Hinesville’s gospel sensation Terry Newsome is currently in Nashville, Tenn., for the Just Plain Folks Music Awards, where he has been nominated for awards in the categories of Best Album, Best Gospel Song and Best Urban Gospel Song for songs featured on his 2007 album “Mo Soul Music.”
His wife and manager, Jennie Lynn Newsome, said despite Terry’s popularity in the Christian community, the nominations for the JPF awards came as a surprise to both of them.
“The fact that somebody way in Tennessee, who isn’t specifically into gospel music, recognized him as an artist is really great,” she said. “It shows that his music is moving and affecting people who don’t even listen to gospel. It’s truly changing lives.”
Just Plain Folks is one of the world’s largest grassroots music organizations in the United States, with more than 51,000 song writers, recording artists and music industry professionals, according to its Web site, www.jpf.com.
Its founder, Brian Austin Whitney, who introduced himself to the Newsomes via e-mail, states on the site that the organization recognizes the other 98 percent of music created in the world.
“Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is give them a reason and an opportunity to do something great,” he says on the site.
Attempts to contact Whitney via telephone were not successful; however, Newsome said he told the couple that he found Terry’s music on iTunes and was touched by the musical experience.
Terry said that is what his music is supposed to be about.
“When I write music, I don’t stay in one vein,” he said. “I try to write music that moves people. I want people to know that no matter what you’ve done, where you are or where you’ve been, you still have a chance to change.”
Terry said whether he wins an award is not important because he will keep doing what he loves — writing music and being a “shepherd for the Lord.”
“If I win, that will be great and if I don’t, just knowing that people are listening to my music and it’s changing lives will be good enough for me,” he said.
Newsome has been writing and recording music since 1994.
He was the grand prize winner of the year for the Christian television series “Christian Artist Talent Search” in 2006 and the grand prize winner for the 2005 Gospel Super Fest in New York.
His wife and manager, Jennie Lynn Newsome, said despite Terry’s popularity in the Christian community, the nominations for the JPF awards came as a surprise to both of them.
“The fact that somebody way in Tennessee, who isn’t specifically into gospel music, recognized him as an artist is really great,” she said. “It shows that his music is moving and affecting people who don’t even listen to gospel. It’s truly changing lives.”
Just Plain Folks is one of the world’s largest grassroots music organizations in the United States, with more than 51,000 song writers, recording artists and music industry professionals, according to its Web site, www.jpf.com.
Its founder, Brian Austin Whitney, who introduced himself to the Newsomes via e-mail, states on the site that the organization recognizes the other 98 percent of music created in the world.
“Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is give them a reason and an opportunity to do something great,” he says on the site.
Attempts to contact Whitney via telephone were not successful; however, Newsome said he told the couple that he found Terry’s music on iTunes and was touched by the musical experience.
Terry said that is what his music is supposed to be about.
“When I write music, I don’t stay in one vein,” he said. “I try to write music that moves people. I want people to know that no matter what you’ve done, where you are or where you’ve been, you still have a chance to change.”
Terry said whether he wins an award is not important because he will keep doing what he loves — writing music and being a “shepherd for the Lord.”
“If I win, that will be great and if I don’t, just knowing that people are listening to my music and it’s changing lives will be good enough for me,” he said.
Newsome has been writing and recording music since 1994.
He was the grand prize winner of the year for the Christian television series “Christian Artist Talent Search” in 2006 and the grand prize winner for the 2005 Gospel Super Fest in New York.