| If you tell
Bob Bennett his songs don't sound much like Christian music,
you're likely to invoke a smile. After all, Bob has always lurked
outside the fringes of contemporary Christian music, crafting
songs that detail not only his joys and victories, but also his
disappointments, struggles and failures. To Bob, spiritual themes
are everywhere, even in the least holy of circumstances. His
approach to ministry also follows the same line of reasoning --
that our lives are intricately woven with the sacred and the
human, and that honest communication is ultimately most effective.
"I think that accomplishing
some sort of ministry by playing music is a completely faulty,
frail method that God still manages to use," Bob says,
"To me, my primary goal is to communicate truthfully with
people. If I can communicate truthfully the
life of the spirit and the always accompanying struggle along the
way, then ministry happens as a natural result of that." |
Award-winning Christian recording
artist Sean Smith is one of those people who manages to
challenge you without even realizing it. Some would say it's
because Sean exhibits a genuine humility, whether ministering
from the platform, or having a one on one conversation. Sean, on
the other hand, would say it's just God working in people's
hearts. Sean would tell you that he's just a man on a journey
with God at the helm. And it's about the story of what God is
doing in his life and the lives of those around him.
One of the paradoxes about Sean is
that he views his situation with such casual gravity. He
realizes what a small role he plays in what God is doing. Yet,
it's easy for anyone to see that God is doing remarkable things.
Sean Smith is an Indie artist whose
national debut release somehow managed to land the top spot as
LifeWay Christian Bookstore's
overall first
# 1 new music release of 2007.
Sean was recently named
Male Vocalist of the Year at the The
2007 Momentum Awards,
which were handed out on Saturday, March 31st at the annual CIA
Summit in Franklin, Tennessee. Smith also picked up four awards
at last year's ceremony, including
Contemporary Artist of the Year,
Inspirational Artist of the Year,
Song and Album
of the Year for his CD
REAL, which was
originally released in 2005.
"Sean
is a perfect example of how excellence and passion draws
people," says Keith Mohr, founder of IndieHeaven and
director of CIA Summit and the Momentum Awards.
"Sure, it's about the art, but
more so, it's about the heart of the artist. Sean has a great
heart and love for people!"
REAL was produced by multiple
Grammy & Dove Award winner
Phil Naish (Stephen Curtis Chapman, Point of Grace, Michael
Card, David Phelps), and mixed by Grammy Award winner Ronnie
Brookshire. The project features an all-star list of musicians,
including background vocals by Drew Cline, Lisa Bevill,
American Idol (2006)
finalist Mandisa and current
American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle.
Passionate songwriting, heavy touring and comparisons to such
artists as Steven Curtis Chapman and Josh Groban have helped
Smith earn a strong and growing fan base.
|
In Italian, the words “La
Dolce Vita” means “The Sweet Life” and Cherie Adams has learned
first hand the meaning of the words. An American Music Award winner,
two-time Grammy nominee, Dove award winner and 11 number one hits
while touring as a member of the Christian music group Avalon, this
nationally acclaimed recording artist has performed all over the
world.
After millions of
records sold and appearances with such well known artists such
as Martina McBride, Ce-Ce Winans, Aaron Neville, and John Tesh,
Cherie knew that there was a greater calling on her life.
With ten #1 hits from
In a Different Light and Oxygen, several performances on the
Dove Awards and mission trips to El Salvador, Costa Rica, and
Brazil, Cherie decided to leave Avalon and move on to the next
chapter in her ministry.
"I loved being a part
of Avalon", Cherie said. "It was alot of fun, but I also want to
sing songs that I’ve been writing for years, songs that will
touch the hearts of those who are hurting and broken and
searching for more in their life."
Cherie's deep passion
for hurting souls led her into a more introspective solo career.
Her personal testimony of how God made Himself tangible to her
at a time in her life when she herself struggled through a
shattering loss and complete brokenness, will most certainly
convince anyone who will listen that the God of this entire
universe cares deeply about the smallest concerns of our life.
With the help of her
husband and manager, Kevin Adams, they started their own record
company called Dolce Vita Entertainment and recorded Cherie's
first solo offering entitled "The Sweet Life".
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