September 2006~ A Year In Review
Welcome to the National Quartet Convention! I've looked forward to the NQC all year long. It is Gospel Music's greatest concert event. I will be there all week at the Dixie Echoes booth #1725. If you are attending, please stop by and visit. The group will be singing on the main stage on both Monday and Friday nights. I will again be playing on Roger Bennett's Parade of Pianos on Saturday at noon. When that showcase is over, stick around for Tim Lovelace's Instrumental Jam Session on Saturday at 1:15pm. This month's article makes five full years that I have been writing for the U.S. Gospel News. In keeping with tradition, I'll use this September article to recap my articles throughout the past year and give any updates on my friends who have been featured recently. During this year's NQC, I will celebrate my 26th birthday on Monday, September 11th. The same week marks my eighth year with the Dixie Echoes Quartet.

My articles during this past year have featured Mike Hopper, Jordan Bennett, Dallas Rogers, Bill Shivers, Dr. Kent Hovind, Randy Shelnut, Scott Fowler, and more. Jordan Bennett is Roger Bennett's son and at the time of his article, he was playing the bass guitar for Legacy Five. He has since left the road, but he along with his dad were special guests on my newest Players recording. Dallas Rogers, tenor singer for the Dixie Echoes, and his wife Shelly welcomed their first child on May 15, 2006. They had a baby girl and named her Rebecca Michelle Rogers. The March 2006 article featured Dr. Kent Hovind from Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Hovind is an evangelist with a very unique ministry called Creation Science Evangelism. He is one of the most requested speakers on the Creation versus Evolution topic in churches, public and private schools, and universities all over the world. For more information on his ministry or seminars, visit www.drdino.com.

In June 2006, Gene McDonald (bass singer for the Florida Boys) released his first solo recording. The recording titled, "In Times Like These", was recorded at Red Hill Digital studio in Temple, GA, and features twelve great songs. I consider it an honor for Gene to ask me to play on his first solo recording, and urge everyone to get a copy. I know that you will enjoy it! To order your copy of the cd titled, "In Times Like These", send $15.00 per cd, plus add $3.00 per order for shipping to: Gene McDonald, 2300 W. Michigan Avenue #24, Pensacola, FL 32526. If you are attending the National Quartet Convention, Gene's father, Tommy McDonald will have a booth setup next to the Florida Boys and will be selling Gene's new cd. Be sure to get your copy and treat yourself to one of Gospel Music's greatest bass vocalists!

In July 2006, I released a new project titled, "The Southern Gospel Players - VOLUME TWO". It is a sequel to the original players project that was released in 2004. Volume two is an instrumental cd that features over 30 of Southern Gospel Music's best musicians including: Roger Bennett, Jeff Easter, Gordon Mote, Brandon Reese, Dennis Murphy, Ricky Free, Steve "Rabbit" Easter, Lewis Phillips, Jason Selph, and many more! For a complete list of musicians and more information on this project, visit www.stewartvarnado.com. You can order your copy online, or by sending $15.00 per cd, plus add $3.00 per order for shipping to: Stewart Varnado, 2185 Kathleen Avenue, Cantonment, FL 32533. At NQC, it will be available at the Dixie Echoes booth #1725. We have some great musicians traveling with our Southern Gospel groups, and I'm glad that they are using their talents to glorify God! They have been truly blessed, and it shows with every note they played on this recording.

While at the National Quartet Convention, I urge you to subscribe or renew your subscription to the U.S. Gospel News for another year. You can do so at their booth for only $20.00, or you can subscribe online at www.usgospelnews.com. To read any of my past articles, I have a complete archive of them available on my website at www.stewartvarnado.com. From my homepage, select the 'news' page, and then click on the U.S. Gospel News logo. That will take you to a page where you can select which article you want to read. Thanks for another year of supporting the U.S. Gospel News and me!