The Annie Moses Band—the Nashville-raised, New York-trained ensemble—returns with a new album and special DVD. Tales From My Grandpa’s Pulpit finds the multi-instrumental, fraternal string band touring their rich heritage, sharing stories of their family, their faith, and the musical journey that has made them one of the most beloved groups to grace a wide range of stages from the Grand Ole Opry to Carnegie Hall. Set for release April 16, via Gaither Music Group, Tales From My Grandpa’s Pulpit continues the Annie Moses Band’s tradition of “high-end Americana,” created by building lush soundscapes on a solid foundation of traditional music. Known for their storytelling through masterful, intricate songs and arrangements, the family has put together a recording that honors their history and values. A combination of new songs, hymns and traditional country anthems, the songs on Tales From My Grandpa’s Pulpit herald their grandfather’s influence as a preacher and deputy sheriff—an influence that earned the Annie Moses Band the title of “the first family of American music.” “Our roots go back four generations to cotton pickers in the Great Depression,” says band leader Annie Dupre. “One of the great figures in our family history was our grandfather, who was the preacher and deputy sheriff in a small mountain community in Oklahoma. This album is our ode to him. Our grandfather had a saying: ‘It’s not right to do nothing when something needs to be done.’ He believed in redemption and worked with forgotten men and women for four generations. That’s the common thread running through Grandpa’s Pulpit: sin, redemption and resting in the arms of God.” Showcasing their blend of classicism and folk-rock authenticity, the new studio recording and accompanying DVD are hosted by GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter Rory Feek, who sat down with the family to talk about their faith and heritage. The new recordings showcase the band’s unique ability to combine barn fiddle with world-class arrangements and their creativity to infuse iconic songs from the heartland canon with classic finesse. The folk-rock originals tell a story of faith salted with grit. The recording will be featured as a special this spring and summer on networks ranging from TBN, RFD-TV, PBS and Circle to a variety of Christian television stations across the UNITED STATES and Canada. The title track showcases the band’s skill, building tension as it draws listeners into a tale of steely hardship and faith and builds to an explosive, dramatic chorus. Each song is a journey through life, love and faith, including the original “Old Hat,” which delves into a lifetime of dreams and memories relived through a battered old cowboy hat. All of the siblings are stellar vocalists and instrumentalists, with “Ghost Riders in the Sky” giving each band member a chance to shine and “Tumbleweed” showcasing Gretchen Wolaver as a skilled mandolinist. With “Everlasting Arms,” the Annie Moses Band creates a blend of age-old hymns skillfully woven into a musical tapestry of pristine vocals and stunning instrumental accompaniment. Indeed, the family’s journey from “cotton patch to concert hall” is a story in itself. The siblings grew up in Nashville, the children of award-winning songwriters Bill and Robin Wolaver, who are performers and storytellers in the concert special. Jeremiah Wolaver, Gretchen Wolaver, Alex Wolaver, Annie (Wolaver) Dupré, Camille (Wolaver) DaSilva and Benjamin Wolaver come from a family with deep musical roots. Homeschooled before attending New York’s famed Juilliard School, the siblings played classical music before branching out into creating their own music. It was a liberating movement, and more than 15 years later, the Annie Moses Band hasn’t looked back. In that time, they’ve recorded more than a dozen albums, performed on some of America’s most esteemed stages, toured Europe and Asia and recorded Emmy-nominated PBS specials. The family also founded a nonprofit organization, the Annie Moses Foundation, to foster the artistic development of families.
Tales From My Grandpas’s Pulpit – (Official Trailer) of ManAlive Studios on Vimeo.
The post office Annie Moses Band Digs Into Family Roots With “Tales From My Grandfather’s Pulpit” first appeared on TCB.
Author: Jessie Clarks
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