Karen Peck and New River

Karen Peck and New River is a 3-time Grammy Award Nominated and 3-time GMA Dove Award Winning Southern Gospel Group. Karen’s flawless, delightful soprano voice has made its way into the hearts of Gospel Music lovers across the country and garnered an unprecedented 11 Favorite Soprano Fan Awards from the readers of The Singing News Magazine, Southern Gospel Music’s leading fan and trade publication. Karen, Susan and Jeff have also received many awards from other magazine publications and Internet publications. Over the past four years, New River has had six consecutive #1 songs in Southern Gospel Music. In addition, their current album, REVIVAL, has had two consecutive #1 songs with “Revival” and “Finish Well.” “Revival” won the 2014 GMA Dove Award for Southern Gospel Song of the Year, Song of the Year for the 2014 SGN Diamond Awards, Song of the Year and Progressive Song of the Year for the 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards, and the album REVIVAL won Album of the Year for both the Diamond Awards and the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. Their previous album release, Reach Out, had two consecutive #1 songs for “On the Banks of the Promised Land” and “Mighty Big God.”

“Reach Out” received 2 GMA Dove Awards, including Country Song of the Year “Good Things Are Happening” and Southern Gospel Album of the Year. The first radio release, “On the Banks of the Promised Land,” reached #1 for December 2011. It was also selected as #1 for the Top 100 Songs of 2011 by Absolutely Gospel.Com. The second release, “Mighty Big God” reached #1 for July 2012. Accordingly, Karen Peck and New River was selected as Top Played Artist for 2011 (absolutelygospel.com), and their current release, “Good Things Are Happening” is quickly rising to the top of the charts.

The CD/DVD release “Live At Oak Tree Studio” brought the group their third Grammy nomination, receiving a 2011 nomination for Best Southern Gospel/Country Gospel/Bluegrass Album of the Year.

In 2010 “Four Days Late” was chosen by the Singing News Magazine as Song of the Decade as well as “I Wanna Know How It Feels,” being selected as #10 Song of the Decade.

Their 2009 release, “No Worries,” featured the radio hits “Why Should I worry,” “Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along”, and “Special Love,” all reaching the Top 5 on the charts. “Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along” received at 2010 Dove Award nomination for Song of the Year, with Karen Peck Gooch receiving a Female Vocalist of the Year nomination.

“Ephesians One,” released in September 2008, features the #1 song “I Want To Thank You”, and was nominated for a Grammy in 2009. “Each time we go into the studio to record a new album,” Karen shares, “we’re at a different place in our walk with Christ than the last time we prepared for a recording. Therefore, obviously, each recording pulls at a different heartstring, yet the message of hope is always present. That’s what life in Christ is all about. As a result of various circumstances each of us have faced over the past years, we’re at a point in our lives where we realize that anything we achieve or accomplish is all because of Christ. It is an honor to serve Him.”

Their album “Journey of Joy” received a Grammy nomination for 2008. “Journey of Joy” was also nominated for three Dove Awards. This album has three consecutive #1 songs including “Hey”, “Last Night”, and “Whispered Prayers”.

With appearances on such prestigious stages as The Grand Ole Opry, The Gaither Homecoming concerts, Opryland Theme Park, Dollywood and Six Flags Over Georgia, New River has firmly established their place at the forefront of Southern Gospel Music. Over the past decade, they have been featured on many television networks, with appearances on TBN’s Praise The Lord, the Grand Ole Opry Live and the popular Gaither Gospel video Series. The group has enjoyed many honors and accolades. They have received numerous industry and fan award nominations. They have consistently received radio airplay at stations nationwide. Hit releases have flowed their way in bunches, and they have enjoyed many Number One songs. A few of their other previous popular hits include: “Hold Me While I Cry”, “Just One Touch”, “I Wanna Know”, “God Likes To Work”, “Daddy’s Home”, “When Jesus Passes By”, “God Still Answers Prayer”, and “Christian In The House”. Additionally, the group’s Number One hit, “Four Days Late”, was also named Song of the Year by readers of The Singing New Magazine in 2001 and the SGMA Awards and continues to be a favorite among audiences.

The youngest of three daughters, Karen was exposed to the traditional sounds of Gospel Music at a very early age. Her parents often took Karen and her sisters, Susan and Sandra, to the all-night sings in Atlanta, and these concerts left an indelible mark on the youngsters who made a pact that someday they would share a musical ministry of their own.

One of the groups often featured at the Atlanta concerts was The Lefevres, who later became known as The Nelons. It would be a mild understatement to say that Karen had aspirations of singing with this talented family. In fact, that aspiration became her greatest desire, and in 1981, this dream became a reality when Karen was invited to travel with her favorite group. She remained with The Nelons for 10 years, gaining the respect of industry peers and fans alike with her exceptional vocal ability and caring personality.

Finally in 1991, the realization of yet another dream came to pass when Karen and her sister, Susan, with Karen’s husband Rickey, organized the musical entourage of Karen Peck and New River. Today the New River team consists vocally of Karen, Susan, and Jeff Hawes. Additionally, Karen’s husband, Rickey, serves as the group’s road manager and sound technician, Karen and Rickey’s son, Matthew, plays guitar, and their daughter, Kari, is the group’s product manager and multi-media coordinator, making New River a complete family affair. Susan’s husband, David, is the founder and owner of the Jackson Steel Guitar Company.

New River sets a new standard for musical perfection with rich vocal harmony that is shaded with the sophistication of Southern Gospel, country and progressive musical sounds. New River today stands not only as a talented and successful recording artist, but more importantly, effective messengers presenting the Gospel, through Jesus Christ.