Cando's family gospel band, Canada's Double Portion, has earned another award from Gospel Music Canada, this year for their song, Just in Time.
Just in Time won the title of Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year at the recent Gospel Music Association of Canada awards. It was written by Duncan Hemmerling, his son Jareth and fellow gospel performer Dan Bremnes, who was named Male Vocalist Of The Year at the same awards.
Canada's Double Portion, made up entirely of family members, was also nominated in four other categories, including Group of the Year, Country Southern Gospel with Gentle Hand, Children's Song with Good Soil and Country Bluegrass Album with Days & Times.
Duncan, his wife Debbie and the rest of the Hemmerling family were thrilled to receive the Country Bluegrass Song of the Year for Just in Time.
Duncan also says, "We are very excited with our new album, Days & Times, that we recorded in January in Nashville."
He adds, "We wrote all but one of the songs on our new CD. It was the first time my wife Debbie and I have done co-writing with our oldest children and we are very happy with the end result."
The CD's producer, Gordon Mote, produced Paul Brandt's gospel project as well, Duncan says.
"Our CD was up against Paul Brandt's Just As I Am CD for Country Bluegrass Album of the Year, which he won."
Over the years, Double Portion has won a number of awards from the GMA and the Saskatchewan Country Music Association, says Duncan.
The family band has been performing full time for the past seven or eight years, but 2013 actually marks the 31st year of ministry for this veteran group. Originating with Duncan and his three sisters, Canada's Double Portion has crisscrossed the continent from Newfoundland to British Columbia, Georgia to Alaska.
Three decades of travel have provided unique experiences like singing on the Grand Ole' Opry stage, backing up Johnny and June Cash at a Cash/Rivers family reunion and performing with many of gospel music's premier groups at North America's largest events.
These days, Double Portion is made up of Duncan, Debbie and nine of their 10 children. Their eldest travels as well, however, performing with two brothers in a Christian music band, Cities Under Fire, and drumming with the country band High Valley.
Travelling up to 160 days out of the year, the family keeps in contact with their children's school, Heritage Christian School in Battleford, and the technology of the day allows them to keep up with their schoolwork, says Duncan.
Their home base is a farm in the Cando area, but they no longer have time for farming. Gospel music is their life.
