Christian music news: NASCAR : TobyMac & MercyMe to Perform Pre-Race Concert at Banking 500

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CONCORD, N.C. - Lowe's Motor Speedway officials announced today that Grammy-nominated musical artists TobyMac and MercyMe will perform a pre-race concert for the Oct. 17 NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America. Fee and Robert Pierre will also be on hand to sing as part of pre-race festivities.

The concert featuring all four bands will begin at 2 p.m. in Turn 4.

Admission to the show is free with the purchase of a ticket to the NASCAR Banking 500.

TobyMac ranks among the most successful artists in the history of Christian music in terms of radio success, sales power and critical acclaim.

He began his music career as a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning and best-selling group, dc Talk, before venturing out on his own in 2001.

Since going solo, his soulful singing combined with his trademarked rock/funk/hip-hop sound has earned him two gold albums, six No. 1 singles and two Grammy nominations.

In 2009, TobyMac took home a Grammy for the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album with his live DVD/CD "Alive and Transported." In August he released the single "City on our Knees," and has plans to release his fourth solo album in February 2010.

MercyMe, the down-to-earth Texas-based praise and worship group with a modern rock/pop flair was founded by lead singer Bart Millard. The band quickly became one of Christian music's fastest-selling new acts in 2001 with the release of their breakthrough hit, "I Can Only Imagine."

The heartfelt song Millard wrote about his father's early death quickly catapulted the group into the mainstream spotlight. The No. 1 single sold nearly 3 million units, received several GMA Dove Awards, including Song of the Year, and raced up the Top 40, Adult Contemporary, Christian and Country charts alike.

MercyMe had an unimaginable start to their music career with more than 5 million records sold, one double platinum disk, three gold albums, an American Music Award win, two Grammy nominations and 19 No. 1 singles.

In addition MercyMe has appeared on numerous television programs such as The Tonight Show, Fox and Friends, CNN and ABC's Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade.

Now with six albums and more than 13 years of making music, the guys of MercyMe still find themselves passionate about leading people in worship and released their newest CD/DVD set "10" in April 2009. The new release features 12 No. 1 singles and numerous videos that span their career.

MercyMe has plans to release their seventh studio album in 2010.

Dove Award-nominee Fee is the worship band at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, one of the nation's fastest-growing churches. The group, who also travels the country leading worship at student camps and conferences, has plans to release their new record "Hope Rising" on Oct. 6.

Robert Pierre, a high school sophomore, released his debut album, "Inside Out" more than two years ago and has since been sending encouraging messages of faith to teens and adults through his music.

Tickets for the Oct. 17 NASCAR Banking 500, round five of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, start at just $49 and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455 FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

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Christian music news: tobyMac "City On Our Knees"

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Christian music news: TobyMac's newest single sells 17,000+ digital units first week

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TobyMac’s newest single “City On Our Knees,” from his upcoming February 2010 album, took off at digital retailers including iTunes® Music Store and Amazon MP3, selling more than 17,000 digital units in its first week. The single also hit #2 on Christian/Digital Tracks and #86 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart. The song has also been embraced at radio, with 96 stations adding it to their playlists in the past three weeks. The song has already placed at #14 on the AC Monitored chart, #13 at AC Indicator, and #5 at CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio).

TobyMac, along with Relient K, will entertain audiences across the country on the upcoming fifth annual TobyMac Winter Wonder Slam 2009 Tour. Also scheduled to appear on the tour are B.Reith and Stephanie Smith. The tour will travel to the West Coast for the first time, along with stops in New York City, Fairfax, VA, Pittsburgh and numerous other cities across the states. The tour will be teaming up with the U.S. Marine Corps to help with their Toys for Tots campaign. Music fanatics will be encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift to the event as Marines will be on site to collect toys at every venue.

For more info on Toby, or to see if Winter Wonder Slam is coming to a city near you, please visit winterwonderslam.com or tobymac.com.

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Christian music news: TobyMac, Mark Hall, Casting Crowns win big at Dove Awards

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TobyMac won artist of the year and Casting Crowns singer Mark Hallcollected four trophies at Wednesday's 39th annual Dove Awards, which celebrate the best in gospel music."Are you kidding? This is crazy, man. I thought I was Mr. Pre-Televised awards," joked TobyMac, whose real name is TobyMcKeehan. "God has been faithful time and again to surround me with people that sharpen me and that make me better."
TobyMac also won artist of the year in 1996 as a member of dc Talk. His latest album, " Portable Sounds," debuted at No. 10 on theBillboard Top 200 albums chart.
Besides artist of the year, he took home Dove Awards for rock/contemporary album for " Portable Sounds" and short-form video for his hit "Boomin."
Hall, who was the night's leading nominee with six, won song of the year and pop/contemporary recorded song of the year for "East to West," which he co-wrote with Bernie Herms.
His participation on the multi-artist worship project " Glory Revealed" brought Hall individual honors for special event album of the year for the CD, as well as inspirational recorded song of the year for "By His Wounds."
His band also had four nominations and won three: group of the year, best pop/contemporary album of the year for "The Altar and the Door" and pop/contemporary recorded song of the year for " East to West."
"I'm so thankful just to get to be part of the songs," Hall said.
Chris Tomlin won male vocalist of the year and Natalie Grant was awarded female vocalist. Those were their third consecutive wins in their respective categories.
" This is quite amazing. Thank God for letting me sing and give a voice to people around the world to worship him," Tomlin said. "This is unbelievable that God would continue to use us all like this, and I'm very, very grateful."
Grant, who gave a soulful performance of " Bring It All Together" with country star Wynonna Judd, said she was thankful for the freedom to express herself freely.
"I think we forget often what a privilege it is to be in a country where we can record music that boldly proclaims our passion forJesus Christ. What a gift," Grant said.
Brandon Heath won new artist of the year. Heath's "I'm Not Who I Was," a song about forgiveness that he says was inspired by an old photograph of someone he hadn't seen in a while, was nominated for song of the year.
Cindy Morgan won the songwriter of the year award her eighth Dove trophy and Ricky Skaggs and the Whites collected bluegrass recorded song for " Salt of the Earth."
"I think of all things this probably means the most to me because all those years ago I didn't set out to be a singer, just a songwriter," said Morgan, who wrote "How You Live ( Turn Up the Music)" for Point of Grace. Morgan was named new artist of the year 15 years ago.
The contemporary gospel album award went to Israel & New Breed for "A Deeper Level."
"My first ministry is not what you see onstage. It's the church I pastor. It's got four members my wife and my three kids," said the group's singer-songwriter Israel Houghton.
The evening's performers included " American Idol" alum Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh and Mandisa with Amy Grant in a musical tribute to Michael W. Smith.
Switchfoot played " This is Home," a song from the soundtrack of the upcoming film "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian."
The Doves closed with a salute to the Grand Ole Opry stage, where the show was held. Charlie Daniels led the house through a rousing version of the hymn "I'll Fly Away."
The Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards were broadcast live on XM Satellite radio and on the Gospel Music Channel. In past years the awards were syndicated and shown later on tape.

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