Australian Christian Song and Artist of the year honored by TRAA
Filed Under Christian Music Artist Updates · Tagged: amy grant, michael w smith, sandi patty, steven curtis chapman
SONG OF THE YEAR
There’s no denying that Peter Furler has had a big year in 2011 with the release of his debut solo album On Fire. And now, the lead single Reach has topped The Rock Across Australia (TRAA) Top 100 Song Chart nabbing the honor for most played song on Australian Christian radio in the past year.
The former Sunshine Coast singer who now resides in America previously won the award in 2007 for the song Something Beautiful while fronting newsboys, one of the industry’s most successful bands in Christian music.
Furler’s infectious 2011 hit song Reach dominated the top spot on TRAA for eight consecutive weeks, accomplished 30 weeks in the survey, and spent three quarters of its chart life in the Top 10.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Another Aussie, NATHAN TASKER made a triumphant return in 2011 and the first taste of new music came in the form of Something Beautiful (Grace) and Love Is The Compass – the first two singles from his landmark album Home. Both songs landed at #5 and #6 on TRAA’s annual song chart earning Tasker the crown as Artist of The Year – the most played Christian artist of 2011.
Jason Ingram (Ten Avenue North, Rush Of Fools), Rusty Varenkamp (Sanctus Real, Michael W Smith) and Charlie Peacock (Switchfoot, Audio Adrenaline) produced Tasker’s songs.
The Sydney born singer who previously garnered song and artist honors in 2006. He now lives in Nashville, USA.
The Rock Across Australia’s 2011 Top 100 Songs and Top 50 Artists charts are available online: www.therockacrossaustralia.com/annual/TRAA-111231-Top100.doc
PREVIOUS TRAA HONORS
2009 Song of the Year Get Back Up – tobyMac
Artist of the Year newsboys
2009 Song of the Year Closer To Love – Mat Kearney
Artist of the Year Brandon Heath
2008 Song of the Year This Is Home – Switchfoot
Artist of the Year Britt Nicole
2007 Song of the Year Something Beautiful – newsboys
Artist of the Year newsboys
2006 Song of the Year Like You Love Me – Nathan Tasker
Artist of the Year Nathan Tasker
2005 Song of the Year Gloria (All God’s Children) – Paul Colman
Artist of the Year Bethany Dillon
2004 Song of the Year Beautiful – Bethany Dillon
Artist of the Year Jars Of Clay
2003 Song of the Year (There’s Gotta Be) More to Life – Stacie Orrico
Artist of the Year Stacie Orrico
2002 Song of the Year Purified – Michael W Smith
Artist of the Year Michael W. Smith
2001 Song of the Year These Thousand Hills – Third Day
Artist of the Year Paul Colman Trio
2000 Song of the Year Shackles (Praise You) – Mary Mary
Artist of the Year Paul Colman Trio
1999 Song of the Year There’s No Power in Pity – Cliff Richard
Artist of the Year dc Talk
Christian Stand Up Comedy
Filed Under CCMRewind Updates · Tagged:
Several years ago I endeavored to take the stage as a stand up comedian. Make no mistake, my shows were Rated G in every sense of the phrase but I had no idea or thought of going to a church and perform comedy. I’d been through the ringer in a battle and was ready rock the clubs. Oddly, prior to performing on the stages, I had NEVER BEEN TO A COMEDY CLUB! It was the late 1990′s/early 2000′s and the Christian Comedy push was a couple years off.
I remember when I first started thinking of turning my humor back too a work of my faith, I had no idea there was an entire group of comedians of faith that were performing regularly. Sure, I knew Mike Warnke and Paul Aldrich but that is where my knowledge ended.
But as I was going to the Northberg Tavern and the Columbus Funny Bone Comedy Club for my open mic experience I came across a system of getting “Big Laughs” on a regular basis. It isn’t anything I wrote or had any hand in developing but I did employ its methods and noticed an impact almost immediately.
The name of the system is KillerStandup.com.com. It is an amazing step by step guide on how you as a beginner, working comedian and pro can take whatever level you are at to even greater heights.
If you are anything like a guy I talked with recently, he asked “If you were doing so great why didn’t I ever hear of you and why aren’t you still doing comedy?” well, I can tell you I never heard of 99.9% of the other Christian Comedians working out there UNTIL I got too meet them through conferences, seminars and secret ritual services (that’s a joke…there were no seminars. I guess I can crack it up to me promoting myself to the people who needed to know me. I only cared about promoting myself to the people who would hire me. As for why I am not doing it anymore? I put performing comedy on hold at the end of 2009 as my wife have been involved in a couple of adoptions and the agency we adopted through told me they “thought it would be best” if I was home more and on the road NEVER…UGH…so that is why I came off the road and one of the ways I was inspired to look back over my interests and hobbies which led me to create a Classic Christian Music Radio Station like CCMRewind.
a glimpse of Comedian Marty Daniels on stage from Trina Daniels on Vimeo.
Over the time I was working as a comedian I met and worked with some incredibly kind and VERY FUNNY people. Kenn Kington comes too mind immediately as he took a call from a total stranger and encouraged me to go for it! I found out later that Kenn is actually pretty prolific at mentoring and encouraging NEW or ASPIRING Comedians find their way. In our first conversation he was telling me about a guy he was working with at the time, Tim Hawkins.
Other funny folks who were incredibly kind and encouraging too me at that time include Darren Streblo, John Branyan, Ron McGhee, Justin Fennell, Nazareth, Teresa Roberts Logan, Mike Williams and Sherri Shepherd, are among the guys I really enjoyed meeting, getting to know and on a few instances writing with.
A special shout out too Mike Williams for going above and beyond the call of duty and really helping me find my direction. There was one time when my wife and I drove from Columbus to Bowling Green, OH in near BLIZZARD conditions so that Mike and I could spend some time together. I picked his brain before and again after his show into the wee hours of the morning.
Each one of these guys helped me succeed and for at least a couple guys mentioned, including Mike Williams and Tim Hawkins, they credit KillerStandup.com.com with helping them get BIGGER LAUGHS.
If you are a stand up comedian or interested in the idea of becoming a professional comedian, you DO NOT want to hit the stage without checking out
KillerStandup.com.com. It is a one of a kind road map for success.
If you are looking for a comedian to come too your church in 2012…I’m booking dates now!
Carolyn Arends – Lessons From an Usher (New CT Column)
Filed Under Christian Music Artist Updates · Tagged: carolyn arends, Mark Heard, Randy Stonehill
I just wrapped up an interview with Carolyn Arends and let me say that I like her even more now than I did before the interview.
Her most recent project is called “Love Was Here First” and if you don’t have it in your library just yet, it should for sure be on your WISH LIST – MUST HAVE…you get the idea, it is great!!
If you are a fan or curious to know more about Carolyn Arends, why not read her blog…interesting, fun read!
Welcome. Of all the blogs in all the towns in all the cyber-world, you walked into mine…and I couldn’t be happier. If we haven’t met, my name is Carolyn. I am a singer/songwriter, author, speaker, college instructor, part-time graduate student, wife, mother and slightly distracted driver. (I’m working on the driver part. Road safety is important.) I live in Surrey, BC with my husband Mark and our two kids, Ben and Beth.
I love ideas and language (and chocolate). I’m convinced that the Kingdom of Heaven is near, and I’m rather preoccupied with figuring out all the things that might mean. This is where I blog, and where, I hope, we get to know each other. Thanks for being here. [ MORE ]
Source Article from http://carolynarends.com/site/blog/lessons-usher-new-ct-column
Daily Bible Verse – Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Thoughts on Today’s Bible Verse…
We are creatures of the earth. Yes, we are much more than that, but occasionally we need to be reminded of that! We can’t truly understand existence before time, yet before the beginning of time as we know it, God existed — he has revealed himself as “I Am,” the one who was and who is and who is to come. Before there was an ordered universe to provide the basis of our existence, God is “I Am.” He had existence before, beyond, and without our created universe. We can’t even truly comprehend this in its entirety. That’s why every new beginning — whether it is a day, a week, a year, or a millennium — should begin with God. He alone is the ultimate Genesis, our beginning.
Prayer…
Almighty Creator and God of all of the universe, I praise you for your incomparable power and your incomprehensible glory. As I begin this new year, I know that my future rests in your will, your grace, and your salvation. Please go with me as I journey toward this future. Please be glorified in the way I live my life today, this year, and for as long as you give me earthly life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Today’s Bible Verse Illustrated
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