JEFF & SHERI EASTER

Expecting and “Experiencing” Good Things

Legendary Gospel Group Lands Two GMA DOVE Nominations, Including Song of the Year, from New Release

Song Nominee More Than a Song to Group Following Health Battle

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—February 19^th, 2010—Legendary Gospel music group Jeff & Sheri Easter were honored yesterday with two 2010 GMA DOVE nominations, one for Song of the Year for their hit single “Born to Climb” and one for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for the same song.  The tune, written by Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun (who brought home seven total nominations), is reminiscent of the recent journey Jeff & Sheri have traveled through Sheri’s battle with cancer.

“We wrote this song while Sheri was going through her cancer treatments,” describes Lindsey.  “As any cancer survivor can tell you, the struggle is just as much spiritual and emotional as it is physical.  The title for this song came from a greeting card my mother sent me when I was going through treatments myself.  There was a line in the poem on the card that said something like, ‘When you're facing a mountain, remember you were born to climb.’  It wasn't that exact line, but it was close.” 

“This is not a song about sorrow.  It’s about triumph and hope,” adds co-writer Haun.  “It is about the journeys in life. So often it seems that while we take those journeys and encounter mountains, all we can think about are the snares and jagged rocks along the way; but eventually, after we get through it, we stand at the top and see the beauty of the trip...and the breathtaking views, and we realize we made it.  We were born to climb.” 

“Born to Climb” is featured on the group’s new Spring Hill Music Group release Expecting Good Things, which has just hit shelves nationwide.  The release, produced by Jeff & Sheri and Greg Cole, offers several songs that paint pictures of the highs and lows of the past couple of years in the group’s life.

“I understand all too clearly now the analogy of the mountain in physical and spiritual climbs,” stated Sheri.  “…but one thing’s for sure--you can’t experience the view from the top if you never begin to climb.”

From foot-stompin’ Gospel tunes and heart-wrenching ballads to western swing-styled numbers and groovin’, bluesy hand-clappers, this release finds these Gospel music mainstays with a new lease on life. 

 

Expecting Good Things, a Spring Hill Music Group release, is available now in stores and digitally.  It is distributed by EMI CMG Distribution. 

For further information, visit www.jeffandsherieaster.com

###

Publicity:  Celeste Winstead

CWinstead@springhillmusic.com

 615-383-5535

 Hall of Famers The Lewis Family will appear for                               one final concert                             Grammy nominees Jeff and Sheri Easter will join them

One of Georgia’s most notable musical artists, The Lewis Family, officially retired in September, but the group was coaxed to appear in concert once again in their home state of Georgia.

“We are so excited to be coming together one last time for our friends here at home and for the folks at WJBF who have been so supportive of us all through the years,” said Little Roy Lewis.

Members of the First Family of Bluegrass Gospel will gather to appear in concert Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in Lincolnton, Ga. at the Lewis Family Pavilion. Jeff and Sheri Easter will also appear. Tickets are $10 and children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available only at the gate. Attendees should bring lawn chairs in event available seating is exceeded. Attendees should also dress appropriately for an outdoor concert.

Little Roy said he looks forward to jamming with visiting musicians with some parking lot pickin’ from noon until 4 p.m. prior to the concert.

The Lewis Family television show went on the air in 1954 and ran until 1992 when the family began producing its annual Christmas special. This event will be taped for use as the group’s 55^th annual Christmas Show to air on WJBF in Augusta.

The Lewis Family are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and hold numerous awards including Doves, SPBGMA awards, and others.

The family began with the marriage of the late Roy “Pop” and Pauline “Mom” Lewis and their children began performing in 1951. As their fifty-eighth year of performing about 200 times a year covering 100,000 miles comes to a close, the group includes siblings Little Roy Lewis, Janis Lewis Phillips, Miggie Lewis, and the ailing Polly Lewis Copsey with third generation member Lewis Phillips. Other members of the family may make special appearances in recognition of this special event.

Two of those former members include Polly’s son-in-law and daughter, Jeff and Sheri Easter. They have distinguished themselves in a highly awarded career of their own including five Dove awards, a Grammy nomination and through their association with the Gaither Homecoming video series selling over 15 million videos.

“I am excited that we are giving people in Georgia a chance to come together and honor the family’s legacy,” Sheri said. “It will be a great opportunity for people to come and say thank you for all the things the Lewis Family has done for gospel music and our hometown and in turn a chance for all of us in the family to extend thanks for the many years of friendship from all those who included the Lewis Family as part of their lives.”

For more information, visit www.lewisfamilymusic.com and www.jeffandsherieaster.com.

JEFF & SHERI EASTER FIRST GROUP TO

SELL-OUT AMERICAN MOUNTAIN THEATER’S

SUMMER SOUTHERN GOSPEL CONCERT SERIES