NQC Posts 2009 Schedule
Posted by
Daniel J. Mount in
NQC on
Dec 19th, 2008 |
78 responses
The National Quartet Convention has posted their 2009 schedule here. I’m delighted to see that four of the groups I named in this post as deserving to be on the mainstage made it on, including my # 1, 2, and 4.
Worth noting:
- The Blackwood Brothers are on the Monday schedule.
- The Chuck Wagon Gang is back, on Tuesday. (I seem to think the Roarks might also be new.)
- The Collingsworth Family is on on Wednesday and Saturday, which I guess means they’ll be staying for the week.
- Ricky Atkinson & Compassion is on on Thursday. If they’ve managed to keep Gene McDonald at bass (no word from that camp lately) that will be one set definitely worth catching.
- The Couriers are on the Friday schedule. I’m thinking this might mean the current group (which, oddly enough, seems to be a duo, at least for now), but it would be interesting if it was Dave, Duane, and Neil.
- The Gaither Vocal Band and Signature Sound are back, on Friday.
- The Diplomats have a set on Friday evening.
- The Hunters are added to the Saturday schedule. Was this the group that did a highly praised morning devotions hour with the Hoppers a few years back?
The bigger news is often who’s not there. No Mike & Kelly Bowling, Crabb Revival, Ball Brothers, Crossway, Browns, or Imperials. The Dixie Melody Boys are still there, but are cut to one set (perhaps till they establish a more predictable lineup.) It seems as though the NQC is generally taking a more traditional slant this year, and that’s quite fine by me. Perhaps they’ve found out that’s what the fans want.
Not sure why the move to only one set at the convention. The fact that they are using tracks right now shouldn’t have anything to do with it. And we aren’t even sure why they are doing that…just because they lost there piano player? Most groups would simply hire a new piano player. (scratching my head)
I am surprised no one has mentioned the Cathedrals reunion. The two men who ARE the Cathedral’s are in heaven. If they are coming back I will go but if not, THIS IS A JOKE!!! They all have groups of their own. MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE!! The Cathedral’s were the greatest, I understand that, but they were great because of George and Glenn, not Scott and Ernie. Please let the Cathedral’s rest in peace along with the two men that made the name GREAT!!
#44 – Haha. My thoughts exactly, Paul. In my honest opinion, I think Jimmy getting the rights to the name and bringing back the Blackwood Brothers is a lot like Charles Waller getting the name “Florida Boys” and trying to make something of it. Again, don’t get me wrong – I think that the current Blackwood Brothers are far better than Waller’s group, and there are obvious differences in the situation (one being Jimmy is Jame’s son, an original member) but the long successful Blackwood Brothers of the past, they are not.
When an original member puts an end to an era and retires a group, a lot can be said about someone thinking they should be able to use the name again, both positive and negative. I’m not going to say either. I’ll just leave it at that.
Now, there’s no reason why Jimmy can’t use the name Blackwood – seeing he IS a Blackwood. However, Blackwood Brothers just doesn’t seem to fit a group with only one.
I have heard music by that group (from a CD), and IMO – they sound like the Blackwood Brothers.
Look at the Perrys. And where on earth did the Statler Brothers name even come from?
#52 – If they were going to make and market a CD or DVD, I could see the concern.
But there are a whole bunch of people (including me) who never got to see the Cathedrals. For that sort of thing, it would just be really neat to see Scott Fowler, Gerald Wolfe, Ernie Haase (hopefully! it is on Friday!), Mark Trammell, Danny Funderburk, and maybe a couple of others all on the same stage.
To borrow from another discussion going on in this thread, I’d love to see a Blackwoods reunion with Jimmy, Terry, Mark, Ron, R.W., and perhaps others, or a Dixie Echoes reunion with Dallas Rogers, Tracy Crouch, Billy Hodges, Daddy Paul, Tim Riley, Larry Ford, and the other greats who have sung in the group, even if James and R.W. Blackwood couldn’t make it to the Blackwood Brothers reunion and Dale Shelnut and J.G. Whitfield couldn’t make it to the DE reunion. Both would give me a lot more of a taste of what it was like to hear those voices together live than I could get anywhere else!
I certainly agree with that #53…”Blackwood Brothers just doesn’t seem to fit a group with only one.”
Keep in mind that there were two Blackwoods (though cousins) in the group when Jimmy brought the name back.
Then, when Mark left and brought back the Blackwood Gospel Quartet name, Jimmy couldn’t well return to that particular name.
#55 – The other day, I was talking with another member in our group how interesting it would be if we could get all of the Blackwood groups together for a big concert. I think the turnout would be great for something like that.
#57 – That is true Daniel. I’d like to have seen what would have happened if the original group would have had only one Blackwood. I guess that’s why James decided to bring in another Blackwood (Jimmy) when he decided to leave – something that Jimmy didn’t or couldn’t do. Then again, with three groups out there that doesn’t leave many left to choose from.
I don’t think that Jimmy was brought in simply to keep another Blackwood name in the group…but he was the obvious choice to follow after his dad. Cecil kept the name going for many years after Jimmy and RW left the group, until his death in 2000.
I would like to see a Reunion as well for the Blackwood groups…and maybe a tribute to James, and even Cecil…there have been no tributes for Cecil…let’s face it, Cecil was the leader through one of the groups “biggest and greatest” time periods…the Hoffmaster/Turner Era. (Pat, Jimmy, Cecil, Ken, and Tommy)
Dale nor J.G. were there from the begging to the end. The Cathedrals retired because the 2 members who were there from the beginning are dead. Who will sing bass that sang bass with the Cathedral’s? Who will sing lead that sang lead with the Cathedral’s. NO ONE!! They are gone. This is not a reunion of the Cathedral’s. This is a reunion of a bunch of guys who can’t get a full showcase on their own so they use this legendary name to do it. IT”S PATHETIC!
#61 – Now it’s entirely true that there will be nobody there to sing the bass part. However, the way they stacked their harmonies, Glen Payne would swap out with Mark Trammell, Gerald Wolfe, and Scott Fowler all the time on lead / baritone.
And I think Legacy Five and Greater Vision at least both have the drawing power to have a showcase on their own; Greater Vision had a pretty good one with “Quartets” and Legacy Five does the Sunday Evening before NQC concert. Mark Trammell may do a morning chapel, too–not sure on that.
Thank you #62.
Greater Vision had to do it as Quartet’s, Legacy Five has to have the Booth Brothers, and The Morning Showcases are free to the public. The point is being missed. Why have a reunion of a group where the two members who started the group and were with it till the end, (with the exception of Glenn by a couple of months) are not alive anymore. NO GLENN, NO GEORGE, NO CATHEDRAL’S!!!
Patrick, I’ll agree with you there. It’s not the Cathedrals, and anyone suggesting that it is the Cathedrals performing should get that kind of reaction.
But I must admit I’d still like to hear those voices together, even if they can find a more accurate name.
I guess I am missing Patrick’s point…I think it is great that the past members of the Cathedrals would have so much respect for the group and the legacy, and for their time as a part of the group, that they would put together such reunions.
I agree with Paul. Scott, Gerald, Danny, Ernie, Mark – those guys definitely were an integral part of the Cathedrals. George and Glen talked about people who said they “were” the Cats in their book in 1979. They said when they hired Kirk and heard him sing “I Know a Man” they knew that it wasn’t just them who made up the Cathedrals!
A quartet is about much more than just the lead and bass. I heard the clip Daniel posted last year of “Ticket to Paradise,” and I would say that it was worth hearing, even if they do have to do without those two very, very important and loved men.
I am a HUGE Cathedrals fan. They were the group who’s music I grew up on and I would tell anyone with any hesitation that they were most definitely the tool that God used to instill in me a desire and passion to sing.
That being said, here’s my take on it. It’s one thing if the Cathedrals were still on the road, without Glen and George. A reunion with all the past and current members – with a tribute to George and Glen – would be great. I can see Patrick’s point though, since the Cathedral Quartet was never the Cathedral Quartet without those two men in it.
There is no problem, however, with all of those guys getting together to do a concert. Obviously, the only thing that they have in common is that most of them sang in the same group (Cathedrals) at some point in time. If they had to choose any thing to name the concert, it makes sense.
Do I agree that it’s a reunion of the Cathedrals? No, because no matter who they put together to sing, that group of men was never the Cathedrals. Would I go and see the concert? Yes.
I think some people, personally, are missing the point…this simply is a reunion of the great performers from the Cathedral Qt, down through the years…not a reunion of the quartet itself. It is going to be a great time, I am sure. Just enjoy it.
call it a tribute to the cathedrals, not a cathedral reunion! chances are they won’t have kirk talley, or any prior members to him. we see gerald, scott, ernie, mark, all of the time. they do a few concers (minus ernie) in the southeast. calling it ‘a night to remember’.
i think it is just fine to have a concert to honor and pay tribute, but to actually have a Reunion, it would need to include most everybody, ESPECIALLY the two main people. Folks, if you want to see a real catheral reunion, but the Cathedral Reunion video!
Sure, call it a tribute. That’s fair.
I’m just looking forward to (hopefully) hearing those voices together live and in person for the first time!
Daniel,
To answer your question – it will be Dave, Duane and Neil on Friday night at NQC. They still sound powerful, as they did in the 70’s when they were winning the Dove Awards (then the main awards of the Industry). They won 2 Doves in 1976 and another in 1977.
To answer someone else’s question, The Couriers started appearing at NQC around 1962 and were featured on the main stage for all of the following years (to my knowledge) until the late 70’s. They went off the road for a while in 1980, due largely to tenor Duane Nicholson’s unsuccessful nodule surgery in 1978. (I am aware of the facts, because I was Duane’s piano player during this hiatus). When Duane’s voice returned in the early 80’s, Neil and Duane re-activated the group with Phil Enloe and spent the next 18 years concentrating mostly on church work and missionary trips.
They retired (again) in December 2000, but reformed again (as Dave, Duane & Neil) in 2003 with Dave Kyllonen, Neil Enloe and Duane Nicholson (all original members from the late 1950’s – and the same personnel who won the awards in the 70’s) and have done about 100 dates or so a year for the last 5 years from coast to coast, throughout Canada and in other countries.
With 56 albums to their credit (many with major labels) and having traveled to over 80 other countries spreading the Gospel – they deserve a place on the NQC stage.
And, those that have heard them in the last 5 years are thrilled to hear that same dynamic and perfect sound they were known for 30 years ago.
I’m looking forward to it. You won’t want to miss their appearance.
Yes, I think a “TRIBUTE TO THE CATHEDRALS” would be a good alternate title.”
It would be great just to have quartets on the main stage. Do not and can not understand why the convention feels they need something other than quartets.
Have ANY of you ever heard or heard of the LIBERTY
QUARTET?????? They are out of HBoise, Idaho and
are the top group on the west side of the country!!
They have been to the Great Western Quartet conv
in Fresno for several years and are an awesome group!
Ask Gerald Wolfe! G/V & Liberty just did a joint session
last night in Meridian Id (5-7-09).
Give a listen and you will be surprised!!!
Bill – regular readers of my blog have heard of the Liberty Quartet, after several positive reviews I’ve done of their recent CDs.
Any chance you’re a relation of their lead singer (Dan Gilbert)?
cathedral tribute ,noted with many origional cathedral singers,and allow Glenn DUSTIN TO sing base for george ,with lg5, i love his mannerism,and singing.dont we substitute other groups for the cathedrals? fill in the gap they left ,as best we can .so a catherdral tribute monday,and thursday?let the pfiefers give up one night,and maybe a solo singer?and how about a GOLD CITY reunion may GOD richly BLESS You all thanks