Grab 3 of the Inpirations latest releases at a good price.? Cheap shipping too……..

Daniel Mount? asked a question concerning what would happen if the Kingdom Heirs quit their day jobs at Dollywood and hit the road for? a full-time gospel music gig.? He also wonders if this would make them the next “Supergroup” in the Southern Gospel music industry.

I thought this over last night and wondered why they would ever willingly leave the setup they have now.? All of the Kingdom Heirs live in close proximity to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.? They work 5 days a week or less, performing usually three, 45-minute shows per day.? They have an influx of over 2 million people per year (Dollywood attendees, most probably don’t go to the Kingdom Heirs show).? Unlike the Triumphant Quartet in the Miracle Theatre, the Kingdom Heirs have plenty of entertainment around them in the theme park to keep bringing new people to the park, which means new opportunities for a larger fan-base.? To be honest, a lot of people visit their show to escape from the heat inside of the theme park.? You can grab a soda or snack and go relax in an air-conditioned theatre and be treated to a Southern Gospel concert while you recharge for more fun in Dollywood.? In fact, a lot of people that attend the Kingdom Heirs show would probably never go to hear them in a church or concert hall outside of Dollywood.

If you’ve never been to Dollywood, then you’ve never seen the line of people that wait for the KH’s show.? Not just during the holidays or summer, but every show that I’ve ever went to see, there has been a long line of people waiting for the doors to open.? I’ve been to Dollywood a countless number of times.? I live about 2 hours away and I used to be there on a weekly basis.? That was before I had a wife, kid, house, normal job, etc., so I had plenty of free time to kill.

I said all of the above to make this statement.? The Kingdom Heirs are as close to a “supergroup” as you can get in Southern Gospel music.? They probably perform to more people over the course of one year than Gold City, Brian Free & Assurance, and the Kingsmen combined.? What more do they need to be deemed a “supergroup”??

They’ve had three #1 songs: “I Love To Call His Name”, “Forever Changed”, &? “I Know I’m Going There”.? ?

They have one of the best lead singers in Southern Gospel music, Arthur Rice.? Jeff Chapman is also one of the top bass singers in Southern Gospel music.?

Every? album from the Kingdom Heirs is of the highest quality, both vocally and musically.? ? They simply do not produce sub-par material.?

Their band has won “Band Of The Year” several times from the Singing News Fan Awards.? Of course, that was when they had a piano/keyboard player.? They are currently still seeking someone to fill that position (Roy Webb…….would you interested?).

So what else do they lack to deemed a supergroup?

I think willingly leaving Dollywood to pursue a traveling quartet gig would be a huge career misstep for the Kingdom Heirs.? Not only would they be ostracizing their current fan-base in East TN, they would basically cutoff the entire flow? of @ 1.5 million? non-Christian and non-Southern Gospel fans that attend Dollywood annually.? Granted this would give more Southern Gospel fans that can’t make the trek to Eastern TN the opportunity to catch the Kingdom Heirs in concert, but how many new fans are being reached in our little world of Southern Gospel?

My conclusion, hitting the road? would do more to hurt the Kingdom Heirs’? status in Southern Gospel music than it would to help it.

Phil Cross & Poet Voices
Trust The Truth

I know that I’ve missed a week for my album recommendations to build your collection but I simply didn’t have time last week to post anything.? Oh well, that’s part of life.? You have to deal with issues that arise and go forward.

My must have CD for the Southern Gospel collector this week is Trust The Truth by Poet Voices.? Not only do you get to hear the group in their prime, you get to hear Mike Allen pounding out those low notes and Tony Jarman hitting the high notes.? Although there were two different album covers for this project, one with Tony Jarman and a different cover with Milan Klipa.? Tony sings the tenor vocals on this project regardless of what is pictured on the album cover.? Tony simply left the group right after the album was released so? another picture was used in additional pressings of the project to reflect the change in personnel.

The first track, “I Am Redeemed”,? has become a Southern Gospel standard.? “One Holy Lamb” was also first recorded on this album with Tony Jarman, but was also recorded on their next album, Rhythm & Rhyme, with Milan Klipa taking the lead vocals.? Milan’s version is the one that was released to radio, but I prefer Tony’s version from this recording.

My other favs from this recording are “Grace & Glory”, “My Lord’s Been With Me All The Way” & “Over? & Over, Amen”.? Here’s the complete track listing:

1. I Am Redeemed
2. Grace & Glory
3. One Holy Lamb
4. Over & Over Amen
5. Trust The Truth
6. My Lord’s Been With Me All The Way
7. Faster Than I Can Fall
8. On The Radio
9. God Of Glory, Lord Of Love
10. Praise You With My Life
11. Trust The Truth Reprise

This album can be found for a reasonable price on ebay.? It’s also available here on Amazon.com:

CLICK HERE FOR ALBUM

Paul Jackson published a new post this morning that is well worth reading.? He talks of his experience with his friends, The Cathedrals.? Awesome post, Paul!

Here’s a link to the post:
http://pauljacksongroup.com/blog/?p=25

Today I passed 15,000 tracks in my digital music collection.? As you can see from the screen shot above, I have enough music to continuously play for over 35 days without playing the same track twice.

I’m far from getting all of my music collection digitized, but I’m quickly narrowing down what I have left to work on.? If only there were a few more hours in the day that I didn’t have to devote to work……….

I’m curious, how long would your collection play.? Feel free to post comments and share your story.

While browsing my RSS feeds this morning, I noticed that the new section of my blog, “ebay gems”, was featured by Doug Harrison on www.averyfineline.com.? Click here for the article:

http://averyfineline.com/2007/06/05/sg-on-ebay/

Doug has one of the most popular and widely-read Southern Gospel blogs in the industry.? Although controversial at times,? averyfineline never fails to be engaging and thought provoking.

This auction has certainly caught my attention. If you are looking for an investment opportunity or looking to boost your music library, then this is certainly an auction worth looking at.