JULY 10, 2007
THE 2006 PIANORAMA DVD IS NOW AVAILABLE...
Roger Bennett's last recorded performance, the 2006 "Parade of Pianos" is one of the most spectacular he ever hosted. All of the highlights from the NQC's most popular afternoon showcase are here in this extended-length DVD.

You see performances by beloved Southern Gospel artists, including: Roger Bennett, Stewart Varnado, Jeff Stice, Earl Brewer, Andrew Ishee, Adam Harmon, Matthew Holt, Jerry Kelso, Josh Singletary, Kim Collingsworth, Derrell Stewart, and Dino Kartsonakis.

The DVD is available for only $20 and can be ordered in our ONLINE STORE.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2006
THE 2004 & 2005 PIANORAMA DVD IS NOW AVAILABLE...
Roger Bennett returns with a special DVD set: Two year's worth of his popular Parade of Pianos filmed live at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. This special package contains the full-length versions of both 2004 and 2005 Parade of Pianos.  All of the great piano performances, all of the impromptu antics of the all-star cast of characters have been captured for your enjoyment.

During the 2 hours of the "Parade", you'll hear incredible performances by:
Roger Bennett, Stewart Varnado, Andrew Ishee, Matthew Holt, Adam Harmon, Channing Eleton, Derrell Stewart, Earl Brewer, Kim Collingsworth, Eric Ollis, Josh Singletary, and Jeff Stice.

The two year set is available only on DVD and can be ordered in our ONLINE STORE for $25.00.

JULY 17, 2006
THE REVIEWS ARE IN...
David Bruce Murray over at www.musicscribe.com is the first to review the new Southern Gospel Players Volume 2 recording. CLICK HERE to read his review. Be sure to check his website for some informative reviews on many different Gospel recordings.

JULY 1, 2006
THE SOUTHERN GOSPEL PLAYERS volume two...is now available!!!

The Southern Gospel Players - VOLUME 2 is now available. Featuring over 30 of Southern Gospel Music's Best Musicians, this is the sequel to the original Southern Gospel Players recording. Available in the ONLINE STORE.

February 23, 2006
Remembering Anthony Burger

Remembering Anthony Burger
June 5, 1961 - February 22, 2006

August 18, 2005
The Dixie Echoes win 3 awards at the SGM Fan Fair / US Gospel News Awards!
On Thursday night of the Southern Gospel Music Fan Fair, The Dixie Echoes Band was presented with the Favorite Band award, Randy Shelnut won Favorite Lead Vocalist, and Stewart Varnado won Album of the Year for the project 'The Southern Gospel Players".

May 10, 2005
Conversations with...Stewart Varnado
The Singing News Magazine featured Stewart Varnado in the May 2005 issue with a Conversations article written by editor Danny Jones. To read the article, Click the link above.

February 21, 2005
Old Style Gospel Piano - NOW AVAILABLE!

Stewart Varnado has just released a new solo piano recording. It features ten Southern Gospel Quartet songs, performed with solo piano. That's right, there's no drums or guitars, nothing but the piano. Stewart plays these great tunes in the old convention style, or "windshield wiper" style of playing. Order your copy in the ONLINE STORE.

February 7, 2005
We just found a new review of The Southern Gospel Players cd at the Southern Gospel Music Forum.  Visit their website at www.sgmusicforum.com for more cd reviews and information. To read the review, CLICK HERE.

July 19, 2004
SouthernGospelNews.com recently reviewed The Southern Gospel Players cd and gave it a FIVE star rating.  Visit their website at www.southerngospelnews.com for more cd reviews and news about Southern Gospel Music. To read the review, CLICK HERE.

June 10, 2004
THE SOUTHERN GOSPEL PLAYERS...now available!!!

The latest recording from Stewart Varnado, titled "Stewart Varnado presents... The Southern Gospel Players", is now available. After many months in the making, we are happy to make this cd first available to the website visitors. Visit the Online Store to get your copy!!!

September 2, 2003
SouthernGospelNews.com recently reviewed Stewart's latest instrumental recording and gave it a FIVE star rating.  Visit their website at www.southerngospelnews.com for more cd reviews and news about Southern Gospel Music. To read the review, CLICK HERE.

April 8, 2003
Dixie Echoes Complete Unique New Recording

From L-R: Billy Hodges, Randy Shelnut, Randy "Scoot" Shelnut Jr, Billy Todd, Stewart Varnado

The Dixie Echoes Quartet, from Pensacola, Florida, recently completed a new recording that took a unique twist.  In March of 2003, the Dixie Echoes went into the studio to record this project that will take you back to the classic way of recording. After gathering some of our favorite quartet songs, we went in the studio and recorded them with just the piano and vocals.  In order to recreate this vintage sound, we recorded the vocals by using the same two vintage RCA 77dx microphones that were used by the original Dixie Echoes over 40 years ago!  We hope that you will enjoy these songs and listening to Gospel Music, the way it was. The new recording entitled "The Old Fashioned Way" is scheduled for an early May release.

April 1, 2003
Stewart Varnado In The Studio

From L-R: John Hughey, Kevin McManus, Scoot Shelnut, Steve Gibson, Bruce Watkins, Stewart Varnado, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Jimmy Carter, & John Hammond.

Stewart Varnado, pianist of the Dixie Echoes, was recently in Oak Valley Studios, in Nashville, Tennessee, working on his latest piano instrumental recording. "I grew up listening to Floyd Cramer, and on this recording, I wanted to play my favorite Gospel songs in the style that I tried to learn for most of my childhood," states Stewart. The musicians on this recording are a "who's who" of Nashville session players, including special guest legendary studio pianist, Hargus "Pig" Robbins on the song "Family Bible". The new recording entitled "Musical Journey" is scheduled for a late May release.

January 31, 2003

Stewart Varnado was honored by the Emerald Coast Southern Gospel Music Association by winning the Favorite Stage Musician Award.  The Dixie Echoes were present at the Awards show on January 31, 2003, in Panama City, Florida, at the Civic Center.

December  3, 2002
Five Broke Single Boys CD AVAILABLE

The Five Broke Single Boys new cd is now available at our Online Store. This cd will only be available through this website and the SGMA Museum.  The Dixie Echoes & Florida Boys will NOT be carrying this on their product tables, so get your copy today.  Cd's are $15 with a $2 per order shipping charge.  The recording is only available on compact disc.  The proceeds from this cd will all be donated to the Southern Gospel Music Association. The songs are recorded with just the four vocals (no stacked vocals) and only the piano and bass guitar for accompaniment.  Songs include: Boundless Love, What A Lovely Name, First Day In Heaven, What A Day That Will Be, Walking The Sea, Victory Road, In The Sweet Forever, When Jesus Comes, The Lighthouse, Everybody Will Be Happy Over There.

National Quartet Convention
September 9-14, 2002
The Dixie Echoes performed Monday & Friday nights on the mainstage at NQC. Thursday at 2:00 PM Stewart participated in Charles Waller's "Let's Make A Deal", and was chosed three times by fans to join them on stage.  This was a fun event that you need to be sure to attend next year.  Thursday evening we attended a dinner banquet hosted by the Singing News.  This pre-awards banquet was to honor this years nominees in the Singing News Fan Awards.  We appreciate eveyones support this past year, it was such an honor to have five nominations! Following the dinner, we headed for the main stage where Stewart Varnado and Andrew Ishee hosted a segment of the Fan Awards.  We sang Friday morning for the Kim Hudgins Promotions Showcase, this was for a group of dj's.  Kim & Tony Hudgins are the radio promoters for the Dixie Echoes.  Stewart Varnado participated in Pianorama for his second time.  Following "Pianorama", Stewart Varnado & Randy Shelnut both participated in Tim Lovelace's Instrumental Jam Session.

Monday September 17, 2001
The U.S. Gospel News announced Stewart Varnado as a new monthly columnist for "America's #1 Gospel Music Newspaper".  Stewart's first article will appear in the October 2001 issue.  If you do not receive the U.S. Gospel News, you can get more information on subscribing at www.usgospelnews.com and be sure to thank them for adding Stewart to the list of contributing editors.