This article has multiple issues.Please helpimprove itor discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
NewSongis an Americancontemporary Christian musicgroup that was established in 1981, at Morningside Baptist Church inValdosta, Georgia.[1]They have had twelveGMA Dove Awardnominations, and oneGrammy AwardNomination.
NewSong | |
|---|---|
 NewSong in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Valdosta, Georgia,U.S. |
| Genres | Contemporary Christian,Christian rock,gospel |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | newsongonline |
They are also the founders of theWinter Jam Tour Spectacular,the United States' largest annual Christian music tour.[2]It began in 1995, and is hosted by NewSong. Winter Jam has artists perform includingTobyMac,Hillsong UNITED,Newsboys,Lecrae,MercyMe,andSkillet.[3]
NewSong has provided support for organizations working with abandoned and underprivileged children. For years they worked withWorld Vision.Then in 2006, the band became involved withHolt International.
The original four members included the current members Eddie Carswell, Billy Goodwin, and former membersEddie Middletonand Bobby Apon.
History
editEarly history
editNewSong recorded three customalbumsindependently. In 1982, they signed on with Covenant Records, and releasedThe Son In My Eyesthe next year. In 1984, they signed a contract withCanaan Records,a branch of CCM label giantWord Recordsand releasedThe Word.NewSong continued to stay with Word Records until 1991 when they signed on withDaySpring Records.The next year they releasedOne Heart At A Time, The Best of NewSong,which featured 12 hits from their previous albums. In 1993, they joined up with the Benson Music Group and releasedAll Around The World,which brought four No. 1 hits.[citation needed]In 1993, lead vocalistEddie Middletonleft to pursue a solo career, andBobby Aponleft to spend more time with his family.
In 1994, songwriter Leonard Ahlstrom, soloistCharles Billingsley,musician Scotty Wilbanks, and the lead vocalist from the contemporary Christian bandTruth,Russ Lee, joined NewSong. That year NewSong releasedPeople Get Readywhich brought four No. 1 hits,[citation needed]and featured a re-recorded version of "Arise My Love", which was first recorded by the original group in 1987.
In 1996, Billingsley left to pursue a solo career. In 1997, NewSong releasedLove Revolution.It featured four No. 1 hits, including "Miracles," which stayed at No.1 on the CCM Adult Contemporary chart for four consecutive weeks.[citation needed]
In May 1999, Apon died. He was recognized on the albumArise, My Love, The Very Best of NewSong.This featured 12 of their previous No. 1 hits. It also included two new songs which became No. 1 hits, "Can't Keep A Good Man Down", and "Jesus To The World (Roaring Lambs)", which was inspired by Christian speaker and authorBob Briner,who died later that year. They also had a third new song, "Like Minded, Like Hearted", which NewSong recorded withOut of EdenofGotee Records.
Lee and Wilbanks left NewSong in 2000. They were replaced by soloist Michael O'Brien, Steve Reischl, and former Truth member, Matt Butler.Songwriterand electric guitarist Leonard Ahlstrom also left later to help a friend manage a recording label inFlorida.
Leading up to 2000, NewSong caught the attention of radio personality, DC Daniel (then, of "Steve & DC" ) and began collaborating on production ideas for future projects. The partnership led to releasing the albumSheltering Tree,in late 2000.
Breakthrough
editDC, Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ahlstrom penned the bonus track "The Christmas Shoes"forSheltering Tree,which became a No. 1 mainstream radio hit in aBillboardchart-record three weeks, toppingBillboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.[citation needed]Shortly after this, Clive Calder shut down the Benson label. NewSong stayed with Zomba Music, on the major Reunion label, and released a full studio Christmas album,The Christmas Shoes,which was nominated in 2003 for aGrammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.[citation needed]Along with the title track, the album featured a variety of original Christmas tunes and Christmas classics "O Holy Night".The song's success inspired Christian authorDonna VanLiereto write a book based on the song.[4]The book was later made into aTV movieforCBS,calledThe Christmas Shoes,starringRob LoweandKimberly Williams-Paisley,which was released on December 1, 2002.[5]
In 2003, Donna VanLiere releasedThe Christmas Blessing,the second book in the series spawned by "The Christmas Shoes" song. It was later made into a TV movie byCBS.It had an appearance by NewSong, which showed them singing their holiday single "The Christmas Blessing". NewSong also received a Dove Award for Musical of the Year forThe Christmas Shoes Musical.[citation needed]
In March 2004, NewSong announced that they were leaving Reunion Records and moving to Integrity Music. In November 2004, NewSong recorded their live worship album and DVD,Rescue: Live WorshipatFirst Baptist Church of Woodstock.[citation needed]The album was officially released in May 2005, and the DVD of the concert came out in September. In November, Wilbanks left to join the groupThird Day,and to produce bands. Also in 2005, NewSong was inducted into theGeorgia Music Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
In March 2006, O'Brien left to restart his solo career and Drew Cline was asked to fill in. In September, Eddie Carswell, Matt Butler, Billy Goodwin, and guest artist Drew Cline releasedThe Christmas Hope,featuring traditional Christmas carols, NewSong originals, and three songs to complement the book trilogy by Donna VanLiere. In November,The Christmas Shoesmovie was released on DVD.The Christmas Hope,the third TV movie installment of the trilogy, was released in December 2008 by CBS.[citation needed]
In March 2007, Christian solo artist Nate Sallie joined NewSong. In April,The Christmas Hopealbum was nominated for a Dove Award, for Best Christmas Album of the Year.[citation needed]On December 29, 2008, in an email to subscribers of his newsletter, Russ Lee announced that he will be rejoining NewSong as lead vocalist.[citation needed]
Founding memberEddie Middletondied on August 21, 2021.[6]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | Chart positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christian | US | US Heat | |||
| 1981 | More Than Music | Independent | |||
| NewSong Alive | |||||
| All the Best | |||||
| 1982 | The Son in My Eyes | Covenant | |||
| 1984 | The Word | Canaan | |||
| 1986 | Trophies of Grace | Word | |||
| 1987 | Say Yes! | ||||
| 1989 | Light Your World | 34 | |||
| 1990 | Living Proof | 19 | DaySpring | ||
| 1992 | One Heart at a Time: The Best of NewSong | ||||
| 1993 | All Around the World | Benson | |||
| 1994 | People Get Ready | 16 | |||
| 1997 | Love Revolution | 25 | |||
| 1999 | Arise My Love: The Very Best of NewSong | 25 | |||
| 2000 | Live...The Hits | ||||
| Sheltering Tree | 5 | 130 | 2 | ||
| 2001 | The Christmas Shoes | 9 | 113 | 1 | Reunion |
| 2003 | More Life | 10 | 172 | 9 | |
| 2004 | Simply NewSong | Provident | |||
| 2005 | The Very Best of NewSong | Reunion | |||
| Rescue: Live Worship | 10 | 15 | Integrity | ||
| 2006 | The Christmas Hope | 25 | 5 | ||
| 2009 | Give Yourself Away | 10 | 149 | 5 | HHM |
| 2011 | One True God | 1 | 27 | ||
| 2013 | Swallow the Ocean | 3 | 65 | ||
| 2015 | Faithful: Live Worship | 3 | 88 | Integrity | |
| 2016 | The Best Christmas Ever | — | — | HHM | |
| 2018 | Greatest Hits[7] | — | — | HHM | |
| 2020 | Just Jesus[8] | — | — | HHM | |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US AC | US | US Country | US Christ | |||
| 2000 | "The Christmas Shoes" | 1 | 42 | 31 | 20 | Sheltering Tree |
| 2004 | "When God Made You" | 33 | — | — | — | More Life |
| 2012 | "The Same God" | — | — | — | 25 | One True God |
| 2017 | "I Am a Christian" | — | — | — | — | Just Jesus[8] |
| 2018 | "Down" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Bright" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Glue" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Already Loved" (featuringTedashii) |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "Shine" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Look Up" | — | — | — | — | ||
References
edit- ^Jamie:NewSong, Todd Agnew, and Rachel Lampa in the Christmas Hope TourArchivedSeptember 29, 2007, at theWayback Machine,Retrieved on August 29, 2007
- ^"Celerity Entertainment History".vanlierewilcox.com. Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2007.RetrievedAugust 29,2007.
- ^"NewSong's Winter Jam Tour Spectacular Roars Into March Passing 225,000 In Paid Concert-Goers".premierproductions.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2007.RetrievedAugust 29,2007.
- ^"NEWSONG".cbs.com. Archived fromthe originalon August 8, 2007.RetrievedAugust 29,2007.
- ^"LISTINGS".thefutoncritic.com.RetrievedAugust 29,2007.
- ^The Christian Beat,08.22.2021 -NewSong Founding Member Eddie Middleton Has Died By Herb Longs
- ^"Greatest Hits by NewSong".NewReleaseToday.RetrievedNovember 2,2018.
- ^ab"Just Jesus by NewSong".NewReleaseToday.RetrievedFebruary 22,2020.