The group which includes matriarch Judy Watkins and her three adult children - Todd, Lorie and Shanon, continue a path sharing their love of Jesus through traditional music touring across the United States and Canada since 1982.
Their latest project "Heaven's Worth Waiting For" features a collection of new material.
"This project is one of the most exciting recordings we have ever done," Lorie said. "We really searched to find just the right songs to reflect the sound and message we are wishing to share with those who have followed our career.
"This is our way of sharing our thanks for all the support we have received," she said. "All of the family is featured on the new CD on songs which reflect their vocal character."
The group's newest top 50 Singing News chart song from the Rick Hendrix Company is "She's Working on Her Testimony" featuring Shanon. The song was penned by Greg Day and Sheri LaFontaine.
Lorie was nominated twice as Female Vocalist of the Year in the Front Porch Fellowship Bluegrass Gospel Music Awards hosted at the National Quartet Convention. She appeared in the NQC All-Star Band in 2008 and 2009.
The group is currently nominated among the top five bluegrass artists in the country for the annual Diamond Awards in Branson, Mo., and sponsored by sgnscoops.com.
The CD, produced by Grammy winner Mark Fain, Grammy nominated Karen Peck Gooch and Danny Jones, follows their acclaimed project "Darkness Wept," which brought the popular radio singles "He's Still God," a number 1 song, "Love Stood Alone" and "Round The Last Turn."
Multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Maness of Knoxville, Tenn., joined the group recently. Maness was most recently part of the bluegrass band The Dixie-BeeLiners.
The group has shared concert stages performing for thousands beside acts such a Randy Travis and Diamond Rio. They have appeared at major industry events including the National Quartet Convention in Kentucky in 2007 and the SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Convention in Nashville, Tenn., as well as large ministerial crusades.
The family has performed on television broadcasts for INSP, Inspirational Network and dozens of stations around the U.S. and Canada.
The Watkins Family have received nominations for Impact Award and Female Artist of the Year from the Front Porch Fellowship hosted at the National Quartet Convention, Best Contemporary and Traditional Bluegrass Gospel Group by the Society for the Preservation of BlueGrass Music in America, and were also nominated as Best Bluegrass Act at the Coca-Cola Music Awards previously hosted in Atlanta.
The group broke new ground in becoming the first bluegrass gospel act to perform on Capitol Hill in the Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C., attended by dignitaries from around the world.
For more information, call (770) 385-3380.
