Yesterday afternoon, The Perrys announced on their Facebook page that Joseph Habedank is leaving the group. Habedank offered this statement:

After 10 years of having the great privilege to serve with the Perrys, I have decided to step down as Lead Singer at this time. Libbi and I talked earlier this week, and while I would never want to abandon her in such a great time of need, sometimes The Lord has other plans. There aren’t enough words for me to express how truly grateful I am for both Tracy and Libbi giving me the opportunity that they have. They are like parents to me and I love them dearly. I will miss them. 

To the Gospel Music community, thank you all for loving and accepting me over the years. I never dreamed that The Lord would allow me to feel so loved by the fans of Gospel Music. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

As for my future, only The Lord knows what He has in store. I am confident of this one thing tho; I am absolutely nothing without Him and I only want His perfect will for my life. My wife, Lindsay, and I both covet your prayers in this time of transition. We love you all. 

With a grateful heart,
Joseph Habedank 

Libbi Perry Stuffle added her own thoughts:

While it saddens me that Joseph is leaving, we definitely respect his and Lindsay’s need to reevaluate their lives and future. He has been like a son to me and Tracy. Although he is leaving our group, we will always consider him part of our family. 

As for the Perry’s, we will continue on. It is my plan to be back on the road as soon and as much as possible. I don’t have all the answers right now, but God is in control. Thank you for your love and prayers for me, Tracy, Jared, Bryan, and Leah; and your continued support of the group.

In His Grip,
Libbi

At the time of the stroke, Joseph Habedank was nearing ten years with the group. Besides the length of his tenure, his stature as a songwriter (multiple #1 hits and a Song of the Year) played a major role in audiences accepting the Stuffle-less Perrys. But at the time of the stroke, Bryan Walker was the rookie in the group; he’s now the senior member at the programs far enough from Nashville that Libbi can’t make it. So Bryan, Leah, and Habedank’s replacement face a steep road ahead and will need our prayers.

The Mark Trammell Quartet just announced that Dustin Black has accepted the position of tenor. Black grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and is the first Yankee the group has ever hired. When he started filling in, he was so new to the genre of music that he underwent a ninety-day trial period so that both Black and the group could be certain he was the right fit before the hire was finalized.

Mark Trammell comments: “We are SO excited about Dustin coming on board and we look forward to what is in store for both Dustin and MTQ. I am still convinced that God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. … He is a brand new face to gospel music and has already made many new friends across the country with his winning smile and warm personality. He has proven to be a true Christian Gentleman in every way. I was immediately impressed with this young man and his ability to just be one of the boys. Dustin had only been to one gospel concert prior to walking on our bus. It was a Gaither event in California a few years back while he was finishing his Masters degree in music at West Coast Baptist College.”

Larry Strickland, Palmetto State Quartet bass singer/manager, has announced that the Palmetto State Quartet name will once again be retired. The group is running a contest and accepting replacement name suggestions at NameTheGroup@gmail.com. The winning entry will receive a $500 cash prize, the first copy of the group’s next CD, front row seats to any upcoming concert, and assorted other prizes. The group intends to announce the replacement name on June 3rd.

The quartet has been based out of Tennessee, not South Carolina (the Palmetto State), for a number of years, so the change only makes sense.

Brian Free & Assurance has announced that, after nearly ten years with the group, baritone Derrick Selph is coming off the road. The group commented: “He has been such an amazing part of this ministry for almost 10 years, and he will be greatly missed. As many of you know, Derrick and his wife Jennifer are expecting their second child, and he feels that he needs to be at home more. He will be greatly missed because we truly are family but we all want him to do what he feels he needs to do in this situation.” Selph will remain with the group for several more weeks, during the transition.

The group is accepting applications (audio clip, bio, picture) at P.O. Box 1909, Douglasville, GA 30133, or brianfreemusic@comcast.net

Inspirations lead singer David Ragan announced yesterday evening that he is leaving the group. He is married to Michelle Ragan; they have a newborn son, Bradley, born exactly one week ago. 

In a statement posted on Facebook, he indicated that he was not fired; he chose to leave the group due to irreconcilable differences. He added:

Singing for the Inspirations was my dream ever since I first saw them in concert when I was 14 years old. I am very thankful that God allowed me to live that dream for the past 4 ½ years. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. I have met some of the most amazing, wonderful people in the world, and I have been privileged to experience so many things that many people never get to. I have made so many friends, both artists and fans alike, in the past several years. For all of that I am extremely grateful. …

To the guys I have sung with, I support you and love you like brothers. I have never, nor will I ever take your friendship for granted. I wish them all the best and hope they can find somebody that sings better than me!

Let me say a huge thank you to all of you who have supported me, befriended me, and prayed for me during the last 4 ½ years. I am very grateful. At this point I’m not sure what the future holds or if I will sing full-time again, but I will keep you all posted. Please continue to pray for me and my wife along with our newborn son as we begin a transition into a new time in our lives. Please pray that I’m able to find employment soon as well.

I love you all and thank God for the opportunity to be involved in the greatest music this world has ever known. God bless you all.

We ran a feature interview with him in September 2009, which you can read here. He is one of our genre’s most gracious and personable singers; hopefully it won’t be too long until we see him again.

UPDATE, 4/30/13, 7 AM: Jon Epley posted a statement to The Inspirations’ Facebook page:

Hello everyone, this is Jon Epley. First of all, let me say on behalf of all the guys, that we love David and wish the best for him. He is an incredible singer and a good friend. David made a decision that he felt was the right thing for him and his family, and we support his decision. There was no sin or immorality involved, so we can put any of those rumors to rest!

Change is never easy, but at times it is inevitable. We, The Inspirations, will continue to sing about the same Jesus and His great love, and that will never change. We appreciate ALL of our friends and thank you for sticking by us through even the most difficult of times. We hope you will continue to stand by us as we seek the Lord’s will in the search for that one person that God has in mind for us. We know that He always has a plan and covet your prayers in the days ahead. … We love each and every one of you and look forward to seeing you down the road!

One question that gets asked time and again in this website’s comments is “What happened to Glenn Dustin?” He left Legacy Five last July, after a thirteen-year run with the group.

He is now driving buses for the Hemphill Brothers (hat tip, Josh). In fact, at a dinner in January, he was named their Rookie of the Year; here’s a photo of him accepting the award.

In a radio interview earlier this week with Springfield, Missouri’s KWFC Radio, Tim Riley announced that Robert Fulton is Gold City’s new tenor singer. Fulton has been filling in for the last month or two.

He is a Gallipolis, Ohio native, and studied music University of Rio Grande. He sang in their university choir. He also sang with the regional group Forgiven 4 and, most recently, the Palmetto State Quartet. 

Left to right: Shane McConnell, Aaron Crabb, Matthew Hagee, Tim Duncan

Canton Junction announced this afternoon that acclaimed studio vocalist Shane McConnell will be replacing founding baritone Michael Sykes. McConnell has been a studio vocalist in Nashville for fifteen years, and has made frequent appearances on Gaither Homecoming recordings and concerts since 2006.

Canton Junction is based out of Cornerstone Church in Texas; Sykes, who had been on staff at Cornerstone, recently relocated from Texas back to Nashville.

Matthew Hagee, tenor for Canton Junction and Executive Pastor of Cornerstone Church, commented: ”Shane is a remarkably talented and incredibly gracious individual, who greatly complements the idea that Canton Junction is where good things come together We are extremely blessed to have him and look forward to what the future holds for Canton Junction.”

McConnell added: “I’ve enjoyed all the opportunities I’ve had in the studio through the years, but now as a member of Canton Junction, I’m especially looking forward to being able to interact with live audiences. I’ve always loved quartet harmonies, but I also have a heart for praise & worship, so Canton Junction seems like a great home for me. I believe it’s going to be a fun journey!”

For many groups, the first personnel change can be a hurdle. This doesn’t seem to be the case here. Canton Junction has had to answer questions of whether they’re just a church quartet—albeit perhaps the most talented church quartet in the country! That they would carry on through a lineup change—especially with the loss of such an acclaimed producer and vocalist as Sykes, and finding a similarly acclaimed replacement—speaks to a certain level of seriousness about the quartet that promises well for their future.

The Dixie Melody Boys just announced that baritone singer Steven Cooper has been experiencing vocal issues so severe that doctors are advising several years of vocal rest. But he’s not leaving the group; he will move to bass guitar. They plan to hire a baritone singer who can also play piano and bring back a live band.

Cooper commented: “”I want to thank everyone for their concern and understanding over the last year. It has been difficult time having to go through this as a singer. I hope that someday my voice will return and I will be able to sing again. I ask that you will keep me in your prayers as I trust God for a healing. I also want to thank Ed, Matt and Mike for their support in this change and for allowing me to remain a member of the group.”

The Dixie Echoes have announced the departure of tenor singer Craig Thomas and bass singer Jordan James. “Both men have been great additions to the group, and we will sure miss these guys, but we respect their decisions to be home with their families.” Group baritone/manager Scoot Shelnut confirms that both have agreed to stay on until replacements are found. They are requesting that bass and tenor singers interested in auditioning send a demo and short resumé to scoot@dixieechoes.com.

Both were able vocalists; Jordan James had a tone that lead various observers to include that he had the potential to become one of the industry’s leading bass singers. Hopefully this isn’t the last we see of him. Here’s a video of James in action: