Nashville, TN (April 26, 2023) The multi-award-winning bluegrass gospel
band, Heaven’s Mountain Band, have announced their retirement after 37
years of ministry. This comes after the unexpected passing of beloved
group matriarch, Deborah Johnson.
Roger Johnson states, “Rodney and I have prayed and we feel it is time to
retire the group. I will continue writing music as long as the Lord gives
me songs to write! We’d like to thank everyone for the years on the road,
for buying our music and praying for us. Please continue to lift us up
in prayer. This retirement is effective immediately.”
Heaven’s Mountain Band has established themselves as one of the top groups
in bluegrass gospel today! Career highlights include 10 consecutive
Singing News #1 songs, multi-Diamond Award winner and Singing News Fan
Award nominee. They were blessed to perform at some of the most
prestigious venues, such as Dollywood, Hominy Valley and Shadow Valley,
but their heart was ministering in local churches across America.
Les Butler, FMG label owner and HMB fan states, “I personally believe the
impact that HMB had on fans of REAL traditional Bluegrass Gospel Music
will resonate for generations to come. The comments we’ve gotten at the
office, as well as in person over the years, from music buyers and church
members have been overwhelming. HMB was not your normal bluegrass gospel
band. They were much more and much deeper than that. The retirement of
the Primitive QT and HMB is leaving a cavernous hole; one that I’m not
sure will ever be filled.”
Butler continues, “On a personal level, I simply don’t have the words for
what the Johnson family has meant to me, my family, and FMG. My, how we
will miss being with Debbie, Roger, Rodney Johnson, and all of HMB! This
is truly a sad day for me.”
ABOUT BUTLER MUSIC GROUP
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Butler Music Group provides professional
management services to Southern Gospel and Bluegrass artists including
the Williamsons, Old Time Preachers Quartet, Barry Rowland & Deliverance,
Inspirationals Quartet of Texas, Heaven’s Mountain Band, and the Marksmen
Quartet.
BMG subsidiary, Family Music Group, is the label and radio promotion
division of BMG. Label artists include Williamsons, Old Time Preachers
Qt, Barry Rowland and Deliverance, the Marksmen Quartet, and Les Butler.
Over the last 45 years, radio promotion artists have included Canton
Junction, David Phelps, Goodman Revival, Ivan Parker, Guy Penrod, the
Hagees, Jimmy Fortune, Oak Ridge Boys, Booth Brothers, Dunaways, Larry
Gatlin, and many others.
Les Butler has been actively involved in Southern Gospel Music for 45
years as a musician, producer, manager, former publisher of the Singing
News, and a nationally syndicated radio host. Butler started Butler Music
Group in 1978 and purchased Family Music Group in 2003. He is a past
March of Dimes AIR award winner, as well as a recipient of the Paul Heil
Broadcasting Award in 2011. He’s been nominated as Producer of the
Year, Singing News Broadcaster of the Year, and multiple nominations for
the Living Legend Diamond Award! Butler’s syndicated radio show, Les
Butler and Friends, is heard across America and abroad. Butler’s playing
and production credits include Palmetto State Quartet, Darryl Worley,
Richard Sterban, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Fairfield Four,
Steeles, Dunaways, Crabb Family, Easter Brothers, Marksmen Quartet, Earl
Scruggs, Bowling Family, Jimmy Fortune, Marty Raybon, Larry Gatlin, and
many more. Butler’s publishing companies are Hurry-Up Publishing/BMI and
Hush Jean/ASCAP. Check out his Live with Les Facebook page and his very
active, REAL Southern Gospel YouTube Channel. Les is also owner of the
REAL Southern Gospel Radio Network.
For more information on REAL Southern Gospel Music go to
realsoutherngospel.com [1]
Contact Les at: les@butlermusicgroup.com or phone 615-218-0517.
[2] [3]Copyright © 2014 Butler Music Group, All rights reserved.
Butler Music Group | 313 Acorn Ct, Smyrna, TN 37167 Telephone:
615-218-0517
