Photo submitted Above, Forget the Sea features seven local artists dedicated to offering uplifting music. At right, back row, are Chris Withrow, Mark Bishop, and Russell Funk. John Isaacs, Courtney Bishop, Haley Bishop, and Josh Rison are in the front row.
By KaLeigh Underwood
CV&T Reporter
A new band composed of seven local musical artists has an album coming out in January.
Mark Bishop and Forget the Sea is a band with a sincere heart for ministry, dedicated to sharing the love of Christ with a lost and hurting world.
Members include Mark Bishop, Courtney Isaacs, Haley Bishop, John Isaacs, Josh Rison, Chris Withrow and Russell Funk. Courtney and Haley are Bishop’s daughters, and John is his son-in-law.
The name comes from the idea that as believers, we can become distracted by the storms and the noise in our busy lives and sometimes we take our eyes off Jesus. But in those times when the wind howls the loudest, we should forget the storms, forget the waves, and keep our eyes upon Jesus and just, “forget the sea.”
Inspired by the Appalachian, folk and gospel music roots of eastern Kentucky, where the founding members call home, the band mixes old and new sounds to create a new music fused with acoustic energy, rousing percussion and tight family harmony.
Mark Bishop has enjoyed a long career in Southern Gospel music. He was a part of The Bishops, comprised of his father and brother and others. He has also performed as a solo artist for a number of years, travelling the country and beyond while spreading the “good news.”
Mark said all the members in the band feel called to evangelize, and while it would be easy to tune into all the negativity in life, they want to offer positivity and uplifting music.
“Everyone is trying to sell you something,” Bishop said. “Jesus isn’t trying to sell us anything. He’s just trying to give us an enhanced quality of life.”
The band will have a performance on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., at the First Christian Church on Main St. The event will serve as a benefit for the Helping Hands Ministry.
Their debut album can be previewed and preordered on iTunes and will be released on Jan. 8, 2016. Those who preorder the album will receive four songs early.
Bishop said that singing a song that people find encouraging can be like medicine in their heart, and he hopes everyone can come out to the benefit performance.