About Karen Peck & New River
Karen Peck Gooch (formerly Karen Peck) has been involved with a handful of very popular groups in the upper echelon of contemporary gospel. The youngest of three sisters in a very religious family, the idea of musical ministry was introduced to her at a young age when her family would attend all-night singing programs in Atlanta.
In 1981 she joined the Nelons and stayed with them singing soprano for the next ten years. While in the Nelons and the Rex Nelon Singers, Peck contributed to a number of recorded projects including In One Accord in 1985, Journeys in 1986, Thanks in 1987, Get Ready in 1988, and The Best of Times in 1990. When she left the Nelons in 1991 she accomplished a life-long goal of establishing a group with her sister Susan and her husband Rickey. With the support of vocalist David White and a rotating cast of backing musicians, they formed Karen Peck and New River. Because of Peck's years in the industry, the group's success was almost immediate and soon they were firmly established in the contemporary gospel scene.
Their debut release, Live From the Alabama Theatre, was issued in 1995 by Horizon Music and soon followed by the studio effort Unlimited that same year. In 1999 the group found a new home with the Spring Hill Music Group and released Taste of Grace and with it had a considerable amount of radio success. The group released Southern Gospel in 1999 on Horizon Music. Shortly after the release, Peck and company were joined by vocalist and songwriter John Darin Rowsey in January of 2000.
With appearances on such prestigious stages as The Grand Ole Opry, 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, and have consistently enjoyed radio air play at stations nationwide. Hit releases have flowed their way in bunches, and they have enjoyed five number-one hits, including their latest, I Wanna Know How It Feels, co-written by the group’s leader Karen Peck Gooch. Just a few of their other popular hits include 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 News Magazine in 2001.
The group’s 2001 Spring Hill release, Triumph, brought additional success, spawning one number-one hit, and two additional Top 20 releases. “The message of Triumph was a testimony of the victorious life that can be found in Christ,” Karen Peck Gooch explains. “When difficult circumstances happen in our lives, it’s sometimes easy to lose hope and faith; however, the wonderful truth is that through each tragedy, there is triumph in Him. We believe that message was boldly proclaimed throughout the Triumph recording.”
The same message of hope and encouragement continues to flow through the lips and lives of Karen Peck & New River with their latest Spring Hill release, For His Glory, released in August 2003, which was nominated for the Southern Gospel Music Guild-Harmony Honors – Album of the Year (2004). Also on the album is That’s Why They Call It Grace which was nominated for Song of the Year for the Southern Gospel Music Guild-Harmony Honors (2004).
With musical perfection and rich vocal harmony, New river stands not only as a talented and successful recording artist, but more importantly, effective messengers presenting the Gospel, all for His glory!
