NewSong

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Newsong is a Contemporary Christian Music group that was founded in 1981, at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia^[1]. Throughout the years they have had 17 #1 singles and six Dove Award nominations. The original four included the current members Eddie Carswell, Billy Goodwin, and former members Eddie Middleton and Bobby Apon.

1 1981-1993
2 1994-1999
3 2000-2002
4 2003-2006
5 Discography
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] 1981-1993

Newsong released “More Than Music”, “NewSong Alive”, and “All The Best” in 1981 independently. They signed on with Covenant Records in 1981, and released “The Son In My Eyes” the next year. In 1984, they signed a contract with Canaan Records, a branch of CCM label giant Word Records and released “The Word”. NewSong continued to stay with Word Records until 1991 when they signed on with DaySpring Records, releasing “Living Proof” that same year, and “One Heart At A Time, The Best of NewSong” in 1992. That record featured 12 hits from “The Word” through “Living Proof”. In 1993, they joined up with the Benson Music Group and released “All Around The World”, which brought four #1 hits. In 1993, lead vocalist Eddie Middleton left to pursue a solo career, and Bobby Apon left to spend more time with his family.

[edit] 1994-1999

In 1994, songwriter Leonard Ahlstrom, soloist Charles Billingsley, musician Scotty Wilbanks, and the lead vocalist from the contemporary Christian band Truth, Russ Lee, joined Carswell and Goodwin. That year they released “People Get Ready”. This also brought four #1 hits, and also featured a re-recorded version of the classic “Arise My Love”, originally recorded by the original group in 1987. In 1995 Charles Billingsley left to again pursue a solo career. In 1997, they released “Love Revolution”. This featured again four #1 hits, including “Miracles”, which stayed at #1 on the CCM Adult Contemporary chart for four consecutive weeks, tying the record set a few years earlier by Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses”. In May of 1999, Bobby Apon died. He was recognized on their 1999 album “Arise, My Love, The Very Best of NewSong”. This featured all twelve #1 hits from “All Around The World”, “People Get Ready”, and “Love Revolution”. It also included the “Arise, My Love” recording from “People Get Ready”, as well as three new songs. “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” and “Jesus To The World (Roaring Lambs), a song inspired by Christian speaker and author Bob Briner, became #1 hits. Bob Briner died later that year from cancer. The third song, “Like Minded, Like Hearted”, was a duet between NewSong and Out of Eden of Gotee Records.

[edit] 2000-2002

In 2000, Russ Lee and Scotty Wilbanks left Newsong. Lee pursued a solo career, while Wilbanks played keyboard, saxophone, and organ for Lee. They were replaced by soloist Michael O’Brien, Steve Reischl, and former Truth member, Matt Butler. The next year they released “Sheltering Trees”, and Carswell, along with author Donna VanLiere, released a book entitled "Sheltering Trees: The Power, Promise, and Refuge Of Friendship". After the release of the album, songwriter and electric guitarist Leonard Ahlstrom left to help a friend manage a recording label in Florida. The only #1 hit from the album was “The Christmas Shoes”, a Christmas bonus track. The song inspired Donna VanLiere to write a book based on the song. The book then inspired CBS to make a movie based on the book. “The Christmas Shoes” movie was released on December 2002. That same year, Newsong left Benson Records and signed on with Reunion Records. They then released their very first Christmas album, entitled “The Christmas Shoes”. It featured Christian music, as well as secular music, such as “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”.

[edit] 2003-2006

After the release of the movie, vocalist and musician Matt Butler left to join Kirk Franklin. He was replaced by former member Scotty Wilbanks. Steve Reischl also left before the release of the movie to pursue a solo career. In mid 2003, new member Michael Land, who had been with NewSong for just a few months, left because of the birth of a new baby in his family. He was replaced by former member Matt Butler. On September 9th, 2003, Eddie Carswell, Billy Goodwin, Michael O’Brien, Matt Butler, and Scotty Wilbanks released "More Life" with Reunion Records. Then in March of 2004, they announced that they were leaving Reunion Records and forming their own record label. In November of 2004, NewSong recorded their next album, “Rescue: Live Worship”. This album was recorded live at their home church of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, under Senior Pastor Dr. Johnny Hunt, with the help of Integrity Records. The album was released in May of 2005, while the DVD of the concert came out in September. In November, Scotty Wilbanks left to join the group, "Third Day" and produce bands. Donna VanLiere released her new book, "The Christmas Hope", the third in the series spawned by the hit The Christmas Shoes, while CBS released a made-for-TV movie based on the second book, "The Christmas Blessing". In March 2006, Michael O’Brien left to restart his solo career. In April, soloist Andrew Carlton joined to replace Michael with lead vocals and acoustic guitar. Scotty Wilbanks also left in March 2006, and was replaced by Drew Cline. Andrew left in the summer of 2006. In September, Eddie Carswell, Matt Butler, Billy Goodwin, and Drew Cline released "The Christmas Hope", featuring traditional holiday carols, NewSong originals, and three songs to compliment the Christmas Hope trilogy of books. In November, "The Christmas Shoes" movie was released on DVD. At that time, work was underway for the third installment of the Christmas Shoes trilogy movie. "The Christmas Hope" CBS movie will hopefully come out in December 2007. In March of 2007, former Christian solo artist Nate Sallie joined NewSong.