Compassionart songwriters are pictured (l-r) world premiering “So Great” during the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville: Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman and Chris Tomlin. Also pictured is special guest vocalist Christy Nockels. (Photo courtesy of Gospel Music Association/Wire Image.)
COMPASSIONART SONGWRITERS WORLD PREMIERE “SO GREAT” ON GMA DOVE AWARDS, RECEIVE EIGHT DOVES
Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Israel Houghton, Christy Nockels, Michael W. Smith And
Chris Tomlin Are Joined By Martin And Anna Smith And Darlene Zschech Via Video Link
Compassionart Receives First Gospel Music Channel Angel Award
Upcoming Compassionart Album To Benefit The World’s Poorest Of The Poor
(Nashville, TN) April 28, 2008 – Compassionart songwriters, Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Israel
Houghton, Michael W. Smith and Chris Tomlin appeared live on the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards to world
premiere “So Great,” the first song to be released from the unprecidented songwriter’s retreat held in Scotland, UK
in January. The songwriters also received eight Dove Awards, giving them 118 Dove trophies collectively.
Compassionart founders Martin (Delirious? frontman) and Anna Smith and Compassionart songwriter Darlene
Zschech appeared via video link from Australia to introduce the song and talk about the hope behind Compassionart to help the poorest of the poor.
Joining the songwriters at the Grande Ole Opry House in Nashville for the awards ceremony that was telecast by the Gospel Music Channel was special guest vocalist Christy Nockels. Nockels, Houghton and Michael W. Smith are
Compassionart Songwriters World Premiere “So Great” on GMA Dove Awards featured on the recording of the song that is available now on the WOW Hits 1 album. “So Great” will also be featured on the Compassionart album slated for release this fall.
“The song ‘So Great’ is an example of one of the many amazing moments shared by the songwriters at the recent
Compassionart retreat,” says Martin Smith, speaking from Sydney, Australia. “I’m thrilled that the Dove Awards
chose to share in our hope; that this song not only blesses those hearing it, but that the song, and the songs to come, will benefit those that are suffering.”
Recognized for its charity work, Compassionart also became the recipient of the inaugural “Gospel Angel Award”
presented by the Gospel Music Channel during the network’s telecast of the Dove Awards. GMC created the special
award to honor Christian/Gospel artists for putting their faith in action and helping those in need.
“The selfless contribution of the songwriters involved in the work of Compassionart to bring relief to the poor deserves praise and recognition,” says Charles Humbard, founder and president, Gospel Music Channel, the nation’s fastest growing cable network that is now available in 40 million homes. “It is fitting to honor these songwriters with the first Gospel Angel Award and to present it in the appropriate setting of Gospel Music Channel’s exclusive live telecast of 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards.”
Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England, is dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for
the relief of suffering around the planet. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the
songwriters at the recent retreat set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. In addition to those on the GMA Dove Awards, Compassionart songwriters include Stu Garrard
(Delirious?), Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park and Matt Redman.
Together the songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 118
Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by
millions in churches around the world.
Following the retreat, Compassionart songwriters began recording the songs in February at the famous Abbey Road
Studios in London, England. Joining the songwriters were acclaimed musicians Dan Needham, Tommy Sims and
Akil Thompson, and engineering were Josiah Bell, Danny Duncan and Sam Gibson. The songwriters continued
to record songs in March at Pentavarit Studio in Nashville, joined by guest vocalists Amy Grant, tobyMac and
Leeland Mooring, and with Matt Bronleewe and Paul Moak guiding the tracks at the production helm and Andy
Hunt engineering. With 14 songs now recorded, future recording sessions with the songwriters are being planned.
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived
their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through
Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.
With news about Compassionart covered by the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Houston
Chronicle, MTV, MSN, Canadian Press, ChristianMusicToday.com, Worship Musician, and hundreds of other
publications across the U.S. and internationally.
CompassionArt on GMA 2008 - you tube clip.
13 Songs Recorded So Far To Benefit The World’s Poorest Of The Poor
(Littlehampton, England) February 29, 2008 – Compassionart hosted several internationally recognized songwriters last week at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England to record songs written collectively at a retreat in January to benefit the poorest of the poor. Joining the recording were songwriters Paul Baloche, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Michael W. Smith and Chris Tomlin, as well as acclaimed drummer Dan Needham (Amy Grant, Vanessa Williams, Michael McDonald), GRAMMY winning bassist Tommy Sims (Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, James Morrison), and guitarist/keyboardist Akil Thompson (Mandisa, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen). Engineering the sessions at Abbey Road were Sam Gibson (Pearl Jam, Natalie Imbruglia, Hillsongs United, Crowded House), Danny Duncan (Bruce Springsteen, Usher) and Josiah Bell (Vickie Winans, Smokie Norful). The resulting music will be heard in a Compassionart studio album being planned for a late fall release.
“Wow, we’re in ‘The Beatles’ room. We had four songs to track today and we’ve done it!” remarks Compassionart founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith on the last day at Abbey Road Studios. “It was an amazing week, I’ll never forget it. No egos, no arguments. There was definitely a united feeling; a real sense of love for what is being accomplished.”
“A deep camaraderie has developed between us as we are joining our energies to serve the Kingdom of God through this unique project,” confirms Baloche. “Please pray that our efforts will be multiplied many times in the months and years to come.”
Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, hosted an unprecedented gathering of award winning songwriters in Scotland, UK Jan 7 – 11, including the aforementioned songwriters and Steven Curtis Chapman, Tim Hughes, Andy Park and Darlene Zschech. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the songwriters set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs.
Of these 22 songs, 13 songs have been recorded to date, 12 from last week’s studio sessions at Abbey Road, plus the song “So Great” that was recorded earlier by Michael W. Smith and Israel Houghton for an April release on the popular WOW Hits 1 brand. Future Compassionart recording sessions are being planned now.
Together the Compassionart songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.
COMPASSIONART SONGWRITERS BEGIN RECORDING SONGS AT ABBEY ROAD TO BENEFIT THE WORLD’S POOREST OF THE POOR
Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton Record Compassionart Song “So Great” for April’s WOW Hits 1 Release
Chris Tomlin Joins Songwriters for Recording Abbey Road and Studio
(Littlehampton, England) February 18, 2008 – Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, has reserved the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England this week to begin recording songs written collectively at a retreat in January by a team of internationally recognized songwriters. Several of these songwriters are re-grouping in the UK today for the recording, including: Paul Baloche, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?) and Michael W. Smith. The resulting music will be for a Compassionart studio album being planned for a late fall release.
Although not able to attend last month’s retreat, 2006/2007 Gospel Music Association Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Tomlin contributed to one of the songs written at the retreat and will be joining the others at Abbey Road to record.
“I know that Compassionart is in the heart of God,” says Tomlin.“I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of it. What an amazing gathering of people and songwriters.”
While all of the Compassionart songwriters will not be able to gather in London for this recording session, future recording opportunities are being planned now. Additionally, Michael W. Smith, who has called the recent Compassionart retreat “one of the most significant weeks of his life,” and 2008 GRAMMY winner, Israel Houghton, have already recorded the song, “So Great.” The song will become the first from the Compassionart retreat to be released to the public in April and on the popular WOW Hits 1 brand.
Compassionart Songwriters Begin Recording
“There are two amazing forces that exist in the world: Compassion for those in need and Art that helps us see beyond ourselves,” notes Martin Smith, Delirious? lead vocalist and Compassionart writer/founder. “What could happen if you brought the two together? What could happen if you gathered some of the top songwriters in our scene to bring their art to the table for the sole reason of raising money for the poorest of the poor? Well I can tell you, it was amazing! ‘So Great’ is taken from the forthcoming Compassionart record and I hope it gives you a taste of what’s to come.”
Compassionart hosted an unprecedented gathering of award winning songwriters in Scotland, UK Jan 7 – 11, including the aforementioned songwriters and Steven Curtis Chapman, Tim Hughes, Andy Park and Darlene Zschech. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the songwriters set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. Together these songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.
UK/Europe: For more information contact Paul Smith, Compassionart, email paulsmith@compassionart.co.uk
North America: For more information contact Rick Hoganson, Hoganson Media Relations, tel: 615-459-9870, email: Hoganson@prodigy.net
Read the retreat press releases archived in the retreat section of the site. click.