The Picayune Item

Features

September 30, 2009

Christian band nominated for Grammys

PICAYUNE — A local Christian band known for their rock ‘n’ roll approach to singing the Lord’s praises has been nominated for five Grammys, possibly a first for Pearl River County.

GodSpeed3, with band is composed of Michael Clogher, lead singer, Geri Grubbs on drums, Chris Spiers, guitar, Warren Beane, bass, and Travis Kennedy, guitar, has seen a meteoritic climb to stardom since the band’s inception three years ago.

The origin of the GodSpeed3 goes back to several years ago when band members Grubbs and Kennedy played with another group, performing gigs in bars and other venues, even signing a Nashville record deal.

But life on the road was not something the men were enjoying. “We got tired of being on the road all the time and the bar scene,” explained Kennedy.

So the two quit the music business and headed back home to Picayune. “Then about 10 years later I started going to church,” said Kennedy, adding that at first, he was asked to play along with the church’s praise band. “They knew I played guitar and they asked me, but I just said, no, I don’t think so.” Continuing, Kennedy said he was hesitant to join the band members for sessions because he wasn’t sure if he would like the genre of music.

Then one day, one of the band members was absent, so Kennedy agreed to play. “I found out I liked it,” he continued. “I really liked it.”

A seed was sown for GodSpeed3 with that realization.

During that same time, his friendship with Clogher was deepening and their discussions began to center on the possibility of starting their own contemporary Christian band. We had formed a strong friendship,” said Kennedy. “And we talked about forming our own band.”

From there, Kennedy asked Grubbs if he was interested in putting together a Christian band, and before long Spiers and Beane joined in. “We had our band,” said Kennedy.

It didn’t take long for the public to begin to appreciate their music style, and before the band mates knew it, their calendar was full with venues and they were finding their lives incredibly rewarding. “I never knew a Christian band would play so much,” said Kennedy of their booked schedule.

As their popularity has grown, so has the band’s opportunity to play with major names in the Christian music field. “We have been playing with a few big Christian bands,” said Kennedy, naming, among others, December Radio, Audio Adrenaline, and Casting Crowns.

Just finishing up the recording of their last five songs for their first album — GodSpeed3 — Kennedy said the first four songs of the album have already been released. Of those, “Redeemed” has been nominated for Best Gospel Song, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian category. The album, GodSpeed3, has been nominated for Best Pop Contemporary Album, while “You Are God” is nominated for Best Gospel Performance.

“I feel like I have already won,” said Kennedy, referring to the fact that just being nominated for a Grammy was an incredible experience. “We’re so excited.”

The Grammy awards is scheduled to be held Jan. 10 on CBS.

Text Only
Features
  • Everyday Heroes: Officers and families of the Picayune Police Department Everyday Heroes: Officers and families of the Picayune Police Department

    The Picayune Police Department held a Memorial Service on May 4th, at which Senator Tony Smith was the guest speaker.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • Picayune Rotary Club inducts new members Picayune Rotary Club inducts new members

    The Picayune Rotary Club inducted two new members on Tuesday. They are from left: Paul DeVille of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC and Blake Travis of the Pearl River County Assessors Office, being inducted by Rotary President Mark Stockstill. Rotary is a service club who gave out $20,000 in scholarships and donations for 2011.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • Back home in high school with memories of the summer

    By Dr. Stanley Watson/Syndicated columnist
    Before I hardly realized it the summer was ending and school would be starting soon. It never occurred to me to attend school any place besides Randlett. I was impatient to get back with the gang - my kind of people. I left California with a somewhat slanted view of that state. I was no doubt biased because of my limited social contacts. Also, on a few occasions I had been exposed to the bias of Californians against "Okies".

    May 26, 2012

  • Coach Kristi Mitchell’s biology class Hard work gets rewarded for Picayune High biology students

    Picayune Memorial High School biology students in Coach Kristi Mitchell’s class were rewarded last week for a full year of hard work by being taken to a local snowball shop during class time.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Main Street June Summer Blues Out 2012 Main Street June Summer Blues Out 2012 This year’s event will be June 2nd, from 5 to 10 p.m., and features exciting performances by Biloxi’s The House Katz, Wardell Williams, Becky Eymard, Barbara Lane and many more.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • The dramatic flower clusters on our titi are just beginning their show. Arboretum Paths

    Now is the time of year when spring blooms are a distant memory but we still aren’t firmly settled into the sultry summer days that Mississippi’s coastal residents know all too well. Many our native shrubs and smaller trees are really using this time to shine.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Career Day for 8th grade students Everyday Heroes

    Community leaders and former students joined 8th grade students in the library of Picayune Junior High School for Career Day last Thursday. Career Day is held the last week of school each year, in conjunction with a tour of Picayune Memorial High School.

    May 22, 2012 1 Photo

  • Community leaders participate in Jr. High Career Day Community leaders participate in Jr. High Career Day

    Community leaders and former students joined 8th grade students in the library of Picayune Junior High School for Career Day last Thursday. Career Day is held the last week of school each year, in conjunction with a tour of Picayune Memorial High School.

    May 19, 2012 1 Photo

  • Lucille Gasecki:Volunteer, artist and winner of the June Summer Blues Out poster contest Lucille Gasecki:Volunteer, artist and winner of the June Summer Blues Out poster contest

    Lucille Gasecki is the winner of the 2012 2nd Annual June Summer Blues Out Poster Contest and this week’s Picayune Item Super Senior.

    May 19, 2012 1 Photo

  • South Miss. Branch Experiment Station in All-America Selections Design Contest South Miss. Branch Experiment Station in All-America Selections Design Contest

    South Miss. Branch Experiment Station, located in Poplarville, is one of 22 select All-America Selections (AAS) Display Gardens competing in the 2012 AAS Landscape Display Contest.

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
House Ads
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter