Sign up for our free newsletter:

Zomba/Verity Records is suing gospel artist Tonéx for $1 million for accusations he made against the label, particularly regarding creative freedom and monies owed to him. A defiant Tonéx replied that he represents "every artist that has been manipulated and used by the music industry, and I seek vindication for all of the unsung heroes who are not working and not eating, because they are not being treated fairly by record companies." Meanwhile, Tonéx has set up a legal defense fund to defray his costs, and the artist is blogging the latest developments at his MySpace website.

Another posthumous Johnny Cash album is in the works, a fifth installment of his American Recordings saga with producer Rick Rubin. Titled American V: A Hundred Highways, the set was recorded in the months preceding Cash's September 2003 death, and is scheduled to release July 4. In addition to covers by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams and Gordon Lightfoot, the disc includes two Cash originals, "Like the 309" (the last song he recorded before dying) and the inspirational "I Came to Believe."

Pop/rock sextet MercyMe ended Alan Jackson's eight-week reign atop Billboard's Top Christian & Gospel Albums chart with their latest, Coming Up to Breathe. The album also debuted at No. 13 in the publication's Billboard 200 sales tally, with over 58,000 units sold in one week. The title bested the previous record set by the band's 2004 effort Undone, which sold 56,000 copies.

On May 23, Canadian rockers downhere will release Wide-Eyed and Mystified, their third album and label debut with Seattle-based Centricity Records. Produced by Mark Heimermann (Michael W. Smith, dc Talk), Greg Collins (U2, Gwen Stefani) and downhere, the band believes it's their most complete album to date. "Never before have I been so challenged in my songwriting, the result being a collection of some of the best stuff we've ever produced," said vocalist Marc Martel. "I cannot wait to present this entire album to our audience."

On Sunday, Ruben Studdard, Juanita Bynum, and Jonathan Butler joined hands for Gospel Goes Classical, a concert series where guests artists perform selections with a 70-piece orchestra and a 300-voice choir. The event, held in Birmingham, will evolve into a CD/DVD collection, coming this fall.

Brand-new band NEEDTOBREATHE will play select dates on mainstream rock band Train's spring tour. For more information, visit the band's official site.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

				Try an Issue of Today's Christian RISK-FREE! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issues are yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!