{"id":148177,"date":"2021-11-11T04:50:03","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T09:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=148177"},"modified":"2021-11-12T04:49:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T09:49:56","slug":"country-bluegrass-gospel-group-to-sing-at-nwpac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2021\/11\/11\/country-bluegrass-gospel-group-to-sing-at-nwpac\/","title":{"rendered":"Gospel artists to perform at NWPAC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VW independent\/submitted infomation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert Live announces the unique opportunity to experience a collaboration of the Gaither Music Group at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Acclaimed artists Jimmy Fortune, Bradley Walker, Mike Rogers and Ben Isaacs will bring their act to the NWPAC April 15. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Proudly presented by Eileen Manken, acclaimed gospel artists and Grand Ole Opry favorites, Jimmy Fortune, Bradley Walker, Mike Rogers, and Ben Isaacs will converge on the stage for a collaborative performance of their album Brotherly Love at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15. Tickets are on sale now to Van Wert Live members and will be available to the general public on Friday, November 26. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brotherly Love is a new album from the Gaither Music Group featuring the quartet, whose music has regularly crossed country, bluegrass, and Gospel boundaries. Each member of the group brings a wealth of experience to the Gaither Music Group project. Fortune rose to fame as a member of the Statler Brothers and penned some of their biggest hits (\u201cElizabeth,\u201d \u201cToo Much on My Heart\u201d) before forging a successful solo career when the quartet retired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walker is a Dove award-winning artist with a strong following in country, gospel, and bluegrass. Isaacs has performed with his mother and sisters for years as the Grammy-nominated group The Isaacs. Formerly with the legendary Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rogers is one of the most highly respected musicians in bluegrass music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Each member brings their intriguing mixture of experiences and influences to Brotherly Love. The result is a diverse collection that spotlights some of the best-loved gems on America\u2019s musical landscape. Walker takes lead on the mournful Hank Williams Sr. classic \u201cI\u2019m So Lonesome I Could Cry.\u201d Fortune\u2019s pristine tenor shines on the Vince Gill hit \u201cGo Rest High on That Mountain.\u201d Rogers delivers a spirited take on the O Brother, Where Art Thou hit \u201cMan of Constant Sorrow\u201d; and Isaacs\u2019 warm voice revives the Don Williams\u2019 hit \u201cLord, I Hope This Day Is Good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their friendship and camaraderie shine on the title track, \u201cBrotherly Love,\u201d a country hit for the late Keith Whitley and Earl Thomas Conley. The album also features the Statler Brothers\u2019 classic \u201cThe Class of \u201957\u201d and Roy Orbison\u2019s \u201cCrying\u201d as well as such gospel standards as \u201cThe Lighthouse,\u201d \u201cDaddy Sang Bass\u201d and \u201cWhere No One Stands Alone.\u201d
The seeds for this unique project were sown when Isaacs and Rogers began playing around Nashville just for fun. \u201cFirst of all, I think it is a God thing,\u201d Isaacs said of how the foursome originated. \u201cMike and I had sung on Jimmy\u2019s records and we\u2019ve sung on Bradley\u2019s records, but we were playing downtown and [Gaither Music Group\u2019s] Barry Jennings came and watched us play. He said, \u2018This is too good for people not to hear.\u2019 So he asked if we would be willing to do it with Jimmy and Bradley and I said, \u2018Absolutely.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe got together, and when we sang for the first time it was magical. Together the blend and the love we have for each other was so strong that I felt like it had to be shared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 12-time Grammy-nominated producer who has shepherded many of the top names in the industry, Isaacs produced Brotherly Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, it was a given that Jimmy sing \u2018Go Rest High\u2019 because there\u2019s no one who is going to sing that with more heart than Jimmy Fortune,\u201d Isaacs said. \u201cIt was a given that Bradley would sing \u2018The Lighthouse\u2019 and that Mike would sing \u2018Man of Constant Sorrow.\u2019 He does so good with those energy things. It was, \u2018Here\u2019s our favorite songs,\u2019 and it was more about whatever song fit the personality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most soulful moments on the album is Fortune\u2019s rendition of the chart-topping 1979 J.D. Southern hit \u201cYou\u2019re Only Lonely.\u201d Fortune credits the late Chuck Dauphin for suggesting he record the song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe did so much for me and my solo career,\u201d Fortune says of the award-winning journalist, who passed away in 2019. \u201cWe were getting ready to do this project, and I got a call from Chuck. He said, \u2018Man, you were telling me about working with Ben Isaacs, Bradley Walker and Mike Rogers on this new project. Me and some of my friends were talking, and we would love to hear you do \u201cYou\u2019re Only Lonely\u201d from JD Souther.\u2019 I said, \u2018My gosh, that\u2019s funny you said that because that song has been on my mind.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA while later I called Chuck to tell him we recorded it, but he died before he got to hear it. I miss him so much but I\u2019ve got a feeling he hears it. I loved him so much. He did so much for so many. He was a great writer and a good man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the moments that gave everybody chills was Walker\u2019s cover of \u201cI\u2019m So Lonesome I Could Cry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you hear a voice that has been soaked in heart and soul that\u2019s Bradley Walker\u2019s voice,\u201d Fortune said. \u201cBradley singing \u2018I\u2019m So Lonesome I Could Cry\u2019 is the best I\u2019ve ever heard it done. I\u2019m not even singing on that and it\u2019s my favorite song on the whole album. Man, it\u2019s so stinkin\u2019 good! When you hear the blend that comes in with Mike and Ben singing with Bradley on the harmonies, it\u2019s just incredible. It\u2019s a great cut on one of the greatest songs ever written.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to recording the album, the foursome also filmed a concert video at Rory Feek\u2019s barn that will be featured as a television special on multiple networks. The award-winning singer\/songwriter Feek conducted behind-the-scenes interviews with the group members as well as Bill Gaither and hosted the DVD, which captures special, in-the-round performances of the songs on the album, plus two bonus songs\u2014\u201cElizabeth\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ll Fly Away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat night there was so much energy in the room and the crowd was involved. It just felt so good,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cThe energy was just so incredible, and to sing on stage in the round like we did \u2013 it was just amazing. It was one of the coolest, if not the coolest, nights that I\u2019ve ever been a part of ever in my whole time of playing music.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collaboration of Fortune\/Walker\/Rogers\/Isaacs not only showcases great songs brought to life once again through amazing performances, it also celebrates the bonds of true friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf ever we needed brotherly love we sure need it in the world today towards one another,\u201d Fortune said. \u201cWe need to look at each other with the love of real brotherhood. We\u2019re all in this together. No matter what our differences are, we have more in common than we think we do, and that is love for one another. That\u2019s what this whole project is all about, and that\u2019s why we wanted to call it Brotherly Love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annual sponsors making live entertainment happen in Van Wert are Central Insurance, First Federal Bank of Van Wert, and Statewide Ford-Lincoln.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VWLive Event and Membership information can be found at vanwertlive.com or through the box office by phone 419.238.6722 or in-person from 12-4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 12-6 p.m. on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation presenting VWLive events is powered by the Van Wert County Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The box office is located within the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 10700 SR 118 South.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VW independent\/submitted infomation Van Wert Live announces the unique opportunity to experience a collaboration of the Gaither Music Group at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Proudly presented by Eileen Manken, acclaimed gospel artists and Grand Ole Opry favorites, Jimmy Fortune, Bradley Walker, Mike Rogers, and Ben Isaacs will converge on the stage for a collaborative […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-148177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-01 10:26:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148177\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}