Randall Garland on His Upbringing, His Hymns Album & His New Venture "Dacus and Garland"

Randall Garland is an accomplished singer, songwriter, music producer and publisher. He was recently nominated for the 2013 & 2014 New Soloist of the Year by Singing News Magazine (the official printed voice of Southern Gospel music). He was the music minister for his home church for over five years before being called into full-time ministry with a Southern Gospel Quartet, Paul's Journey. During his five year tenure with Paul's Journey he was featured on six Top 40 and three Top 80 Hits, as well as being nominated for New Horizon Group of the Year in 2012. He has performed internationally, as well as being featured in front of 20,000 people at the National Quartet Convention in 2012, 2011 and 2010.

He left the road in October 2012 to pursue a new solo ministry. His first all-original CD titled, "Change", features twelve brand new tracks, seven of which that were penned by Randall, himself. In addition to a full time ministry schedule, he also owns and operates TMF Productions and TMF Publishing. Randall has over ten recordings to his personal credit, as well as credits as producer on a countless number of other projects by various artists. Randall is now focusing his time and energy on his own personal appearances, studio production schedule, and working with multiple churches doing worship clinics. 

Hallels:  Congratulations on the release of "Hymns and Favorites Vol.1."  Why did you choose to release a hymns album?  

Thank you so much my friend.  I am very excited about this project indeed.  This CD has been one of the most requested projects from my friends all over the country.  There are so many incredible new songs out there today, and being a songwriter myself, there's nothing I love more than writing new songs and new melodies.  But before I was a writer there were songs that inspired me.  Melodies that impacted my writing style and lyrics that spoke to my inner being.  This project is my way of paying homage to the many great writers that figured this thing out way before I did. 

Hallels:  Of all the hymns CDs out there, what did you bring to your new album that makes it your own and unique?  

One thing that makes this project unique is the fact that I let my friends  and fans pick most of the songs on this project.  Since it was a highly favorited idea (a hymn project), I wanted the people that have supported me and my music to have a voice in the material.  Of course, I did put a few of my personal favorites on the project.  That's why I decided to title the project "Hymns and Favorites".  Like many other similar projects, I tried to keep the sounds true to their original roots.  But I did arrange a few medleys on the CD, so I think it keeps things interesting.  It was a great way to fit more songs that people had requested onto the CD.

Hallels:  What criterion did you use in choosing these hymns?  

The main objective of this album was selecting songs that were recognizable.  I wanted the project to be a tribute, so to speak, to some of the greatest writers that left a lasting mark on this world, and me.

Hallels:  I love the medley of hymns you have on the record, obviously the "Travelling Medley" is very personal to you since you dedicated it to Nanny Garland.  Can you tell us more about the inspiration of why the "travelling" hymns are important to you?  

My grandparents were such a huge influence on me.  They loved to play music and sing.  My grandmother, Nelzine Garland, was the first songwriter I ever knew.  And when I was growing up, she taught me and my cousins how to sing in three-part harmony.  Her investment of time into three young kids from the country is where my great love of music began.  Unfortunately she passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on October 10, 1998, at the age of 66.  Although I didn't get to see her smiling face in the audience of 10,000 when we sang for the first time on the National Quartet Convention (NQC) stage, a dream of mine that she and I spoke of often, I do believe she was listening from heaven.  The songs that I arranged in the "Traveling Medley", are all of her favorite songs of the church that she picked for her memorial service.  She told us that she didn't want the service to be a "sad event" but rather a "home-going celebration".  So she chose songs that would inspire her family to stay strong on their own journeys home.  In short, this is a collage of songs that reminds us, as my Nanny would say, to "keep on keepin' on".

Hallels:  I also love your haunting version of Vince Gill's "Go Rest High on the Mountain."  Why did you choose to record this song?

As I mentioned earlier, my grandparents played a vital role in my life.  My paw-paw, Jack Garland, was a man of great faith.  But he was also a man that, as he would've told you, "lived his fair share of life".  Before my generation came along my grandfather dealt with serious alcoholism.  His struggle with the disease left many scars of resentment on his children, my dad and my aunts and uncle.  My grandmother remained very faithful during that period of time and believed that one day his eyes would be opened to the saving power of God's grace.  

During the middle part of his life my paw-paw learned about Jesus.  He finally found that Jesus was all the strength he needed to get through this life, and he laid aside alcohol.  By the time the grandkids came along, we only knew him as a man that loved Jesus with all his heart.  But he willingly shared his testimony many times in church during my childhood.  When he passed away four years after my grandmother, I heard Vince Gill's song for the first time.  "Go Rest High on the Mountain" has always reminded me of my grandfather's story.   And although it does have a slightly sad undertone, it carries an incredible message of hope and encouragement.  We all have struggles in this life.  But those struggles are only temporary.  One day we will no longer face temptations or hardships and we will rest high upon a mountain, forever, with The Father and the Son. 

Hallels:  What's your next music project in your horizon?  A new Southern Gospel album? A second hymns album?  

I am soooo glad you asked me this question.  LOL.  I am utilizing this article to make an announcement that has not yet been made public...  I am partnering up with a songwriting friend of mine, Val Dacus, for a brand new adventure.  Val joined me on the song, "Go Rest High On The Mountain", on my new "Hymns and Favorites" CD.  Val and I have been staff writers for Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun's publishing company, Sunset Gallery Music, for almost three years now.  During that time she and I have co-written numerous cuts for many headliners in Southern Gospel music including:  The Collingsworth Family, The Perrys, The Browns, Doug Anderson (formerly of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound), Lizzy Long, Wilburn & Wilburn, The Hyssongs and others.  

We have so many songs that have yet to be heard or cut, and we felt like it was time for those songs to have a platform.  The new venture will be called, "Dacus & Garland".  It  will feature a very current progressive-pop country sound similar to that of country artists Thompson Square or Lady Antebellum, but with faith/life-based lyrics.  For the Southern Gospel listener it might resemble that of Jeff & Sheri Easter.  Our first CD titled, "Roller Coaster Ride", is already in the finishing stages and will be released the first of January 2016.  We plan to tour the new CD (2016-2017) and its sure to be a fun ride.  We're accepting date requests now for that tour.

Hallels:  For our readers who would like to find out more about your new album and yourself, where can they go?  

They can go to randallgarland.com or dacusandgarland.com.  I am also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

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