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Saturday March 15, 2008
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News & Reviews You Can Use |
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HEADLINES...2008
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The
Larry Stephenson Band Releases
Stellar
New Gospel Album THANKFUL on March 18th
"Stephenson has honed his voice into one of
the best bluegrass tenors this side of Bobby Osborne."
Keith
Lawrence - Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
Press Release
March 11, 2008
NASHVILLE, TN -Larry Stephenson's
newest project, a sparkling collection of traditional bluegrass
gospel songs titled Thankful on Pinecastle Records and releasing
March 18th, effortlessly weaves his strong and identifiable
bluegrass tenor vocals with a solid mix of songs that all reiterate the
message of the album's title. Thankful combines songs of
devotion, thankfulness, contemplation and faith with the
high lonesome sound that the band has become known for through the years.
The Larry Stephenson Band made their first recording together 19 years ago
and set in motion a band that has stood the test of time while creating
fresh sounds with new recordings and equally exciting live performances.
Sixteen albums and one DVD later, the band has proven through dedication,
drive and musical chops, why they are still around and at the top of their
game. Bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne, is a longtime
Larry fan saying, "Go see him when you can. He always does a good
performance that you will enjoy. He has done lots of good things for this
great music we call Bluegrass."
Thankful is the LSB's fourth gospel album and marks a distinct shift
forward in the band's musical pilgrimage. Larry has
found that their fans love both the gospel and bluegrass releases. "Our
fans like our gospel music and I truly enjoy performing them," Larry
says. "Our most requested song to this day, after almost two decades
together, is a gospel song titled "Yes, I See God." This particular song
was also featured on a Time Warner Collection.
Bluegrass Now Magazine publisher Wayne Bledsoe
says, "Larry's new Thankful CD is the best ever! Kudos on his
selection of material as it's very inspiring and the presentation is
fabulous. I'm really enjoying the great quartet on "Press On Pilgrim,"
and the message in "I Need the Prayers," hit home with me. I've played it
endlessly since I got it and I'll feature it on one of my radio
programs. Just when I think I've heard the best from Larry he blows me
away with even better music. I hope the bluegrass community will give
this the airplay it deserves, because this is award-winning music!"
The album is full of handpicked songs that focus on an overall theme of
gratefulness. "These songs came from everywhere," Larry says. "I
co-wrote "Everyday Is Mother's Day" with Tom T. and Dixie Hall
and also co-wrote "Open Up The Window (Let The Angels In)" with
Jerry Salley," he adds. "Open Up The Window (Let The Angels In)"
is a particularly moving song that was inspired after a visit to the Our
Lady Of The Lake Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Larry was deeply moved
by the experience and was told a story by a staff member about how each
child seems to know of the seriousness of their illness and that some have
even said they've seen angels, asking the staff to open up the windows and
let them in. Several new writers including Tonya Lowman
and Berry Clevenger have songs on the collection and
The Louvin Brothers penned title track "Thankful"
features the close harmony singing reminiscent of the Louvin's close
brotherly connection.
The album spotlights guest appearances by acclaimed female vocalist
Sonya Isaacs, the first female voice ever to be
included on a Larry Stephenson recording. The album also features seven
time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Missy Raines, as well
as Dustin Benson (lead & harmony vocals, guitar),
Shad Cobb (fiddle & harmony fiddle), Warren
Goad (bass vocals), Aaron McDaris (lead &
harmony vocals, banjo) and Ben Surratt (harmony
vocals).
Stephenson has been called "One of the best and most influential of high
lead/tenor singers in recent years," by Bluegrass Now Magazine
and "One of the finest voices in Bluegrass today" by
Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.
You can listen to Larry as he debuts Thankful
with
legendary radio personality Eddie Stubbs on WSM
Radio on Tues., March 18th. He'll also appear with host
Terry Herd on March 20th on Into the Blue, the
largest bluegrass syndicated radio show in the country as well as a
studio special with Kyle Cantrell on XM Satellite Radio's
Bluegrass Junction on May 9th.
For more information
on Thankful or The Larry Stephenson
Band, contact GoodStuff PR Co. at 615.525.5303 or via email at
info@goodstuffpr.com
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Larry Stephenson
Brings Home 2008 SPBGMA Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Award
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Award Winning Guitar Player Josh Williams
Joins Larry Stephenson Band
Press Release
Tuesday,
February 5, 2008
NASHVILLE, TN
Larry
Stephenson,
leader of longtime bluegrass favorites The Larry Stephenson Band, now in
their nineteenth year, won the 2008 Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year
Award at SPBGMA's (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music) 34th
Annual Bluegrass Awards and 25th National Convention in Nashville, TN on
Sunday, February 3rd. Stephenson is a five time winner of the award.
"It's a privilege and honor to be nominated and to receive this award.
It makes what I do worth doing," he said after accepting the trophy.
SPBGMA
also awarded Grammy nominated guitar player Josh
Williams the 2008 Guitar Performer of the Year honors. This is
William's fourth award in this category. Williams will also join The
Larry Stephenson Band for their Thankful 2008 Tour and beyond in
addition to playing the already scheduled dates with his own
Josh Williams Band.
Williams will replace Ben Helson on guitar and Larry wishes Ben the best
of luck in his new endeavors.
Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, perhaps
best known as the guitar player for the top ranked Rhonda Vincent
& The Rage in their grueling 300 days per year touring schedule
from December 2003 through September 2007. He is also known by some
as the excellent mandolin/fiddle player formerly with The Special
Consensus.
Stephenson's trademark tenor-range lead vocals and mandolin playing lead
the band towards their March 18th gospel release of Thankful on
Pinecastle Records. The album features
guest appearances by acclaimed female vocalist Sonya Isaacs,
seven time IBMA Bass Player of the Year award winner Missy Raines,
as well as Dustin Benson (lead & harmony vocals,
guitar), Shad Cobb (fiddle & harmony fiddle),
Warren Goad (bass vocals), Aaron McDaris (lead &
harmony vocals, banjo) and Ben Surratt (harmony vocals).
Stephenson has been called "One of the best
and most influential of high lead/tenor singers in recent years," by
Bluegrass Now Magazine and "One of the finest voices in
Bluegrass today" by Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.
For more information on
Thankful or The Larry Stephenson Band,
contact GoodStuff PR Co. at 615.525.5303 or via email at
info@goodstuffpr.com
 
Left: Larry
(2nd
from right)
pictured with new bandmate Josh Williams, former LSB bassist Mickey Harris
and good friend fiddlin' Hunter Berry. Right: Larry left with good
friend, awarded Carl Jackson - SPBGMA 2/3/08 Awards |
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The Larry Stephenson Band
Signs with GoodStuff PR Co.
Gears up for March 18th Gospel Release Thankful
Press Release
Friday,
January 25, 2008
NASHVILLE, TN
Nashville,
TN - Longtime bluegrass favorites The Larry Stephenson Band
recently signed with GoodStuff PR Co. for exclusive PR representation for
their upcoming gospel release, Thankful, as well as future band
endeavors.
The album, which features guest appearances by Sonya Isaacs, Missy
Raines, Warren Goad, Shad Cobb and Ben Surratt,
hits the streets on March 4th through Pinecastle Records.
Stephenson has been called "One of the best and most influential of high
lead/tenor singers in recent years," by Bluegrass Now Magazine
and "One of the finest voices in Bluegrass today" by
Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.
Thankful comes on the heels of the highly successful Life Stories
released in 2007 that featured a collection of emotional tales with a
common human thread.
The four time Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass
Music of America (SPBGMA) Male Vocalist of the Year has
found success with murder ballads in the past when the song, "Clinch
Mountain Mystery," from his 2005 release by the same name was
praised as Song of the Year by SPBGMA after reaching #1 on the Bluegrass
Unlimited charts.
Stephenson was recently inducted into the 2007 Southern Legends
Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame as well as being a part of
the IBMA 2006 Album of the Year Celebration of Life.
For more
information on Thankful or The Larry Stephenson Band, contact
GoodStuff PR Co. at 615.525.5303 or via email at
info@goodstuffpr.com
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