Episode 16 of the Pitch Pipecast welcomes original AVB 1st tenor, Terry Cheatham. Wes McKinzie joins host Gary Moyers as the three discuss the original days of the Acappella Vocal Band.

Terry shares his favorite AVB songs from his tenure with the group. He talks about his first days as an AVB'er and his first 24 hours, which included the recording of one of his trademark songs.

Special guest Bret Testerman joins Gary Moyers and Wes McKinzie for episode 15 of the Pipecast. Bret was the lead singer of AVB from 1987 till 1990. He sang lead on AVB's best selling album, Song in My Soul. Bret is now the worship minister at Metro Church in Orlando, Florida.

Episode 14 is a sneak preview of Acappella's new album, Find Your Way. Keith Lancaster joins us and gives the "behind the scenes" story of the album. Five songs are highlighted as Keith tells the background and reasoning behind the song... and then you get to hear it!

It's a chance to hear a part of the album before it releases. It's a sneak-peak treat you'll find only on the Pitch Pipecast.

Original AVB member Jay Smith is our guest on this episode of the Pipecast. Jay joined the Acappella Vocal Band at its inception in 1986 and was responsible for the birth of vocal percussion in the group. Though small in stature, he still holds a large place in the history of the group and the memories of his fans and friends.

Wes McKinzie co-hosts this episode with Gary Moyers. Jay now runs his own business which can be located at www.mymonavie.com/josmith.

The Pitch Pipecast returns with Gary Moyers and co-host Wes McKinzie. Special guest for episode 12 is Keith Lancaster. Keith is the founder of Acappella Ministries and The Acappella Company, former lead singer for Acappella and producer extraordinaire. He is currently heading up the new worship ministry called Praise & Harmony.

Keith joins Gary and Wes to discuss Acafest 2009. They cover the history of the seminar turned festival, the future, the plans for this year and specifically the AVB Reunion Concert.

More information about Keith can be found at his web site, keithlancaster.com.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Pitch Pipecast! To kick things off, we have Marcus "Bizzy B" Barnum of the Houston-based The Soul Influence. TSI have been singing for almost a decade. Not only do they have a great sound, they truly have a heart for ministry. Their new album, "You Gotta Believe", was produced by Essej, the lead singer of the group Straight Company. The album won't be released until late April... which means, once again, you hear it here first!

You can find out more about The Soul Influence by visiting their website, thesoulinfluence.com.

This week the Pipecast highlights Eric Gwin, solo a cappella artist. Yes, you read that correctly... solo a cappella artist. Eric comes from a background of group a cappella work and runs his own studio called "The Cage." But if you catch him live in concert, you catch HIM live in concert (plus him on tracks). What's it like doing acappella solo in a group-oriented world? Well, you can go ask Bobby McFerrin or listen to this podcast. Your choice.

You can find out more about Eric and his ministry at his website or his personal blog.

Episode 9 features an interview with Chris Lindsey of Watershed Worship. Chris and crew have recently returned from a tour of South Africa. He shares their experience and some of the music that inspired them on their trip. You also get to hear music from their new album "I Know You Love Me." Also, you get the inside scoop on their recent American Idol redeaux (is that a word?) with Mandisa.

You can learn more about Chris at his blog site and more about Watershed at their website, watershedworship.com
 

Special guest on this Pipecast is Josh Wheeler of Legacy. We spend some time talking with Josh and get a preview of their new self-titled release (less than a week old).

Legacy first started in 2003 as a college-based group at Lubbock Christian University. They disbanded after a couple of years and went their separate ways. Nick Gaultney, formerly of the Vocal Union, was a member of the original Legacy.

After several years apart, the group came back together again stronger than before. Legacy is currently Josh Wheeler, John Paul Sheppard, Jake Lierman and Clint Dickerson.

Episode 7 was recorded live at Acafest 2007 in Nashville. It features a roundtable discussion with several artists: Brian Wiersma of Vocal Union, Danice Sweet of Revival, Lanier Stevens of Sounds of Glory, Robin Brannon of Acappella and Melissa Lancaster of Durant. These five artists represent a wide scope of a capella music, both in style and age. This podcast recording took place before a small crowd late in the evening and covers a wide range of topics... from favorite songs and favorite moments, through the hope found in gospel music, and all the way to what to do when your slip falls off in concert. A fun episode!

This week we visit with Wes McKinzie, former bass for AVB, the Acappella Vocal Band. Wes sang with AVB for almost eight years and remains the definitive bass of the group. After departing from Acappella Ministries, Wes moved to Oklahoma City and started a long relationship with Oklahoma Christian University. One of the many positions he now holds with the school is director of their singing group called New Reign.

We catch up with Wes and find out where he's been, how the group is doing and what the future holds. You also get to hear a little music...

Episode 5 is a sneak preview of the new Vocal Union album "Just Like the Old Days." Gary Miller, leader of the Vocal Union, joins the Pipecast and tells about the background of the songs on the album.  Six different songs are included in this Pipecast, and you get to hear them two weeks before the album releases. Only on the Pipe!  

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, VU has been touring the country for the past eleven years performing for special church events, community concerts and fund raisers. Their fan base has spread worldwide with fans from Iceland, Nigeria, Brazil and other countries. Vocal Union's style ranges from high-energy traditional, to tight harmony jazz and soulful spirituals, to contemporary street corner a capella. Their website can be found at www.vocalunion.com.

Episode Four is in the house. Literally. Jordan House of Acappella joins the Pipecast. He talks about everything from Italy to playing timpani to Jodie Foster (sort of). How does that relate to Acappella? Check it out.

Jordan House grew up in Searcy, Arkansas, but now lives in Nashville, Tennessee.  With a degree in Psychology from Harding University and a passion for working with teenagers, Jordan has been a camp counselor, youth volunteer, and part-time youth minister for the past few years in Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

From 1998-2002 Jordan was a member of the band Soulbox, winners of the AtlantaFest Talent Search Contest in 1999.  Soulbox won the opportunity to be the opening act for the W's, All-Star United, and DC Talk.

Jordan is a self- proclaimed Acappella fan, but also likes the music ranging from the Beatles to Mozart.  Music plays an important role in Jordan's life, especially his love for leading worship.  He says, "I have a passion for taking people before God's throne."

In this episode: Pt.2 of the interview with Alan Beard of True Lift, Rescue Ministries, Acafest, and the Idea of North.

Alan Beard has served as director of Pepperdine's Won By One a cappella
singing group since 1997, and has executive produced the group's last ten
albums. With Jeremy Johnson, he co-founded True Lift. He is a two-time
alumnus of Pepperdine (Seaver '94, School of Public Policy '99) and resides
in Thousand Oaks, CA with his wife Sharon, son Parker, and daughter Emerson. This is Part 1 of a 2-part interview where we discuss True Lift Ministries, their history, the decision to release a series of hymn albums and their future.

What is the Pitch Pipecast? Listen to our first show to get the scoop. It's all about the Christian a cappella music genre. News, reviews, interviews... a little bit of everything a cappella.