Since blowing up as the dazzling lead vocalist on James Fortune & FIYA’s 2008 breakthrough hit “The Blood” and their subsequent #1 smash, “I Believe”, Zacardi Cortez has gained a reputation in music circles as a singer’s singer as much for his intricate vocal gymnastics and fiery hoops as for his smooth tone. The Houston native can sing it all, from gutbucket blues to polished symphonic pieces and he displays it all on his forthcoming debut solo CD, “Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction”(Blacksmoke Media) that hits online and retail stores everywhere on May 22, 2012.
 
With the buzz swirling around Cortez’ name over the last few years, it’s no surprise that a who’s who in music has signed up to croon with him on the 13-track CD. Lalah Hathaway duets with him on the smooth anthem “Every Promise” and Fred Hammond brings horn-driven funk to “Praise You.” James Fortune opens the soul-stirring ballad, “God Held Me Together.” The silky soul of “Alright” features Isaac Carree on a track that fits neatly between tracks by R. Kelly and Trey Songz. Cortez shares the lilting ballad “For Me” with Kierra Sheard and shows off his quartet growl with the Williams Singers on “He Brought Me.” The legendary John P. Kee, stops in on the current Top 10 smash, “One More Time.”
 
In spite of the awe-inspiring duets, the set is equally impressive for Cortez’ nuanced solo performances.  He brings a little Isley Brothers vibe to the R&B-styled groove “Living For You” and demonstrates sophistication and class on the tune, “It Was Love.” It’s just Cortez and a cheerleading organist on the riveting  “Hymn Medley” that shows him riffing like a Pentecostal storefront preacher. On the up-tempo “Come Bless The Lord” and  “Mighty God” Cortez proves that he can even lead praise and worship tunes. The iTunes deluxe edition of the CD features a digital booklet and two additional songs, “All That I Need” and “The Blood.”
 
The 26-year old rising star has been singing all of his life and began his career singing with his family, The Cortez Singers, and recording with his musical godfather, John P. Kee.  “Zacardi is the best singer in America today,” says Blacksmoke Media CEO, Kerry Douglas. “I’ve been grooming him like I groomed James Fortune and Earnest Pugh. Zacardi is my next superstar and I have no doubt that he will be one of the biggest artists the gospel world has ever seen.” For more information, please visit www.mrkerrydouglas.com or www.zacardicortez.com.

Recent GRAMMY ® nominated female vocalist and dove award forerunner Natalie Grant was honored last night as she accepted her fifth Dove for “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards. The highly anticipated event was held at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA and will air on GMC TV on April 24 at 8PM and 10PM ET.

Grant also received a standing ovation when she gave a powerful performance of the Dove and GRAMMY® nominated song “Alive” featured on The Story, alongside her husband and award-winning producer Bernie Herms.

Hosted by comedian Chonda Pierce and actor David Mann from Tyler Perry’s sitcom Meet the Browns, music fans can tune into the nationally televised broadcast on GMC TV on April 24 from 8PM to 10PM ET.

For more information on the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or www.doveawards.com.

CLICK HERE to View The Full List of 2012 Dove Awards Winners

ABOUT NATALIE GRANT: A powerhouse vocalist, heart-gripping songwriter and charismatic performer, Natalie Grant has an unshakable determination to remind us of the simple significance of love, and the revolutionary power that it carries, as expressed on her latest project, Love Revolution. Released in August 2010, Love Revolution gave Natalie the highest-selling debut of her career. As a Grammy Nominee, GMA Female Vocalist of the Year for four consecutive years (2006-2009) and the top-selling Adult Contemporary female solo artist in 2005, 2006 and 2008, Grant is among a select number of artists to have achieved a formidable foothold at mainstream media and radio. Despite these?accomplishments, it is the message of the Gospel, and the revolutionary power of love it carries, that she waves as her banner and her hope. Beyond her artistry, Grant remains an outspoken advocate for victims of human trafficking through Abolition International, which she created in 2005. She balances all of these endeavors with her greatest calling-as a wife, and mother of three.

ABOUT GMA: Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community membership consists of agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org, www.facebook.com/gospelmusicassociation.

Path MEGAzine got the chance to attend the 43rd Annual Dove Awards in Atlanta, GA this year and it was packed with the best in Christian and Gospel music.

The Dove Awards took place in Atlanta’s landmark Fox Theatre, Thursday April 19, and included a pre-show as well as red carpet entrances by top names such as Kirk Franklin, Natalie Grant, and Montell Jordan.  

Comedian Chonda Pierce and actor David Mann from Tyler Perry’s sitcom “Meet the Browns” served as hosts for the awards ceremony.  

One of the most prestigious awards of the night went to Jason Crabb for Male Vocalist of the year, who also earned Artist of the year.  Crabb said that he was thrilled to take part in Thursday’s awards ceremony.  “I’m so excited to be here, said the “Sometimes I Cry” singer.  “It just blows my mind,” he added of his big win.  

          Mary Mary takes pictures in the press room

Christian hip-hop singer Lecrae garnered two Dove Awards during the ceremony. He was recently named by Jeremy Lin as his favorite rapper and is one of today’s rising stars. The Grammy-nominated rapper received Dove Awards for Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year with “Hallelujah,” and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the year with “The Overdose.”  

Number one selling Gospel artist of all-time, Kirk Franklin, earned his 15th and 16th Dove Awards Thursday. The singer took home awards for Contemporary Gospel Album and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.  

          Montell Jordan [Left] with Publisher Kris Patrick [Right]

The 43rd annual Dove Awards saw several performances by both old and new artists. Jamie-Grace, who earned the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year, performed her hit song “Hold Me,” while R&B soul singer Angie Stone shared the stage with Gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Crystal Lewis, and Karen Peck in a tribute to Whitney Houston.  

Natalie Grant’s performance of her hit song “Alive” earned the singer a standing ovation on the night. Additionally, she garnered her fifth Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year.  

The GMA Dove Awards will be nationally televised on GMC TV on April 24 at 8 p.m. EST and 10 p.m. EST.


          Fred Jerkins [Left] with Publisher Kris Patrick [Right]

          PATH on-air personality Christin Gordon with Wes Morgan

          Kris Patrick on the red carpet 

Below are the Full list of nominees and Dove Awards winners.

Song of the Year – Blessings; Laura Story; Laura Story; New Spring Publishing (ASCAP), Gleaning Publishing (ASCAP)

Male Vocalist of the Year – Jason Crabb

Female Vocalist of the Year – Natalie Grant

Group of the Year – NEEDTOBREATHE

Artist of the Year – Jason Crabb

New Artist of the Year – Jamie-Grace

Producer of the Year – Ed Cash

Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year – Hallelujah; Rehab Deluxe Edition; Lecrae; LeCrae Moore, Charles Cornelius, Joseph Prielozny, Nelson Chu; Reach Records

Rock Recorded Song of the Year – Dark Horses; Vice Verses; Switchfoot; Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman; Credential Recordings/lowercasepeople/Atlantic

Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year – Slumber; The Reckoning; NEEDTOBREATHE; Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart; Atlantic Records

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year – Blessings; Blessings; Laura Story; Laura Story; Fair Trade Services, LLC

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year – Hope Of The Broken World; Hope Of The Broken World; Selah; Carl Cartee, Jennie Riddle; Curb

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year – Celebrate Me Home; Blue Skies Coming; Perrys; Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun; Daywind

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year – Mama’s Teaching Angels How to Sing; Naturally; The Isaacs; Dottie Rambo; Gaither Music Group

Country Recorded Song of the Year – Good Things Are Happening; Reach Out; Karen Peck & New River; Wayne Haun, Sonya Isaacs; Daywind

Urban Recorded Song of the Year – Sweeter; The Love Album; Kim Burrell; Kathy Burrell, Shanachie Records

Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year – Hold On; Change The Atmosphere; Christ Tabernacle Choir; Wayne Haun, Steve Carey, Matthew Garinger; Vine

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year – I Smile; Hello Fear; Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, James Harris, Terry Lewis, Fred Tackett; Verity

Worship Song of the Year – Your Great Name; Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff; Integrity’s Praise! Music (BMI), Two Nords Music (ASCAP)

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year – Rehab: The Overdose; Lecrae; Lecrae, Torrance Esmond,Kadence, Tony

Rock Album of the Year – Vice Verses; Switchfoot; Neal Avron; EMI CMG

Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year – The Reckoning; NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, Greg Wells, NEEDTOBREATHE; Atlantic Records

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – Blessings; Laura Story; Nathan Nockels; Fair Trade Services, LLC

Inspirational Album of the Year – Hope Of The Broken World; Selah; Jason Kyle, Todd Smith, Allan Hall, Bernie Herms; Curb Records

Southern Gospel Album of the Year – Reach Out; Karen Peck & New River; Wayne Haun; Daywind

Bluegrass Album of the Year – Grassroots Rambos; Rambo McGuire; Dony McGuire; Rambo McGuire Records

Country Album of the Year – Dreamin’ Wide Awake; Doug Anderson; Wayne Haun; StowTown

Urban Album of the Year – Church on the Moon; Deitrick Haddon; Fred Jenkins Deitrick Haddon, Cordell Walton, Blaze, AJ Encore, Ebony Eugene Suber, David Haddon, Calvin Frazier, Fred Jerkins III, wowJones; Verity Gospel Music Group

Traditional Gospel Album of the Year – Promises; Richard Smallwood; Steven Ford, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, Daniel Weatherspoon; Verity Gospel Music Group

Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year – Hello Fear; Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Shaun Martin; Verity Gospel Music Group

Instrumental Album of the Year – Unfailing Love: 20 Worship Songs of Comfort and Peace; Stan Whitmire; Stan Whitmire; Green Hill Productions

Childrens Music Album of the Year – Groovy; Denver and the Mile High Orchestra; Jamie Statema, Denver Bierman and Darren Rust; Go Fish Kids Records

Spanish Language Album of the Year – Top 25 Cantos de Alabanza 2012; Various; Phil Sillas; Maranatha! Music

Special Event Album of the Year – The Story; Matthew West, Leigh Nash from Sixpence None the Richer, Mark Hall & Megan Garret from Casting Crowns, Brandon Heath, Bart Millard from Mercy Me, Michael Tait From Newsboys, Blanca Callahan from Group 1 Crew, Lecrae, Chris Tomlin, Peter Furler, Mandisa, Todd Smith from Selah, Michael W Smith, Jeremy Camp, Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay, Matt Hammit from Sanctus Real, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Mac Powell from Third Day, Nichole Nordeman, Amy Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Darlene Zschech; Bernie Herms, Brown Bannister; EMI, Provident, Word

Christmas Album of the Year – Oh For Joy; David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band; SixSteps/ Sparrow Records

Praise and Worship Album of the Year – And If Our God is For Us…; Chris Tomlin; Ed Cash, Dan Muckala; EMI CMG

Musical of the Year – Down From His Glory; Mike Speck;Lillenas Publishing Company

Youth/Childrens Musical of the Year – God of This City; Susie Williams, David Ebensberger & Luke Gambill; Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing

Choral Collection of the Year – Everlasting Praise 3; Mike Speck, Stan Whitmire;Lillenas Publishing Company

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year – Christmas In Diverse City; TobyMac; Jan Cook; Eddy Boer for Boerhaus; Lee Stephen, Ryan Lampa, Nick West; EMI CMG

Short Form Music Video of the Year – You Are More; Tenth Avenue North; Wes Edwards; Drew Langer; Ruckus Films; Reunion Records

Long Form Music Video of the Year – Fear Not Tomorrow; The Collingsworth Family; Curt Casassa; Jim Hammond; P&KC Music; P&KC Music

Now who would of thought 5 years ago that a Gospel rapper could have bumped  Marvin Sapp out of the #1 spot on Billboard?  Well, it’s the times we live in and I’m excited about it!  Young Christian demographics are supporting Gospel rappers in droves.  Rapper Trip Lee takes over the #1 spot with his new CD titled ‘The Good Life.’  

Marvin Sapp moves to #2, but don’t expect him to stay there long.  It will be tough for Trip Lee to have the staying power necessary to keep Sapp from the top, but only time will tell.  

Also debuting a new CD this week is Forever Jones.  The disappointing sales debut landed them #17 on the charts.  Forever Jones is best known for their smash hit song ‘He Wants it All.’  I hear the sophomore CD is really good though.

The rest of the Top 10 at Billboard is…

1 | Trip Lee – The Good Life
2 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
3 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
4 | WOW Gospel 2012
5 | Smokie Norful – Once In A Lifetime
6 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
7 | William McDowell – Arise
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
10 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear

George Zimmerman is getting out of jail. Now his defense team has to worry about keeping the neighborhood watch volunteer accused of gunning down Trayvon Martin safe on the outside.

Defense attorneys for other high-profile clients who awaited trial on bail had advice for how to protect the man whose shooting of the unarmed black 17-year-old sparked nationwide protests: Get him out of Florida, keep him from going out in public and never leave him alone.

“He clearly puts himself in jeopardy unless he takes precautions,” said New York attorney Barry Slotnick, who represented subway shooter Bernhard Goetz in the 1980s.

A half dozen reporters, photographers and cameramen began staking out the Seminole County Jail early Saturday in Sanford, a day after a Florida judge agreed to let Zimmerman out on $150,000 bail. Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, said it would take a few days before Zimmerman is released. His family needs time to secure collateral for the bail, Zimmerman needs to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and O’Mara said he must find a secure location for him. Zimmerman appeared to be wearing a bulletproof vest under his charcoal suit, and his wife and parents testified by telephone instead of in the courtroom because they said they’ve been threatened and feared for their safety. His wife, Shellie Zimmerman, testified she had received hate mail.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester on Friday indicated that Zimmerman would be allowed to leave Florida if arrangements can be made with law enforcement to have him monitored out of state.

“The initial challenge is going to be first be getting him out of Sanford,” said attorney Jose Baez, whose former client, Casey Anthony, endured similar scrutiny when she was released from an Orlando jail last summer after being acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter. “Everybody knows where he is getting released from. That is the first problem.”

Before he turned himself in to authorities earlier this month to face a second-degree murder charge, members of the New Black Panthers had put out a bounty for Zimmerman’s arrest. Protesters nationwide had held rallies carrying signs and chanting “Arrest Zimmerman Now!” Because of the emotions surrounding the case, O’Mara said of Zimmerman’s release: “I would much rather do this safely than quickly.”

O’Mara said he had several options for where Zimmerman should go, but he wouldn’t disclose them. The judge appeared willing to help keep Zimmerman’s whereabouts secret in the court file, as O’Mara requested.

“I don’t know where we’re going to end up,” O’Mara said after the bail hearing. “It’s a very difficult decision to make. It’s an enormously high-profile case and there are just a lot of emotions that exist.”

In Anthony’s case, Baez had the cooperation of sheriff’s deputies who blocked traffic from the Orange County Jail and entrances to a nearby interstate so they could have unimpeded access to the highway during her late-night release. Anthony later made her way to Ohio without being detected, but had to return to an undisclosed location in Florida to serve out probation on a check-fraud charge.

A spokeswoman for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said late Friday that no special arrangements like that had been made yet for Zimmerman’s release.

But Baez said law enforcement officials would be called on to safely get him out of jail and away from media. “From then on, it’s really up to Mr. Zimmerman as to whether he’s going to be able to keep a low profile,” he said.

Baez said he expects there to be a cooling-off period over the next couple of months as Zimmerman fades from the spotlight and the public’s attention moves on.

But until then, Zimmerman’s attorneys should expect intense interest in where Zimmerman is, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Miami who is now in private practice.

“I think they have to be prepared for a manhunt by not only members of the media but curious onlookers,” Coffey said. “The whereabouts of George Zimmerman will be one of the most intriguing curiosities of the legal world in the coming weeks.”

Post-bail security costs don’t come cheap, either, and it could be extremely difficult for Zimmerman to pay for it. His attorney is considering having him declared indigent, and his wife has no income because she is in nursing school and does not work.

In an extreme case, it cost some $200,000 a month to keep Dominique Strauss-Kahn under house arrest at a luxury Manhattan town house when he was accused of assaulting a hotel maid. Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff was protected by 24-hour-a-day armed guards and cameras recording his every move. Retired federal and high-ranking New York City police officers kept tabs on everything at his secured Upper East Side penthouse, even deliveries to the building.

Once he is situated in his new location, Zimmerman needs to never be alone so he can have someone at his side should a threat arise, and he shouldn’t associate with anybody he hasn’t known for a long time, said Slotnick. His client, Goetz, was acquitted of most charges except several firearm charges for shooting four men who he alleged tried to mug him in a case that came to symbolize vigilante justice.

“He will not be forgotten. He will be recognized,” Slotnick said of Zimmerman.

Keeping a low profile is important to his safety, but Zimmerman doesn’t need to completely disappear from the public view and could benefit from some strategic public appearances, said Los Angeles attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr., whose clients have included singer Michael Jackson and actor Robert Blake.

When Jackson was being tried on child molestation charges, Mesereau had him visit a church and make a few public statements. Jackson was acquitted of the charges.

“It is part of a process of humanizing him,” Mesereau said. “You don’t want him to go out there and act gratuitously, in an overly dramatic way. That would be a mistake. But he is a human being … and you want them to see a very low-key, respectful person who, from their point of view, does some good things with his life.”

TD Jakes’ “Woman Thou Art Loosed: On The 7th Day” was a surprise hit among specialty releases over the weekend, averaging a solid $6,376 in 102 locations, and managing a higher per theater average than any other movie among the top 15 grossers, according to Deadline.com.

The faith-based psychological thriller stars Blair Underwood and Sharon Leal as a married couple in New Orleans whose perfect lives unravel when their 6-year-old daughter is kidnapped. The abductor is a religious serial killer who symbolically murders his victims on the seventh day of captivity. As the couple races against the clock to find their child, they start to uncover devastating secrets about each other that threaten to destroy their relationship.

 
The plot and tone of the film is decidedly different from the 2004 film adaptation of Bishop Jakes’ self-help novel “Woman Thou Art Loosed,” which was directed by Michael Schultz and starred Kimberly Elise as a woman trying to come to terms with her legacy of abuse, addiction and poverty.

The 2004 film “was a different style, a different format, a different kind of story,” explains “7^th Day” director Neema Barnette. “I think that this story is a different kind of story. It’s a more modern film, it’s shot differently, it was conceived differently and we designed it to reach a broader audience.”

After sowing her debut album God’s Project (Book I), with the single “Holy Groove,” Coppe Cantrell garnered the attention of the community.  Coppe was invited to perform at Knott’s Berry Farm’s (Gospel Showcase in 2011), and has shared the stage with Michelle Bonilla, Jessica Reedy, The Neville Sisters and P-Dub to name a few.  Now Coppe is back with the upcoming release of her sophomore CD God’s Project (Book II). 

Already getting airplay the hot single “True Riches” will surely give fans what they’ve bargained for.  The song features veteran Christian/Gospel rap artist Shames Worthy.

“True Riches” is about not allowing the lust and material things of this world to rule your life.  True riches are allowing God to overrule your life by having faith in his goodness, grace and mercy.

The new album is set for release on the newly formed Gospel label VOW ENTERTAINMENT GOSPEL.  Look for the sophomore release of this talented singer/songwriter Coppe Cantrell June 26th.

Preview and Purchase Coppe Cantrell’s single ‘True Riches’ by clicking here. 

This past weekend in Fayetteville, NC, Festival Park was filled with 5,800 people uniformed in simple T-shirts that read “God Belongs In My City”. They were all gathered for the city’s first community Prayer Walk. God Belongs in My City is a national movement which started in New York City with a small group of believers. The movement has now grown to several cities across the nation with Fayetteville marking its largest participation log to date. “On behalf of our national office, this walk has been one of the greatest epic prayer walks we have ever experienced,” states Alan Diaz, Co-Chairman of God Belongs In My City – National Office.

Fayetteville’s God Belongs In My City Prayer Walk was organized by Anthony O’Neal, Youth Pastor at Simon Temple AME Zion Church. The goal of the event was accomplished – to bring every religious denomination, all races, nationalities and ages of people in the community together in a day of communal unity and proclamation that God does belong in Fayetteville. With the up rise in recent violent acts and homicides, O’Neal was compelled to create an event that brought awareness to the concerns in the community and the solutions to which everyone could contribute.

Lead by Fayetteville Mayor Anthony Chavonne, local pastors and community leaders, a sea of walkers took to the streets of downtown stopping at Veterans Park and Airborne Museum, City Hall, the Market House and the Public Library to pray. After the mile and a half prayer walk, the crowd was enthusiastically engaged in a live worship concert that featured Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Myron Butler from The Potter’s House, Dallas, TX. To top off the afternoon, walkers were treated to lunch sponsored by Chick-fila.

“To see my pastor who has a small ministry walk next to the pastors who have a larger ministries and they not treat him any differently blessed my heart,” a participating walker shared. “Our pastor preached ‘As One’ for his sermon topic on Sunday morning.” “As One” was an inspiring short message by Pastor Fletcher who spoke to the crowd at Festival Park.

The overwhelming response and community support has lead O’Neal to confirm the now annual event with next year’s date set for April 20. O’Neal humbly, yet confidently proclaims – “This is just the beginning!”

About The God Belongs In My City National Movement: New York City youth group passionate for God saw an Atheist Advertisement campaign in the subway system which stated, “A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?” They were so stirred up by this they went to their Youth Pastor who then went to his network of Youth Pastors and leaders to ask, “What are we, as the body of Christ going to do about this?” They prayed and decided to take action and have Youth Ministries from all around the 5 boroughs hold a prayer walk wearing a simple T-shirt which stated “God Belongs in My City”.

Modern rockers Canopy Red are back in the spotlight with their upcoming release, Wake Up, to be released on June 5th. Produced by Dove Award winning producer Rusty Varenkamp (Michael W. Smith, Sanctus Real, Tenth Avenue North), Wake Up is the band’s first full-length album, and the long-awaited follow-up to their 2009 self-titled EP from Creative Soul Records. Their 2011 digital single “Here to Stay” reached #21 on Billboard’s Christian Rock Chart. 

“It was totally a God thing with Rusty where he was surfing the internet, our name caught his eye, he started listening to our stuff and felt for some reason he could help us out,” says frontman Forrest Krazit of their collaborator and newfound friend. “It started out as a trip to his studio to record and co-write a couple of songs, but it turned out God led us to work together on a full record. Rusty is a genius at coming up with melodies. We wound up co-writing ten songs with him- and he was very reassuring in not only the musical direction of our band, but our lifelong calling as well.” 

Armed with a moniker that references the fact that all believers are sheltered by Christ’s blood, Canopy Red blends alternative rock, pop and worship with the intention of delivering a message of hope and encouragement. 

“Wake Up has a lot to do with the idea of not just being stagnant in your faith or getting stuck in the rut of class, homework, eat, sleep and repeat,” explains guitarist Josh Schmidt. “It’s about shaking off complacency and reminding ourselves that being a Christian is more than something for just Sundays and Wednesdays.” 

“We’re definitely targeting our generation,” adds Krazit, “but we’re not pointing any fingers because we need to hear this message just as much as anybody else. We go to school, have our jobs and live the way we live, but that’s not why we were created. We were created to glorify God and He has a plan for our life. Wake Up is all about knowing we’re not just stuck here doing work, but we have a purpose and the ability to change people’s lives.” 

Canopy Red’s message can be heard loud and clear on Wake Up, such as the encouraging reminder that everyone has a divine destiny (“What I’m Waiting For”), the guys’ quest to live authentically (“Disguise”) and the bold challenge to take a stand (“Wasting Time”). The album also includes Christ-seeking battle cries like “Running After You” and “Sink Or Swim,” the empathetic “Won’t Let Go” and the worshipful “Forever.” 

The band has already made a splash all across America thanks to constant touring, performing more than 120 concerts each year for the past 4 years, including dates on the increasingly popular Extreme Tour. This summer, the band will spend 8 weeks as the artist-in-residence for Centrifuge Camp in Panama City, Florida, followed by an appearance at Rock the Universe at Universal Studios in Orlando. 

Fans can pre-order Wake Up for a discounted price of $7 until June 5th atwww.canopyred.com.

“It’s always difficult to find artists who know how to blend a high level of creativity with a high level of work ethic,” explains John Mays, Vice President of A&R, Centricity Music.  “As we got to know the guys from Unspoken, we realized God had led us to just such a band. These guys have been pounding the pavement for years, sometimes at great personal sacrifice, and all for the sake of and strong belief in what God has called them to do. We love their hearts and their story,  and we can’t wait to help share their music with the world.”

“We are genuinely excited to join the Centricity team,” says Chad Mattson, Vocalist for Unspoken. “We share the same passion for making great music and encouraging people to live for Jesus. We love the fact that Centricity has a mentoring heart, and it shows that they really care and want to see their artists reach their highest goals. To have the Centricity staff champion our project is both humbling and exciting.”

Unspoken is a multi-cultural band comprised of four members that includes; Mattson and Jon Lowry (bass) who are both from Maine, Mike Gomez (electric guitar) from the Dominican Republic, and Ariel Munoz (drums) who hails from Puerto Rico.  The group was initially formed in the Dominican Republic when Mattson went on a missionary trip to the country and began playing and songwriting with Gomez.  Gomez came back to the states with Mattson when Lowry, a childhood friend of Mattson’s, added his talents to the group.  Munoz joined the band when he met Unspoken at Nashville talent contest.  The group has made great strides as an independent artist, playing with such high-profile acts as Third Day, David Crowder, Casting Crowns, TobyMac, and Pillar. Their live performances are electrifying because they are a band who loves to worship, with the belief that as we seek to know the fullness of Christ personally, worship is freely and passionately given.  The eclectic blend of ethnicity and musical backgrounds among the members of the group has led to one of the most unique and exciting sounds in Christian music today.

For more updates on Unspoken and their touring schedule please visit online at www.centricitymusic.com.

About Centricity Music

Centricity Music is an independent recording and publishing company based in Bellevue, Washington and Nashville, Tennessee.  The company’s mission is to enable our artists to create life-changing experiences for the world. Centricity Music’s artist roster includes; Aaron Shust, Andrew Peterson, Downhere, Jaime Jamgochian, Jason Gray, Me In Motion, Remedy Drive,  Sixteen Cities, and Unspoken.