Bonita Valley Community Church – Bonita, CA
7 – Gateway Church – Visalia, CA
8 – Redding Civic Auditorium – Redding, CA
12 – Parkway Christian Center – Grants Pass, OR
13 – Sunset Church – Portland, OR
14 – Christ the King Community Church – Bellingham, WA
15 – Temple Theatre Tacoma – Tacoma, WA
18 – Riverside Baptist Church – Denver, CO
19 – Evangelical Free Church – Grand Island, NE
20 – Countryside Church – Spearfish, SD
27 – First Assembly of God – Montgomery, AL
28 – Earle May Boat Basin – Bainbridge, GA
November:
1 – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center – Shipshewana, IN
2 – Woodlands Church – Plover, WI
3 – Cuyahoga Valley Church – Cleveland, OH
4 – Timothy Christian High School – Elmhurst, IL
5 – St. Lorenz Lutheran Church – Frankenmuth, MI
10 – Harvest Church – Lexington, SC
11 – Charleston Southern University – North Charleston, SC
The Gospel Music Association announced the 54th annual Dove Awards nominees on August 9th extending Daywind Music Group with the prestigious honor of eight nominations. Daywind Music Group continues to make waves as fans and peers recognize the company’s roster of bountiful talent. Nominations were received in song and/or album categories in Inspirational, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass/Country/Roots, and Musical/Choral Collection categories. The balloting results will be revealed at the GMA Dove Awards ceremony in Nashville, TN, on October 17th, 2023. The show will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app on Friday, October 20th, 2023.
In response to the nominations, Ed Leonard, president of Daywind Records, said, “We are so honored by all the nominations for our creators. We are so proud of them every day, but to have them recognized by their peers and people involved in the Christian and Gospel music industries is wonderful.”
List of Daywind Music Group Nominations:
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year “Welcome” – Jim and Melissa Brady
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year “The Keepers” – Karen Peck & New River
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year “Jordan” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge, ft. Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney, and Mark Fain
Southern Gospel Album of the Year Think About There – Greater Vision Come On In – Guardians Quartet
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year The Gospel Sessions, Vol I – Authentic Unlimited Lost and Found – Southbound
Musical/Choral Collection of the Year Glorious Impossible – (Creators) Sue C. Smith, Lee Black, Russell Mauldin, Johnathan Crumpton, (Arranger/ Orchestrator) Russell Mauldin
RIAA Gold-selling, Dove Award-winning artist Jordan Feliz and Atlantic Record’s chart-topping artist Colton Dixon are teaming up this fall for a special tour. The ‘Love & Light Tour’ is set to kick off on September 28th with a stop in Searcy, AR, and tentatively run through November 19th with a concert in Greensburg, PA. Additional dates are expected to be announced soon. The ‘Love & Light Tour’ is sponsored by Compassion International.
Curb | Word Entertainment and Curb | Word Music Publishing proudly celebrate 25 nominations for the 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards. The GMA Dove Awards event will take place in Nashville, TN, on October 17, 2023. The broadcast will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app on October 20, 2023, at 8 PM EST and again at 10 PM EST.
“It’s fantastic that our artists and songwriters are being recognized for their brilliant talent,” shares Curb | Word Entertainment Chairman, Mike Curb. “I am thrilled for the acknowledgment they have received from the Gospel Music Association with these nominations.”
For KING & COUNTRY earned 3 nominations with; Artist of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for “Love Me Like I Am (with Jordin Sparks),” and Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept) for “Do You Hear What I Hear.” Joel and Luke Smallbone are also nominated for Song of the Year, as co-writers for “Love Me Like I Am.”
Big Daddy Weave earned a nomination for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year along with duet partner Katy Nichole for “God Is In This Story.”
Dylan Scott earned a nomination for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year for “Good Morning Mercy” with Jason Crabb.
Mo Pitney earned a nomination for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year for Darin and Brooke Aldridge’s “Jordan” featuring Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney and Mark Fain.
Point of Grace earned a nomination for Inspirational Album of the Year for Turn Your Eyes, Vol. II, as well as for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year for “Matchless” with Tiffany Coburn.
Blanca earned a nomination for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “New Day (feat. Jekalyn Carr)” and a nomination for Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year for her feature on Indiomar’s “Nubes.”
Steven Malcolm earned a nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for Tree.
Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey earned a nomination for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for Ernie Haase and Signature Sound’s “I Know My Savior Cares.”
Tony Wood earned a nomination for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for Karen Peck and New River’s “The Keepers.”
Joel Lindsey earned a nomination for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for The Steels’ “A Hundred Different Altars.”
Michael Farren earned a songwriting nomination for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year for Zach Williams’ “Jesus’ Fault” featuring Walker Hayes and a production nomination for Inspirational Album of the Year for Keith and Kristyn Getty’s Christ Our Hope In Life and Death.
Wayne Haun earned a nomination for Producer of the Year as well as three producer nominations for Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Guardians Quartet’s Come On In, The Perrys’ John 3:16, and Triumphant Quartet’s Hymns & Worship.
Tedd Tjornhom earned a nomination for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for MercyMe’s Always Only Jesus.
Mark Campbell earned a nomination for Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year for Michael W. Smith’s Christmas At Home.
Dirty Rice and Joseph Prielozny earned a nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for Steven Malcolm’s Tree.
Curb | Word Entertainment is excited to celebrate these nominations, as well as all other fellow nominees. For more information about the Dove Awards and a full list of nominations, go to www.doveawards.com.
Nominations for the 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards were announced this morning during a live broadcast via the Gospel Music Association’s YouTube Channel. Nominations were announced by Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, JJ Hairston, Jordan Feliz, and Jason Crabb.
Jason Crabb and Dylan Scott were honored to be nominated for their collaboration on the hit single “Good Morning Mercy.”
The song was recorded live, in a studio, and produced by Red Street Records owner, Jay DeMarcus, along with Kevin Rooney.
Jason Crabb expressed his gratitude, stating, “Being nominated for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Song of the Year for” Good Morning Mercy” is truly a blessing. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than my good buddy, Dylan Scott, to bring this song to life. A huge thank you to Red Street Records for their unwavering support and to the Gospel Music Association voters for this honor. It’s a testament to the power of music and faith combined.”
Echoing the sentiment, Dylan Scott remarked, “So grateful for my friend Jason including me on this song. To be nominated for a GMA Dove Award with him is something I never expected. My mom is smiling down on us today.”
“Having these two incredible singers in the room together was a real honor,” said Jay DeMarcus. “We cut this one in a very unconventional way, with having everyone in the room and going down live. I am very proud to have been a part of this!”
Voted on by the GMA Professional Membership, this year’s nominees were chosen from over 2,046 submitted entries. The GMA Dove Awards Nashville event will be held October 17, 2023, and will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app on Friday, October 20, 2023, 8:00 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET.
Two-time GRAMMY award-winning Red Street Records recording artist Jason Crabb and multi-platinum, multi-number one country artist Dylan Scott met by chance one day when Crabb bumped into Scott while getting a haircut. The rest, as the old saying goes, is history.
The original release of “Good Morning Mercy” became a fast hit on the Christian radio charts and in concerts, as well as garnering millions of streams on multiple platforms. The epic collab of Crabb and Scott further propelled the song’s popularity, with the song being featured by People.com with an exclusive video premiere, CMT, Country Now, along with a host of other outlets.
Multiple Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter and best-selling author Ellie Holcomb was nominated for two GMA Dove Awards this week for her Christmas project, Sing Christmas Songs. She was recognized with a nod for “Children’s Recorded Song of the Year” for the song “Sounding Joy” and the Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year category.
“Full of JOY at the news of my children’s Christmas record, Sing Christmas Songs, receiving TWO Dove nominations,” Ellie Holcomb shared upon receiving the nomination news. “I wrote these songs for kids from 1 to 92 and I’m so grateful they have resonated with so many families!”
This was Holcomb’s first Christmas EP and was featured on HuffPost’s “New Christmas Music” list. The nominated project and song were released alongside her latest children’s book, Sounding Joy, which landed at No. 4 on ECPA’s Christian juvenile best-sellers, Christmas 2022 list and was a Top 10 Amazon Best Seller for Children’s books. She also won the GMA Dove Award for “Children’s Album of the Year” in 2020 for her album, Sing: Remembering Songs.
The GMA Dove Awards Nashville event will be held October 17th, 2023, and will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app, Friday, October 20th, 2023 8:00 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET.
