Proving once again that Country music artists have a big heart for the whole world, Ken Harding, president of New Haven Records, has joined Executive Producer Mark Carman, president of MCM World Media, to announce the upcoming release of the landmark CD, I'm Working On A Building. The title cut from the project, recorded by Marty Raybon (former lead singer of Shenandoah), has already been nominated for a Country Gospel Music Fan Award, presented annually by Christian Voice magazine.
This inspiring collection of new and existing songs was created exclusively to benefit the work of International Cooperating Ministries (ICM), a non-profit foundation that has constructed approximately 4,000 churches, orphanages and schools in more than 50 countries, supporting more than 20,000 congregations during the past 25 years.
The centerpiece of this collection is a high-octane version of the title cut by Raybon, featuring Country superstar Trace Adkins, Jimmy Fortune (of The Statler Brothers), and Country Music Association Award winner T. Graham Brown.
The "Working On a Building" single is already receiving a tremendous response at Christian Country, Southern Gospel and select mainstream Country radio stations and is up for Favorite Song at the CGM Fan Awards program, scheduled for April 28 as part of Country Gospel Music FanFest in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The GCM Fan Awards, selected solely by Country and Southern Gospel music fans, are sponsored each year by Christian Voice magazine.
"It's a contagious single by legendary artists supporting a terrific cause," says Mark Carman, the project's creator. "Artists, managers, and labels have caught the vision of what can happen when everyone rolls up their sleeves to ‘be the difference.'"
A Who's Who of Country superstars — including Alan Jackson, Buddy Jewell, Aaron Tippin, George Jones and Glen Campbell — also contributed tracks to this collection.
"Building houses for worship and homes for orphans is exactly what Scripture teaches us to do. Nothing touches me more than to use our collective talents to help others," says Grammy Award-winning artist Jason Crabb, who performs a duet with T. Graham Brown on the compilation.
Raybon, whose solo career follows his legendary tenure in Shenandoah, has seen International Cooperating Ministries' work first-hand.
"In early 2011, our family partnered with ICM to start a project in Costa Rica that is now under construction," Raybon says. "It's deeply rewarding that our music can help provide a safe and comfortable home for those beautiful kids and a place for the whole community to come together and worship God."
Brown, who is also featured on the title cut, says "It's humbling to know that — all the way on the other side of the planet — lives are being changed for good by us simply getting together and doing something we love to do: making music. I'm proud to be just a small part of such a great project!"
The comprehensive marketing campaign includes aggressive radio promotion to multiple radio formats as well as development of an innovative concept video for the title cut. Additionally, a strong public relations push is being made to Christian and mainstream media with artist interviews and personal appearances at key events. The label is laying the groundwork for a promotional presence during 2012 CMA MusicFest (June 7-10) in Nashville. All this will be supported by appropriate retail positioning buys.
"This is Saturday-night Country music that comes from a Sunday morning heart," Harding says. "We're honored to join hands with these artists to benefit International Cooperating Ministries worldwide building efforts."
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
to add lyrics if not listed.
