Steve Riley received the Dove Award for Producer of the Year, one of Christian Music's most prestigious honors. Steve blasted onto the scene this year with a most unusual project: a Sackcloth 2 Joy parody album where he took actual tracks from the songs and changed the words to create a comic parody of some of S2J's best songs.  He titled the project Sackcloth 2 Joy: Skim Milk 4 Harry. 
 

Some of the classic parodies include: "Ain't No Moonshine Tonight" (the tale of a paranoid moonshiner who shuts down his still because he feels there are "revenuers" creeping from the left and creeping from the right..."Some still is gonna be taken... ain't gonna be mine"),  Two dog songs: "Walkin' with my Dog" and "Throw the Dog a Bone (Love will Find His Own)" and the end-times thriller "He hears you Fryin" based on Revelation 20:7-10.

One song has been especially embraced by the environmentally conscious Sierra Club and the Audubon Society:  "Birds R Not Enough".  Al Gore is even considering using it as a theme song for his campaign. 

But everyone is especially talking about the classic song: "Have you got da milk?" which is becoming the background music for a new series of milk commercials hosted by Margaret, of course, and featuring Harry and his skim milk.  This new slogan is designed to appeal to a broader audience than the old "Got Milk?" slogan did. 

Some of the group members are a little disturbed about the whole thing.  "Why weren't they consulted about this secret project?" "Why is he making fun of our songs?" "Why a parody album?" To which Steve answered: "man you have NEVER done that, YOU gotta try it!" 

Due to a number of incidents along the way, Steve almost missed the award ceremony.  Along the way, driving in his station wagon with Marie, he picked up someone along the road.  A few miles later, there were sirens and lights and the pursuit ended with policemen's guns pointed at Steve's head.   At first, Steve thought they were going to arrest him for dating a minor but realized that Marie just turned 19 a few weeks ago. As it turned out it had nothing to do with that at all, evidently the man they had picked up along the way was an escaped convict from prison.  Steve had some explaining to do.  But eventually, he was able to go on his way.  On to the Dove Awards. 

The ceremony was going long like usual.  So half way through the Award Ceremony, Steve left to go back to his room to check his email.  He decided to change out of his tux into something more comfortable, some Jeans and his "I'm Not Everyone" T-shirt. He got carried away surfing the net, and totally forgot about the award he was being nominated for.  Marie waited and waited at the table and she knew she had better go find him so he didn't miss his award nomination.  She eventually tracked him down.  She heard gunshots...repeated gunshots from the room next door to Steve's room as she banged on the door for what seemed an eternity.  Finally, a blurry eyed Steve opened the door. He had fallen asleep at his computer and evidently didn't hear the gunshots...or the knocking for the longest time  He tought they were just a part of the bad dream he was having about being a Sleastack worm and being scared by the Blair witch

She reminded him of the nomination... and said, "We'd better hurry."Meanwhile, back at the ceremony.The  "Producer of the Year" Category had been introduced and the nominees had already been read.  They had even opened the envelope and called out the winner: "and for Producer of the year... Steve RIley".  The presenter didn't know what to do... no one stepped forward.  So he called the name again. "and for Producer of the year... Steve Riley".  Still no Steve.  Thinking she better do something, Myra Hutchison, while still a little annoyed at the parodies of the songs she had put her creative energy into, decided to go forward to accept the award for Steve.  But just then an "out of breath" Steve and Marie barged through the back door. All eyes immediately turned to them and there was a loud "gasp" as they saw him standing there in Jeans and T-shirt at a formal event.  "What was he thinking?"  Still Steve was ushered up to the front to receive the award. 

Congratulations Steve on the award.  We are sure it's only the first of many.  Be sure to see award winning producer Steve and the rest of S2J at Faith Alliance Church, May 13th at 7:00 PM.  We'll try to make sure he makes it on time. 

Middletown, OH May 13th, Sackcloth 2 Joy will be in Pastor Jeff's Neighborhood playing at Faith Alliance Church at 7:00 PM.  It's a concert you won't want to miss!

The fire department in Huntington WV has reported a missing fire truck.  It was last seen near a recent Sackcloth 2 Joy concert.  If you have any idea of the whereabouts of this vehicle please contact Smokey the Bear.