Two from Rural Rhythm get Dove Award Nominations!

Rural Rhythm Christian Announces Two GMA Dove Award Nominations:
SOUNDS LIKE HEAVEN TO ME by Lou Reid and Carolina
and
LOOK TO THE LIGHT: SONGS OF FAITH by the Pen of Rick Lang
by Various Artists

RURAL RHYTHM CHRISTIAN is very proud to announce the label's two 2011 GMA DOVE AWARD NOMINATIONS for BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LOOK TO THE LIGHT:  Songs of Faith from the Pen of Rick Lang – Various Artists, produced by Rick Lang, John Millerand Jesse Brock; and SOUNDS LIKE HEAVEN TO ME by Lou Reid and Carolina, produced by Lou Reid.  "I am humbled and feel very blessed that our new label, Rural Rhythm Christian is represented by 2 of the 6 nominations in the Bluegrass Album of the Year category.  Congratulations to Lou Reid and Carolina, Rick Lang and all the wonderful artists on theLOOK TO THE LIGHT album for this special honor and acknowledgement for their music ministry.  We are also very grateful to all those important GMA members who voted for our artists for these nominations,” said Sam Passamano, Jr., President of Rural Rhythm.

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards Show will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia at 8:00 p.m. EST. The awards will be broadcast on GMC, America's on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

LOOK TO THE LIGHT:  Songs of Faith from the Pen of Rick Langincludes over two dozen songs by Christian songwriter, Rick Lang.  The album features performances by a variety of top, well-known award-winning bluegrass artists including: Russell Moore, Dale Ann Bradley, Jeff Parker, Junior Sisk, and Barry Scott; with musicians, Michael Cleveland, Ron Stewart, John Miller, Jesse Brock and more. "On behalf of all who played a part in the making of LOOK TO THE LIGHT, I am deeply honored. I am extremely thankful to Sam, Pam and all the wonderful folks at Rural Rhythm and Rural Rhythm Christian for believing in me and for their their strong support of my newest creative work. This is truly a blessing," said Rick Lang.


SOUNDS LIKE HEAVEN TO ME, by Lou Reid and Carolina is the first bluegrass gospel album by the band.   Lou was thrilled to hear the news today saying, “Now this really Sounds Like Heaven To Me! After waiting almost my whole lifetime to record a gospel album and then hearing it received a Dove Award nomination, well, it just doesn't get any better than that!”

Lou of course provides his trademark lead vocals and mandolin talents and is joined by Christy Reid on bass and vocals, Shannon Slaughter on guitar and vocals, Trevor Watson on banjo, with special guest. Ron Stewart on fiddle.  The album also includes the beautiful a capella song, “It’s So Hard to Stumble (When You’re Down on Your Knees)” co-written by Lou Reid. This song garnered a nomination for the 2009 IBMA Gospel Song of the Year Award, and was nominated for the 2010 GMA Dove Award for Bluegrass Gospel Song of the Year.  Lou Reid and Carolina fans received a preview of the group’s bluegrass gospel roots as “It’s So Hard to Stumble” was also featured on the band’s current award winning mainstream bluegrass album, MY OWN SET OF RULES.

Rural Rhythm Records has received numerous GMA Dove nominations of the past several years in the BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR category including:  GOD’S MASTERPIECE by The Marksmen Quartet in 2008 and PICKIN, PRAISIN’ & SINGIN’ by Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad in 2009.  Late in 2009, the label launched their new Christian arm of the label, RURAL RHYTHM CHRISTIAN with two projects, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU LORD by Larry Sparks and BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN MEMORIESby The Marksmen Quartet - both of which received 2010 GMA DOVE NOMINATIONS.

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards Show will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia at 8:00 p.m. EST. The awards will be broadcast on GMC, America's on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. EST.