ARTinSTEREO


So yeah… I sang with the Oak Ridge Boys.
January 28, 2010, 10:38 am
Filed under: Music

(Imported from fundamentalelements.net)

Yesterday was kind of bizarre.  Kat Davis, our manager hit me up earlier this week and asked if I could spare some time Wednesday night to pull away from the studio for a couple of hours to lend my voice and represent FE for a recording that many Nashville artists were coming together to record to benefit relief efforts in Haiti.  She had been asked by “Smitty” to bring her roster of artists and we happen to be in town finishing up our new EP.  Ocean Way Studio, musicians, engineers, producers, and now singers were donating their time to come put together a sort of “We-Are-the-World-gone-Nashville” track titled Come Together Now. The song was written by gospel music veterans Michael W. Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan.  It was a really wild collection of Nashville folks.  If you know Nashville music at all, then you know that means lots of country and gospel artists.  In this case, up-and-coming artists, veterans, and even legends all checked their status at the door and all jumped right in.  The room was full of energy.  Everyone was excited to be a part of the project and stand with other talented musicians and sing their hearts out for Haiti.  It was a really funny experience, one I’m glad to have had the privilege of participate in.  Surely with the names and “star power” represented in the room, this track will sell hundreds of thousands of downloads and raise a ton of money for the relief efforts in Haiti.  You’re certainly invited to do your part.  Be on the lookout for the release of the track in the coming weeks on iTunes and buy it: Come Together Now by Michael W. Smith.  Drop .99 for Haiti and see if you can pick out my voice in the choir.

To be honest, I didn’t recognize half the people in the room, but among the artists I got to meet (and/or appearing on the recording):

Country artists: Wynonna Judd, the Oak Ridge Boys and Vince Gill.

Gospel artists: Michael W. Smith, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Matt Maher, members of dc Talk, Casting Crowns and the Newsboys, Selah, Margaret Becker, the Katinas, Point of Grace, John Schlitt and Nicole C. Mullin (Nicole and I stood together in the choir and had a really fun time goofing around when we were supposed to be learning the song.  She’s awesome.).

American Idol notables: Mandisa, Phil Stacey and Chris Sligh.

Some other big-time producers, composers and such were there as well.

Lots of local and national media were there as well.  Check out some additional coverage of the event by following the media links on this story on my band’s website HERE.

I’ll keep you posted on the release of the song.


3 Comments so far
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=)

Comment by Katie

I got your blog in a Google alert for Phil Stacey. Thank you for recapping the event and providing the video.:-). I can imagine how incredible it must have felt to have all those awesome artists in 1 room, all singing. I am looking forward to the release of the song. I belong to several fan sites for American Idols, so I will post your link there for others to read and to enjoy the video. Thanks again.

Comment by wtgm3

So cool Russ! What an awesome experience that must have been!

Comment by Erin




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