NASHVILLE, Tenn.–April 16, 2018—On April 11th, recording artists The Martins joined the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Nashville list of tandem jumpers as the Army Golden Knights returned to middle Tennessee. The multi-GRAMMY® and Dove-nominated trio took to the air together, rising to an altitude of around 12,500 feet above the earth and performed tandem jumps from their plane, falling at speeds in excess of 120 mph.

The siblings–Judy Martin Hess, Joyce Martin Sanders and Jonathan Martin–collectively known as The Martins, enjoyed smooth landings and found they were “still standing,” as they applauded the Army Golden Knights team and also announced their all-new studio recording entitled Still Standing (Gaither Music Group).

“One of the things that’s amazing to me is that we are still creating music that we love,” stated Joyce. “We are not tired of doing this; we love being together; and we still have the capability to communicate what we want to say and to see those things come together in a creative and inspiring way. We are grateful to have recorded some good things in the past that we have loved singing. To still be able to record new music and be proud of it is exciting. It’s the same story…but a new chapter for us.”

This new chapter, set to release worldwide on July 13th, showcases the soaring vocal stylings and impeccable blends that have transcended musical genres and garnered The Martins two GRAMMY® nominations and eight GMA DOVE Awards and made them a household name among Christian music enthusiasts.  Still Standing, produced by award-winning singer/musician/producer Gordon Mote, finds the group continuing to explore musically while maintaining the three-part harmonies that have taken them from the stages of Carnegie Hall to the White House.

“We have worked with Gordon for years–on stage, watching him do what he does,” described Joyce, “but working with him behind the board was completely different. He hears things we don’t hear—even the ‘Martin harmonies.’ We had to learn how to do those a little bit differently. He would show us parts he wanted—still three parts and still tight, but he made them fresh and new.”

“It’s always exciting to have something new to sing and new to say,” stated Judy. “It doesn’t take away from the old, but it always feels good to be moving forward.”

That “move forward” with Still Standing includes the uniquely-penned song “Beautiful,” written by Joyce, Kenna Turner West and Don Poythress. “It was written from the perspective of me singing the first verse to Jonathan about Jonathan,” Joyce described. “Jonathan and I sing the second verse to Judy about her. Judy sings the third verse to me about me. We are singing it for other people but also to each other. I knew that’s what I wanted to write, and I co-wrote it with Don and Kenna. They understood my vision and helped me craft it perfectly. It’s us singing our stories. God has taken all of our valleys and turned them into something beautiful. He is still using us.”

“I think one of the reasons we are out here is to tell our story,” stated Judy. “We want to let other people know that God is what they are looking for, whatever they are going through. He has the answers to all of our questions. He has done so much for us. We are singing to each other about personal circumstances with the song ‘Beautiful.’ I’m so glad we recorded it. It’s not just a blanket statement. It’s our stories.”

Jonathan’s story also seems to be captured with “Good,” a song written by Dave Barnes on which Jonathan is featured. “God truly has been good to me,” he shared. “I am glad to have my children, my wife, my family and my sisters. As I look at my life now as a husband, a son, father and brother, I can say that life has not always been easy; but it has been good. This song expresses what I’ve experienced better than I could have said it.

“We need to be reminded that God’s hand has been in our lives in the twists and turns. I think this recording will also remind listeners of that. We want them to know that He uses everything for good and to develop the character of Christ in our lives.”

The new recording follows the group’s recording A Cappella (Gaither Music Group), which received a 2015 GRAMMY® nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album, debuted at #2 on the Southern Gospel chart and landed at #17 on the Contemporary Christian Music chart according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Still Standing will be exclusively distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution and Universal Music and will available in the general marketplace and at retail and digital outlets worldwide including iTunes, Amazon, www.gaither.com and www.martinsonline.com.

The new recording will air as part of a special TV offer on RFD-TV, TBN, Gaither Television Network, PBS, DISH TV, DirecTV, FamilyNet, CTN, GMC, GMTN, Guardian, Liberty, TCT and TLN. It will air in Canada on Vision TV, CTS, The Miracle Channel and Hope TV.  It will be promoted via a social media campaign, positioned in retail/e-tail outlets everywhere, featured in the Gaither Catalog Collection and on the Gaither web site and aired on the “HOMECOMING Weekly” program on Sirius XM.

To see a video of The Martins during their skydive and hear the title song from the new release visit: https://www.facebook.com/Gaithermusic/videos/10155978366551187/

To keep up with the latest happenings with The Martins, visit www.martinsonline.com, connect with them at facebook.com/martinsonline or follow them on Twitter: @martinsonline.

Still Standing Song Listing:

1. Running
2. Beautiful
3. Good
4. Mercy Come In
5. Days Like This
6. Smell of Smoke
7. Heal the Wound
8. Standing
9. Stained Glass
10. Lot of Life
11. Wherever You Are

ABOUT THE MARTINS
THE MARTINS, who grew up in Hamburg, AR, began singing when their mother gathered them around the piano in their rural home and taught them to sing a cappella. With four number one singles and four top ten singles in multiple Christian music formats, eight GMA DOVE Awards and two GRAMMY® nominations, the trio of siblings has come a long way from that family living room having made appearances at The White House, “The Grand Ole Opry,” the Ryman Auditorium, Dollywood, “The 700 Club,” TBN, the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention and the National Quartet Convention. They are seen regularly on the Gaither HOMECOMING concerts and video series and have toured alongside some of Christian music’s most respected artists.

After nearly a decade of pursuing individual music careers, the trio reunited in 2010, and released their first new recording in 10 years, New Day, produced by Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts). In 2014, The Martins joined renown arranger Lari Goss and long-time friends and producers Michael English, David Phelps and Matthew Holt to record a new a cappella hymns project. The recording, simply titled A Cappella, was released in May of 2014, and earned the group a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album, as well as a DOVE Award nomination for Inspirational Album of the Year from the Gospel Music Association.

ABOUT THE ARMY GOLDEN NIGHTS
Millions of people throughout the world come to see the Golden Knights each year at more than 100 demonstration sites across the nation and abroad. United States Army Parachute Team was founded in 1959. By 1962, the team earned the nickname the “Golden Knights.” The color “Golden” signified the gold medals the team had won while “Knights” alluded to the team’s ambition to conquer the skies.

Courtesy of Gaither Music Group