Award-winning singer/songwriter and worship leader Don Poythress is slated to bow his Integrity Music debut, Wash Away, June 23rd. Produced by Paul Mills, the contemporary country worship set was recorded live at Nashville’s famed Christ Church and features guest appearances from Ricky Skaggs and Paul Baloche.

Poythress co-wrote 10 of the project’s 12 selections. Highlights of Wash Away include the title-cut “Brand New Day” (with Baloche), “The Faithful Love of Jesus” (with Skaggs), “Call Upon Your Name (Sing of Your Love)”, and “I Will Bless The Lord At All Times”, among other songs. The album concludes with “Joseph”, a Christmas selection Poythress co-penned with Tony Wood.

“The songs for Wash Away weren’t just written in sessions, they were written from my experiences during the past year and come from a very personal place,” said Poythress. “I showed up to a session to write a country song with another writer. I told him what I was going through and we started talking about it and spontaneously began writing. I think I cried the entire time we wrote ‘I Will Bless The Lord At All Times’. I look over the past year and I call that my life song for that period of time.”

“Country music has always captivated me, but the first music I remember learning were worship songs that my mom taught me,” Poythress adds. “I knew when I was young that I was called to play and sing country music.”

Poythress serves as worship leader at Abundant Life Church near Nashville and is an award-winning and sought-after songwriter on Music Row. He has penned selections for Tim McGraw, Clint Black and Travis Tritt, among others. Last year, Poythress received an ASCAP honour for the hit song “Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind”, which was recorded by Kellie Pickler.

Wash Away will be available as a CD, CD Trax, a songbook and a CD-ROM Digital Songbook. Preview part of the album on Poythress’ YMZ artist page.