Nashville – New York – Hollywood (July 4th) When Indie World and Wal-Mart went looking for Gospel indie records that had actually charted and went to #1 in the various indie gospel music charts over the past 25 years, they didn’t have to look far. After consulting with Ed Morris (Billboard Chart Director) and other chart directors who served during the 80’s, 90’s and early in the new millennium, they found out that practically all of those records were produced by one person in Nashville, Legends Hall Of Fame producer Robert Metzgar.
In their extensive research approximately 250 of the Indie World single releases in country music had been produced by the veteran hit maker and over a 100 in gospel music. Asked to pull all that catalog and re-issue it, was a daunting task because the label had gone through a major conversion in the early millennium years and was now Platinum Plus International. Gathering the first few volumes of gospel music so that the public could enjoy listening to them on iTunes and through other digital outlets was an expensive task for not only the record label but for the producer as well. www.robertmetzgar.com
"You can’t imagine what pulling an old reel of quarter inch tape that has oxidized and has been in a vault at the studio for over 25 years is really like until you’ve tried to do that." Metzgar tells Sr. Editor Mikel Gore for Entertainment Headline News.
Getting to some of this catalog was such an expensive task that Mr. Metzgar almost gave up on the project. The white haired veteran has had his own physical battles the past few years. Metzgar has gone through open heart surgery, then cancer surgery and this left him physically exhausted and not able to work the long hours that he had worked during the previous years Mr. Metzgar has been in the music business. Much of this catalog is the result of his work during his recovery from these two major surgeries.
"I worked so hard during my early years with Billy Walker, Tommy Overstreet, Carl & Pearl Butler, Warner Mack, David Houston, The Smokey River Boys and other MCA artists that I only produced a limited number of outside artists. Larry Orrell and I were busy every weekend promoting the Cathedral concerts. I had very little time to do anything else. However, the artists that I did work with were so incredibly talented," Metzgar said. After putting together the first few volumes of this 25th Anniversary Ultimate Gospel Hits collection, the veteran hitmaker realized what radio saw in these songs. "You can put this collection in your iPod, CD player or in the car and you never get tired of listening to this material. The mp3 version is astounding and that’s what I’ve purchased" commented the 59 year old producer of over 250 hit single records. In February of 1994, Metzgar had produced 14 of the top 100 Hot Country single records that were in the charts that one week. He was hot as the tailpipe on a NASCAR racing machine. So are these great Gospel artists on this CD.
"This music is as fresh today as it was during the time that radio had it and was playing the songs on their indie play lists. Today, the whole world knows that the best songs that were ever recorded were recorded on indie artists. A whole cult following surrounds the indie artist now. Indie World is the hottest thing for teenage audiophiles. Many of the more dedicated audiophiles will only play the analog version on vinyl now. These songs are all by the original artists, remastered from the analog two tracks and now they are on digital CDs so the world can enjoy them as much as I did when I was in the studio producing them. These songs represent 25 years of my life’s work. Below is the discography of Ultimate Gospel Hits Volume I and I encourage those of you who really love gospel music to listen and see if these volumes aren’t the absolute best of the best indie gospel hits. Then you just purchase them on the world's greatest music site right here at www.cdbaby.com" Metzgar tells Entertainment Headline News.
25TH ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE GOSPEL HITS VOL I
Produced By Robert Metzgar
www.robertmetzgar.com
GORDON ALAN BROWN
Uptown (2:54)
Jeremiah’s Song (4:10)
CINDY DEWEY LARSON
I Am Ready (4:23)
Stepping Up To Higher Ground (2:31)
EMERALD CITY QUARTET
He Came Down To My Level (2:04)
So Much Fun (2:44)
HEATHER SMITH
You Got A Hold On Me (3:14)
Rock Of My Soul (3:26)
LEVOY DEWEY
O What A Name (3:33)
Next Time I See You (2:17)
SINGING GOSPEL AIRES
Heavenly Mansion (3:09)
Listening For The Trumpet (2:43)
MIKE MURDOCK
You Don’t Have To Know Why (3:37)
Bring Me The Broken (3:47)
ELIZABETH DIETSCHE
Step By Step (3:19)
Triumphant Praise (3:56)
SCOTT CARTER
King Of Columbus Avenue (3:44)
Feed The Children (3:36)
MARSHA BORELLI-SILVA
Remember America (3:35)
DOUG NEWNUM & NORTHERN GOLD
Hold On Tight To My Hand (3:41)
Don’t Abuse Your Baby (2:55)
All of these top #1 indie artists appeared on Platinum Plus Records and were promoted by some of the most powerful radio promotion people in the music business. On many occasions these artists stayed at #1 in the indie charts for many long weeks and were later nominated and awarded for their charted records. This is a chance to document the great history of independent artists in gospel music through the years and see their contributions to the industry they loved so much.
Robert Metzgar
Platinum Plus International
330 Franklin Road
Brentwood, TN 37027-3282
800-767-4984 (toll free)
615-321-0600 (wk)
615-338-4497 (fax)
www.platinumplusinternational.com
info@platinumplusinternational.com
If you would like to contact Mr. Metzgar directly, please send him an email at robertmetzgar@aol.com and he will respond to you immediately within 48 hours.
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