Catalyst

Spent a little time at the Catalyst Convention today at Gwinnett Arena.  Kudos to Brad Lomenick and his team for the great job putting all that together.  Brad has a good blog you should check out here.

 

Dan Hannon and I just had to stop in and see our boy Jamie JAMM Portee singing on the big stage.  He killed a John Legend song; that’s a compliment, of course.  His precious wife Joni was rocking a mic too.  There were so many friends there that I don’t get to see enough of, from fellow musicians and singers to my friend Ben that I actually got to know in China this summer.  (We were on separate mission trips that collided.) 

 

The green room was fun, as I got to hang briefly with Aaron Keyes, Kristian Stanfill, and Fee, who were all there with their bands. There was some other interesting personalities in there as well: Jeff Foxworthy, Franklin Graham (Billy’s son), Dave Ramsey (the financial guy), and my former boss Andy Stanley (to whom I simply offered a “Hey, Brother Stanley.” No one calls him that).   

 

I kept getting congratulations on the job Rudy Vaughn did on sax the previous day at Catalyst.  Rudy has recently signed a recording agreement with ONE Atlanta Music, our first official recording artist.  How weird is it that I’ve never heard him play sax? He’s apparently awesome. I know he’s one talented singer/songwriter.

 

Meeting and holding Candi P’s baby Elias made me cry.  Where’d that come from?  He was just so sweet and tiny.  

 

Oh, and it was also great finally meeting Jeff Moseley and James Rueger from INO Records face to face.   Fee is signed to that Nashville record label.

 

Sorry, but I wasn’t there long and didn’t actually see much of what happened on stage, other than a lifetime achievement award for Billy Graham, who wasn’t there in person.  Is anyone more deserving? His son Franklin is asking that anyone who has come to faith in Christ through hearing Billy speak go here to leave a note for Billy.

 

Must sleep now.  Big day tomorrow.  Tats for Tots 2.

 

Were you there?  Wish you had been?

 

 

Give your Congrats to the Sheltons

Candi Pearson Shelton gave birth just a few hours ago to a son, Elias Ryker Shelton.  Candi and her hubby Jonathan live in L.A. but are “grandfathered” into the ONE Atlanta community of singers/songwriters from their time spent living here and the fact that they still come back to write, record, and gig from time to time.  They were in the studio working with some of us in the spring, in fact.  There couldn’t be a sweeter couple and we’re thrilled for them! 

 

Please leave a note of congrats if you know them, or even if you just know and love their music.

 

Elias Ryker Shelton
Birthdate: July 30, 2008
9:30 PM
8 lbs 10 oz
21″ long