WILDFIRE was formed in 2000 and quickly became one of the most talked about groups in the bluegrass music industry. The band has many years of musical and performance experience, with Robert Hale on lead vocals and guitar, Curt Chapman on bass, and Johnny Lewis on banjo. Newest band members include established mandolin player and vocalist, Chris Davis along with accomplished fiddle player and vocalist, Greg Luck.  By mixing their original songs and telling ballads, their complete dedication...

Joe Mullins is a southwestern Ohio native who has been a recognizable banjo player, vocalist, and radio broadcaster for 30 years. Mullins toured and recorded as a founding member of the band The Traditional Grass until 1995, when he purchased WBZI Radio in Xenia, Ohio. Mullins recorded and performed with the band Longview, earning Song of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year awards from the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) in the late 1990’s. He was honored by winning an...

Bluegrass crowd-pleasers, Carolina Road recently released their self-titled cd, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, their highly anticipated album with Pinecastle Records.  Their previous release, Back To My Roots, achieved commercial and critical success, charting on Bluegrass Music Profiles TOP 30 SINGLES, and TOP 10 ALBUM Chart and reaching #1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited Charts.   The band’s distinct sound and old time flair can be attributed to the bluegrass-rich area of North Carolina...

As a founding member of IIIRD TYME OUT, Russell has seen the group expand, and evolve, from where it started to where it has risen today. Originally from Pasadena, Texas (true home state of the ‘Whataburger’!!), he now lives near the foothills of the north Georgia mountains. Russell, born December 21, 1963, began playing music around the age of eleven after being inspired by bluegrass greats ‘The Osborne Brothers’, and joined a regional band at the age of fifteen, playing concerts and...

Glory On The Floor is a country/folk duo from Asheville, NC featuring songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian Adam Smith and his dynamite touring partner Kim France.   They are gearing up to release their debut album “Asheville Skyline” in the fall; the album was written, recorded, engineered, and produced by Brian Adam Smith and mastered by Grammy Award winning producer Steven Heller.   Glory On The Floor is already making waves with their live performances. They were honored to open for...

Buddy "Budman" Michaels, is no stranger to the world of radio and Bluegrass music. A veteran radio announcer with over four decades under his belt, Buddy knows music like the back of his hand. He has grown in popularity through the years and has become a household name to folks far and wide. His affinity and love of Country music grew into an even deeper love for Bluegrass music. He is known and considered a friend in the world of Bluegrass by many artists, producers, record labels, and...

Call it life feeding art. Call it truth in advertising. Call it a vintage Francesca moment. It happened as Francesca Battistelli was working on the follow-up to My Paper Heart, one of the most joyful and successful national debuts in recent memory, and it provides a telling glimpse into the mindset that makes her art so powerfully uplifting.   It's a dream she has long since fulfilled. Not only did My Paper Heart produce four major hits on the Christian charts—"I'm Letting Go," "Free To Be...

Karen Jensen is an instructor at RHEMA Bible Training College in Broken Arrow, Okla., and the editor and principal writer of theConnections alumni magazine. A professional writer for more than 30 years, she has ghost-written for authors such as Kenneth E. Hagin, Kenneth W. Hagin, Richard and Lindsay Roberts, and Kate McVeigh. Why God Why? What To Do When Life Doesn't Make Sense is Jensen's debut release from Charisma House.   Jensen and her husband, Brent, traveled full time as itinerant...

For more than three decades, John Schlitt has enjoyed a stellar musical career as a solo artist, as the lead singer for Grammy Award-winning Christian band Petra, one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all time, and as the former lead singer for popular '70s mainstream rock band Head East. He has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as the lead singer of Petra during the years when the band won 10 Dove Awards and four Grammy Awards. Schlitt was named the best rock...

Clay Crosse became known for singles such as “I Surrender All” and “He Walked A Mile In My Shoes” and “Saving The World”. He won the Dove Award for “Best New Artist of the Year” at the 25th GMA Dove Awards in 1995. Clay’s music has a pop soulful style. Nine songs from his first four projects became No. 1 singles. During this period, his “He Walked A Mile” won the 1997 CCM Adult Contemporary Song of the Year. He also collaborated with Bob Carlisle and BeBe Winans on “I Will Follow Christ”,...

Call it life feeding art. Call it truth in advertising. Call it a vintage Francesca moment. It happened as Francesca Battistelli was working on the follow-up to My Paper Heart, one of the most joyful and successful national debuts in recent memory, and it provides a telling glimpse into the mindset that makes her art so powerfully uplifting.   It's a dream she has long since fulfilled. Not only did My Paper Heart produce four major hits on the Christian charts—"I'm Letting Go," "Free To Be...

Jeff Slaughter is a singer/songwriter, author and world-renowned worship leader who has worked with some of the biggest stars in music, including Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Faith Hill, and Amy Grant. He was enlisted by Lifeway--the world's largest provider of Christian resources--to be the sole songwriter for its Vacation Bible School for 16 years, and his songs have impacted millions of children and families. Christian music fans will recognize him as the writer of the No. 1 radio single,...

Lavendine's music exudes deep, heart felt lyrics, with smooth melodies.  Their sound is unique and remembered by their hopeful words and strong messages.  Anyone who listens to their music can relate to how real emotions can be through lifes ups and downs.  One thing is for sure, you’ll walk away singing what you’ve heard.   Their music appeals to all ages and crosses many genres, touching the deepest emotions in the hardest of hearts.    Lavendine's deepest desire is to continue reaching the...

A Philadelphia native with a B.F.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Betsy Thompson worked as an account executive for several Philadelphia radio stations and as a commercial print model, appearing in television commercials in Philadelphia and New York. After moving to California, Betsy struggled and nearly became homeless. After she recognized her tendency to blame everyone else for her problems and decided to become accountable, she began to recover. For the next eighteen years, Betsy...

Mary Beth Chapman is the wife of Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist, Steven Curtis Chapman.  Steven and MaryBeth have been married for 25 years and have six children, including three little girls adopted from China.  They met in college after being assigned the same mailbox because they had the same last name.  (Mary Beth’s maiden name was Chapman.)  Touched and forever transformed by the miracle of adoption, Steven and Mary Beth began the non-profit organization, Show Hope...

inda is an anointed vocalist and Psalmist with a voice that goes where beyond this physical plane. Although particularly passionate for inspirational and gospel music, Linda has a sincere appreciation for all genres of music, having regularly performed such genres as Country, R&B, Jazz, Pop, and even Rock.   Artists worked and performed with and opened and sang backup include: Al Jarreau, Morris Pleasure, Maurette Brown-Clark, Cherie Marie, Patrick Davis, Israel Houghton, Vicki Winans,...

James L. Rubart uses masterful storytelling to craft novels that make a serious impact on readers. Entertaining? Absolutely. Life changing? Even more so. His skills haven’t gone unnoticed. The first book in the Well Spring series, Soul’s Gate (2012) won the Christy Award for Visionary Novel (his second nomination).    His previous releases have received critical acclaim and have climbed to the top of best-seller lists. His first novel,  Rooms (2010), won a Best Books 2011 award from USA Book...

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. The Wings of the Nightingale series (With Every Letter, 2012, On Distant Shores, August 2013, and In Perfect Time, August 2014) follows three World War II flight nurses as they find love, friendship, and peril in the skies and on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Wings of Glory series (A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow) follows three brothers who are B-17 bomber pilots during World...

Katelyn McCarter is a Christian Recording Artist under Record Label Dreamin' out Loud Entertainment. A native of Petersburg, VA, she has been singing and performing since age 8. She is a classically trained vocalist and accomplished dancer. She will be releasing her first album with Creative Soul Records in the very near future.  She drops by on Monday, August 5, at 8pm EST.

Tricia Goyer has written more than thirty-five books, including both novels that delight and entertain readers and non- fiction titles that offer encouragement and hope. She has also published more than 500 articles in national publications such as Guideposts, Thriving Family, Proverbs 31, and HomeLife Magazine. Tricia has authored several books on family and parenting, as well as co-written with Max Lucado and Robin Jones Gunn. She collaborated with Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges for Lead...

Each week on Sundays and Wednesdays at 12:00 Noon EST, April share's her inspirational insights from God's Word on BlogTalk Radio. April is moved by a sincere desire to serve and minister to the needs of others as a speaker and sowing seed through social media and the Blog Talk Radio Network.   Despite criticism and even concerns for her personal safety, she continues to press on. This show is a reflection of her faith and her commitment to share God's Word.   She stops by on Tuesday, July...

“Exchanging hurt for hope,” is Sheryl Giesbrecht’s life focus. Through twenty-eight years of marriage to a pastor, parenting two children, overcoming addictions, beating cancer, even enduring the sudden death of her husband in a motorcycle accident, she loves life in Christ and chooses to live each day in abundant freedom and hope. Sheryl’s speaking and writing encourages men and women with her practical presentations in growing toward wholeness. Sheryl’s powerful messages testify of God’s...

Krista McGee’s passion to see teens excited about serving God is a driving force behind her novels. Ever since college when she spent a summer working at a youth camp, McGee knew she wanted to invest in teenagers. Since then she’s been involved in a variety of youth ministries and currently teaches at a Christian school in Tampa, FL.   McGee broke into the writing world during her time in Spain. A friend encouraged her to submit an article to a Christian girls’ magazine, and it got published....

Deeanne Gist—known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee—has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captivated readers everywhere with her original historical and contemporary romances. A favorite among readers and reviewers alike, her popular titles include A Bride Most Begrudging, A Bride in the Bargain, and Maid to Match. Her latest book, It Happened at the Fair (released April 2013), is her ninth published novel.    A popular speaker, Gist’s presentations have been featured on the front...

Cecil Murphey has written or co-written more than 135 books, including the bestsellers 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper) and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (with Dr. Ben Carson). His books have sold in the millions and have brought hope and encouragement to countless people around the world.   Murphey stays busy as a professional writer and travels extensively to speak on topics such as writing, spiritual growth, caregiving, significant living, sexual abuse, and recovery. Prior to...