All
of us traveling on life’s highway are on our way
somewhere and need a road map to help us to our destination.
Using the Holy Bible as our compass, we who are Christians,
our way is a highway to Heaven. With seven being God’s
perfect number, and our route being God’s route, ANGELINA & ROUTE
77 is on an exciting journey! The group, from Nashville,
TN, consists of multi-talented individuals who are not
only talented vocalists, but instrumentalists, songwriters
and performers as well.
Angelina
McKeithen, founder and manager, has been
on the road since age three where she performed her
first song at her Grandmothers request. Traveling out
of Nashville, TN she performing with her family, the
McKeithens. When her family came off the road, Angelina
traveled as a soloist for six years before the formation
of ANGELINA & ROUTE 77. Angelina is a BMI
award-winning songwriter having songs recorded by Gold
City, Pfeifers, John Starnes, Jessica King, McKeithen & Company
and N' Harmony as well as other artists. Also, she
was top five nominees for “Instrumentalist of
the Year” for five consecutive years with instrumental
abilities that include harmonica, guitar, piano, mandolin,
bass, banjo and drums that simple amazes the audience!
Paul
Amstutz, singing the tenor, was born in Tulsa,
Oklahoma but grew up mainly in Catoosa, Oklahoma. He
plays guitar and is a very talented vocalist whom the
audiences loves! Music has always been important to Paul....since
age four when he started at the Yamaha School of Music
and he has been singing ever since! Having attended college
on a music and football scholarship Paul went on to perform
in churches, festivals and events all over the state
of Oklahoma. Now he is adding his talents onto the national
stage with ANGELINA & ROUTE 77.
Tim
McKeithen, baritone, also plays the guitar.
Tim, father of Angelina, son of a minister was raised
in the state of Louisiana. He started playing guitar
at age ten and made the national Gospel Music scene joining,
with his wife Dixie, the Gospel Keys. His family invited
him to be an original member of The Singing Hemphills.
In 1976 he formed his family group, the McKeithens, managing
them for 25 years. After 35 years of full time performing,
Doctors advised vocal rest until he received a clean
bill of health, joining his family in Israel (a lifelong
dream ) for 6 concerts performing for the Israeli solders
and military hospitals. Tim love for God, family, ministering
to people through Gospel music had been his life's purpose!
ANGELINA & ROUTE 77 has a Crossroads project "Out
of the Ordinary" release produced by award-winning
executive producer Chris White, a visionary in the music
industry, and award-winning producer Jeff Collins for
Crossroads Entertainment and Marketing. All touring dates
are booked exclusively through BSA/Beckie Simmons Agency
of Nashville, TN.
ANGELINA & ROUTE
77 also partners in ministry with Compassion, International.
Angelina is endorsed by Hohner, Inc, makers of world
famous harmonicas of Germany and the Samick Corporation,
makers of world-famous pianos and guitars.
This
group has a wonderful Gospel Music Family heritage that
enables them to present a unique form of entertainment
which includes not only singing and various forms of "live" instrumentation.
The mission of ANGELINA & ROUTE 77 is to enrich
lives through the power of music to help them reach their
final destination called “Heaven”. For further
information call BSA/Beckie Simmons Agency at 615.595.7500.
AT
A GLANCE
CROSSROADS
MUSIC GROUP release:
" OUT OF THE ORDINARY" by ANGELINA & ROUTE 77
" FEMALE
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR"
CASH BOX 1989 NEW SOUTHERN GOSPEL FINALIST
1998 - GOSPEL VOICE DIAMOND AWARD NOMINEE
"INSTRUMENTALIST
OF THE YEAR"
VOTED 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
" TOP 5" NOMINEE GOSPEL VOICE MAGAZINE
"INSTRUMENTALIST
OF THE YEAR"
VOTED 1997 FINALIST - HEARTS AFLAME AWARDS
ASCAP: Youngest
published songwriter at age 14 years old
BMI
CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS
2001 honoree for Top "Five Songs Of The Year"
PRODUCER:
Two instrumentialprojects "First Solo Flight" and "Expresions"
McKeithen & Company "Something New"
CENTERGY
MUSIC GROUP: exclusive songwriting agreement
SAMICK
CORPORATION of California…endorsement
HOHNER,
INC of Germany - endorsed by makers of world
famous harmonicas
TELEVISION
APPEARANCES:
DOVE BROADCASTING,SC
TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK
LAMB BROADCASTING, LA
UNITED CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING, CA
KEYSTONE INSPIRATIONAL NETWORK, PA
AIRPLAY
UNITED STATES
NETHERLANDS
UNITED KINGDOM
AFRICA
Angelina
McKeithen BIOGRAPHY
Not
often do you find an artist with the heritage in Gospel
Music that Angelina McKeithen possesses. She is
the third generation of performers in the McKeithen family
lineage. Her singing career started at the age of three
when her Grandmother requested she sing her first solo.
It was the first family concert performed by The McKeithens
in 1976. At age seven, she began playing drums for the
group. At nine, her father showed her several chords on
an acoustic guitar and she began performing with the full
band. At thirteen, she brought the harmonica to center
stage for which she is nationally known. Then, at the age
of fourteen, she began singing and playing full-time with
her family.
Angelina's
songwriting began at a young age. She was the youngest
known published writer at ASCAP when she and her mother
co-wrote "Let The Hallelujahs Roll" as performed
by John Starnes on the Gaither Video Homecoming Series.
She later co-wrote the theme song "Spark A Flame" for
the "Spark A Flame" Concert Series. She was an
exclusive writer for the Centergy Music Group for many
years.
Niles
Borop of Centergy Music states, "It has been my privilege
over the past few years to work with Angelina McKeithen.
Her skills as an instrumentalist are widely recognized.
Because of her incredible abilities, she has been nominated
numerous times for the highest awards given in Gospel music
for a musician. In spite of the fact that her father is
such an outstanding vocalist, all in the Southern Gospel
Music community know what a gifted and unique vocalist
Angelina is. What many are now discovering is that she
is a gifted songwriter as well. As President of the Centergy
Music Group, it is my pleasure to encourage Angelina's
writing abilities and it has been a joy to watch as she
has blossomed into one of the leading songwriters in Southern
Gospel Music today. In addition to writing the majority
of the latest McKeithen & Company album, she has accumulated
numerous recordings by such groups as Gold City, Pfeifers,
Jessica King and N'Harmony. She has enjoyed chart successes
with the song "Hide Me Behind The Cross" recorded
by Gold City. "Hide Me behind the Cross" is being
released in print for church choirs through Genevox Music.
The song was awarded one of the top 5 played radio songs
of 2000 by BMI at the annual BMI Christian Awards Dinner.
Henry Blackaby in his Bible study "Experiencing God",
talks about seeing where God is working and getting involved
in that work. God is working through Angelina McKeithen and
I hope that you will get involved in the work God is doing
in her life!"
After
twenty-five years of traveling with her family, Angelina
McKeithen started a solo career for six years, which
included performing, instrumentation, songwriting, producing
and ministering.
Beckie
Simmons of BSA states "Angelina's heritage in Gospel
Music is something you rarely find. When Angelina was four
years old I was watching her in Waycross, GA while her
family, The McKeithens, were getting ready to go on stage.
Naomi Sego came by and jokingly asked "Young lady,
could I have your autograph?" With two ponytails and
big wide eyes she looked at me and asks, "What is
an audio-o-graph?" I replied "Don't worry honey,
you will know soon enough!" How true that statement
has turned out to be! Angelina is a role model for young
people all over the nation and by her example, already
many want to learn to play an "Angelina Harmonica" !
It has been a joy to watch her grow and develop into a
prolific songwriter, singer and musician. Standing on this
firm foundation with her Christian Heritage, we are excited
about this second phase of Angelina's life. It is fun watching
God work!"