12.28.2007
Gospel singer marks 10 years
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After 10 years, Shallem Cline of Statesville is on the verge of releasing his first gospel album. |
Shellem Cline of Statesville will celebrate 10 years in Southern gospel music, as well as the release of his first CD, at the Shellem-Cline Gospel Singing Jubilee on Feb. 2 at Troutman Elementary School.
Cline has performed at two jubilees and has toured local churches, but February’s performance will have a special significance. The show will include special guests, Mercy’s Well, a gospel group from Greensboro, and will feature the release of Cline’s first CD, “Saved and Heading Home.”
The CD includes seven songs, five of which Cline wrote himself.
When explaining the songs on the album, he says the “lord has given (them) to me and they come from the heart.”
The CD, which will be on sale at the jubilee, costs $10 and can be reserved ahead of time and picked up at the event. It will also be available on Cline’s Web site after Feb. 2.
This album will only be released locally at this time and sold at his singing appearances, but Cline plans on releasing his next album in 2009, hopefully after he is signed with a major record company.
Cline first became involved with gospel music when his grandfather placed him on the pulpit at Fern Hill Baptist Church at the age of five, so he could sing “God on the Mountain.”
When he was nine, he began performing in the Gilbert Family band, which consisted of his grandfather, grandmother and mother, and traveled to perform at local churches.
At age 13, he began his solo career and began performing at jubilees when he was 15.
Over the past 10 years, he has gone from singing at Statesville churches to traveling to other out of state churches and plans to further develop his ministry as God allows.
Cline says his singing and his ministry mean that “God is in control and that he has a plan for my life.” He continues, “It is not about me, it’s about him and singing is what he wants me to do.”
For Cline, his favorite part of performing Gospel music is seeing the smiles on the faces of the people in his audiences. But his favorite part of gospel music is the messages in the songs. “They can uplift a heart. … They let you know that Jesus Christ loves you and he gave his life for you so that you can be saved.”
Cline believes the world has lost its vision and that many Christians have “sat down” in recent years and stopped standing up for what they believe in.
Therefore, his mission is to speak up through his songs and ministry work and “tell as many people as possible about Jesus Christ.”
Jennifer Baxter
The Shallem Cline Gospel Singing Jubilee will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Troutman Elementary School Gymnasium. For more information, visit http://www.geocities.com/shellemcline or call (704) 881-0395.