A BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN 11/10/2011. HEAR THE ROBERT LIST ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12.

Our friend’s husband, Robert Keith crossed over from life as we know it and was born into eternal life in the early morning hours today. One of the best perspectives at a time like this is not to commemorate the day one dies, but rather celebrate their birthday into Heaven. This point of view is not my original idea but something I heard Jack Brickhouse, the famed Chicago broadcaster say and I have never forgotten it. That statement can be summed up in one word, HOPE. That is what we Christians called “the blessed hope.”

I have to be honest. As I am writing this blog, I am fighting the urge to preach. But I am compelled to say that the only hope has for receiving eternal life is by faith in the works of Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms  in Christ  Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:6-9 NIV

These two scriptures  propose that eternal life, just as life as we know it, is really another gift from God. Our (life) works have absolutely nothing to do with it. The only work that matters is what Jesus accomplished by his life, death and resurrection. God’s grace sent Jesus to die for us so that we could receive the free gift of eternal life just by “having faith” that Jesus is all we need to go to heaven and by inference believing God and His holy word, the Bible.

This is the core message of the Christian faith. It is so simple and uncomplicated that even a child can understand it.

This is the message that fueled the Jesus Movement which began in 1967 – and the music from that era.  We know that Robert Keith embraced the message and the music.  See the Snt Radio Blog from September 3, 2011.  He turned 57 in earth time this past Monday. Today is is birthday in Heaven, where time has no place and there is no disease. In the truest sense, He is free!

As I mentioned in last week’s post, there is a cause on facebook where you can show some love. Robert is survived by his wife Harriet and her son, Gabriel. They are facing some big bills and both were laid off in September of this year. Please share a financial gift in Robert’s memory.

Help Support Peace for the Keith’s on GiveForward.com   

www.giveforward.com

In Robert’s memory, we will be featuring the music from the Robert list on Saturday November 12, 2011

THE ROBERT LIST

1. Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? by Larry Norman

2. For the Sake of the Call by Steven Curtis Chapman

3. Strong Tower by Kutlass

4. More Power To Ya by Petra

5. Love Broke Thru by Phil Keaggy

6. Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis

7. Beyond Belief by Petra

8. Love Takes Time by Bryan Duncan

9. Ancient of Days by Bob Ayala

10. Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech

11. He Reigns by Newsboys

12. He’s Alive by Don Francisco

13. There Is A River by The Gaithers

14. Easter Song by 2nd Chapter of Acts

15. Shine by Newsboys

16. Grave Robber by Petra

17. Destined To Win by DeGarmo & Key

18.Awesome God by Rich Mullins

19. Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crown

SnT Radio.com will play  one song per hour from the above playlist beginning at 12am on Saturday, November 12, 2011.

Thanks for listening to SnT Radio.com. We love keeping this music alive and well. If you have any songs that you’d like to hear, send me an e-mail: songs@sntradio.com

Make sure that you check out the complete SnT Archive list on the SnT Radio.com website: http://www.sntradio.com                            Please Like SnT Radio.com on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter. We love connecting with you.

Blessings,

James Burkhardt, Founder

SnT Radio.com

A REAL LOVE STORY and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONDAY NOV 7th ROBERT!

It’s been two months since we first introduced Robert Keith, a stage 4 cancer patient to you. We asked you to pray for Robert and his family  as we listened to his favorite songs (aka the Robert List) on Saturday, September 3rd of this year. Many of you did and I’ve been asked, “What happened?”.  As usual, our Heavenly Father is up to something good.  God has given to Robert and his family something that only God can give; the gift of time and extended life. Robert is about to celebrate his birthday on Monday, November 7th. He has asked his wife Harriet to renew their wedding vows which will happen very soon. The bond with his son Gabe has become stronger as never before. Their housing issues have been worked out favorably for another month. For his birthday, he will be wheeled outdoors for the first time since an ambulance ride in July  to experience the warmth of the sun and feel the breeze blow again. I’d say he is truly being blessed. What say you?

But the love story continues. The cup of love God has poured for the Keith family is overflowing into the lives of those around them, especially to people who don’t know much about God and His ways. Many see the love God’s people have shown the Keith’s firsthand by their prayers and support of family, friends and in some cases, complete and total strangers. They see faith lived out in real time under real pressures and circumstances. So God is gently and softly speaking to several who don’t know him, and in the process affirming Robert’s life. I can hear His voice in Heaven saying,”This is my adopted son Robert, in whom I am well pleased. Look at how much I care for him as I do all my children. Won’t you accept my invitation to join our family?” Now that is a real love story.

But it still doesn’t end. Others have stepped up to make a real difference. Like this cause on facebook that has the goal to raise $8,000 for the Keith family by November 21st. This is a wonderful way for you to give Robert a gift for his Birthday. Show your love!

Help Support Peace for the Keith’s on GiveForward.com

www.giveforward.com

The family and friends of the Keith family are uniting to raise money to help with their expenses~ Please help if you can!!

Harriet and Robert attended a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert for their first date back in 1988. So on Saturday, November 5th, SnT Radio.com is going to spotlight the 1988 Far Away Places album for which the group was out touring when Harriet and Robert had their first date.

SONGS:

1. Humble Yourself

2. No Masquerade

3. Sing Over Me

4. You Are All In All

5. A Tender Heart

6. I Reach Out

7. Fallin’ In On You

8. Maybe Some Other Day

9. Take It To All The World

10. Far Away Places

Credits

Bass – Leon Gaer, Lee Jones
Drums – Mike Baird, Jack Kelly, Michael Celenza
Guitar – Marty Walsh, Michael Thompson, Dan Huff
Keyboards – Smitty Price, John Andrew Schreiner
Recorded at Easter Song Studios – Garden Valley Texas, Rosewood Studios – Tyler, Texas
Engineers – Greg Hunt, Buck Herring
Cover Concept – Buddy Owens and Bradley Grose
Photography – Mark Engbrecht
Set Direction and Design – Buddy Owens
Art Direction and Design – Bradley Grose
Produced by – Buck Herring
Special Thanks – Smitty Price for helping with the mix, our Families, our Friends and our Garden Velley Ministry Associates for their much needed prayers and support.

SnT Radio.com will play one song per hour beginning at 12am  on Saturday November 5, 2011. To listen visit http://www.sntradio.com

Blessings,

James

 

 

More Memory Joggers and SnT Radio Playlist for Saturday, October 29, 2011

Memory Joggers II Playlist

1. Naphtali by John Fischer from Naphtali

2. By My Side by The Cast from Godspell Movie Soundtrack

3. Something  Happened To You by Erick Nelson from Marantha 5

4. Come For The Children by Oden Fong from Come For The Children

5. Isn’t It Amazing by Mark Farner from Just Another Injustice

6. Mighty Wind by Terry Talbot from Cradle of Love

7. Breathe by Sixpence None The Richer from Best of Sixpence None the Richer

8. How Long by Lewis McVay from Spirit Of St. Lewis

9. Be Ye Glad by Noel Paul Stookey from Wait’ll You Hear This

10. Not My Will by Pam Mark Hall from This Is Not A Dream

11. The World Needs Jesus by Malcom & Alwyn from Fools Wisdom

12. Soldiers Of The Cross by Erick Nelson w/Michelle Pillar from Best of Marantha 2

SnT Radio.com will play  one song per hour from the above playlist beginning at 12am on Saturday, October 29, 2011.

Enjoy! I had a lot of fun putting this list of songs together. Thanks for listening to SnT Radio.com. We love keeping this music alive and well. If you have any memory joggers that you’d like to hear, send me an e-mail: songs@sntradio.com

Make sure that you check out the complete SnT Archive list on the SnT Radio.com website: http://www.sntradio.com                            Many of the albums listed there are out-of-print and you will surely jog your memory.

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. We love connecting with you.

Blessings,

James Burkhardt, Founder & Host

“PLAYING FAVORITES” and MEMORY JOGGERS PLAYLIST for SnT Radio.com Spotlight Saturday October 22, 2011

I used to hate the phrase “playing favorites”. Didn’t you? It seemed so unfair. Just because someone in authority liked somebody else, the favor was bestowed on them. As in a teacher’s pet. Or the glad handing back slapper who was promoted over you. Hmmm. Could that be considered a type of grace? I’m not a theologian but I do know that the word “grace” means “unmerited favor”. Isn’t that exactly what God gives us… unmerited favor? Doesn’t He play favorites with His children. He bestows blessing after blessing on us and sometimes it is not deserved. He is a good, good God and always working things out for our benefit even when times are difficult. That is but one reason out of many to give Him praise every day. Imagine, the Creator of the Universe is working behind the scenes to create good in our lives and even when we don’t deserve it. Talk about playing favorites. I shudder to think about what my life would be like without Jesus Christ. He was sent by God to make all our lives better by His death and resurrection. If anyone did not deserve to suffer and die, it was Jesus. He lived a sinless life, yet He took on our sin and paid the price that we may have the free gift of eternal life by faith. As a result, we are redeemed and enabled to have fellowship with a Holy God. (Can I get an Amen?) That is Grace at its finest. It really does come down to playing favorites.

In another definition of “playing favorites” as in your favorite Christian Music, is an important function of SnT Radio.com. If you listen then you already about the breadth and depth of our playlist every day. This Saturday, SnT Radio will spotlight some memory joggers… Songs you haven’t heard played on the radio in quite a while. The album artwork corresponding to many of these songs is posted for your perusal. I even picked out a couple of album cuts that were “turntable hits” from back in the day like Barry McGuire’s Baby Huey, Quaismodo from Lifehouse, and the Francis Schaeffer inspired The God Who Is There by Gerry Limpic. If you’re like me, Noel Paul Stookey’s Wedding Song from 1971 was sung at my Wedding service. It is good to hear these from time to time and remember those times in our lives. It can keep you young at heart. The list is deliberately shorter than the usual 24 so that several will be repeated throughout the day just in case you can’t listen all day long. So enjoy the music and the memories!

MEMORY JOGGER Playlist

1. Electrovoice by Dan Peek from Electrovoice.

2. Ugly Louise by Dove from Dove II

3. Caught In The Crossfire by Limpic and Rayburn from Crossfire

4. Quasimodo by Lifehouse from No Name Face

5. Wedding Song by Noel Paul Stookey from Paul And

6. Remember Whose Child You Are by Dogwood from After the Flood and Before the Fire

7. One Way by Danny Lee & Children of Truth from One Way

8. Keep the Flame Burnin’ by Debbie Boone from Surrender

9. Heaven (Into My Soul) by Edin – Adahl from Into My Soul

10. A Shield About Me by Donn Thomas from Live Wires

11. Baby Huey by Barry McGuire from Inside Out

12. Where Are The Heroes by Dennis Agajanian from Where Are The Heroes

13. Oh Happy Day by Edwin Hawkins Singers from The Real Thing

14. The God Who Is There by Gerry Limpic from Gentle Touch

15. How Can I Keep From Singing by Rich Mullins from Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth

SnT Radio.com will play one song approximately every hour from this list beginning at 12:00am EST Saturday, October 22, 2011.

Please visit our SnT Radio.com LIKE Page on Facebook or tweet us #SnTRadio on Twitter. Tell your friends this blog and refer them here www.sntradioblog.wordpress.com
You are encouraged to join the SnT listener community and make a comment or share your personal memories by clicking on Leave a Comment just beneath the title.
You can even rate this blog. Next time you’re listening to SnT Radio.com http://www.sntradio.com check out the SnT Archive by clicking on the SnT Archive tab.
You’ll be very pleased at what you find there. Then visit http://www.snt-ARK.com.

Blessings,
James Burkhardt
SnT Radio.com

One Step to Economic Recovery – Just In Time For Christmas.

As a follower of Christ, I am commanded to support my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. There are many ways to do this but I’d like to strongly suggest just one practical idea.

START BUYING FROM A CHRISTIAN OWNED BUSINESS FIRST. It really doesn’t matter how big or small.

Yes Virginia, I am doing the internet equivalent of shouting. I would shout this from the rooftops if I wouldn’t be arrested for it. America’s economy is built on hundreds of thousands of small businesses. Not the big corporations that many are rallying against. Many are called “sole proprietorships”. This is where a single person owns the whole business. A family is dependent upon the economic success of that small business. How well they are fed, clothed and sheltered is determined by the success of that business. If sales are down then it affects the quality of life that family has. Given the past few years in America, I think many such businesses (and associated dependent families) have gone through their savings trying to stay afloat. So now it is crunch time. We can all make a difference if we collectively decide to.

Isn’t it reasonable to think that if you and two friends from where you worship starting getting hair cuts from another Church goer that owns a Beauty or Barber Shop that it would make a difference? Or start having a meal or coffee at the diner another Christian in town owns. If we, the body of Christ began doing business with other Christians first then wouldn’t that help meet the needs of our brothers and sisters? As their sales increase, they would get just a little more economic breathing room. Which means less stress from living so close to the edge of ruin. That could mean happier and more secure Christian families. What a blessing to bring one another, But the blessing wave wouldn’t stop there. Christians would have more money to share in the offerings at church. Maybe they hadn’t been able to give in the past but now they can. The Churches will then begin to have more economic breathing room too. Maybe some repairs can now be made. So the church contacts their Christian contractor and the wave of blessing continues. Or the Church now can afford to feed the homeless in their community. The cycle repeats and positively affects even more people.

So as you plan your purchases… BUY CHRISTIAN FIRST! Especially with Christmas coming. By changing your buying behavior now, you can bless countless others just in time for Christmas.

There are many ways to find the Christian owned businesses in your area. Ask your Pastor or Church administrator who they are from your church. Some put a little fish or icthus symbol in their yellow page and newspaper ads. You’ve seen them – a lot of people put those on their cars. In your town, check to see if there is a Full Gospel Businessmen or FGBMI organization. Maybe there’s a Shepherd’s Guide or Christian newspaper available at your local Christian Bookstore. It may take a little effort but I know you’ll be blessed by being a blessing to others.

SnT Radio.com wants introduce you to a website called the Christian Business Owners Expo. http://www.cboexpo.com/ It is a listing of Christian Owned Businesses by city. They hope to be nationwide soon but right now their focus is on Florida, Arizona and Illinois.

Speaking of Christmas, this year SnT Radio.com is celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas starting Monday December 12th. It will feature only those songs that keep Christ in Christmas sung by Christian artists. Not snow men, reindeer or that other fat & jolly saint nick. Just Jesus and the scriptural celebration of his birth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Just ask my wife. She’ll tell you that I am capable of listening to Christmas music 365 days a year. If I can get to it, maybe I’ll record a couple arrangements Christmas songs I did for solo guitar and put them into the 12 days of Christmas playlist.

Please… Buy Christian First. It is one step to economic recovery — and just in time for Christmas.

Blessings,

James Burkhardt, Founder and Host
SnT Radio.com
http://www.sntradio.com

Update to Hello, Goodbye and We’ll Meet Again Robert… and the Robert List.

It’s been over a month since I first wrote about Stage 4 cancer patient Robert Keith and his family. Many have asked what has happened to them. Some have asked how did God answer all the prayer that happened on Saturday September 3, 2011. I want you to know all this and more because it is quite remarkable.

First of all, Robert is still with us and we celebrate the time that the family has been given together. This week, his hip was pushed out of joint by tumor growth and he is in a lot of pain. The pain management staff are doing all they can to make him comfortable. I wish that was all the bad news to report but that is minor compared to what you will read. The very Saturday we all enjoyed an uninterrupted 80 minutes of his favorite music both his wife and adult son learned that they were being laid off from their jobs at a local hotel.

Robert’s Medicare benefits ran out a few weeks ago and he was moved to a different hospice who accepted Medicaid about a block away from the rented home where his family was living. Yes, that was not a typo. They were evicted by force last Saturday due to no fault of their own. The homeowner had defaulted on the mortgage so the bank foreclosed. Because Robert’s wife and adult son no longer had jobs, they were given 24 hours to move out. Without visible means of support, the bank would not work a payment plan for their month to month lease for which they had always made timely payment.

This is where they went. Right back to the very hotel where they were laid off. The manager has allowed them to live temporarily and will accept any payments they can make on a discounted rate for the month of October. There is no assurance beyond that.

Robert’s wife and son are handling all this with an amazing confidence in God’s plan for their lives. Right now, their focus is on Robert and not on the accompanying drama. Having additional time to share with a loved one is priceless. Not having to work at such a time, which allows for more time together can also be a blessing.  Despite all the negative circumstances — this family has spent a lot of quality time with one another. That is the bottom line.

Perhaps not having to deal with keeping up a home is also a real time saver. This too allows for more time to be spent with the loved one. But being suddenly uprooted is never a nice experience. So on Saturday, October 8th, we’re going to feature songs from the Robert List all day long. Plus, I’m going to play a few special ones for his wife and son. If you would, pray again for the Keith family. I know at the very minimum they need encouragement after all they’ve endured and the ordeal is not over yet.

THE ROBERT LIST

1. Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? by Larry Norman

2. For the Sake of the Call by Steven Curtis Chapman

3. Strong Tower by Kutlass

4. More Power To Ya by Petra

5. Love Broke Thru by Phil Keaggy

6. Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis

7. Beyond Belief by Petra

8. Love Takes Time by Bryan Duncan

9. Ancient of Days by Bob Ayala

10. Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech

11. He Reigns by Newsboys

12. He’s Alive by Don Francisco

13. There Is A River by The Gaithers

14. Easter Song by 2nd Chapter of Acts

15. Shine by Newsboys

16. Grave Robber by Petra

17. Destined To Win by DeGarmo & Key

18.Awesome God by Rich Mullins

19. Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crown

SnT Radio.com will play one song approximately every hour from this list beginning at 12:00am EST Saturday, October 8, 2011.

Please visit our SnT Radio.com LIKE Page on Facebook or tweet us #SnTRadio on Twitter. Tell your friends this blog and refer them here www.sntradioblog.wordpress.com

You are encouraged to join the SnT Radio.com listener community and make a comment or share your personal thoughts below.

Next time you’re listening to SnT Radio.com http://www.sntradio.com check out the SnT Archive by clicking on the SnT Archive tab. You’ll be very pleased at what you find there. If you’re more curious then go to http:// www.snt-ARK.com

Blessings,
James Burkhardt
SnT Radio.com

Outlaw Gone Good and Rick Cua Playlist for SnT Radio.com Spotlight – Saturday, October 1, 2011

Outlaw gone good? Ever hear the song “Ghost Riders in the Sky”? It was featured in film Blues Brothers 2000. It’s been around for a long while in the Country genre with roots in what used to be know as Western as in Country & Western.
It was recorded again in 1975 on the debut album by a group of “southern rockers” from Tampa, FL called The Outlaws. The song gained Rock radio airplay and The Outlaws career was launched. Two years after he became a Christian in 1977, Syracuse NY based musician Rick Cua joined the Outlaws. He sang and played bass on two albums before they disbanded in 1982. At some point before the Outlaws break up, Rick was introduced to the Christian Music scene by former Paul McCartney & Wings drummer, Joe English. Rick’s debut Koo-Ah (the pronunciation of his last name) on Refuge Records featured many general market guest musicians from bands like Wet Willie, The Outlaws plus independents like Joe English and Robbie Dupree, who charted a top 10 hit of his own in 1980. In fact, Dupree and Marty McCall (of Fireworks and later First Call) did background vocals on Cua’s single “Fly Me To Heaven” which was released to the general market. All this was very cool stuff for 1981 – 1982. The radio spot that Refuge Records produced to introduce Rick Cua used the theme “Outlaw gone good”, complete with pistol shoots and ricochet sound effects straight out of a good Western TV show or movie.

I first met Rick Cua around a single day outdoor festival event in suburban Chicago that a few hundred people attended called the Harvest Rockfest. In the lineup was Prodigal, Fireworks, Rick Cua (who had guitarist Dave Perkins in the backing band with him that day – and turned many heads with his awesome slide guitar work), Denny Correll and DeGarmo & Key playing from 1pm until about 11pm when the authorities told us to stop. There is a lot more to share about how the Lord used that humble event to His glory but that is for another blog. For someone who hung around the southern rock and stadium scene with the likes of The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynryd, Rick Cua was remarkably well grounded and down-to-earth. I might offer my two cent opinion that his bass playing style and sound is distinctive. Certainly not your garden variety rock bass playing (think KISS). He’s the only bass player I’ve ever seen headline solo without a band in concert and pull it off with just backing tracks. That is really quite a feat of showmanship and performance.

Over the years, Rick turned down offers to play in other touring bands like Spyro Gyra in 1983 and a re-formed Outlaws lineup in 1986 since he became known for his Christian Music. His wife and daughters have helped — I know he credits his wife Diana for some of the beautiful love songs he writes and a song each is dedicated to his two daughters on Within Reach. Listen for “Diamond Girl” and “Fifteen” this Saturday. Included are some unique cuts from Like A Cool Drink, his project with the Ah-Koo-Stiks and a clever word play on his name even if he hasn’t become a household one. But after nearly 30 years of music ministry on the run (so to speak), Rick Cua has lived up to the moniker, “Outlaw gone good.”

Rick Cua

1. Fly Me to Heaven from Koo-Ah

2. You Can Still Rock ‘n’Roll from Koo-Ah

3. He Lives In Me from No Mystery

4. One Way Out from No Mystery

5. Changed from No Mystery

6. Help Me Out from No Mystery

7. Don’t Say Suicide from You’re My Road

8. Wear Your Colors from Wear Your Colors

9. Forever Yours from Can’t Stand Too Tall

10. We Are All The Same from Can’t Stand Too Tall

11. For The Love of God from Can’t Stand Too Tall

12. I’ll Be Satisfied from Midnight Sun

13. Young Boy, Young Girl from Midnight Sun

14. Heaven Won’t Stop The Rain from Within Reach

15. Message of Love from Within Reach

16. Fifteen from Within Reach

17. Diamond Girl from Within Reach

18. Dedicated from Midnight Sun

19, What If from The Way Love Is

20. Itala Americano from Times Ten

21. Bull By The Horns from Times Ten

22. Jesus Changes Everything from Like A Cool Drink

23. Gotta Have Heart from Like A Cool Drink

24. Bad Things Good People from Like A Cool Drink

SnT Radio.com will play one song approximately every hour from this list beginning at 12:00am EST Saturday, October 1, 2011.

Please visit our SnT Radio.com LIKE Page on Facebook or tweet us #SnTRadio on Twitter. Tell your friends this blog and refer them here www.sntradioblog.wordpress.com
You are encouraged to join the SnT listener community and make a comment or share your personal Rick Cua memories below. Next time you’re listening to SnT Radio.com
http://www.sntradio.com check out the SnT Archive by clicking on the SnT Archive tab. You’ll be very pleased at what you find there.

Blessings,
James Burkhardt
SnT Radio.com

Flooded out and the SnT Radio Farrell & Farrell Playlist for Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Flooded out. That’s what happened to Bob & Jayne Farrell in the Nashville flood May 1 and 2, 2010 which devastated parts of Davidson county Tennessee which includes Nashville. They lost nearly everything they had. A group of musician friends whom you might recognize put on a benefit concert and helped them raise money to cover their losses. We even ran some direct appeals for gifts on SnT Radio.com.   Here’s a press release taken from the Kawai website.

Nashville, TN • September, 2010– Many people from all walks of life were adversely affected by the historic springtime flood this year in Nashville, TN. Legendary Christian music songwriters and Kawai artists Bob and Jayne Farrell were among those hardest hit. Over five feet of flood waters inundated their home and studio, wiping out virtually everything in its path.Among the items lost was the Farrell’s prized white Kawai grand piano which they had owned since the 1970’s. Many of the Farrell’s award-winning songs were penned on that very instrument and its loss was particularly heart-breaking to the duo. On July 28th, a team of prominent musicians, including Amy Grant, came together in a benefit concert for the Farrells. Kawai Artist and inspirational speaker, Kim Deardorff, offered words of support on behalf of Kawai America and its local dealer, Shuffs Music. In cooperation with benefit concert committee, Kawai and Shuffs announced plans help the Farrells to acquire a new instrument once they return to their home and studio.“The benefit concert was a tremendous success”, stated prominent Nashville songwriter and committee member Deby Dearman. “We are very proud of how our community of musicians, singers and songwriters has reached out to assist and support the Farrells in their time of great need. We are also very appreciative of the efforts of Kawai and Shuffs Music in helping the Farrells ultimately replace their prized Kawai grand piano.” Persons interested in making donations or providing other assistance are urged to visit the official “Save Farrell and Farrell” page on Facebook.Click here to view a video of the destruction and recovery process. About Farrell and Farrell… The husband and wife duo of Farrell and Farrell recorded albums from 1977 to 1991, and was a pioneering force in the emerging Contemporary Christian music genre. Their music ministry took them all over the world, including several trips behind the Iron Curtain. After retiring from touring, Bob Farrell turned to songwriting full time and has penned music for many prominent Christian and Pop music artists including Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and Sandi Patty. For more information, visit www.farrellandfarrell.com.

Many will testify that Bob & Jayne Farrell are two of the nicest and down-to-earth music industry people alive. Let me give you just one example. Back in the mid-80′s the FM radio station I managed WCRM 103.9 was contemplating a increase of power and tower height application to the FCC. It was a bit of a long shot but we wanted to try. The goal was to reach into the downtown and northside Chicago city limits from a far Northwestern suburb of Dundee, IL with a stronger broadcast signal. This was an expensive gamble at best so we were very careful about jumping in and risking funds that might be otherwise directed to help orphans with food and shelter as well as hospital missions in India where AMG International (the parent organization) had works. As a general rule, all the stations profits were earmarked into such mission works. Of all the artists and bands WCRM played, promoted and helped sell records for, ONLY Bob and Jayne Farrell offered to help WCRM in their efforts by volunteering to play in a benefit concert if we chose to have one or help us in any way they could. An event like that was being considered because a lot of people wanted to hear the station that couldn’t due to signal problems. Many let us know they would come to a concert where the net receipts might help improve their ability to hear WCRM’s music programming. The Farrell’s generous gesture made quite a lasting impression on me.

Like the other power couples: Sanctus Real, Michael & Stormie Omartian, and Seawind’s Bob & Pauline Wilson; Jayne’s voice brings life to Bob’s songs in a very ear pleasing fashion. From power pop to techno punk to angelic Praise, Jayne Farrell delivers. As a songwriter, Bob is simply one of the very best. Both his sensitive lyrics and his melodies are usually extremely well crafted. Those songwriting skills have aged over the years like a fine vintage wine. Songs like He Reigns and Heart for the Homeless are two prime examples of musical elegance and masterful excellence. Plus, Bob knows how to create a catchy pop phrase that just won’t leave your mind without a sheriff’s escort at a forced eviction. I once wrote in a record review for Christian Retailer and Christian Life (now Charisma) Magazine the “the opening riff to Let The Whole World Know is one of the most catchy hooks ever recorded in Contemporary Christian Music.” I still stand by that statement today some 27 years later. It is just plain infectious. Listen for it on Saturday and enjoy!

FARRELL & FARRELL

1. People in a Box from Jump To Conclusions

2. Get Right or Get Left from Choices

3. Hosanna Gloria from Choices

4. Manifesto from Manifesto

5. People All Over The World from Manifesto

6. Heart of the Homeless from Superpower

7. Eternity In Their Hearts from Superpower

8. It’s Gonna Take Love from Superpower

9. Make Me Ready from Make Me Ready

10. To Know That I’m Loved By You from Make Me Ready

11. American Man from Jump To Conclusions

12. The Meek & the Mighty from Jump To Conclusions

13. Boundless Love (live) from Let The Whole World Know

14. Jailhouse Rock (live) from Let The Whole World Know

15. Let The Whole World Know (live) from Let The Whole World Know

16. Fallen from A Portrait of Us All

17. All You Need from A Portrait of Us All

18. Earthmaker from Farrell & Farrell

19. Livesaver from Farrell & Farrell

20. Homesick Soldier from Farrell & Farrell

21. Adoption from Farrell & Farrell

22. He Reigns from Choices

23. Old Friends from Make Me Ready

24. All You Need (live) from Let The Whole World Know

SnT Radio.com will play one song approximately every hour from this list beginning at 12:00am EST Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Please visit our SnT Radio.com LIKE Page on Facebook or tweet us #SnTRadio on Twitter. Tell your friends this blog and refer them here www.sntradioblog.wordpress.com
You are encouraged to join the SnT listener community and make a comment or share your personal Farrell & Farrell memories below. Next time you’re listening to SnT Radio.com
http://www.sntradio.com check out the SnT Archive by clicking on the SnT Archive tab. You’ll be very pleased at what you find there.

Blessings,
James Burkhardt
SnT Radio.com

Righting a wrong and the SnT Spotlight David Meece playlist for Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Excuse me as I gush a bit but I have to right a gregarious wrong. David Meece is one of the most talented Christian Music artists, ever.

Here’s why I can make that bold statement even if he has not sold more albums than anyone else. He began as a child prodigy in Humble TX playing piano with Symphony Orchestras as early as age 10. He conducted at 14.
That is absolutely amazing!!! Too bad YouTube was not around then as we all would’ve been blessed to witness something as rare as that. In his early teens he performed a concert which was conducted by Andre Previn who in the classical world at the time was bested only by Leonard Bernstein. Then he studied at the prestigeous Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore MD on a full scholarship. For a classical musician that is at the very top end of the training one can get.

His records always had great players on them. Whether you liked the classical infused pop and Bee Gees influence of his early work or not, the fact remains Meece knows a fine way to treat a Steinway. As a Christian Bookstore Manager back in the mid 70′s, I chuckle at remembering the impact his first few albums had on the early consumers of Contemporary Christian Music. It was visceral and polarizing. Most Jesus Freaks did not think he was rocky enough. Ironic because most mainstream Churches thought that “Jesus Music” was too rocky and evil. Too poppy for their taste. Too make matters worse, teeny boppers (middle school age kids) adored him. That kind of thing could really seal one’s artistic fate, especially if you’re classically trained — that’s a whole universe away from rock and blues. Jazz is closer but only because it breaks the rules Classic music hols so dear. Hey, you’ve got to know the rules before you can break’em right. Only if you saw him live in concert did one gain insight into how good he really was. I know. I saw him play back in his early days. I also saw Duke Ellington play solo piano. Yep, Meece is that good and more importantly, musically unique. You hear his voice and you know its him. He has been somewhat fairly compared to Barry Manilow — a big mid 70′s and 80′s Mainstream pop star with classical music influences in his biggest radio hits.

David Meece can certainly write, sing, and play the piano . His three octave vocal range is the stuff of great singers like Ella Fitzgerald . Listen for “Never Gonna Serve Anyone Else But You” recorded live. He goes 3 octaves seemingly in a single breath, “drive a new car. eat caviar. Did I mention live? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah – the Beatles did that a lot too in their early days. They’d also shake their mop tops at the same time and drive the audience crazy. They started out appealing to teeny boppers, too. not that I would ever admit to being a teeny bopper.

Enjoy the playlist on Saturday and please, give David Meece the respect he so richly deserves. He used his enormous talent for the Body of Christ when he easily could’ve made other choices. His website is http://www.davidmeece.com

DAVID MEECE

1. I’ll Sing This Song For You from David

2. Come Home America from David

3. Everybody Needs A Little Help from Everybody Needs A Little Help

4. Never Gonna Serve Anyone Else But You from Everybody Needs A Little Help

5. Are You Ready fro Are You Ready

6. Mother, Muffler, Mozart and the Beatles from Front Row

7. Rattle Me, Shake Me from Front Row

8. Making My Life Brand New from Count the Cost

9. Gloria from Count the Cost

10. And You Know Its Right from Count the Cost

11. You Can Go from Seven

12. We Can Overcome It All from Seven

13. Forgiven from Seven

14. Follow You from I Just Call On You

15. Jesus from Front Row

16. Come That Day from Chronolgy

17. All God’s Creation from Candle in the Rain

18. Amor Conquista Todo from Candle in the Rain

19. To Know Him from Learning To Trust

20. The Man with the Nail Scars from Learning to Trust

21. Over You from Once in a Lifetime

22. Inside Out from Once in a Lifetime

23. Candle In The Rain from Candle in the Rain

24. One Small Child from Odessey

SnT Radio.com will play one song approximately every hour from this list beginning at 12:00am EST Saturday, September 10, 2011.

Please visit our SnT Radio.com LIKE Page on Facebook or tweet us #SnTRadio on Twitter.Tell your friends and refer them here www.sntradioblog.wordpress.com
You are encouraged to join the SnT listener community and make a comment or share your personal David Meece memories. Next time you’re listening to SnT Radio.com
http://www.sntradio.com check out the SnT Archive by clicking on the SnT Archive tab. You’ll be very pleased at what you find there.

Blessings,
James Burkhardt
SnT Radio.com

SnT Radio.com Playlist for Saturday Spotlight 9/10/2011 Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith has made one of the biggest contributions to Contemporary Christian Music ever in a career that began in 1982. It was a seminal song called “Great Is The Lord“. What??? I know you were probably expecting to see “Friends” or the Billboard Top 5 crossover “Place in This World“. Ok. Take a breath. Here is my reasoning. The roots of Contemporary or what is also called Modern Worship can be traced back to this song. Like the power chords. The straight ahead worshipful encouragement. Mr. Smith may not even recognize it and I’m sure he would not claim credit for it either because he is truly a humble soul from West Virginia. Once I had the honor of standing in line with Michael W. and his lovely wife Debbie for a buffet after the 1983 Dove Awards in Nashville and chatting amicably. Then I somewhat enthusiastically encouraged him to keep writing Praise songs just like “Great Is The Lord” which coming from a Radio Station Manager and not a record executive probably was not my place. But I am just as excited by honest from the heart Heavenly directed praise & worship now as I was then. As I recall, he just kinda nodded and moved away from me as politely as possible. But both of His Worship Projects and the Christmas ones are as pure worship & praise as there is coming from anywhere including IHOP or Hillsong.

This list pays particular attention to two of his most fruitful albums, Go West Young Man and I’ll Lead You Home. Both spawned 5 charting songs on Christian Radio and those all made the playlist. Also, back in the day do you remember listening to the radio hearing the name of your town whispered at the end of Rocketown? It came within the last 20 seconds of the song. I know we played a special one that mentioned “Chicago” on WCRM and WCFL when I was there. I think there were maybe 10 or 12 special radio edits by market hand delivered by Reunion Records. If you lived in the broadcast area and listened to one of those stations, please share the call letters and city in the comments section. That was a very special thing that Michael W. did in the studio to personalize the listening experience for his fans in those places. I cannot recall any other artist reaching out quite like that on record. I’m sure it was unnoticed at the time except for the radio jocks but I wanted to point this out and hopefully jog your memory. If you like the SnTRadioBlog, please subscribe to it at the top right corner. Here’s the Michael W. Smith playlist. Enjoy!

MICHAEL W. SMITH

1. Rocketown from The Big Picture

2. Hosanna from Michael W. Smith 2

3. I Am Sure from Michael W. Smith 2

4. Friends from Michael W. Smith Project and Change Your World (both versions)

5. Thy Word from Freedom

6. Somebody Love Me from Change Your World

7. Give It Away from Change Your World

8. Great Is The Lord from Michael W. Smith Project and Devotions (both versions)

9. The Throne from Devotions

10. Agnus Dei from Go West Young Man and Devotions (both versions)

11. For You from Go West Young Man

12. Go West Young Man from Go West Young Man

13. Seed To Sow from Go West Young Man

14. Love Crusade from Go West Young Man

15. Place In This World from Go West Young Man

16. How Long Will Be too Long from Go West Young Man

17. I’ll Lead You Home from I’ll Lead You Home

18. Breakdown from I’ll Lead You Home

19. A Little Stronger Ever from I’ll Lead You Home

20. I’ll Be Around from I’ll Lead You Home

21. Cry For Love from I’ll Lead You Home

SnT Radio.com will play one song approximately every hour from this list beginning at 12:00am EST Saturday, September 10, 2011.

Please visit our SnT Radio.com LIKE Page on Facebook or tweet us #SnTRadio on Twitter.Tell your friends and refer them here www.sntradioblog.wordpress.com
You are encouraged to join the SnT listener community and make a comment or share your personal Michael W. Smith memories.

Blessings,
James Burkhardt
SnT Radio.com