Southern Gospel Artists Celebrate Silver Dollar City's Diamond Jubilee with New Album

By Hallels News May 03, 2020 12:13 AM EDT

On this day in 1960, Silver Dollar City opened its gates for the very first time. To celebrate this momentous occasion, StowTown Records is releasing a compilation project featuring several of the theme park's most noted Southern Gospel performers. Silver Dollar City's Diamond Jubilee: A Collection of Southern Gospel Favorites is available today at retail outlets as well as for digital download.

While the theme park is currently closed to the public, Silver Dollar City's President, Brad Thomas, and his team have been looking forward to this milestone year. "As we celebrate Silver Dollar City's 60th birthday, we celebrate our past and our future. Our Southern Gospel roots run deep around here. For decades, 'The City' has been a venue for live southern gospel music. Southern Gospel fans from all over the USA, and especially from all over America's heartland, travel to Branson to visit groups performing on our stages. In addition, every year and in every performance, we introduce some of our 2.2 million guests to groups they may have never seen or heard and, in some cases, to Southern Gospel music itself! EVERY DAY, and especially during this birthday/anniversary, we are thankful for God's leadership, guidance and blessings over all these years."

Choosing songs and artists to feature for this project was no easy task as there is a deep well from which to draw. Thomas continues, "Silver Dollar City has featured countless Southern Gospel artists who have appeared within the regular daily operation, during music festivals, and during our fall and Christmas celebrations. For several years, Silver Dollar City was host to the Gary McSpadden Gospel Jubilee TV show which aired weekly across the nation. Then, in the days just prior to Labor Day 2006, Silver Dollar City kicked off the 'Southern Gospel Picnic.' Due to the crowd sizes and passion of the fans, these days have become known as 'Southern Gospel's 12 Biggest Days & Nights.'"

Brad enlisted the help of StowTown Records' Wayne Haun for the final selection of performers which includes Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gold City, The Nelons, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Collingsworth Family and many more. "The fantastic staff at Silver Dollar City has always advocated the advancement of Southern Gospel music," shares Haun. "There's nothing better than walking through the park with some delicious comfort food in hand and hearing this music fill the air. We are humbled to be a part of this celebration."

Adds Thomas, "We had big plans to celebrate our 60th anniversary throughout the year, and certainly during this weekend. Though the pandemic delayed our plans, this we know: Our God IS bigger than this pandemic, we have brighter days ahead, and when this is over, we will celebrate! And through it all, we continue to give God the glory for who He is EVERY DAY."

Silver Dollar City's Diamond Jubilee: A Collection of Southern Gospel Favorites is distributed worldwide via Provident/Sony Distribution.

Complete Track Listing:
When the Trumpet Sounds (Triumphant Quartet)
Glorious, Amazing God (The Erwins)
I Trust the Cross (Legacy Five)
Anything But Happy (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
His Eye is on the Sparrow (The Little Roy & Lizzy Show)
Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It! (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Rocks (The Isaacs)
Revive Us Again (The Kramers)
My Wonderful Lord (The Collingsworth Family)
Farther Along (Gold City)
Letting Go (Southern Raised)
He Found Me (The Nelons)
Composer of My Life (Tim Lovelace)