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The Mark Trammell Trio announced yesterday that their new tenor will be Joel Wood. His first official date with the group will be July 10 in Sikes, Louisiana.

Wood had performed with Georgia’s Daybreak Quartet for four years. Joel and his wife Melissa have four boys—Tyler (10), Brayden (7), Jaxon (3), and Cameron (9 months). He just had his 29th birthday.

Joel had been with Daybreak since May 2005 and owned a landscaping business, Mac’s Landscaping in Columbus, Georgia. Before joining Daybreak Quartet, he sang with several other groups, most recently the Damascus Road Quartet. He also occasionally sings with Men of Grace, a group based in his home church, Grace Baptist Church of Columbus, Georgia. His brother David is also in that group.

He enjoys golf, and according to Daybreak’s biographies page, at one point made plans to attempt to go professional.

The quartet has posted a number of complete songs on their ShoutLife page. Wood has a solo on “Nothing But the Blood” and a brief lead on “The Cross Speaks Louder.” Via Daybreak’s Facebook page, a number of other songs are available for listening here. Wood has a solo on “Sing Oh Sing,” “God Bless the USA,” and “My Country Tis of Thee.” Wood’s voice quality reminds me of Liberty Quartet’s Keith Waggoner (and, though Waggoner isn’t a household name yet, I say that as a compliment to Wood).

The Mark Trammell Trio has named Daybreak Quartet’s Joel Wood as their new tenor.

More thoughts tomorrow.

Brian Free & Assurance lost their baritone singer recently when Derrick Selph announced his departure. A familiar face will be returning; Randy Crawford, who has also performed with the Toney Brothers and with the Carolina Boys / Kingsmen, will be their new baritone singer. During his earlier stint with Brian Free & Assurance, Crawford sang with the group on hit songs such as “Who Is This King” and “What A Difference A Day Makes.” His first official concert will be on July 16th in Jackson, Tennessee.

Via Katie, who is L5girl-N-TX on SouthernGospelForums.com:

I got to talk to Frank Friday night. I just told him that I’d heard some rumors going around about him leaving the group and I wanted to hear from him if he was.

He said that in several weeks Frank Jr is going to have to be in the hospital for a month. He said that him staying depends on how Frank Jr is after that. He said if he is gets good results and he’s doing alright he’ll stay, but if something happens his son needs to be his #1 priority. As much as I don’t want him to leave, I completely understand. He told me that he just felt like he had to be honest with Scott about it, because if something happened with his son and he was still with the group he didn’t want to have be in the position where L5 needed him and he also needed to be with Frank Jr. He said that they had checked in to some possibilities of either a temporary or replacement tenor.

So as of right now he’s not leaving. They just have to keep in mind the possibility of needing another tenor. He said they’re just praying and waiting on what God leads them to do. But he did tell me that unless something happens where he has to leave or unless God leads him to do something else, he would NEVER leave! He said he loves what he does and really believes this is what God has lead him to do.

So definitely keep Frank and Frank Jr. in your prayers!

Yesterday, Gold City announced that they have hired Chris Cooper as their new tenor. Cooper hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and has been involved in Southern Gospel for twelve years.

Group manager Daniel Riley said though they had “a lot of great singers apply for this job,” Cooper had a “very unique voice” and was the “best equipped vocally.” Cooper’s first date with Gold City will be July 1st at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

Cooper has performed with Safe Harbor and (the pre-Signature Sound) N’Harmony.

Here’s a video clip of a song that features Cooper (hat tip, Nate):

The rumor has been circulating for about a week that baritone Derrick Selph is leaving Brian Free and Assurance. Now, apparently, it’s official. His plans involve studying to become an electrician.

It seems the NQC turnover season started early this year. Gold City and Mark Trammell Trio have lost their tenors within the last couple of weeks, Brian Free and Assurance lost their baritone, and it sounds as though one other major group’s tenor who has a family member facing serious health issues may soon be moving on.

The Mark Trammell Trio has announced the resignation of founding member Eric Phillips. He has been their tenor since they started seven years ago. He is leaving to pursue a career in law enforcement.

The announcement on the group’s website states:

It is with bittersweet emotion that we announce the soon departure of our award winning tenor Eric Phillips.  Eric has served this ministry with integrity and honor since our very beginning seven years ago.  Bitter, because I view him as a second son and cherish the bond and relationship God has allow us to have for these years.  Sweet, because we firmly believe that God has a plan for all of us as we move forward to the next phase of our lives.  Eric has been praying with careful consideration about this move for a number of months and feels confident that his return to Law Enforcement is what is best for he and his family.  Please join us in praying for God’s perfect will for both Eric and this ministry.  His departure will take place sometime mid to late summer depending on our finding a suitable replacement and his re-instatement to active duty as a police officer.  As Eric stated to me, “I have two passions.  One is singing, and the other is Law Enforcement.  I have enjoyed my days with MTT and have enjoyed the love of gospel music fans around the world.  But I am convinced this is the right timing for this change.”  Anyone interested in auditioning for the tenor position should send a brief resume along with a sample tape or CD to Mark Trammell Trio/audition/PO Box 588/Gadsden, AL/35902. We will in turn listen and then contact those we feel to be the individuals most likely to fit our style, etc.   Auditions will begin just after fathers day as the group will be on an eight day tour and then vacation immediately following.  If you wish to send cards of encouragement to Eric, Lauren, Carley, and Blake, send them to Eric Phillips / c/o Mark Trammell Trio/PO Box 588/Gadsden, AL 35902.  I smile when reminded that the only thing that doesn’t change is Jesus.  In order for us to grow as Christians, change must take place.  We wish Eric and his family God’s speed in the days ahead.

In HIS service,

Mark Trammell

Phillips’ distinctive voice and range make him nearly irreplacable. What is even more rare than his range, though, is his consistency. The tenor part is the most demanding part to sing; even the best professional Southern Gospel tenors have nights where they struggle to hit certain notes. But Phillips was rarely if ever heard to struggle to hit notes.

Here is one of my favorite Phillips moments:

EDIT. One other thought. Phillips is undeniably going out on top. Not only is he in peak voice, but he is also coming off the success of the group’s strongest project to date, Always Have a Song to Sing, a project I reviewed and rated 5 stars of 5 here.

Yesterday, Dan Keeton announced that he will be disbanding the Dan Keeton Quartet and focusing on solo dates or dates with his wife:

The last year and a half has been a roller coaster ride for me. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. If you manage a group than you know very well the ups and downs of this Gospel Music.

The times are changing. I have had more requests to minister and give my testimony than to do concerts with a quartet. And as much as I love having a quartet, God’s will is far more important to me. I have waited and prayed that my wants and desires are what God wants for me. But as you well know, he laughs at our plans!

This week is a prayerful time for me. I am praying that God will open the doors he wants open and closes the doors he wants closed. So, consider this a request for your prayers. All of you are my closest friends. We’ve been through so much the last year and a half, I feel like I can trust you, that you will want God’s will as well.

So, that being said, as of Sunday June 1st, 2009, I have disbanded The Dan Keeton Quartet. All upcoming dates will offer something fresh and new, I promise! The future holds new and exciting things for Nancy and I. The next few emails will let you in on all of it! Stay Tuned!

I love you all, Your comments and opinions are appreciated!

Blessings,

Dan Keeton
www.keetonsong.com

After 60 years on the road, the Lewis Family has announced that they will be singing their last concert on September 5. This was necessitated by health issues, one of which was that Polly Copsey’s Parkinson’s and dementia has moved to such an advanced stage that she has recently had to get off the road. Copsey is one of the three Lewis sisters who provided the backbone of the group’s sound for years (and, incidentally, is also the mother of Sheri Easter).

The Augusta Chronicle reports:

A card mailed last week announced that family comedian and all-around musician Little Roy Lewis and former Lincolnton resident and banjo/fiddle player Lizzy Long would be available for bookings in 2010. The two have been appearing in concerts and festivals many times in recent years separate from The Lewis Family, often with banjo playing legend Earl Scruggs.

This family has made a long-term impact on the Southern Gospel and Bluegrass genres with their unique blend of Bluegrass Gospel, and they will be missed.

Two former members of Charlie Waller’s new Florida Boys have reunited as part of Huntsville, Alabama’s Alliance.

Pianist Joshua Pope, a 16-year-old who has filled in with the Dove Brothers and Kingdom Heirs, and was a member of Waller’s new Florida Boys, joined the group during the last week of April. Former Alliance tenor Dustin Bearden is returning to the group after spending time singing in Waller’s Florida Boys Quartet and the Blackwood Gospel Quartet.

The group is also currently accepting auditions for a lead singer, and can be contacted at www.allianceqt.com or 256-390-8367.