FOR THE FIRST time ever, Calvary Chapel Music will be available outside their own churches. It is anticipated that the releases will be available through Word in the UK and Pamplin in the States. The church was the birthplace of Maranatha! Music in the 70s and have always had an emphasis on praise and worship. The first Calvary Chapel Music records available through Word will be three volumes of Calvary Chapel Music Praise and two artist-driven albums from veteran musicians Billy Batstone and Richie Furay. All five albums will be released early in 1999. Furay was recently inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame as a founding member of Buffalo Springfield and was also a member of the popular 70s band Poco. In 1983, he founded Calvary Chapel of Boulder, Colorado, where he is still pastor. His first release through Word will be 'In My Father's House'.

Batstone's work is woven into the history of contemporary Christian music. He has contributed as a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist on albums from artists such as Debbie Boone, Randy Stonehill, Bryan Duncan, Larry Norman an Mark Heard. He has done several popular praise and worship albums for the Maranatha! Music series and is a founding member of the Calvary Chapel Praise Band. His next album, due out in early 1999, is called 'While The Door Is Open'.