| Matrimony - Pop/Christian music artist - Raymond Gregory - Blog

Record Partnership with ROXR/InPop Records!

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:34:11 -0700

As many of you know, I've been working really hard to finish up the new record "Life, so far." Throughout the process, we have been praying that the Lord would open the right doors to help us to release this record to a wider audience, and to enable me to minister more effectively. I'm happy to announce that He has made His plan clear to us, and it is very exciting. About 4 months ago I was contacted by the CEO of a new record company called ROXR, Kevin Gales. After much disscussion and prayer, we decided to enter into a partnership, and I officially signed with them.

One of the exciting things about this new label is that they are now partners with InPop records, which is home to some of the most successful, and well known Christian artists in the world including Newsboys, Jaci Velasquez, Matt Kearney, and Jimmy Needham! Needless to say, I'll be in great company. ROXR focuses on finding and developing new, fresh artists in the pop and rock genres. Andrew Patton, Inpop GM/VP said, "I'm excited to have the ROXR family join our Inpop family. We are in an expanding mode of operation within the label group, and are positioned well to not only continue the long, successful legacy of Inpop Records, but also to start to build a new level of artists and development."

ROXR/InPop is really in tune with what I feel the Lord calling me to do through my music ministry. "What I appreciate most about Raymond is his ability to move seamlessly between worship leader, and ace singer/songwriter," says ROXR CEO Kevin Gales. "These skills often oppose each other, but RG has this crazy knack of making them both equal and honest parts of what he does. Raymond is the real deal. ROXR/Inpop is pleased to welcome him to the family." While I am super excited to be releasing this record through them, I'm also very excited about is how supportive they are of the fact that I am a worship leader on staff at Harvest Christian Fellowship, and how important my church ministry is to me in addition to my recording ministry. It truly is a partnership that is of the Lord!

Stay tuned for a ton of new developments and announcements, and thanks for your prayers and support!

Raymond.

"Missing You" Stories Pt.1

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:09:29 -0700

It is the goal and hope of every Christian to one day make it home. We see the circle of life and expect that we as parents will make it home before our children. No parent raises their little ones thinking that their earthly lives will end before theirs. In the span of two years we sent two children home and one child while still has gifts to give on this earth, she has been forever changed.

Our daughter Janina Verdugo was in a car accident on May 26th, 2008. Although Nina did not die, this accident has left her severely brain damaged. Two weeks later on June 8, 2008 David, our son went home after being shot by a drive-by shooter after a graduation party. Then on February 3rd, 2010 Danny went home. Although he died of an accidental overdose, we believe he died of broken heart.

A huge hole has been left in our hearts with the deaths of David and Danny. The pain of Nina’s accident is a bit different, it is almost worse in some ways. We see her every day, we see the beauty in each smile and each thumbs us that we are blessed with and we know that is the most she can give.

Two months ago Nina began having trouble with her shunt and was hydrocephalic . Her neurosurgeon thought that if her head’s pressure system was restored by to normal by placing her bone flap back she may no longer need a shunt. So on three weeks ago she went in for surgery. She went into surgery giving us all smiles and a thumbs up (pic attached). She came after 7 hours of surgery with a beautifully round head. We did get a smile about 4 days later but we are still waiting for a thumbs up. Nina had surgery again yesterday to place a new shunt and we are hoping that Nina can recover and be done with hospitals and doctors for a while.

My husband, Don, youngest, Emily and I live each day missing David, Danny and Nina. It is only because we believe in God’s love and His promise that we are still able to laugh, love and find joy.

Thanks Raymond for hearing my story. The music you bless us with gives great comfort and is truly an important part of my day.

Love them like Jesus,

Ana

Missing You Video - Honor your loved one

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:06:09 -0700

"Missing You." I wrote the lyrics through the experience of loosing my brother Michael to HIV, conversations with my wife about her Mom's early departure to heaven, and messages from my Pastor (Greg Laurie), who's son Christopher is also with the Lord. This song, though, is not meant for the memorial of ones gone before us, but rather a personal lament of the moments in life that remind us of the hole that's left in our lives without them. It's a song for the moments our hearts ache 2, 5, and 10 years later every time their birthday rolls around, or we hear their favorite song on the radio. Sometimes you might feel like you are the only one in the world that feels this way. "Missing You" is a song for those moments. It's to let you know you are not the only one to feel this way, and most importantly, that there will one day be an end to these moments when we are reunited in Heaven.

Is this you? Do you have person that has this effect on your life? If so, I want to honor them in the my video, and give you a place to go to remember them in the moments mentioned above. We are are recording a music video for the song next Friday (8/27/11), and I want to include photos of your loved one to use throughout the video. It will be a great way to honor them, and be reminded that we are not alone in this. So here's is all I need-

1. Send a photo and Name to MissingYou@RaymondGregory.com
2. Please do so by this Wed (8/25/11)
3. If you want to include a story about the person, please do so! I'd love to read them and post them here on the website.

"There are some things that time cannot mend.
My broken heart still feels new.
I know I'll see you again, but until then...
I'm Missing You."

"Missing You"

Sun, 22 May 2011 18:48:43 -0700

I'm super excited to be making progress on my new record, "Life so far."

I thought it might be cool to give you a little taste of what you'll be hearing on the new record. If you made it out to one of the KSGN Concerts, then you heard it live, but below is an early version of a new song called "Missing You." My buddy Tim Nienhuis co-wrote the music on this one, and I wrote the lyrics through the experience of loosing my brother Michael to HIV, conversations with my wife about her Mom's early departure to heaven, and messages from my Pastor (Greg Laurie), who's son Christopher is also with the Lord.

"There are some things that time cannot mend.
My broken heart still feels new.
I know I'll see you again, but until then...
I'm Missing You."

Please be in prayer about the recording process! also, if you'd like to partner with us, and help us to fund the record, you can download the CD on iTunes, or pick up some "Happily Married" T-Shirts from the "T-Shirts" page! Thanks for listening!

Personalized Valentine Videos

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:18:45 -0800

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, and If you're still wondering what to get to show your love/appreciation for that "special someone," then I am here for you! For for just 10 bucks I'll record a personalized video greeting, followed by a portion of one of my love songs from "Matrimony!" Check out the options bleow...

The "AWE, how sweet" package: $10.00

Personalized Video Greeting w/ Song

"Magnify: A Christmas Album"

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:19:40 -0700

It's August, so I figured; why not work on a Christmas Record? I'm currently recording for a November release of what I'm calling "Magnify: A Christmas Album." The best part, though, is that a portion of the sales from the record will be used to support an organization called "Samaritan's Purse," to aide the "Operation Christmas Child" shoebox campaign. Every year, with the help from thousands of churches, they are able to send Christmas gifts to millions of children in poverty stricken areas of the world.

Stay tuned for the release date, but here is the track listing, and a preview of one of the songs!

TRACK LIST:
1. My Soul Magnifies the Lord
2. Go tell it on the mountain
3. O Holy Night Medely
4. God rest ye merry gentlemen
5. Evelyn (Christmas Story)
6. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)

Wedding Contest! I'll play at your wedding...

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:18:57 -0700

Wedding season is upon us! And, no joke; in the last couple of weeks I've received over 30 emails requesting me to play at weddings. Now, I am completely honored to be asked to be a part of such a huge day, but I usually have to decline, or people decide that the cost is too much (which I understand). It still bums me out to have to say no, so I came up with this "contest."

I will play (for free) at one couple's wedding, or anniversary. All you have to do is complete the following steps, and if you are the "top referring couple," you are the winner. It only take a few minutes to enter, and here is how:

1. If you are on Facebook, invite all of your FB friends to join my music page using the "Suggest to friends" link - CLICK HERE TO DO IT , and be sure to include me in the invite, so I see that you did it!

2. I want your help promoting the song "Matrimony (Happily Married)." Send me an email with your name and desired date to Wedding@RaymondGregory.com, and I will send you a special unique itunes link that you can use to share the song with your friends and family. The couple that generates the most downloads from their link will win! (subject to availability) Be sure to get as many people to download as possible!

That's it! If you complete these steps, you are entered... The contest starts today, and the winner will be announced May 3rd. Happy Wedding Season!

Raymond Gregory .

Howard Stern might replace Simon Cowell...

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:44:02 -0800

The LA Times reported- "We're one step closer to finding a successor to Simon Cowell, and according to reports, it's looking more and more like 6-foot-5 shock jock Howard Stern may take the seat. On his Sirius satellite radio program on Monday, Stern told listeners that he's seriously considering leaving radio entirely to take the 'Idol' gig. 'There’s not a better job on the planet than judging that ... karaoke contest,' he said."

If this happens, you can kiss the family programming element goodbye! Maybe this season should just be the farewell... Maybe Simon's new show will be just enough to fill our television quota for that slot. Thoughts?

Valentine's Day Video Featuring You!

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:45:14 -0800

This coming Valentine's Day (02/14/10), I'm doing a special set for Day7@Harvest in Riverside CA. It will be a great way to celebrate a day of love, through music and the promise of the greatest love ever shown - God's love.

When I play the song "Matrimony," we are going to show a video, and that's where you come in. I want the video to be clips of various married/engaged couples, but I need photos! Imagine celebrating your love for your spouse in front of thousands people! (hint to guys - do it as a surprise) Even if you live too far to attend, the night will be webcast live.

To be in the video send a High Resolution photo to Matrimony@RaymondGregory.com. Please include your names, and how long you've been married. Also, there will be a special treat for the couple that's been married the longest.

Not Married? - this would be a great chance to honor someone that you know who is, like your parents...

Let's make this great! Blessings ,
Raymond Gregory.