Jonathan Nelson New Project “Right Now Praise” Releases February 5th

First Project “Right Now Praise” Releases February 5, 2008 Single “My Name is Victory” is Most Added at Radio

Mobile, Alabama - Integrity Music has signed praise and worship leader Jonathan Nelson to an exclusive, long-term recording and publishing contract. Nelson and his ensemble, Purpose, will release their first Integrity CD “Right Now Praise” on February 5, 2008 worldwide. The uplifting radio single “My Name is Victory” has been one of the most added new singles at gospel radio the last two weeks according to Radio & Records magazine. The stellar collection is rounded out with a dozen other songs featuring gospel luminaries such as Sheri Moffet-Jones on “Yes, Out There”, William Murphy on “Great and Mighty”, Nikki Ross on “Already Mine” and Nelson’s twin brother Jason on “Right Now Praise.”

“Jonathan Nelson has captured the soul of Sunday morning on this Praise & Worship masterpiece,” says Jawn Murray of the nationally syndicated radio program, The Tom Joyner Morning Show. “Right Now Praise embodies the full church experience, offering songs that will be staple selections in sanctuaries of all denominations for many years to come!”

“Signing Jonathan to Integrity is a natural fit,” says Stacy Merida, an Integrity Music consultant. “It’s Integrity’s vision to create praise and worship music that is culturally relevant regardless of the style of music. Jonathan is a great example of an artist with the potential to break barriers and link arms with all segments of the body of Christ with his music. It’s Integrity’s desire to always find the heart of worship, which brings people together whether it has a rock sound or a gospel sound. Jonathan exemplifies this spirit and is a great communicator of the Word through song.”

For the last few years, there’s been much industry buzz about Nelson and his brilliant songwriting abilities. He has either written or co-written such modern day gospel smashes as Youth for Christ’s “The Struggle is Over” which was #1 on Billboard magazine’s Hot Gospel songs chart for a dozen weeks in 2007. He also penned other chart hits such as Donald Lawrence’s Top 10 smash “Healed”, Rudolph McKissick Jr.’s “The Right Place”, “Melonie Daniel’s “Praise is My Weapon” and both “Destiny” and “Great Praise” for Stephen Hurd. He also wrote, “Manifest” from Bishop T.D. Jake’s Grammy-winning “A Wing and a Prayer” CD. "I think that Integrity is the perfect label home for Jonathan because of his strength and proven success as a songwriter in Gospel music and because of his amazing gift as a worship leader," says Integrity Music Artist Development Director Chris Springer.

“I’m truly excited about the new relationship we have formed,” Nelson adds. “I believe that it’s the right timing and the right season for this. For years to come we will continue to produce great music and great worship together. It’s been a seven-year journey and in the Bible seven means completion. So, that season has ended and as we enter 2008, I’m looking forward to a season of new beginnings and new experiences with this project.”

Nelson grew up in church and earned his first professional singing gig when he assembled some singing friends to back Karen Clark Sheard when she performed at Baltimore’s Greater Bethlehem Church (where his father was the pastor) in 2000. Following the successful concert, Nelson and his friends formed Purpose. They have since backed a who’s who in music, ranging from BeBe & CeCe Winans to Michael McDonald. Their debut CD “Everything You Are: Live in Baltimore” was released in 2003 and featured the regional hit “Healed” which was eventually picked up by Donald Lawrence and made into a national hit. Married with two children, Nelson is Worship Leader and Minister of Music for the Empowerment Temple.