Trent Smith Signs with HPP/TWC Music

Trent Smith, a songwriter and worship artist/leader from Northern California, has recently signed a publishing agreement with Highest Praise Productions, Inc., the parent company of TheWorshipCommunity.Com and other worship-related websites and venues.

“Singer-songwriter Trent Smith brings a unique perspective and undeniable talent to the stage. Whether fronting a band or performing “unplugged,” he touches audiences with his honest style and skill.
Trent grew up in the coastal town of Homer, Alaska. He began playing violin at the age of seven and also taught himself piano. After high school he added guitar and song-writing to the repertoire. Trent is known for passion vocals and deep poetic lyrics, matched by musical “chops.” His stage appearances include Spirit West Coast Monterey main stage, Golden State Festival, Bayside Church of Granite Bay, Capital Christian Center Sacramento, Twin Lakes Church of Santa Cruz and many smaller venues headlining and opening for other acts. Trent won Integrity Music’s “Best New Worship Song” award at their 2008 Christian Songwriting Conference and has garnered praise from various industry professionals and music publications. He also serves as a full time worship pastor and volunteers playing music in local schools and events. Trent currently lives in Northern California with his wife Deborah, and two young children Elijah and Tiana.”

On a more personal note, Trent shares about one of his life challenges.  “I also live with Multiple Sclerosis, which is pretty interesting as it relates to my music–I was on track to be a professional violinist when the condition hit me at age 18–it’s quite a story–where God has led me etc… Twice, the disease has taken away my physical ability to play instruments by impairing the motor skills of my left side.”

Trent is a welcome addition to the growing catalog of worship music written by what I call “grass roots” worship leaders and songwriters.  His song, “Halleujah!  I Am Free” is the current Featured Song on HighestPraise.Com and TheWorshipCommunity.Com and has also been featured on Worship Leader Magazine’s “SongDISCovery” CD this year.  The entire collection of original songs on his new CD are a refreshing blend or creative lyrics, devotion, and material for both personal enjoyment, edification, and corporate worship.

Our desire as a production/publishing company is to give a greater platform to worship artists and songwriters so that the gift of their music can be enjoyed by the thousands of worshipers who are exposed to the materials promoted through the HPP network.  Trent’s story is a classic example of our strategy in using our online communities and social networking.  Trent, like so many other songwriters, began to upload lyrics and showcase his original songs through the “Song Center” area of the forums on TheWorshipCommunity.Com.  It wasn’t long before everyone was noticing the quality and value of these compositions.

More of Trent’s songs will be available soon.  Follow his ministry at TrentSmithMusic.Com. If  you are a member of TheWorshipCommunity.Com, be sure and look for Trent’s friendly conversations in the forums as “Trent“.

Russ Hutto Joins Team as Creative Director, HPP Publishing

Russ Hutto (blog | twitter) has joined the team at Highest Praise Productions, Inc. as the Creative Director of HPP Publishing Company. Highest Praise Productions (HPP) is the parent company of TheWorshipCommunity.Com and HighestPraise.Com.  As the Creative Director of HPP Publishing, Russ will be overseeing the songwriting and music publishing catalog of HPP.

“As the influence and reach of this company has grown over the last few years we’ve discovered an untapped reserve of original praise and worship music from grassroots worship leaders and songwriters across the globe.  Russ has been an active member of TheWorshipCommunity and has been an influential leader in encouraging songwriting and collaboration.  We look forward to showcasing these songs to this ever-growing community of worshipers and assisting songwriters in sharing their music with thousands of worshipers worldwide”.  (Fred McKinnon, President/Founder of HPP)

As Creative Director, Russ will be contributing to the overall direction of HPP Publishing.  This will include song development, catalog management, and the development of songwriter relations and publishing.  Several new songwriters will be releasing their music through the network of worship sites within the coming months.  Look for them in the new “Featured Song” area of TheWorshipCommunity.Com.

Carlos Whittaker’s EP Release with Blog Tour

Blogger.  Worship Leader.  Songwriter.  Creative Guru.  Web/Social Networking Pro.

Now, Integrity Music Artist.

Carlos Whittaker (aka “Los”) of RagamuffinSoul.Com has launched his first “EP” today from Integrity Music.  He’s teamed up with producer Jason Ingram and other writers such as Mia Fieldes and Phillip Larue to Read more

Worship in our Giving – Support Haiti

As we pray for those in Haiti, let us worship freely by giving freely.

Any amount will make a difference.

$35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.

Pray and do what you can.

BLUETREE LAUNCHES STANDOUT INTERNATIONAL

BLUETREE LAUNCHES STANDOUT INTERNATIONAL

New Charity Aims To End Child Sex Exploitation
Read more

Worship + Web 2.0 Webinar

Attention, Members and Guests of TheWorshipCommunity.Com (TWC)

TWC Founder, Fred McKinnon (blog | twitter), will be teaching a live “webinar” next Monday, Nov. 9 for Worship Leader Magazine called “Worship + Web 2.0″.  We’ll be talking about some of the online tools and resources we use as worship leaders and technicians.  Of course, TWC will be highlighted as well!  It’s basically the same class that Fred taught the last two years at the National Worship Leader Conference. To register, click here.

Worship + Web 2.0
taught by Fred McKinnon

Monday, November 9, 2009
11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (duration 1 hour)
(that’s 2:00 PM EST)

Facebook, Twitter, Blogs – can all these web-based technologies really enhance our worship services? Do you ever hit a creative “dead end” in your efforts to plan an impacting worship service? Join Fred McKinnon as we discuss how worship leaders and service planners are using the web to network, share, and collaborate on service planning through these tool

(Fred McKinnon is the Worship Pastor at St. Simons Community Church on St. Simons Island, GA. He is the founder of TheWorshipCommunity.com and blogs daily at FredMcKinnon.com about worship, leadership, faith, and ministry. Fred has been using social media as a tool in worship ministry and has been a guest speaker at the National Worship Leader Conference for the past two years.)

If you haven’t attended a Worship Leader Webinar yet, this is a great place to start. Offering the most accessible high-quality training available in the skills worship leaders need to lead their congregations, all you need is an Internet connection and a telephone. For only $39.00 a session, individuals or entire teams can attend.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
(limited to 100 attendees)

Integrity Music Signs Worship Artist and RagamuffinSoul.com Blogger, Carlos Whittaker

MOBILE, Alabama (October 23, 2009) – Carlos Whittaker has described himself in many ways: worshiper, pastor, thinker, experience architect, Web 2.0 junkie.  Now, he adds recording artist to his life story after being signed to the Integrity Music Label.

Read more

TIM HUGHES RELEASES FIRST-EVER LIVE DVD/CD,HAPPY DAY, OCT. 20

Includes Four New Songs, CCLI Chart Topping “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One,” “Happy Day,” “Consuming Fire,” and more.

Read more

Worship Leader Roundtable: Join in TONIGHT!

When:  Today, Tuesday 9/29
When:  9:00 PM CST (10:00 EST)

*Miss the Live Event?  Visit TalkShoe via the link below for the archives!

Hosted by the AllAboutWorship Podcast.

To join the round-table discussion, tune in at:
TalkShoe.Com – www.talkshoe.com/tc/41106/

Topic:  Manly Worship
What is “Manly Worship”?  Is there a need for worship songwriters to focus more attention on music that ministers more to men?  Is there a trend in worship music within churches that connects more with the heart of women vs men?  Or is this issue moot and the hearts of men need to be challenged in this area?

For more information, visit here.

Switchfoot’s 7th Full-Length Album Releases November 10

HELLO HURRICANE, SWITCHFOOT’S SEVENTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM,
SET FOR NOVEMBER 10 RELEASE ON SPARROW, ATLANTIC RECORDS

Band Will Play Select Dates With Dave Matthews Band In September.

Read more

Next Page »