NASHVILLE, TN. (Doxology Records) - Allen Asbury, Doxology Records' debut artist in 2002, is currently preparing for the release of Stand, his highly-anticipated sophomore recording, on February 15. Produced by Don Koch (4HIM, Greg Long), Stand features 10 selections, half of which were co-written by Asbury.
Highlights of the project include the album?s first single, a new arrangement of Russ Taff's classic hit "We Will Stand," which features Taff on guest vocals; "Love Is An Uphill Climb; "Life To The Living;" and "There Will Be A Better Day," with guest vocals from Joyce Martin and Sonya Isaacs.
Songwriters contributing to the project include Koch, Dave Clark, Michael O'Brien, Brian White and Beth Nielsen Chapman, among others. As a bonus cut, Stand also features Asbury's 2002 signature anthem, "Somebody's Praying Me Through," which has been updated to include personal testimonies of answered prayers.
"Working with such names as Don Koch, Dave Clark, Brian White and Michael O'Brien, as well as singing with people like Sonya Isaacs, Joyce Martin and the man himself, Russ Taff, has been an incredible honor for me," said Asbury. "This new project is all about edifying God's people and coming together to be as one."
"Allen is a tremendous talent," said Dan Posthuma, president, Doxology Records. "His huge voice, his servant?s heart, and those moving songs are the reasons that countless churches have so enthusiastically received him in the last few years. On this new project, producer Don Koch has put together a stunning collection of songs that lend themselves to Allen?s powerful voice, and songs that will flourish in the contemporary church. It is also significant that Stand is one of the first Doxology projects to be released through Word Distribution, the company that has such a great history of producing timeless anthems for the church."
In 2003, the title-cut from Asbury's Doxology debut, Somebody's Praying Me Through, was selected as the theme song for both the National Day of Prayer and The Presidential Prayer Team. The song was also used in a major advertising campaign sponsored by the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Ads featuring "Somebody's Praying Me Through" aired during such television programs as FOX News Channel's "Hannity and Colmes" and "CNN Headline News," as well as on more than 200 top mainstream country radio stations across the country. Asbury also performed the song at a special event commemorating the 2003 National Day of Prayer held at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
In addition to becoming a No 1 Inspirational radio hit, "Somebody's Praying Me Through" generated overwhelming listener response on such syndicated mainstream radio programs as "The Rick & Bubba Show" and "The Steve and DC Morning Show."
Somebody's Praying Me Through featured a total of three Top 5 Inspirational radio singles, and the title-cut inspired Word Music's top-selling non-seasonal musical of this year, "Somebody's Praying Me Through: A Celebration of Gods Power Through Praying People," by Karla Worley and Gary Rhodes. Asbury has toured with such leading Christian artists as NewSong and Selah, and he has appeared on "The 700 Club," "The Hour of Power" and FamilyNet's "At Home‹Live!" among other programs.
Stand will be distributed by Word Distribution.
