Nashville Celebrates 75 Years of Great Chuck Wagon Gang Music
Nashville, TN: Saturday afternoon, fans from all over the Country gathered in Nashville, TN at the world famous Earnest Tubb Record Shop to be a part of a weekend long celebration honoring the music and career of The Chuck Wagon Gang. This past Friday, November 25 marked the 75th Anniversary of the group's first recording. In recognition of this historic occasion, WSM Radio and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop hosted a live appearance by The Chuck Wagon Gang. WSM broadcasted the hour and a half event as the Gang performed songs that have contributed to over 40 million records sold world-wide.

Their next stop was later that night when they opened the legendary radio show, "The Midnight Jamboree" on WSM Radio. There were two more middle Tennessee concerts on Sunday and the Nashville celebration ended up on Monday evening in the Ford Theater inside The Country Music Hall of Fame. They took center stage as the featured artist on "An Intimate Evening with Eddie Stubbs". The 2 hour WSM Radio broadcast (Going to 35 states and Canada) featured an in depth interview and live performances of songs from the past 75 years. Eddie Stubbs who has been known for yearsas "The Voice of The Grand Ole Opry" commented, "In all my years of doing this show, this is the first act to receive that many standing ovations and the first to bring me to tears".

The Chuck Wagon Gang is currently working on a documentary to mark their 75 years of music that will be a must have item for all Chuck Wagon Gang fans and traditional American music lovers.

Congratulations to SG Award Winners!
Song Garden's own Ball Brothers won 2011 Horizon Group of the year at this year's Singing News Awards. Canaan's Crossing won Front Porch Fellowship's Awards "Favorite New Artist" and "Song Of The Year" with Dying to Live Again. Click an image below to view.

Miss Chloe Victoria Marie Smith
Our blessed day has finally arrived! Today at 3:29 Eastern Time, Miss Chloe Victoria Marie Smith was born at Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City, NC!

She weighed eight pounds and two ounces. We were in labor for about eight hours but it was well worth it to finally meet this precious little girl. She has dark colored hair like Shaye and a nose like Andy. She's the pride and joy of her Daddy, Andy, and her brothers, Ben and Noah, were so excited to hold their little sister. Andy said she came out with mike in hand!

We want to thank each one of you for the many gifts, cards, notes, and prayers of encouragement you have so graciously given us! May the Lord bless you a hundred fold for the way you have blessed us!

We love you all!

Shaye, Andy, Benjamin, and Noah

CONGRATULATIONS!
For any artist, the first logical step is a record deal. The problem quickly becomes finding a record label that is willing to work with a new, unknown artist. Many will say they will sign and work with an unknown artist, but the extent of their involvement is the recording itself. Once the recording is released and the company has been paid, you are on your own again. No direction, no help. You now have 1,000 cds but your ability to sell them has not improved at all.

Grapevine Records (A division of Song Garden Music Group) is different. We realize that truly helping an artist goes way beyond producing a great recording. We get as involved as our artists will allow. The first step is finding not just good, but great songs. You can hire the London Phil Harmonic orchestra to play on your recording, but if they just play along to mediocre songs, then that is all you have. The lyric and the music have to be powerful enough to move people. If you are a song writer and your songs are good, but not great, you need someone to be honest with you and help you get your writing to a higher level. Whether it's finding great music or helping you to write great music, that is the first step that we take to help our artists. The next step is producing that music to fit the artist. This takes an experienced producer that can catch the stylistic and ministry vision of an artist.

Anyone who has been to Nashville can tell you that you can shake a tree and 2 producers and an entire band will fall out of it. You can make a recording anywhere in this town, but finding the right producer who understands where you sing and the people you sing to, is an entirely different task. Once the recording is finished, you need someone that will help you place those songs in a program that will make your live presentation the most that it can be. You need someone who can sit down, reference specific scripture to help set up or present that song in a powerful way. Lastly, you need a team of people taking and promoting your music to radio around the world. Did your last "record deal" include all of this? When we sign a new artist, this is exactly what they get. Real Direction, Real Results!

The Cavaliers Quartet – Their Story
"When I first heard The Cavaliers Quartet, they faced the same challenges most regional groups face. Their material was average, the arrangements were loose and there isn't a real effective way for anyone to present that to a crowd" according to David Staton, VP of Song Garden Music Group. They shared their history which included some of their recording experiences. They told about how there was no direction after they finished a project nearly 2 years earlier. They had ordered 1,000 pieces and still had about half of that stock still in boxes. The Cavaliers Quartet signed with Grapevine Records in 2008. "These guys were tired of doing the same old thing and getting the same old results, so they did something that most groups won't do….they listened!" stated Staton. We found great songs, did a great recording with an extreme focus on making the vocals tight and good! Their first recording sold over 1500 units the first year. Their second recording was released on Garden Creek Records (A division of Song Garden Music Group) and sold 2500 units within 12 months from the release date. Their third release on the label titled "God Is" has sold more than 3500 units. It took more than great recordings to have results like this. It all started when they realized they had real obstacles to overcome and that God expects excellence. The Cavaliers Quartet rose to that challenge.

"Partnering with Song Garden Music Group was without a doubt the best decision we have ever made. David Staton is one of the reasons The LeFevre Quartet has become one of today's top artists in Gospel Music. We have and continue to use his counsel on major business decisions. The production team is absolutely the best you can find and the dedication that Song Garden Music Group has for their artists and the music has truly made the difference for The Cavaliers Quartet. My advice to any artist that is serious about making a difference with their music is to not just make a recording, but surround yourself with a winning team. It will make a difference"!

- Anthony O'Neal
The Cavaliers Quartet
The Rick Webb Family sang at Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, CA with Dr. David Jeremiah and special guest speaker Governor Mike Huckabee on Sunday July 25. The evenings service included the Webbs singing with the support of the 250 voice Shadow Mountain Choir under the leadership of Toban Davis. There was standing room only in the main worship center with several overflow chapels filled to capacity. The Webbs stated, "It was an electictrfying evening. We witnessed the gathering of several thousand people who were taking a stand for Christ and our country. Governor Huckabee unashamedly preached the gospel, an evening we will not soon forget"
BRAND NEW RELEASE FROM THE SCOTTS
Grapevine Records have just released "Smile Again" by The Scotts. The first radio single, "I Don't Know Why" will hit radio in August. Make sure you get your copy of this soulful mix of Southern Gospel and Black Gospel today!
Chuck Wagon Gang Sing For TBN’s Paul Crouch
Song Garden Music Group Recording Artists, The Chuck Wagon Gang was in Nashville last week recording their latest project with producer Steve Mauldin. While recording at TBN’s studio in Hendersonville, TN, TBN President, Paul Crouch came by to meet the Gang. During a short break in the session, Paul asked if they would sing one of his favorite Chuck Wagon Gang songs. That turned into a mini concert in the lobby of the studio. Paul Crouch said that he grew up listening to the music of the Chuck Wagon Gang and he loved having them there listening to them in person. The new project will be released later this summer on the Song Garden label.
Canaan’s Crossing to be featured on syndicated radio show | Song Garden recording artist Canaan’s Crossing will be the Front Porch Fellowship Spotlight Artist of the Month during the month of July. Front Porch Fellowship is a bluegrass gospel radio show heard weekly on the Solid Gospel Radio Network and its affiliates hosted by Les Butler. Les will be talking with group members about the release of their new Song Garden project “Beautifully Broken”. You can listen to listen to Front Porch Fellowship each Saturday and Sunday at 4PM Central on the Internet at www.solidgospel.com or on your local Solid Gospel station
Canaan's Crossing was at Vox Box studio | Canaan's Crossing was at Vox Box studio in Nashville wrapping up vocals for their latest Song Garden project with a tentative working title of "Beautifully Broken". Pictured from left to right are Josh Palmer, Tim Maze, Tina Miller, Drew Long and Andy Wilks. The project is being produced by David Staton and Gus Gaches.

The single release "Dying to Live Again" has received excellent initial response including noted singer/songwriter who recently said, "I am the writer of 13 number one songs. I have 3 BMI Gold Medals on my wall for BMI Songs of the Year. I have a Singing News Album of the Year. I say all that to say this.... Dying to Live Again is a HIT!!! Such a pretty song. Song Garden has got 'em something here... No Kidding ... It is really, really great".