Music News
Kurt Neuswanger • June 10, 2020
Famous Hymnwriter Has Local Connection
The other day I mentioned the story of hymnwriter Philip Bliss
on KJOL, and found out that one of his descendants lives in Grand Junction!
Philip Bliss wrote “I Will Sing Of My Redeemer” and “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” He also wrote the music for “It Is Well With My Soul.”
Bliss was born in a log cabin in Pennsylvania in 1838. His father taught the family to pray daily and his mother taught him to love music.
He became a music teacher, encouraged by his wife Lucy, who was also musical. He had hoped to attend a summer music academy but lacked the funds until his wife’s grandmother found out.
“How much does it cost?” she asked.
“As much as thirty dollars,” he told her.
“That’s a good deal of money,” she replied. Then she brought out an old stocking into which she had been “dropping pieces of silver for a good many years” and found enough to pay for the academy.
Bliss moved to Chicago, where he wrote and performed gospel songs and collaborated with D.L. Moody’s songleader Ira Sankey. Moody urged Bliss to become a full-time missionary singer, and he teamed up with evangelist Major Daniel Whittle.
In 1876, Philip and Lucy were returning to Chicago by train when a bridge collapsed, sending the train plummeting 60 feet into a ravine. Bliss survived and escaped. But then he went back into the wreckage to save his wife, and they both died in the fire.
Meanwhile, Philip’s trunk somehow survived the train wreck. Inside they found the text to a poem, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.” James McGranahan, who was named to replace Bliss as song leader, took the poem and set it to music.
“I Will Sing Of My Redeemer” quickly became a popular hymn. In fact, it was one of the first songs recorded by Thomas Edison on his newly-invented phonograph! You can hear the song if you click this link.
Shirley Holloway is the secretary at Redlands Community Church
in Grand Junction. Upon hearing the story of Philip Bliss, she told me her grandmother’s maiden name was Bliss. After researching her family history, she learned that she was in fact related to Philip Bliss!
So now you have several new reasons to smile the next time you sing “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”!
-Kurt Neuswanger
KJOL Music Director
Michael Tait , the lead singer for the Newsboys , has left the group . His announcement came January 16, two days before the band was to start its world tour. Tait said his decision came after prayer and fasting, saying it came as a shock even to him. He added “although I am nervous about the future, I am excited about what it holds for both myself and the Newsboys, as we all seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” Adam Agee is the new lead singer . He had previously been the lead singer for the band Stellar Kart, and then became lead singer for Audio Adrenaline for two years, until they disbanded. In 2023, Agee joined the Newsboys on vocals and bass. Newsboys released a statement after Tait’s announcement, saying “As he walks into the next season of life, we are stepping into the next season of Newsboys. We want you to know that Newsboys isn’t going anywhere, we’re going everywhere!” Tait led a revival of the Newsboys when he joined 15 years ago, with chart topping albums such as Born Again and God’s Not Dead. The first release featuring Tait, in 2010, was “ One Shot ” from the “Born Again” album. After the Newsboys performed their first concert on the new tour, Agee posted on Instagram , “Had to step up to the microphone last night. [a reference to a Newsboys song ] When we found out a week ago that our leader singer Michael Tait was leaving the band, we asked ourselves a lot of questions about the future. We got together and worked hard to put on the best show we could last night. I’m excited about the future and everything God has in store for Newsboys.”
CeCe Winans has released a new Christmas album for 2024 called Joyful Joyful: A Christmas Album . It contains two brand new songs, Joy To The World and Angels We Have Heard On High. The rest of the album is new recordings of her 2018 Christmas album “Something’s Happening.” For King & Country has released A Drummer Boy Christmas: Live . You can also see the concert this week only, through December 11, at the Regal Cinema in Grand Junction. Phil Wickham’s new album, Hallelujah! It’s Christmas , includes duets with Anne Wilson and his brother Evan, plus “Winter Wonderland” featuring “The Wickham Sisters” which I am pretty sure refers to his three beautiful daughters! Thrive Worship , from Bayside Church in Sacramento, has released Christmas Volume Two . It contains seven more songs to go along with last year’s release, predictably titled Christmas Volume One. Elevation Worship has released Echo the Angels featuring “reimagined classics.” And the Gaither Vocal Band has released New Star Shining containing original songs and nostalgic favorites.
Merry Christmas friend…I am sure you have noticed we are now in our Christmas season of programming here…we have some fantastic Christmas music underway, and our Christmas specials are a go as of Monday the 9th. Something else is a go...
Two young musicians are creating a stir in contemporary Christian music this year. We told you previously about Josiah Queen , the 21 year old TikTok sensation whose album Progidal debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in June. Another TikTok sensation, Forrest Frank , has now burst onto the Christian music scene. After gaining a following as part of a pop music duo called Surfaces, Frank said he “knew the Lord was asking him to lay it all down.” He began producing Christian music in 2023, becoming Billboard’s favorite Christian artist for the year. Frank was raised in a Christian home in Texas, but drifted away from the Lord until his sophomore year at Baylor University, when he went to an evangelical church and had a “ life changing encounter with Christ. ” In 2024, he released the song “ Good Day ” which has now had at least 150 million views on TikTok and more than 80 million views on Instagram . He was named New Artist of the Year by the Dove Awards a few weeks ago, and “Good Day” was named Contemporary Song of the Year. In July 2024, he released his album Child of God (containing "Good Day") which immediately debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, and has remained #1 ever since. Last week it was nominated for a Grammy as Best Contemporary Christian Album. His song “ Good Day ” talks of why he knows it is a good day, because “the God of the universe knows my name.” Turning old things new Grey skies blue Hear the church saying, "Won't He do it?" I know He's got my back That's why I'm singing that I'm 'bout to have a good day (good day) No matter what they say (what they say) Sun is shining down on me Birds are singing praise I'm 'bout to have a good day (good day) In every single way The God who made the universe Knows me by my name So it's a good day
KJOL continually receives music from new artists, including some who are not on major record labels. Here are three artists and their current songs. Josiah Queen Josiah Queen is a 21 year old independent artist, the son of Calvary Chapel pastors in Florida. His musical style is described as a acoustic-based, Americana-leaning sound. Queen began releasing songs on TikTok when he was 16, and he has since garnered 1.7 million posts from fans, plus 2 million followers on Spotify, anand 5.5 million Youtube views. His album "Prodigal" debuted at #1 on Billboard in June, which was noteworthy because he does not have a record label promoting his music. His song “Prodigal” is inspired by the Prodigal Son, and Mark 8:36: "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Prodigal I don't want to lose my soul Chasing after things that don't lead me straight to You I'm lost in the feeling That I ain't from this world Going back to Eden ain't gonna be easy But it leads me straight to You Now I'm running home, Like the Prodigal Terrian (rhymes with "clarion") Terrian (Woods) is a singer/songwriter from Memphis. She is also a member of TobyMac's band Diverse City (and records on his Gotee record label). And in her spare time, she serves on AngelStreet Staff in Memphis as a mentor to young girls. Honestly, We Just Need Jesus Honestly, we just need Jesus Have we all gone mad? Have we lost our minds? What used to be wrong, we say that it's right Honestly, I think we just need Jesus Nathan Sheridan Nathan Sheridan is a Louisiana native. He has faced a number of challenges on his road to success: addicted parents, the death of his sister, and enlistment in the U.S. Army. During his time serving in Kuwait, he led worship for the troops. He performed his first single “ Something Worth Singing About ” at the Grammys show last February. He Is The Way He is the hand who parts the water, He is the voice that calms the waves The compass for my wandering heart, If ever I should stray He is the lamp unto my feet that lights, the path that I should take With every step I’m trusting in my Jesus Cause He is, He is the way (And the Truth, and the Life - hey)
The 55 th annual Dove Awards were presented last week in Nashville. We've seen a lot of great songs in the last year ... and some of them got nominated. (But if it was up to me, I would have chosen a much different list!) Here’s a look at some of the winners. ARTIST OF YEAR: CeCe Winans --It’s hard to argue with CeCe Winans. Her new album is outstanding. Also nominated: Anne Wilson , for King + Country , and Lauren Daigle NEW ARTIST: Forrest Frank -Frank is an online artist who has also had considerable secular online success on TikTok. My choice would have been Seph Schlueter (“shleeter”), whose songs contains much stronger Christian content, including “Counting My Blessings” and “Running Back To You”. SONG OF THE YEAR: Holy Forever , Chris Tomlin & others --another good choice would have been “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” by Cody Carnes POP SONG: Good Day , Forrest Frank --This song talks about birds and sunshine and “baby in my arms, walking through the neighborhood.” But it also declares “The God who made the universe knows me by name, so it’s a good day.” Amen! --My choice would have been Any More by CAIN or Counting My Blessings by Seph Schlueter WORSHIP SONG: Praise , Elevation Worship -- Elevation Worship is pretty much the nation’s de facto worship leader. ROCK SONG: Grave Robber , Crowder --You can hear this song on Saturday nights at 6:00 pm during the Contemporary Music program on KJOL INSPIRATIONAL SONG: My Tribute , Natalie Grant with CeCe Winans --The Andraé Crouch classic! FILM OF YEAR: Unsung Hero , Joel & Luke Smallbone --(Yes, they actually have this category!) This was kind of a “no brainer.” It’s the true story of Rebecca St. James and her family, including her two younger brothers, Joel and Luke Smallbone (of For King & Country ).
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