McCray's Blog

2010

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:48:24 GMT

Hello Friends
I hope 09 was a good year for you and I pray that 2010 will be even better. The Dove Brothers had a good year in 09 and next year looks like it's going to be busy. We start with a new man on the keys Mr. Adam Harman. This guy can pick and is no stranger to Gospel Music. We are also excited about our new Muscadine Grape Jelly! Drop by our product table and get a jar it's GOOD! We also have a new idea for a cd next year that will be very different so be watching out for that. There is a lot of new ideas that we are going to try next year so be ready for an exciting trip we are going to take. I want to invite you to be at our hometown sing in Feb it will be two great nights of southern Gospel Music. All I can say is that the Dove Brothers are excited and ready for 2010!

McCray

A First For DBQ

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:11:48 GMT

Well we will try something that we have never done before and put on a Christmas Show. Dec. 4th the Dove Brothers will try to sing some Christmas Songs along with all of our hits and fan favorites. All the info is on our website and we would love for you to be a part of this. This could be our first and last LOL. We will see how the crowd likes it. The show includes a Dinner, Christmas Lights, and the Show. Make your plans to be with us!!!!!!!!

why pick a country song ?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:10 GMT

There has been some talk about groups going taking country songs and recording them maybe changing a word or two to make it gospel or not changing anything and singing them in Southern Gospel market. The Dove Brothers have been talked about this as well as some other artist. Well this is nothing new!!! This has been done many times. The Thrashers come to mind. The old Cats did it as well. Just like any song you record, some will like it and some want. A great song doesn't care who sings it. Now some are talking about the song not talking about the Gospel or about Jesus or Heaven ect. Well have you ever heard the Gospel in action? You take the song "Everyday" by Triumphant. That is the Gospel in Action!!!!!!! Does it have Jesus in the song NO but it does tell how Jesus would have us to be toward others. I could sing about don't let your left hand know what the right hand does and never mention about the Lord just what it means. Would that song be Gospel or just about how to live. Look there are those who can't stand for us to do Get away Jordan but there are more who like it. It is Gospel but everybody don't love it. We recorded A Little GoodNews not because it was a country song but the words were on target for what the world is going through today and we felt that if we tell the world that the Gospel is the real Goodnews that it would speak in a different way today. And trust me it has been a big song in concert today. The Dove Brothers pick songs that we feel will speak to someone in a way that the next song want. I love a song that makes me think and look at my life. But it is like everything else in Southern Gospel Music and the Church we are the only Army that shoots its own Soldiers!!!!!! I have been Guilty of that myself So I have took the song Everyday and have tried to put it into Action and along the way spread a little goodnews! McCray Dove

He's Gonna Smile On Me

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:36:01 GMT

One of my favorite songs on our new cd is a song that I remember hearing the Oakridge Boys doing on a 8-track that my Momma order from a TV commercial when I was 4 years old and yes I can remember that because that is how old I was when I started singing. The song is called "He's Gonna Smile On Me". I have always loved this song even though some would say that this song doesn't line up with the Bible. But I believe it does from a Christians point of view. Smile means to find favor. Even though the Bible doesn't really say that God smiles but it does point out that he does shine down on his children or servant more than one time. If you study the verse that talks about Noah found GRACE in the EYES of the Lord. The Lord found FAVOR in Noah. But this song never saids that all you have to do to get to heaven is to do good works. The writer is just saying that if he prays and treats people right that God is gonna smile on him. What is wrong with that thought? The way I have been treated by Christian people in the pass and present I don't think God was smiling on them at that moment. And there has been times that I know God wasn't smiling on me! Because we are just SINNERS saved by GRACE!!! My twin boys love this song and I love hearing them sing with uncle Eric from the top of there lungs. I rather hear my kids singing "He's Gonna Smile On Me" than singing some of the trash that is on Radio and TV! Now if this song was telling world that all you got to do to be saved is Pray and Treat people right than I would agree with those who have a problem with this song. But I don't get that from this song at all. We added the lines Keep Living Right because to really live right I feel that you must know the Lord to help you to live right. Because you can't live right with out the Lords help. Now my opinion may not change your mind if you don't agree with this song but it may give you something to think about. The next time you start talking about somebody or hurt there feelings or you are not praying like you should. Are you trying to get back at someone who did you wrong? Or are you praying for them at night asking God to show them the way. I want the Lord to smile on me in all that I do and I hope he is smiling on me right now because I am not writing this in anger but writing this to show you why we recorded this GREAT song.

Songs that save and remind you

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:30:47 GMT

I was listing to some songs a few days ago. Then a thought came to my mind, when have you heard a song that does two things when you hear it. When have you heard a song that if you don't know the Lord the words of the song will lead you to the Lord and if you know the Lord it will remind you of the day that you met the Lord. As I thought about this, song after song ran through my mind that would do this. The Light House, Who am I, Had it not been, He did it all for me, There is a river, Its all in the blood, Pity the man.

Now it might be just me! But I am not hearing songs that can speak to the lost as well to the Christian. If we do I am not hearing them and I am not writing them either. My question is why not? Have we lost something? Have we lost the desire to reach the lost through the message of the song. Maybe there are plenty of songs written today that can and will do this when you hear them for the first time or anytime. If there are new songs today that you would like to share that you feel do this share them with me. I would love to hear from you.

I Sure Do Miss Them

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:35:00 GMT

I don't really know why I have been thinking about this. But lately my mind has been thinking about all of the artist that turn me on to singing. I find myself picking up the phone going to call up Jim Hamill or George Younce and I have done that with many heros of mine. But then I remember that they are gone. I miss being on there bus or back stage and just talking with them. If I had an idea I would call them and ask them if they thought it would work. Many times when I thought I had come up with something new it didn't take long to realize in our conversation that they had already done that and had a T-shirt. They would always let me know that it would or wouldn't work. I learn so much from them and to tell you the truth I am still learning from them. I thank the Lord that I can still pick up the phone and talk to my Best BUDDY Ed Oneal. I know that he has more days now behind him than ahead of him and I cherrish every moment that we spin together talking or playing a round of Golf. I am still taking courses at Ed Oneal Universty you know! To me when you went to a concert and you had the Dixie Melody Boys, Kingsmen, Cathedrals, and the Rex Nelon Singers every group had there own sound and there own way of doing it. Now there are many other great groups from the past but I don't have the time to list them all. Even when the Dove Brothers would sing on the program with those groups it would amaze me how each group could tear up the crowd. I miss those days! I know that this is a new day and we have some great singers and pickers out there and we must pave our own road with Gods help but I can't help it. I Sure Do Miss Them !!!!!!

Why is it the money

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:25:00 GMT

In Southern Gospel Music we have always had changes in the industry. Usually, the first thing that comes to mind is MONEY! Why is that? In the years that I have spent in Gospel Music I have found out that money is not always the reason for the changes. There are those that you could pay a million a year and it still wouldn't be enough simply because they don't know how to manage their money. Life changes all the time. And when it does you have to change with it. I have seen many different reasons for change. The Dove Brothers have been through changes. I could be wrong but I don't think Money was the major reason. My reason for leaving the Dixie Melody Boys had nothing to do with money. I had a dream and I knew the only way I could go after the dream was to start the Dove Brothers! You know, I was offered more money from time to time during my years with DMB but I stayed with my buddy, Ed Oneal. Some of those groups that offered me more money are now out of business. Money was not the reason I started singing in the first place. If you can't make enough money in Southern Gospel Music, then sing a different kind of music. Go where you think you can make the money you are worth! Now I am all for making more money, and if you can make more by changing to a different group, then by all means, do it! If that change is something better for you and your family, then you probaly have made the right decision. If a group can't make it because they don't make enough money, well ,that happens all the time in this industry. It will always be that way. You know, George Younce once told me that when you really love what you do, you will make a way to do it when times are tough. George said, it was not about the money. Its because we love what we do and we love the people that we sing to everyday! Now, am I making a fortune out here? The answer is NO! Do I love what I do? Yes!!!!! Do I need the money? What do you think? Am I going to travel and sing for nothing? I can't. Do you think I'm CRAZY? Don't answer that! But remember, all the money in the world will not make you HAPPY! Now, I do believe it helps. LOL! My oringinal question was, why do people usually think it's about the money? Now, something to think about, Many people think of the Cathedrals as the greatest quartet ever. I say, ask Mark, Gerald, or Danny, was money the main reason they chose to leave a group of legends in our industry? I could be wrong, but I believe the answer will be NO!

what part do we take out

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:37:35 GMT

Hello everybody Hope you are taking the time to listen to our new release Hold On. If you haven't, maybe you can take a listen and vote. Hey I want to write about a subject or really a question I get a lot. Do you feel that there are to many groups in Southern Gospel Music?I don't think so but we do have to many on the radio. I feel we need Part-Time groups for the industry to survive. But I do feel that we all have our place. I feel that recording today has hurt the industry and I will tell you why. Today you can tune and phrase vocals untill you have it perfect. So any group or soloist can be played on the radio and sound just as good as the pros. But when you go to hear them live the singing doesn't match up unless you have heavy stacks and even then they don't have the stage talent to match up with the pros. But do you take them out of the industry all together? My answer is NO ! That would be like taking out the middle class out of the economy you have to have them to make the world go around. So I feel we need the part-time group. Now there are some part-time groups that have what it takes to be full-time but don't want to sing full-time. There has been a many great singers and back in the day a many great pickers in part-time groups that have been some of the biggest names in Gospel Music. The part-time group is needed and has always been needed to keep our music going. McCray

Check it out

Fri, 22 May 2009 20:48:23 GMT

Well you can hear our new cd on the Sonlite label on our website for 30 days. You can also vote for your favorite song so check it out. I really like this cd because I feel we have something for everyone on this one. If you love the traditional quartet way of singing you will like Gonna rise Gonna fly and When I wake up one of these Mornings. If you love the Country Gospel quartet sound you will like Hold on and Jesus he's everything to me and He's gonna smile on me. Now if you love the big band and strings arrangement we don't have one for you sorry, so I guess we don't have something for everyone when I think about it. So I guess I should say that we almost have something for everyone so Check It Out! McCray Dove

Just wait a little longer

Sun, 03 May 2009 10:40:00 GMT

Well it want be long you will soon find out some exciting news from the Dove Brothers. We have had some bumps this past month but the Lord has been good to us and has sent friends along to help us out. Jerry Kelso is doing fine and is playing the keys like never before and Jerry Martin first week back has been great in fact I think next time we have some time off I going to see if he will have another operation! Just kidding...........! But just hang in there and you will hear about this new journey we are going to take. McCray

one more day

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:59:35 GMT

Well we have one more day in the studio. I feel that when everything is finished this new project will be the best yet. We say that about every new cd. The last cd called life was pretty country sounding for the Dove Brothers and we made some new fans with songs like You don't know Gods love and Day in the life of America. This new cd called Hold On will carry on that style but will also take you back with brand new songs like When I wake up one of these mornings and Gonna Rise Gonna Fly. We also recorded a few songs that you might remember like Little David and He's Sending Miracles. We also recorded a song that the Oaks did call He's Gonna Smile On Me. I have written two new songs for the project in fact one of the songs is the title cut call Hold On. Sandy Knight has written three of the songs for the cd also. This cd should have something for everyone and I hope you will BUY IT and LOVE it. Can't wait to start singing the songs on stage but that will have to wait because we still have one more day!!!!!!!! McCray

I just shake my head

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:03:15 GMT

When I get the chance I read different blogs. It's something that I would do more if I had the time. When I get the time to read them I will always find one that after I am done reading I just shake my head. It's not the blogger that gets me, it's when I read the comments. I believe that the comments are more entertaining than the blog sometimes! McCray

Surprise Surprise

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:20:00 GMT

Well I'm back! It's been a while since I have posted anything and I'm sorry about that. I am very excited about some new projects coming out this year. Also let me just say this, that sometime this year you will see something new with the Dove Brothers! We have been working on this for some time now and we are waiting for the right time to annouce the news. I believe it's something exciting for us but something that will be exciting for our industry as well. I have talked about this with other artists and have read that other artists are thinking about doing this too. We have been praying about this for quite some time but have kind of kept it to ourselves. We've only talked about it to close friends and asked what they thought about it. Now I won't let the cat out of the BAG just yet. So I will let you try to figure out just what it is. We will send out a press release when the time is right! McCray

Do we have a place for them

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:17:13 GMT

For the pass year I have been thinking about something that I am sure many of you have talked about or you have thought about it from time to time. Does our style of music have a place for young people! Now before you get started on me think about this. Lets say a young man or woman can play a guitar or the drums or lets say the keyboard. How many groups need one. I remember the days when you would see a few teenagers standing on the wings waiting to see the drummer or the steel and guitar picker for The Oaks, The Kingsmen, The Thrashers, The Goodmans, The Nelons, The Dixie Melody Boys ! But now because of the TRACK MACHINE, Most groups don't even have a KEYBOARD player! Unless you can sing, Southern Gospel doesn't have a place for your TALENT! Look I know what it cost to keep a group on the road but we have got to find a way to keep are music growing. I'm not talking about our fan base I am talking about bring up new artist and giving them a chance to play. I have never had a young kid ask me who was playing guitar or the drums on our tracks. When I was singing with the Dixie Melody Boys we had a keyboard player a bass player and Larry Delawder on the harmonica all of our music was LIVE and we had a lot of kids and young folks just wanting to be a harmonica player or wanting to be a keyboard player. Now we have a few wanting to play the keyboard like Jerry Kelso but nobody hanging around after the concert wanting to talk about our tracks. I feel that we have got to find a way to make a place for them. If we don't the praise bands and CCM will have them. McCray

A Lot Going On

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:41:00 GMT

Well I guess you thought I had quit writing! But the Dove Brothers have been busy. Between singing and trying to keep up with my twin boys my plate has been full. I Can Pray has been the biggest song we have ever recorded and has really change things for the group. The new cd LIFE is the best singing we have done on a recording so if you haven't hear the new project check it out and buy a copy today. We are working hard on our download store and we hope you have checked it out and download something that you didn't know we had. I would like to thank all of our friends and fans for your support and prayers. Without you we couldn't make it! I don't know when I will have the time to write again because there is a lot going on. But I will be back. We will soon be recording vocals for our 10th year celebration so be looking for that cd soon. Hope to see you soon McCray

Big Jim

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:43:04 GMT

I know there will be a lot of posts and articles about this but I wanted to just write a few things about Jim. Big Jim Hamill was a friend of mine from the first day I met him. He took the time to show me a lot things about how to run a stage. Even though some things only he could get away with. Jim never really like those big and wide tones that I would use but still he loved me and I loved him and I still do. There will never be another Big Jim Hamill. We had a lot of fun trying to make it hard for one another to follow each other back during the days when I was with Dixie Melody Boys. I never did beat him playing golf and when I would walk off the stage and he was standing at the side waiting to walk out with the Mighty Kingsmen, he would always look at me and say " The worse I have ever Heard" I am going to miss him. I will miss talking to him on the phone. I will miss hearing him sing Love Lifted Me and many others. I just wonder if the lord is telling Big Jim to get ready to lead the greatest choir we have ever seen!!!!!! McCray

I just don't hear it

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:05:27 GMT

I have been on the road for twenty years now. I have yet to hear someone who bought a ticket say, Man I sure did enjoyed those screens and pictures, that made the concert. Now I am sure they enjoyed the screens and the lights the sound but you don't hear them talk about it. But I do hear them talk about the song the artist and what they felt. Listen the Dove Brothers have been on the programs with all the smoke and mirrors and some of the concerts had big crowds and some didn't. WE have been on programs without all that stuff and have had big crowds and some places we didn't. I don't have anything against lights and screens. If you remember the Dove Brothers did a show called Quartet Legacy Tour. We had screens, lights and we even had different suits and clothing for the show. Some places were sale outs and some places were not. I just don't think all of that stuff is the answer. Do I have the answer I don't know. I have my opinons like everybody else. But I will save them for later. I know the first thing I will hear is well what about Gaither what about ESS? Well its just like the rest, you tell about the big crowds and don't about the small ones. Am I saying they are not sucessful? NO I am not ! I don't know of a group or tour that has been as Succesful in Gospel Music. But they do have there great crowds, good crowds and there bad crowds. all I know is that I just don't hear folks talking about how the much they enjoyed the screens the lights and the smoke. But then again I might be talking to the wrong people. McCray

When it comes into the room

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:50:54 GMT

I have felt this time and time again. Many times singing the song and many times listing to someone else. It still blows my mind when it happens. After many years on the road and singing night after night you would think that it would just be old hat to me. But it is just as fresh as the first time. I have been singing along or just enjoying a concert when all of a sudden it comes into the room. what is it? Well, It's a feeling that I really can't explain. All I know is, when it comes into the room things change. I'm not talking about hype. I have felt this feeling on a song that is soft and slow with just keyboard I have felt it without music. Something that you know is real. Not something that has been worked up or set up to make you feel a certain way. The real thing! Now some may call it a moment but I just call it the the spirt of the Lord! You just can beat the feeling! McCray

They do have the right

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:40:32 GMT

I have been debating should I write about this or not. But the more I thought about it the more I feel I should write something. Not only for you but for the Dove Brothers . First I want to write to our friends and fans about bloggers who write and share thoughts about the Dove Brothers or about any artist. You may not like it, but they have the right. I have had many friends and fans who love the Dove Brothers ask me how do I feel about the comments made about our singing. Well when the comments are about how great the Dove Brothers are you feel pretty good. When the comments are made about how bad we are or they really don’t care about our singing and how the Dove Brothers perform on stage, well nobody really likes that. But they have the right to there opinion. When I read negative comments or someone tells me about it I just tell them this. If they voted then at least they voted. Look, everybody is not going to like DBQ! Do we try to please everyone? Sure we do but artist must realize that they will never be every fan of Southern Gospel music favorite group. You must be who you are and do what you feel is right for you. Now if you have more who love you than don’t, you are doing just fine. If your date book is full with good dates and your songs are touching the heart and you feel that you are growing one song at a time and you are happy, what more could you ask for. Now you always want to do better be the best you can be. So don’t get upset with the blogger because that is what some of them wants you to do. They need feed back. Nothing can really move without a negative and a positive. I will get some negative feed back from this post and that is fine, at least you read it. It might not be the best writing in the world but you did read it. When you realize that Gospel music is not based on talent alone then you will understand the reason why some groups are able to have success that you just can’t explain. Except, that GOD has his hand on them! But what music really is based on talent alone. There are Artist in different kinds of music that I think can’t sing but they have a few dollars in the bank that said they can. Some of the biggest movies or albums have been put down and have been given a low rating. But when the numbers are put together it has sold millions and no one can really explain it. Now I didn’t say we have sold millions. I'm just saying it was somebodies opinion that at the end of the day didn’t mean anything except to those who agree with them. Do I believe that you can learn from opinions? Why sure you can, you are never to old to learn something from someone. Even from that dreaded negative comment. But the saying is true if you go to find something wrong, you will. But if you go to find something good you will find it or may I say you can find a blessing! That brings me to my final thought. There are those who love the sound and harmonies. There are those who love a show. But there are those who love what they feel from the words of the song. They go to the concert for a blessing. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you are blessed from a Gospel song! In other words, when the real thing comes in the room it doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how bad someone thinks you are. When the Master walks by it feels like Heaven and no opinion can take that away from you or me! Now what may touch me may not do the same for you. People are blessed in different ways. Now do I feel that blogs are a bad thing? No I don’t. I enjoy reading them and I enjoy writing one too. I know , I still have a lot to learn about writing a blog and I am trying very hard to learn. So for those who love the Dove Brothers let me tell you from all of us thank you. To those who don’t like the Dove Brothers singing well, we will keep on working and maybe one day you will say. You know I am beginning to like those boys! McCray

I would love to know

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:51:49 GMT

If you read the Singingnews website you will find a poll question on the home page every week. Then on the following monday they give the results. But the one thing they don't give is how many voted! I would love to know how many votes have been made then you could really get a feel on how important the poll is to the industry. McCray