Local gospel group The English Family has released its second CD, Out of the Wilderness, complete with the first radio release “Send Down Your Angels,” penned by Jacob English, 15. Jacob has three original songs on the album. Another he wrote with his father Phillip English, one Phillip wrote alone and one Reneé Smith wrote. The one spiritual on the album daughter Elizabeth English, 14, sings. There is one hymn and one song Phillip’s grandparents used to sing together. ”We included that song as a tribute to them,” said mother Reneé English. While he credits God for his talent, Jacob said Phillip was also an influence. ”I grew up listening to songs my father had written when he was my age,” he said. The English Family specializes in old fashioned camp meeting style music combined with progressive sounds. ”We’ve worked really hard to mold the old and new together,” she said. View the latest videos on youtube.com by going to englishfamilygroup and clicking on “Send Down Your Angels,” which is set for an October release with Spin-N-Motion to over 500 radio stations worldwide. The group is also featured this month on www.sogospelnews.com. The English Family began singing over two years ago at a camp meeting in Florida. Phillip was invited to preach a service and brought some of his original soundtracks he made when the children were babies. ”He thought it would be neat for the kids to sing one of them,” said Reneé. “When Elizabeth began to sing lead, Phillip harmonized, I joined in at alto and to our surprise Jacob joined in at tenor. (Daughter) Rebecca, 12, added depth through singing lead and alto in different places. We were just sitting around the kitchen island.” From that camp meeting the family started practicing more songs. ”We began singing at events and churches and went to a showcase in Tennessee that first year,” Reneé said. “That’s where we got our first set of videos. Jacob began to show us some of his material and sing it for us with his guitar. We were blown away.” Now the family has hit the road in full time ministry. ”It has been an exciting journey,” she said. “Because we aren’t new to the southern gospel scene we know it takes years to get things moving.” While in town the children attend Liberty Christian Academy in Milner, which excuses all ministerial absences. ”They take their work with them when we travel,” she said. “I still work so it’s a blessing for Phillip to be able to handle things with the group and not have to stay up half the night and still work all day.” The English Family signed with Mansion Records out of Branson, Missouri. ”God led us to Mansion,” she said. “Last year we auditioned and they invited us to become Mansion artists. They’ve been wonderful and we couldn’t be happier with our recording.” They will also be featured in November in The Singing News magazine. Out of the Wilderness is available at englishfamilyonline.com. For information call at 678-544-3163 and for bookings contact Spradlen Promotions at 1-863-528-1140.
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