It's the Easter season, and as May comes around I am drawn back to Good Friday. On that awesome day Jesus gave us His life so that we might have eternal life, but there is something that we must not overlook. On the cross, Jesus looked down to John and entrusted Mary to him. John was our proxy. Jesus gave His Mother to us. That is why Catholics endear her so. 

I was recently looking over footage of Mother Teresa's funeral and noticed that her sisters were waving at the coffin with five fingers. I was told that Mother Teresa always told her sisters never to forget the five words that Our Blessed Mother told the servants at the wedding at Cana. "Do Whatever He Tells You."  These are words we all should live by. Listen to your Mother! 

Denis Grady must have heard those words whispered in his ear when he came back to the Catholic Church after being away for so long. I am sure the words of Our Lady, "Do whatever He tells you," echoed in his heart as he began his music ministry. Many of you who listen to Catholic Music Network Radio have heard Denis' song "Bible on the Dash" from his CD "Running Too Long" and have asked for more on Denis Grady.  He's under the spotlight this month in Catholic Music Artist Profile.   Denis has those country music roots that seem to be making it big in all types of music. The number one selling soundtrack right now is from the George Clooney film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" The country-bluegrass sound is the the real soul of that movie. We have a few artists here at Catholic Music Network who use it in their ministry.

Starting with the famous words of Our Blessed Mother, Fr. Edward Richard goes straight to the roots of bluegrass with the CD Do Whatever He Tells You. You can call him "Fr. Eddie" since he is a Catholic priest and teacher in a seminary in Missouri. This is southern fried gospel as Father's backup group is the Ozark Bluegrass Boys. You can hear all the fiddlin'' and the pickin' in the very first cut, "Moving Along,"  to the very Catholic title, "Hills Of Rome". Wonder what St. Faustina would think of Fr. Edward's "An Ocean Of Mercy," a slow bluegrass tune about the Divine Mercy devotion.  If you like Flat and Scruggs you will get a kick out of this CD by the "banjo"priest.  

Moving over to the hills of Tennessee, we have the lovely Katrina Rae. That new country sound is used on her CD "Journey" Katrina Rae is a Catholic lay evangelist. She began her professional singing career in Country Music. In 1986 Katrina moved to Gospel music when she felt God was calling her to use her gift of voice to serve Him and His people. In both Country and Gospel music Katrina is known for her smooth style and strong voice of almost three octaves that allow a wonderful variation of styles and range. She has appeared on EWTN a few times. Her song "Been There, Done That!" sounds like it might have come from the  Mountain Dew commercial. It has that poppy country feel with a great message. One of my favorites on the CD is "Curious Thing." It tells the story of how life is a rollercoaster ride. You're down one minute and the next you're riding high. This would be the more Christian side of Alanis Morisette's song, "Ironic."

Angelina is NOT country or bluegrass. Let me put it this way, folks. When I first placed her CD "Wake Up Call" in my box I had to take it out and make sure I was listening to the right one!  Angelina is a 12 year-old girl! I was expecting maybe a Britney Spears or Shonen Knife sound. I was getting an older voice that would hush even Barbara Streisand during her good years. Charlotte Church fans take note!!! She has competition and she is awesome! Form a line now and get this CD! Your Mother will love it as a Mother's day gift!  Trust me on this one!  Angelina doesn't hide her faith in her songs. "Wake Up Call" starts with St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer in "The Deer Cry." Then you get traditional songs like "Ave Maria," and "How Great Thou Art,"  mixed with modern contemporary songs like "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman," and "Whisper In The Other Ear". I had never listened to Elton John's "Love Song" with a Christian ear. Angelina turns it into a song of praise. If the Catholic world has a vocal diva, Angelina has my vote! This is 2001's best release so far! Own it!  

 Angelina's first release is also available from Catholic Music Network, Angelina Prays the Rosary.

I am a Tom Wilson fan. He is an incredible actor. He's probably sick of hearing himself described as "Biff" from the movie "Back To The Future" but he was great in all three of those movies.  I loved him as Coach Fredricks in the now cult TV show "Freaks and Geeks." (That TV show should still be on--not "Friends") He has had a full career in TV and film.  When I saw that Tom had a CD called " In The Name Of The Father"  my first thought was, "Shades of William Shatner"-- an actor that sings. I knew Tom sang at Catholic youth rallies, but you can only take so much tuba!  How could I have been so wrong?
NO TUBA MUSIC ON THIS CD! It has beautiful soft vocals with very professional arrangements. One song that touched my heart greatly was "Jesus Falling Down". This is a song that should be played on ALL Christian radio stations. It is almost like a ballad telling the story of the Stations of the Cross. The Spanish guitar is used to help you get into the feeling of the song, much like the orchestra was used to help the Beatles in their song "Eleanor Rigby". Call you local station! 
“I Forgive You” is a simple song of meditation, giving the listener the opportunity to put the words of Jesus into action, in both forgiving and asking forgiveness. It will help you remember to head to confession next week!  “In The Name Of The Father,” the title song, is a Christian anthem celebrating 2000 years of faith, and the history and triumph of the sign of the cross. "With the saints as my witness, I join the angels in song ,and remember the victory of Christ in the sign of the cross."  I am sure Tom knows those words of Our Lady as he does his youth ministry: "Do Whatever He Tells You".