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The National Quartet Convention kicked off about an hour ago with a surprise guest, Louisville’s own Larenelle Harris. He’s a former tenor for the Gaither Vocal Band and has had a successful career in Inspirational music. He sang the “Amen Chorus” and received an enthusiastic standing ovation. He also sang a medley of several songs, including “Were You There,” “Jesus Paid it All,” and “My Tribute.”

I had a couple of videos that needed to be uploaded for several different websites, so I had to slip out of Freedom Hall for a bit. But I plan to be back in about ten minutes to catch the Dixie Echoes and the Dixie Melody Boys.

I plan to post more late tonight or tomorrow morning, but thought an early sneak peek wouldn’t hurt anything!

A couple of days ago, when making my preparations for the National Quartet Convention, I noticed that the Collingsworth Family was doing a concert Sunday night in a town about halfway to Louisville. So I decided to tack the concert on to my trip.

This was the fourth or fifth time (Phil Collingsworth didn’t seem to be quite sure) that the Collingsworths had been to the Mt. Sterling First Church of the Nazarene. And whether it was the number of times they had been through the area or just more the group’s growing recognition isn’t quite clear, but there was an excitement in the air that I don’t recall noticing to that level since seeing Signature Sound on their home turf (Akron Baptist Temple in Akron, OH) several years ago.

More specifically, about 75 people were waiting in line to get in by about 15 minutes before the doors opened. By four minutes after the doors opened, I counted 170 people in a sanctuary that would seat about 400. The auditorium was at least half full ten minutes later. Room capacity was probably exceeded, and virtually every seat was taken (except the one next to me–and that reason may have to do with the fact that I was so close to the subwoofer that my foot was literally resting against it for most of the concert. I’m fortunate that there wasn’t a Mike Holcomb or David Hester in the group!).

Several of the Collingsworths were fighting colds or the flu. Olivia (the youngest) was in bad enough shape (with flu and a fever) that she stayed on the bus during the concert; Courtney and Phil Jr. were also under the weather but hung in for a nearly normal number of feature songs.

This was the most socially aware Collingsworth concert I’ve attended. Several references were made to current events, particularly the economic troubles, as several songs off the Collingsworths’ new project (The Answer) were chosen specifically with this in mind.

A set list:

• Tradin’ my Cross for a Crown (the whole family, featuring Brooklyn)
• Holy, Holy, Holy (the whole family, featuring Courtney) — despite her cold, she delivered a particularly strong a capella lead on this classic
• Ever Gentle, Ever Sweet (a ladies’ trio, featuring Courtney and Brooklyn) — this was the first of seven songs from the Collingsworths’ new project that they included in the program. They made the right pick to assign this song to the ladies’ trio of Kim, Brooklyn, and Courtney–the intricate harmonies were particularly pleasing in this setting.
• Come Into His Presence / Shout to the Lord / Trees of the Field (Phil Sr. on trumpet, Kim on piano)
• I Could Never Praise Him Enough (featuring Kim and Brooklyn) — another song from the new project
• Fear Not Tomorrow (ladies’ trio) — Kim mentioned how she had wanted to do this song on their 2005 project God is Faithful, and was voted down. Then she brought it back up for their 2007 project We Still Believe, and was voted down again. This time, when she brought it up for their 2009 project, the family was unanimous that it was the right time for the song. This song was exactly what I needed to hear, and evidently I wasn’t alone, since it received a standing ovation (the first of the night).
• Goodbye, World, Goodbye (piano solo featuring Kim) — another standing ovation
• I Shall Not Be Moved (whole family, featuring Brooklyn) — a third song from their new project. It’s probably the most progressive number the family has done, but did go over well.
• Lily of the Valley (fiddle duet by Brooklyn and Courtney, piano accompaniment by Kim)
• He Looked Beyond my Fault and Saw My Need (violin duet by Brooklyn and Courtney, piano accompaniment by Kim)
• I Know (featuring Phil Jr.) — this was Phil Jr.’s only vocal feature of the night, probably thanks to his cold. It was encored twice. This is a new song by Gerald Crabb, also touching on themes pertinent to the troubled economic climate. Phil Sr. commented, when introducing the song, that Gerald said he had written it especially for the group.
• Jesus is Still the Answer (mixed trio of Brooklyn/Kim/Phil, solos by Phil and Brooklyn) — this was the sixth song from their new project. Kim introduced the song by discussing how they had sung it at a county fair the previous Sunday night (an event, as she mentioned, that she wasn’t particularly keen on attending). It had been the first time they’d sung it publicly. After the Collingsworths sang the song (last night, in Mount Sterling), it received a standing ovation.
• Great is Thy Faithfulness (piano solo featuring Kim) — this is Kim’s new piano solo on The Answer, and they commented that this was the first time she has performed it publicly.
• The Lover’s Waltz (violin duet by Brooklyn and Courtney, piano accompaniment by Kim) — Phil Sr. introduced the song by saying that due to her sickness, Courtney’s voice was pretty much worn out, but her fingers weren’t, so he thought he would call another violin song.
• God is Faithful (mixed trio, featuring Kim)
• Piano Medley: Thank God I am Free / Wonderful Grace of Jesus / Majesty / A Mighty Fortress is Our God (piano solo by Kim Collingsworth) — except for A Mighty Fortress, this was based off of audience requests. I hadn’t heard her play “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” before–that song is particularly worth requesting in the future, as her three chords and a cloud of dust rendition gives the song a unique spin that fits it well.
• Hallelujah Chorus (piano solo featuring Kim) — The audience stood for the song, and there was a prolonged standing ovation at the end.

Even with one member out of commission and two struggling, the Collingsworth Family can put on a program that rivals any other group’s live concert experience with all members in full health. The songs from their new CD are a refreshing addition to their programs and should go over well later this week on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention.

Last night, I had the chance to catch the Inspirations live at Gospel Haven Mennonite Church in Millersburg, Ohio. This was my first time to see the new lineup with Dallas Rogers on tenor and David Ragan on lead.

A song list:

• Jesus is Mine (featuring Dallas)
• I Can Tell You Now the Time (featuring Dallas and David)
• How Great it Is (featuring baritone Melton Campbell)
• More to Go to Heaven For (featuring Dallas)
• Thinking More of Heaven (featuring David)
• Touring That City (featuring Dallas)
• The Rose (featuring Melton) – David and Melton had some particularly tight harmonies on this song. Their placement and enunciation are surprisingly, almost perfectly, close.
• Overwhelming Joy (featuring bass singer Mike Holcomb)
• Only One Door (featuring Jack Laws)
• He’s My Best Friend (featuring Jack)
• Thank You Lord (featuring David)
• I’ll Not Turn My Back On Him Now (featuring Dallas)
• I Have Not Forgotten (featuring David) – Very strong response. First standing ovation of the night.

During intermission, a local singer involved in prison ministry took a request from Inspirations baritone Melton Campbell that he lead the congregation in a Pennsylvania Dutch song (though, as the singer clarified, the song he selected was actually in high German). They sang a song with the tune to “What a Friend We Have In Jesus” (and then sang “What a Friend” in English). Probably well over half of the people present participated in the German song—enough that it sounded like the whole church.

Second half:

• Is That Footsteps (featuring Mike) – The audience was quite enthusiastic on this song.
• Two Shoes (featuring Dallas)
• Dealing With Gold (featuring Dallas) – The group ended up encoring this song several times.
• If You Only Knew (featuring Mike)
• I’m Not Ashamed (featuring Melton) – Another strong response. The audience stood at the start of the song and remained standing throughout.
• Inspirations pianist Martin Cook introduced Luke Vaught, a musician they brought along for the weekend to play guitar. Vaught played a piano solo. The chord progressions sounded close enough to “Oh, My Lord, What a Time” that that may have been the song, but I must confess to not being quite sure.
• Thirty Pieces of Silver (featuring Jack Laws)
• The Son Came Down (featuring Mike and David) – This new Dianne Wilkinson song got such a strong response that they ended up encoring it three times.
• When I Wake Up – Another strong response.

Mike Holcomb was not feeling well, so he was not featured as much as he frequently is in an Inspirations concert. So pianist / emcee Martin Cook used the opportunity to thoroughly introduce new members David Ragan and Dallas Rogers. They were both well received—in fact, after the concert, I happened to hear some discussion about whether David Ragan would be next year’s Horizon Individual of the Year.

The new lineup is more than capable of carrying on the group’s legacy. Perhaps I couldn’t do better than to quote an impression I scribbled in my notes as Dallas Rogers finished the second verse of “Two Shoes”: “It isn’t Archie. But it is the Inspirations.”

I had the opportunity to see the Blackwood Brothers in Sugarcreek, Ohio on Thursday. The group is led by Jimmy Blackwood, who sings lead, and also features Wayne Little on tenor, Randy Byrd on bass, and Brad White on baritone/piano.

First half:

• How About Your Heart (Jimmy/Brad/Randy/Wayne)
• He Touched Me (Jimmy)
• Old Country Church—This song got a particularly strong response.
• Introductions
• Jesus is Coming Soon
• Feelin’ Fine—Brad White’s piano playing wasn’t quite as audible as it typically is, since the piano in question was an upright (3/4 height?) and its sound didn’t carry all that well in the venue.  Even so, he was so good that I heard individuals walking away after the concert remarking that they’d never heard a better pianist, even though they’d heard [and here they named a list of familiar names].
• This Old House (Randy)
• The Lighthouse (Wayne)
• Since Jesus Came Into My Heart—This song probably would have received a standing ovation if the audience hadn’t been too full from the preceding dinner to stand up.
• How Great Thou Art (Randy, Jimmy)—Another strong response. Randy Byrd is the John Rulapaugh of tenor bass singers; John wasn’t the highest tenor ever and wasn’t always going for the highest note in his range, but he was every inch a tenor. No matter what note he sang, how low or high, one knew he was a tenor. And no matter how low or high Randy Byrd sings, his voices has an equally pleasant bass tone.

Second half:

• The Man Upstairs
• I’ll Fly Away
• Just a Little Talk (Randy, Wayne)
• I Wanna Be More Like Jesus (Jimmy)
• Requests:
  • In the Garden
  • Victory in Jesus
  • Amazing Grace
  • Beulah Land (Wayne)
  • Room at the Cross (Randy)
• It is Well—This song closed the concert and received a standing ovation.

The Blackwood Brothers are known for remarkable consistency. Wayne, Randy, and Brad have all been with Jimmy since the Blackwood Brothers name was brought back four or five years ago. They also have remarkable consistency in their song selection; most of the songs in the concert were the same as the last time I saw them, and probably 2/3 are the same as the first time I saw them several years ago. (And yet they do those songs well enough that I still drive across the state to hear them. Sugarcreek was a two hour drive.)

That said, this is probably about to change; the group signed with Daywind a couple of weeks ago and is working on a recording due out this fall that will include new songs from a number of Southern Gospel’s best known songwriters. It has been over twenty years since the Blackwood Brothers released a recording of new songs. (The name was retired when Cecil Blackwood died and stayed so until Jimmy brought it back in 2004.) But word is the project might just be worth the wait.

I had the chance to see the Perrys on Friday in New Philadelphia.

There were two opening acts, which I missed since I had the opportunity to interview alto Libbi Perry Stuffle for an upcoming feature interview on this site.

• I Love to Tell of His Love. This is the classic quartet tune performed by the Inspirations, among others.
• I Know it Was the Blood. This was their concert opener while Look No Further was their current project.
• You Cannot Improve On the Truth.
• He Will Hide Me. This was new baritone singer Troy Peach’s first feature of the night. Troy and Joseph turned in solid performances, and the song got a standing ovation.
• Did I Mention. The song, featuring alto singer Libbi Perry Stuffle, was well received; they did an acapella encore or two (but not as many encores as seen in a couple videos circulating online).
• This Old Sinner Testifies.
• Intros.
• Piano Solo. Bryan Elliott turned in a great rendition, so fast that I honestly didn’t figure out the song by the time it was over. But whatever it was, it was good enough that he got a standing ovation.
• If You Knew Him. Joseph Habedank turned in a particularly solid performance on this song, a song he co-wrote with Rodney Griffin. Habedank and Griffin are both able songwriters, but perhaps they are better together than individually; this song is one of the best in either songwriter’s catalog. There was a standing ovation.

After intermission, they sang:

• Living In Canaan Now. The soundtrack kicked off a little too early, before they all had their microphones on. But once everyone was in place, it was a solid rendition of the classic song.
• The Potter Knows the Clay. This song had a multimedia presentation; there was a video of potters shaping pottery on the screens. My family particularly liked this, but did mention to me that many audience members were watching the screens instead of the Perrys during the song.
• Old Fashioned Altar. This song has a Cajun feel to it; bass singer Tracy Stuffle introduced it by discussing how much Troy Peach loved crawfish. Then he introduced “Crawfish Troy” to sing the song. Knowing that I’d write about it, Troy wanted me to mention that he actually didn’t like crawfish—he doesn’t like eating something that’s looking back at him—lest the fans start bringing him bucketloads to eat.
• Calvary Answers For Me. This was the song that introduced me to the Perrys, the song that won me over as a fan. I had never heard them do it live. So I requested it, and they were gracious enough to include it in their set. It received a standing ovation.
• I Wish I Could Have Been There. They left the audience on their feet with this song, calling up the soloists who opened the concert to join them for the final encore.

Although lead singer Joseph Habedank had a sore throat, even a careful observer would not have noticed, other than the fact that he was a little cautious with his vocals for the first part of the opening song. But after that, he was so solid that a friend who (like me) listens to a wide variety of Southern Gospel groups commented to me after the concert that he thought Joseph was the best lead singer in Southern Gospel right now.

All in all, a solid performance, one that won the audience over to the new lineup. Pictures are here.

For those of you who happen to notice this within the next hour or so, you can catch a Perrys concert being streamed live here.

Tip: Right click, select zoom, and select full screen. At least on my Vista desktop, it works.

Here’s a set list being updated live:

• I Love to Tell, featuring Tracy Stuffle. The Perrys brought back this classic quartet song on their new CD, Almost Morning. It’s a great concert opener.
• I Know it Was The Blood. This started off their last album, Look No Further, and they had been using it as a concert opener for a while.
• He Will Hide Me, featuring new baritone Troy Peach. Peach was solid on this Perrys classic.
• Did I Mention, featuring Libbi Stuffle. This has been such a showstopper for them that I’m a little surprised they’re pulling it out this early. (Update) I’m still surprised. The Spirit is definitely moving, and the altar is definitely full. Other than encoring this song all evening, how can follow this?
• If You Knew Him, featuring Joseph Habedank. (Comment 1) Tracy is making the right call transitioning to this song, certainly the only song from their new project that could follow “Did I Mention.” He’s taking his time setting this song up, which is probably the only way to transition. (Comment 2) Joseph is hitting a home run. (Comment 3) Looks like it was a short concert! There’s going to be a sermon and then perhaps another song or two at the invitation. No wonder they sang those two at the end.

After the sermon:

• I Surrender All. Piano and vocals—simple but powerful.
• Did I Mention. Again powerful, a power ending.

Last night, I had the chance to hear Triumphant Quartet and the Collingsworth Family in Wooster, Ohio. A photo gallery from the concert is here.

A barbershop quartet called What’s Next opened the concert with two songs, “Swing Down Sweet Chariot” and “No More Sorrow.” One of the members was a cousin of the concert promoter. Their renditions were stellar, and the energetic harmonies on “Swing Down Sweet Chariot” quickly won the audience over.

Triumphant Quartet sang next:

• Amazed at the Change
• Everyday (featuring lead singer Clayton Inman)
• Jesus Built This Church on Love (featuring tenor David Sutton)
• Do You Know that You Know (featuring baritone Scotty Inman)
• He Is (featuring Clayton and Scotty)
• Look For Me (featuring bass Eric Bennett)
• What a Wonderful Day (featuring David)
• Goodbye, World, Goodbye (featuring David Sutton on harmonica and pianist Jeff Stice)
• Sunday Meeting Medley
• Medley: Climb Ev’ry Mountain / Till the Storm Passes By / You’ll Never Walk Alone (featuring Jeff)

Triumphant sang no less than six songs before saying a word. Their set was more subdued than a normal concert, largely because the promoter actually canceled their part of the booking after hearing them earlier and apparently disliking some of their comedy routines. The promoter and Eric Bennett talked for forty-seven minutes and ended up withdrawing the cancellation. (Eric Bennett told the story from the stage with the promoter standing next to him and actually turned it into quite a funny story.)

One highlight video:

On the other hand, the Collingsworth’s typical style fit the venue and the promoter’s tastes perfectly, and their program was more or less normal for them.

• Light from Heaven
• Holy Holy Holy (featuring Courtney) – This acapella rendition went over very well.
• God is In the Shadows (featuring Courtney)
• Trumpet / Piano medley – Come into His Presence / Shout to the Lord / Trees of the Field (featuring Phil and Kim) – A malfunction on one of the trumpet’s valves stopped Phil’s first solo within the first few notes. Kim (impressively) switched from accompaniment to melody within less than a measure. After some valve adjustments, Phil was back for the rest of his solo, with a strong finish.
• More Than Just a Swear Word (featuring Phil and Courtney)
• My Favorite Things (featuring Olivia) – Olivia apparently had a sore throat but was a trooper and delighted the audience, as usual.
• Salute to the Troops (piano solo featuring Kim)
• Lily of the Valley (fiddle duet – Courtney and Brooklyn)
• He Looked My Fault and Saw My Need (violin duet – Courtney and Brooklyn)
• Blessed Be the Lamb
• A Mighty Fortress is Our God / Hallelujah Chorus.

The audience stood at the start of the Hallelujah Chorus, but this song nevertheless received the strongest response of the night, with a prolonged ovation that must have lasted 45-60 seconds. Phil led the audience in a chorus of “Alleluia” before ending the first half.

Triumphant’s second half was rather short:

• Long Black Train (featuring Eric) – The audience seemed to enjoy this one.
• Don’t Let the Sandals Fool Ya – Interestingly, in the final choruses, both David Sutton and Eric Bennett chose less taxing alternate notes that didn’t require the particularly high or low ranges.
• Back to Me (featuring Scotty)
• Amazing Grace – This featured David Sutton on harmonica and Jeff Stice on piano.

Between Triumphant’s and the Collingsworth’s final sets, Jeff Stice and Kim Collingsworth played two piano duets, “When They Ring The Golden Bells” and “Meeting in the Air.”

When the Collingsworths came back on stage, Phil mentioned that one of Kim’s piano heroes and mentors was in the audience, and they called her up to play “In the Garden.” Then the Collingsworths sang three more songs:

• I Shall Not Be Moved (featuring Brooklyn) – This is a new song from their upcoming CD. It has a bridge from the familiar hymn, but is a different song by the same name.
• I Can Trust Jesus (featuring Courtney)
• May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You

I was somewhat surprised that Kim did neither of her signature songs (”How Great Thou Art” and “It is Well”) in the concert. But though I never get tired of hearing those two songs, it does illustrate an interesting point: They have built their group’s repertoire to the point that they don’t need to include those two songs to have a strong program.

Last night, the Collingsworth Family did a concert at the historic Rennaissance Theater in Mansfield, Ohio. Local businessman John Matthes, owner of Johnny’s Home Furnishings, paid the expenses of the concert and donated all proceeds to his church’s missions fund. Roughly 600 tickets were sold in advance (not counting tickets sold at the door), and the theater was fairly well filled. There were several hundred empty seats in the back and the balcony, but turnout was decent.

• Inhabit the Praise.
• Light from Heaven. The Collingsworth family has been singing this song for four years now, since it was released on CD and to radio in 2005. Since the last time I saw them sing this song, they have improved the live performance. One thing that particularly stood out was the Phil Jr. / Phil Sr. duet on a couple of lines during the verse they sing together. Their voices had a certain dynamic that just clicked in a fresh way on that song, most notably on the line “You’ve forgotten that the sky is blue.”
• Trumpet Medley (Come into His Presence / Shout to the Lord / Trees of the Field). One thing was different from previous times I’d seen this song. As before, Phil and Kim stayed on stage, and Phil Jr. was running sound. This time, Brooklyn and Courtney stayed on stage (in the literal background) to provide live background vocals. Although the prerecorded vocals were still on the track, only someone familiar with the track would have known.
• More than Just a Swear Word.
• My Favorite Things. The biggest change in the family since the last time I saw them was the maturity in Olivia’s voice. She recently turned 11, and on this song, her voice had very few of the little-child inflections that it had a year ago. Her voice is maturing into a smooth alto voice fairly similar to Courtney’s alto. There were a few notes, especially the high notes, where the little child could still be heard in her voice, but her voice is maturing quickly.
• Goodbye World Goodbye. This was Kim Collingsworth’s first piano solo of the night. I think Phil wasn’t quite expecting the enthusiastic response (I think the applause probably went close to a minute). But a large portion of the audience had probably never seen the Collingsworth family before, so this was their first time to see a Kim Collingsworth piano solo.
• Holy Holy Holy. This was done acapella and featured Courtney. After the strong response the piano solo received, this was a perfect transition.
• He Already Sees.
• Lily of the Valley. This fiddle duet by Brooklyn and Courtney received enthusiastic applause.
• He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need. This was a violin duet by Brooklyn and Courtney.
• It is Well (piano solo – Kim). This was the first standing ovation of the night.
• The Blood of Jesus.
• Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho (piano solo – Kim). This was performed at the special request of the promoter, John Matthes, and received a standing ovation. After this song, they took a break for intermission.
• Tradin’ This Old Cross for a Crown.
• The Lover’s Waltz (violin duo – Brooklyn and Courtney).
• I Can Trust Jesus.
• The Healer is Here.
• Piano Medley: Climb Every Mountain / ? / Ten Thousand Angels / Majesty / I’ll Fly Away / Then Came the Morning / Near the Cross. This was composed of requests from the audience. Kim focused on songs dealing with the Cross and the Resurrection,
• How Great Thou Art (piano solo – Kim). Stellar as always, and greeted by a standing ovation.

The concert was somewhere around 2 hours (counting the time off for intermission). Many in the audience had not seen the Collingsworth family before, and they picked up quite a few new fans last night.

When Southern Gospel makes it to my immediate area, it has always been in the form of church concerts. A local businessman is changing that: He has rented out the largest theater in town tomorrow night, bringing in the Collingsworth Family tomorrow night for a Good Friday concert.

What makes this even more unique is that he’s not looking to make money from this: He paid their flat and rented out the theater, and he’s donating profits to his church’s mission fund.

Information on tickets is available at the Renaissance Theater’s website, here, or by calling them at (419) 522-2726. Tickets are $15 for up front, $10 for towards the back, and $7.50 for the nosebleeds (balcony).

If you are within reasonable driving distance and don’t have other Good Friday plans, I would love to see you there. Post here in the comments and perhaps we can make plans to meet beforehand or afterwards.

Note: I’ve had requests from time to time to make a post about a specific upcoming concert. I virtually never do this, but this effort is significant for Southern Gospel in my area that I made a rare exception. And no, I wasn’t asked to do this – I know of the person promoting it, but have never talked with him and, in fact, presently can’t remember his name.

Last Saturday, I caught one of the Dixie Echoes’ all-too-rare Ohio concerts. They were at First Lutheran Church of Shelby, at a concert promoted by their music minister (who comments here from time to time as Paul the Concert Guy).

Though I didn’t do a head count this time, the concert hall was packed and extra chairs were set up; I’d say a solid 300 people were there, possibly 400.

Song list:

• I’ll Be Ready (featuring lead singer Randy Shelnut)
• Miracles Will Happen on that Day (featuring Randy)
• Come On to the House of the Lord
• How Big is God (featuring bass Pat Barker) – This song had one of the most enthusiastic responses of the night. If it had been a standing ovation crowd, it would have been a standing ovation.
• Intros
• Just a Little While (piano solo, Stewart Varnado)
• Until You Find the Lord (featuring baritone Scoot Shelnut)
• On the Other Side of Jordan (featuring Scoot)
• Peace In the Valley (featuring Randy) — I hadn’t heard them do this song before. It got a strong response, enough so that after a minute or two of comments about the song, Randy encored it.
• River of Jordan (featuring Pat Barker)
• Walk With Me (featuring tenor Wes Smith)
• Gonna Move to the Sky (featuring Randy Shelnut)
• Little is Much
• When They Ring those Golden Bells (intermission piano solo, Stewart Varnado)
• Ole Brother Noah (featuring Pat Barker)
• Plan of Salvation (featuring Pat Barker)
• How Great Thou Art (featuring Randy Shelnut)

They mentioned that they were all coming off a round of being under the weather. But it was completely unnoticable. Randy Shelnut’s legendary vocal abilities were as strong as always, and I’m convinced Pat Barker is a legend in the making. Wesley Smith has settled into his role as a Dixie Echoes-style tenor, doing well at matching Randy Shelnut’s inflections and placement, a third interval above Shelnut’s part. Baritone/bass guitarist Scoot Shelnut and pianist Stewart Varnado laid a strong musical foundation.

A personal highlight was their rendition of  the Cathedrals classic “Plan of Salvation.” Knowing that I would be there, and how much I love Cathedrals music, they worked up the arrangement that afternoon. It was the first time they had ever sung the song on stage; I found out after the fact that Stewart Varnado pulled up the song on YouTube a few minutes before the concert to learn the Cathedrals’ piano licks.

Nobody portrays the golden era of Southern Gospel better than the Dixie Echoes. A few groups come close—particularly the Chuck Wagon Gang and Jimmy Blackwood’s Blackwood Brothers,both singing the songs they were known for in yesteryear—but the Dixie Echoes’ performance of the classics and forgotten gems of the 50s, 60s, and 70s brings that era to life.