Featured Review

Hank Lochlin - By The Grace of God: The Gospel Album

One of country music’s most celebrated vocalists, Hank Locklin released By The Grace of God: The Gospel Album, on September 26th, on Yell Records. The release includes a dozen songs written by Locklin over the past several decades, along with a handful of classic gospel tunes, including “Power In The Blood” and “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” The first single is the Locklin-penned “Turn On to Jesus,” featuring the award-winning quartet Gold City.

By The Grace of God: The Gospel Album is the fulfillment of a long-held desire of Locklin. “I wrote these songs and I wanted to record them, to share them with people,” he explains. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to finally see it happening.”

The project features several guest appearances, including the Oak Ridge Boys, the Jordanaires, Jeff & Sheri Easter and Gold City. Jeff and Sheri Easter, who both grew up in family gospel groups, were flattered when asked to sing on Locklin’s project. “Jeff and I treasure the historical value of music in all genres. With our respective families performing over 5 decades each, we understand how important it is to recognize such contributions,” explains Sheri. “What an honor to be able to share a song with such a great talent! I'm certain you'll feel the sincerity in his vocal, just as we did when we recorded.”

‘Yell Records is truly honored to be blessed with the opportunity to work with country music legend Hank Locklin and his By The Grace of God: The Gospel Album,” says Doug Grau, President, Yell Records. “This timeless CD is Mr. Locklin's powerful testimony and we hope to share it with as many people as possible.”

By The Grace Of God: The Gospel Album is starting to receive stellar reviews for the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry. “At the age of 88, Hank Locklin remains an astonishingly strong singer. Accompanied by The Jordanaires, he kicks off his By the Grace of God: The Gospel Album sounding like a fellow half his age. This man is a wonder. Elsewhere on the collection are such grand guests as Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Oak Ridge Boys and Gold City.” Music Row fax...by Robert K. Oermann.

Locklin’s rise to the top of country music began in the 1940’s, when he began a string of hit songs on country radio that is impressive by any standard, stretching into the 1970’s. Several of his songs made an impact on pop radio as well, and his “Please Help Me I’m Falling” was named the second most popular country song for the first 100 years of Billboard magazine. Locklin became one of the most influential performers in the genre, who is cited today by artists such as Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Dwight Yoakam, Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, George Jones and George Strait as an inspiration. He’s a Lifetime member of the Country Music Association and a two-time Grammy nominee, with more than 15 million records sold worldwide.

(Guest Review)