THE NEW SOUND OF COUNTRY/GOSPEL MUSIC
DeLon has just recorded his first-ever country/Gospel album in Nashville, during July, 2008. This is a fairly new category for inspirational/spiritual music as defined by the Gospel Music Association(GMA)headquartered in Nashville and sponsor of the "DOVE AWARDS".
John Rees, a Nashville-based veteran of country and Gospel music and also producer of this new album, had this to say: DeLon's newly recorded album, "HE'S MY ALL IN ALL", is a perfect example of the relatively new country/Gospel style. Leaning heavily on the fiddle and steel guitar, more commonly heard in mainstream country music, at first listen, you might assume this would fit into that category. Randy Travis was one of the very first to apply this style of music to Gospel music. DeLon's smooth vocal delivery is a perfect match for his original songs about the Christian walk".
This new album is DeLon's fifth album, following four highly-successful country music albums. The album is scheduled for an early January, 2009 release. It is comprised of ten country/Gospel songs and three bonus songs, that are Christmas-themed. These three songs will be delivered to overseas country radio near the end of October, 2008.
And, BIG NEWS, without the album having been released, DeLon was notified the second week of September, 2008, that this album has received a Gospel Music Association(GMA) "DOVE AWARD" nomination for "Album of the Year" in the country/Gospel category. DeLon made it through to the semi-final balloting, only to lose out to Randy Travis, the eventual winner and six other artists, who made it to the final ballot, prior to the annual awards show in April, 2009.
With the addition of this new album, DeLon has attained a new achievement in his music career. With the airplay of these new songs in this album, added to his airplay of his country music, DeLon has now been ranked for 38 consecutive months, from April, 2006 through May, 2009 on the Joyce Ramgatie "TOP 200" total airplay chart, which is published in The Netherlands. On the most current chart of May 15, 2009, he occupies the #2 position. His average ranking during this time has been 13.5. For each charting period, there are some 3,000 to 3,500 artists competing for these coveted 200 spots on this chart. Google has this chart ranked as the #1 total airplay chart for the "indie" country/Gospel music industry. Following is a break-down of his rankings during this period of time:
He has eight #1 rankings; twelve #2 rankings; eleven #3 rankings and many, many more rankings in the "top 5", "top 10" and "top 20" positions of this chart.
Track #4, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM" will be the first song released here in the United States, to nearly 800 radio stations.
John Rees also states, that on this album, there is something, that he has never seen done before, in the many years he has been producing and recording albums. DeLon, on four of the tracks, introduces his new songs with one verse, from an old and established hymn, whose lyric content, is similar in subject matter to the new song. DeLon easily makes the transition from these hymns to his new and original country/Gospel songs.
Track #3, "(Come) WALK WITH ME" is introduced with one verse of the very well-known hymn, "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior".
Track #4, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM" is introduced with one verse from the hymn, "The Solid Rock".
Track #5, "I AM A MAN" is introduced with one verse, from an all-time favorite hymn, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".
Track #10, "THINK ABOUT WHEN JESUS" is introduced with one verse from one of the most famous hymns ever written,
"The Old Rugged Cross".
This album, as were all of DeLon's country music albums, was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. Through John Rees, DeLon has had access to some of the very greatest musicians available, who contribute their talents to this album. Their collective resumes, for whom they have worked, recorded or toured with, reads like a "who's who" of the very famous and well-known Nashville country artists.
Only one back-up singer was needed on this album. Jennifer O'Brien, who works full-time as Dolly Parton's back-up singer and who sang on DeLon's debut country album, was tracked down in Europe, while on a month-long tour with Dolly. She readily agreed to contribute her wonderful vocal talents to this new album. Upon returning to Nashville from Europe, two days later found her in the studio, working with DeLon on this album.
It is almost a sure thing, that his new album is going to be just as "radio-friendly" as DeLon's previous country albums. These songs will be able to be played on regular country music stations, as well as Gospel or Christian radio stations.
So, please click onto any of the songs, from this album, and enjoy a preview of a new and exciting genre of Gospel music, sung by DeLon, who also wrote each and every song on this album.
You will definitely want to have this album in your library of Christian/Gospel/Spiritual music.
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