Raymond Gregory: News

One of my Facebook pals, Tina Murphy, sent this video to me that she made to celebrate her Daughter's 1st wedding anniversary! She used the song "Happily Married." Great job Tina! The video is below...

Do you have something cool that you used my music for? I would love to see it! It's such a blessing to know that it's being received so well! Just email me or message me on Facebook...

 

Hey Everyone,

You guys voted on which song you wanted to hear on the radio next, and the winner is "The Risen King!" I posted a preview of it below... it will be available on iTunes in a week or so, and you'll (prayerfully) be hearing it on the the radio soon! Hope it blesses you!

"The Risen King"" by Raymond Gregory

Hey Everyone, 

I am so blessed that "Happily Married" has done so well on radio so far.  While it's still out there impacting people over the airwaves, We are looking ahead at the next song that we are going to release to radio!  This is a very exciting thing, but we want to make sure we're putting out the song that YOU want to hear on the radio!  Just vote for the song you want below, and the one with the most votes will be the next radio single!

 

A lot of people have asked which stations across the US are playing "Happily Married." While there are a whole bunch, here are some of the stations that I've heard really great reports from! I'll try to post the entire list a little later... If you know of a station that you'd like to hear it on, just shoot me an email with the call letters, and we'll try to make it happen!  (this list includes some satellite stations)

 

RADIO STATIONS:

KSGN
KFSH
KOST
WBGL
TIME
KDMS
KLBQ
KEAO
WQXQ
*JER
EASY
N986
KGY
WJDF
KLMJ
KQCR
WOCO
KTRN
WKYA
WBTC
*OCO
KLQQ
KWYO
WORG

"Happily Married" is currently the #2 most added song to Mainstream AC radio (FMQB), and entered the National Top 100 Chart and is climbing!  With this success will come radio interviews, and a whole bunch of shows across the nation.

We are currently booking west coast dates, and planning to tour the AZ area at the end of June.  After that, we'll move into hitting the Northwestern states, so be sure to check back for dates in your area.  If you have a good suggestion for a concert in your area, be sure to let me know!  I want to come to you...

Thank you so much for being a huge part of my mission through music!  Prayers are coveted... 

I've received many emails telling me how the song "Happily Married" has impacted people's live, and I am very honored to have the opportunity to read them, and to think that my song could impact people! I posted a few of my favorites below, and I'd love to hear from you If you have a story. God Bless!

____________________________________________________________

Things r really rocky right now in my marriage and God used your music tonight to minister to me and hold on for a little longer. I bought your CD and played it in the car on my way home and could not hold back the tears. I know that Gods grace used you for my marriage tonight. May God bless you and your ministry and your beautifull family. I just wanted you to know that tonight...as the concert said...You made a difference in my life. ____________________________________________________________

I heard you on Valentine's day on KSGN and I fell in love with your song. My husband and I have only been married for 10 months now and we have been through the fire! People say that the first two years of marriage are your "honeymoon" years..... well I think we skipped the honeymoon stage went straight to the "can I really be with this person" and the "i can't believe a person I love so much can hurt me so bad" stage. When I heard your song on the radio it really encouraged me that night. I thought to myself that I can have that. I can have what the words say in that song. I know God brought us together and as long as we keep running to him we can make it through this. Your song is my goal for our marriage. The goal is this: one day we will dance to Happily Married and know that that is how both of us feel about each other.

The KSGN Making a difference tour started this last weekend, and the concerts were great! We saw over 1500 people over the 2 nights (Pictures below), and are excited to see everyone this next weekend in Riverside and Corona. We will also be announcing some really exciting news at the Corona concert, so you won't want to miss out on that.

Thank you to all my new friends that I met this last weekend! I look forward to see you all again, and making new friends at the next couple of concerts!

CC Solid Rock in Chino Hill (Friday):

The River's Edge Church in Rancho Cucamonga (Saturday):

FREE ADMISSION to all concerts!

Friday, April 30, 7:00pm
Calvary Chapel Solid Rock
15330 Fairfield Ranch Rd., Chino Hills, CA

Saturday, May 1, 7:00pm
River's Edge Church
9271 Arrow Route, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Friday, May 7, 7:00pm
Living Word Christian Center
4291 11th St., Riverside, CA

Saturday, May 8, 7:00pm
Corona Friends Church
1220 W. Ontario Avenue, Corona, CA 92882

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 .

Hey Everyone! Here is the song, "Getting Older," that I played at the packinghouse this morning... If you bought my CD "Matrimony" today, just email me at Packinghouse@raymondgregory.com , and I'll send you a link to a free acoustic download of the song! Thank you for blessing me, and making me feel so welcome... Blessings,

Raymond Gregory.

Getting Older

Lately I've had the "songwriting bug," so I've been coming up with ideas and melodies. One thing I love to do is to demo a new song in it's raw from and let everyone hear it. I feel that if the song shines through the low-production, then it's a good song. As I write and demo new songs I want to share them with those who are closest to me and my music. It's kinda a "thank you" for supporting me, a way to get feedback, and hopefully make your day a little more "musical." Below are the Lyrics.

The song "Like a Child" comes from Mark 10:15 - "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Sometimes we are so hung up on proving that what we believe is true, that we forget how important faith is. The truth never needs to be convinced, but rather it needs to be received. Sometimes we try to make a case for God and try to explain his existence, which has it's place in defense of what we believe, but should never be the premiss. God wants us to receive the truth like a child, and truth has a great way of always being proven through growing closer to God, and his word.

DISCLAIMER: This is a VERY rough/raw recording... please have mercy ; )

"Like a Child" by Raymond Gregory

[VERSE]
Thinking back to 1993
Playing tag and falling out of tree
I never let the Sandman get "the drop" on me
Time was far too important to waste on sleep
Why can't we be more like we were when we were young?


[CHORUS]
I want to fall in love with someone I've never seen
I want to have faith like I did the hour i first believed
I want to carry a cape in case I learn how to fly
Oh, i want to be more like a little child


[VERSE]
When did we loose our innocence?
Why were we so eager to give it all away?
We traded our youth for experience
And sometimes forget why we were made
Why can't we be more like we were when we were young?


[REPEAT CHORUS]


[BRIDGE]
We're all out to prove what we believe
But when I look at a little child
I start to think that we're the ones who are naive


I want to believe in you with all of my heart and mind
I want to be more like a little child

We finished out the new Harvest Worship CD, "Enter In," at Capitol Records in Hollywood CA yesterday. Here's a little inside look...

Many of you sent me your photos to be included in the Day7 Vday video. I had a lot of requests for it to be posted, so here it is. Share it with your friends and family, so they can see your photo!

Many of you have sent me your photos to be included in the Valentine's Day video that will be shown at Day7@Harvest on Feb 14, during the song "Matrimony (Happily Married).  I figured I'd start the festivities early and show off a few of the photos ahead of time (I'm impatient).  There is still time to get your photos to me to be included.  Just send a high rez picture file to Matrimony@RaymondGregory.Com.  For more info CLICK HERE.

Sunday, 01/24/10
Forever- (Chris Tomlin)
The Risen King – (Raymond Gregory)
**************
Announcements/Offering
Exalted – (Chris Tomlin)
**************
Message
Pastor Greg
**************
Communion
Remember Me – (Steve Wiggins)
Nothing but the Blood – (TRADITIONAL)
**************
Closing Song(s)
The Risen King

This feels like a good rainy day song to me... I'm playing it a Day7 in Valentine's day... Don't forget to send me your married couple photos to be featured that night too! Matrimony@RaymondGregory.com - More info in the post below...

Getting Older

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.

You’re worthy of my praise
Justified
Hosanna, the God who saves
You are my king
God with us

It's 2010, and there is a lot in store for our little camp here. So far, here is what is in the works-

Magazine Feature - Inland Empire magazine has a feature of my music in the January issue.

New Worship CD - We have been recording a worship record at Harvest, and I'm happy to say that it will be released near the end of February! Many of you have asked where to get "The Risen King" and "Way to the Father," and I'm happy to say those song will be on it.

iTunes single - In spring, I'll be releasing an exclusive iTunes single of the song "Getting Older." Make sure you follow on twitter and facebook for announcements about that.

Valentine's Day Event - we are in the process of putting together a special V-day event. Stay tuned...

RADIO - You'll be hearing "Matrimony" on the radio a lot more pretty soon...

MORE SHOWS TO COME!
Thank You for being such a huge part of my music! Let's make 2010 a big year. Tell your friends and family about the music, and help me reach more people with my story. Love you guys!

Raymond Gregory
P.S. be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook

I had a friend come up to me and say: " congrats on your magazine feature!" I looked into it, and it looks like I'm featured in the January 10' issue of Inland Empire Magazine. It's available at Borders, Vons, Staters, and basically wherever magazines are sold in the IE...


I'm also thankful for many of you that listened to the Don Moen show on KSGN, and let me know how my story impacted you. It was a blessing to be a part of his show, and to talk with him. If you'd like to hear the story CLICK HERE

Also, there's some cool news coming about a new iTunes single, and an opportunity to get involved with some radio airplay requests... You'll be hearing "Matrimony" on the radio a lot more...


And lastly, stay tuned for an announcement of a special Valentine's Day Dinner/Show...

Here is the live recording to the new Christmas song I played last night at Harvest! Hope it reminds you of God's love for us this season...

Just click the link below to get it-

Evelyn (Live) - Raymond Gregory

Here is "The Christmas Song" download, for free! Consider it a Christmas gift from me to you...

The Christmas Song (Raymond Gregory)


You may need to right click a "Save As."

We're busting out a Christmas song, and Pastor Greg brings a special "Get Ready for Christmas" message, with musical guests - Tenth Avenue North.
Tonight at 6:00 PM, at Free Chapel in Irvine CA.

This song was played on the Don Moen show over the weekend. Here is some of the story behind it...

CONSIDER IT JOY:

To get the song CLICK HERE.

You may recognize that the main lyric is taken from James 1: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The song, though, really comes to fruition through the difficult application of this verse in my life.

Though I was delivered from one trial in my life (hearing loss -see video below), shortly after, my family went through another season of trials. My Mother was deep within her battle with breast cancer, while my Father needed to spend the week working 4 hours away, in order to cover bills and medical expenses. I remember being on "independent studies" while I took care of my younger sister during the week. The most trying part of this season, though, comes with news that nobody wants to receive.

We had adopted a little boy named Michael at age 2. When he was about 4 or 5, we received news that he was most likely HIV positive (contracted from his biological parents). The tests confirmed. Throughout the next few years he went through treatments. These treatments would eventually bankrupt my parents. As time went on, the disease grew worse and we needed to admit him to a Hospice home, in order for him to receive proper care. We would see him very often, but the hardest part was not taking him home when he cried as we left. One day, while my Dad was away working, my Mom got the call that no parent wants to get. Michael had passed away after an ongoing fight with pneumonia.

This really hit our family hard, but the thing that got me through was the hope that trials can remind us of, and brings us to. Romans 5 says "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."


There's no greater hope than the hope we have in Jesus Christ - the hope of Heaven. Trials WILL come, and character will be produced. We live in an imperfect world, but we serve a perfect God. He will see you through. I hope this song will be a helpful reminder, that when you are faced with trials - Consider It Joy.