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This series of original recordings that have been remastered was produced back in 1999/2000 by Columbia River Entertainment. The great thing about the series is the classic artists that are covered, and the music speaks for itself. These are great sets at a phenomenal price and some contain rare tracks. Don’t expect liner notes, but hey, the sets are worth it for the pure enjoyment of the music.

All Music

Ellis Paul has won a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award for his first children’s album, “The Dragonfly Races.” The album is Paul’s 14th and was inspired by his two young daughters. The album features a booklet with all artwork created by Paul.

Folk music

Sad news today of the passing of Dottie Rambo, one of gospel’s greats. Her tour bus ran off the highway and struck an embankment in Missouri. She was 74. Reportedly she was on her way to a Mother’s Day concert in Texas.

Some of her songs have been recorded by Dolly Parton. Dottie was inducted to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

Dottie has had more than 2,500 published songs, including gospel classics such as “He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need” and the 1982 Gospel Music Association Song of the Year, “We Shall Behold Him.”

She will be greatly missed. God bless you and keep you Dottie.
Gospel music

Leona Lewis skyrocketed to stardom on the equivalent of American Idol for the UK: The X Factor. She has big chops backing her in the form of Simon Cowell and Clive Davis. And, of course, any time someone shows up on Oprah it’s a done deal. Compared with such divas as Mariah Carey and Whiteney Houston, time will tell if she holds out. True divas need staying power…that takes hard work, patience and persistence. Something in short supply with most young singers these days.Pop music , R&B

Our girl is back and she has hit #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts with her latest album, E=MC2.

The album sold 463,000 during its first week in stores in the U.S. The only female singer with more number-one albums is Barbra Streisand.

Can you believe Mariah Carey will soon be turning 40?

Hip Hop music , mariah carey

For those of you who don’t know, P.O.D. stands for Payable on Death. Their new album, When Angels and Serpents Dance is currently #1 on the Billboard Gospel Top Albums chart. Their style is nu metal, which is a style that began in the mid-90’s. If you’re looking for great melody, this is not the album for you. But if you like rhythm and texture, give it a listen. You will probably find something here for you.Gospel music , payable on death

Dorothy Snowden Williams was born in 1967. Dar is somewhat of a folk darling singer-songwriter. It is said that she had to overcome stage fright by singing in coffeehouses in the Boston folk scene in the early 90’s.

Her album Mortal City, produced in 1996, featured a guest appearance by John Prine. In 1998 she joined forces with Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky to form the group Cry Cry Cry.

All Music , coffeehouses , cry cry cry , dar williams , Folk music , john prine , lucy kaplansky , Pop music , richard shindell

Patty Griffin was born March 16, 1964 . She comes from Old Town, Maine. This songwriter-musician is best known for her songwriting for the Dixie Chicks. She received the American Music Association award for Artist of the Year in 2007.

Her latest album, Children Running Through, , includes some harmony added in by Emmy Lou Harris. There are more blues and country overtones on this album than any of her previous. She is definitely expanding as an artist.All Music , Alternative Country , dixie chicks , Folk music , patty griffin

John Prine was born October 10, 1946 in Marywood Illinois. He is a singer/songwriter of both country and folk music who was discovered by Kris Kristofferson in the Chicago Folk scene.

Most recently in 2006 he won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album with Fair and Square. All Music , country music , Folk music , john prine , kris kristofferson

Known as the “voice of ‘new folk’”, John Gorka was born 1958 in Edison, New Jersey. One of the best ways to get to know him is to listen to some samples of his music.

All Music , Folk music , john gorka