“Thankful,” The Larry Stephenson Band’s new CD, hit retail shelves Wednesday on the heels of several favorable advance reviews.

It’s Stephenson’s fourth gospel album and, according to the band leader, a CD that marks a shift in the band’s musical pilgrimage.

“Our fans like our gospel music and I truly enjoy performing them,” Stephenson said. “Our most requested song to this day, after almost two decades together, is a gospel song titled ‘Yes, I See God.’”

The album’s songs all focus on the theme of gratefulness.

“These songs came from everywhere,” Stephenson said. “I co-wrote ‘Everyday Is Mother’s Day’ with Tom T. and Dixie Hall and also co-wrote ‘Open Up The Window (Let The Angels In)’ with Jerry Salley.

Several new writers including Tonya Lowman and Berry Clevenger, have songs on the collection. The Louvin Brothers penned title track “Thankful” features close harmony singing reminiscent of the Louvins.

The album is also a landmark of sorts, marking the first time a female voice has been heard on any of Stephenson’s 16 albums. The voice belongs to acclaimed vocalist Sonya Isaacs. Other notables in the supporting cast are Missy Raines on bass, Dustin Benson (lead and harmony vocals, guitar), Shad Cobb (fiddle and harmony fiddle), Warren Goad (bass vocals), Aaron McDaris (lead and harmony vocals, banjo) and Ben Surratt (harmony vocals).

Stephenson, SPBGMA’s 2008 Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, is being joined by another 2008 SPBGMA honoree as he kicks off a tour promoting the gospel CD. Multi-instrumentalist Josh Williams has joined Stephenson’s band. Williams, SPBGMA’s Guitar Performer of the Year, is playing guitar with the band. He previously was a member of Rhonda Vincent & the Rage and prior to that, played mandolin and fiddle with Special Consensus.

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Larry Stephenson “Thankful” (Pinecastle)

Nashville, TN - Longtime bluegrass favorites The Larry Stephenson Band recently signed with GoodStuff PR Co. for exclusive PR representation for their upcoming gospel release, Thankful, as well as future band endeavors.

The album, which features guest appearances by Sonya Isaacs, Missy Raines, Warren Goad, Shad Cobb and Ben Surratt, hits the streets on March 18th through Pinecastle Records. Thankful comes on the heels of the highly successful Life Stories released in 2007 that featured a collection of emotional tales with a common human thread.

Stephenson has been called “One of the best and most influential of high lead/tenor singers in recent years,” by Bluegrass Now Magazine and “One of the finest voices in Bluegrass today” by Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.

Stephenson was recently inducted into the 2007 Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame.

In other news, Josh Williams will join The Larry Stephenson Band for their Thankful 2008 Tour and beyond in addition to playing the already scheduled dates with his own group, the Josh Williams Band. Williams will replace Ben Helson on guitar and Larry wishes Ben the best of luck in his new endeavors.

Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, perhaps best known as the guitar player for the top ranked Rhonda Vincent & The Rage in their grueling 300 days per year touring schedule from December 2003 through September 2007. He is also known by some as the excellent mandolin/fiddle player formerly with Special Consensus.

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Larry Stephenson

The Chicago area’s Bluegrass Legends Concerts is hosting a night with the award winning Vocalist and Songwriter Larry Stephenson Friday January 18th. The show will also feature Barb Silverman. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Music Hall, 1030 Central St., in Evanston, Ill. Tickets are on sale now by calling 847-573-0443. Details are also available at http://www.chicagobluegrass.com.

Well-regarded among musicians as an outstanding mandolin player, a significant number of industry and media critics regard Larry Stephenson as the premier high lead vocalist in bluegrass music today. His distinctive, crystal clear voice towers over the band vocals, whether an old folk song, a ‘brush arbor’ gospel quartet, or one of his many top ten trios that have graced the national bluegrass song charts.

Larry Stephenson began his musical career in his early teens when he and his father, Ed Stephenson, formed Larry Stephenson & The New Grass in Larry’s hometown of King George, Virginia . He went on to join Bill Harrell & The Virginians in January 1979 playing mandolin and singing high lead and tenor. In June 1983, he moved to a similar role as a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals, remaining until October 1988, when he organized The Larry Stephenson Band.

Larry remains one of the comparatively few headline artists whose solidly tradition-based, contemporary interpretations of the music have kept his recording on the cutting edge of the bluegrass charts, while gaining the respect along the way of first generation legends. Larry continues to record for one of the country’s preeminent independent record companies, as 2008 will mark his 19th Anniversary of making records for the highly respected Pinecastle label family.

Larry has been honored by his home state when he was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2001, 2004, 2005 & 2006 he won the “Contemporary Male Vocalist Award” at the prestigious SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America ) Convention. Also in 2004, the band clinched the “Song of the Year Award” for the song & title track, “Clinch Mountain Mystery”.

Bluegrass Legends Concerts ( Evanston , IL ) is the only running bluegrass & acoustic music concert series in the Chicago area that features national headline bluegrass talent. The 2007/08 series marks our 9th year of presenting the nation’s top acoustic bluegrass talent

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