The project features some of the biggest names in Christian, pop and country music. Gold and Platinum selling artists Amy Grant, dc talk's Michael Tait, Jaci Velasquez, Bryan White and Third Day's Mac Powell bring their signature vocal artistry to songs that are at once personal yet universally appealing. Newcomer Sara Groves, veterans Russ Taff, PFR's Joel Hanson, Fleming & John, The Choir's Derri Daughtery and Adore (new Squint artist Marc and Christie Byrd) also share the microphone, lending their talent and passion to this encouraging collection.

Traveling Light - Songs From the 23rd Psalm will release April 23.

"Traveling Light" (the book) began as a series of sermons I gave at my church in San Antonio," best-selling author Max Lucado recalls. "I was studying Psalm 23 and I realized the reason why people are so tired all the time-because we carry burdens we were never intended to carry. God never wired us to carry the burdens of guilt, anxiety or shame. So every Sunday, we had a different suitcase on the pulpit labeled with a burden, and we learned how to release it and 'travel light'."

Right after the church had finished the sermon series, Brown Bannister, who was my fraternity brother at Abilene Christian University, and Dan Raines (president of Creative Trust Workshop) came to see me," Lucado continues. "We were discussing the possibility of creating something together. I mentioned the Psalm 23 series and they loved the idea. This all happened before the book was written, let alone finished! So once the book was completed, they jumped headlong into creating the songs."

"The 23rd Psalm is the best loved and most often quoted passage of scripture in the world," adds Grammy and Dove award-winning co-producer, Brown Bannister. "This album is not as much about the artists as it is about the content. It is about the 23rd Psalm."

"From the very beginning we determined to stay focused on the 23rd Psalm, to approach it chronologically, searching the scriptures for wisdom, and incorporating insights from Max's book into the lyrics," says Dove award-winning co-producer Steve Hindalong.

Traveling Light is a testament to the co-producers' triune strengths as composers, producers and performers. All of the songs on the album were co-written by either Hindalong and/or Bannister, along with Third Day's Mac Powell, dc talk's tobyMac, Phil Maderia, Ellie Bannister and the husband as well as Adore (new Squint artist Marc and Christie Byrd-Hindalong's songwriting partners on the powerful "God Of Wonders" hit song). Tracks like "I Will Not Fear" boast the signature rhythmic flourishes of the percussionist Hindalong, while "Gentle Shepherd" showcases the guitarist Bannister. The title track is an upbeat pop dazzler written by Bannister, Hindalong and Marc Byrd.

Like Bannister's My Utmost For His Highest and Hindalong's City On A Hill, Traveling Light strikes a chord with listeners, melding the timeless beauty of classic folk influences with the lively energy of contemporary pop. Originally conceived as a companion piece to author Max Lucado's New York Times Bestseller, Traveling Light (Lucado's fastest-selling book to date-in a career where he has sold more than 25 million books), the project presented a unique set of challenges to the two producers.

Bannister explains, "We asked ourselves, 'How do we compliment this book called Traveling Light' The book is awesome. We didn't want to try to duplicate it - we wanted to compliment it. We wanted to make a musical project that stood on its own merits but was still a companion piece to the book. Traveling Light relates to the book, it was inspired by the book, it has elements derived from the book, but it isn't trying to be the book."

While Traveling Light remains true to the producers' vision as a content driven album, the project quickly drew the attention of some the biggest names in Christian, pop and country music. Gold and Platinum selling artists Amy Grant, dc talk's Michael Tait, Jaci Velasquez, Bryan White and Third Day's Mac Powell bring their signature vocal artistry to songs that are at once personal yet universally appealing. Newcomer Sara Groves, veterans Russ Taff, PFR's Joel Hanson, Fleming & John, The Choir's Derri Daughtery and Adore (new Squint artist Marc and Christie Byrd) also share the microphone, lending their talent and passion to this encouraging collection.

Another highlight of the album are the guest appearances by two of the core creator's daughters. Brown Bannister's daughter, Ellie, co-wrote and is the featured vocalist on the song, "Rest In Me," and Max Lucado's daughter, Jenna, sings backup on "Let It Flow."

"The lyrics on Traveling Light are going to have a long shelf life and carry on the theme of Psalm 23," author Max Lucado says. "It is not a theme that any of us own. This is God's idea-that He is our shepherd. Anytime we can write a book or a song that reminds us of that theme, that says 'you are not alone, God is with you, He will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death' it offsets the daily barrage of messages that we get every day that tell us the opposite. For that reason alone, I know this record will touch a lot of people." ~ March 21, 2002, [sent to me via email from the publishing company]