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The Ball Brothers learned to sing harmony while growing up Central Illinois. After hearing an uncle’s Cathedrals records and cassettes, they learned to pick out the parts and started to sing songs for their church. The four brothers, Andrew (tenor), Daniel (lead), Stephen (baritone), and Josh (sound engineer), released their first CD in February. Their current single is “I’m Already Living Forever.”

They received national exposure touring as the opening act for Ernie Haase and Signature Sound’s Summer Spectacular Tour. They also appeared on Signature Sound’s upcoming live video.

I recently had the opportunity to interview them.

Q. Did each of you have an equal desire to get into Southern Gospel, or did one of you talk the rest into going on the road?
Daniel: This has been a dream of all of us, so when the opportunity presented itself, we all jumped on it.

Q. Do any of you have formal musical training or play any musical instruments?
Stephen: All four took piano lessons for a year during grade-school, however none of us learned how to play. A couple of us also took trumpet lessons with the same result. Our parents are both accomplished musicians. Our mom plays the piano. Our dad plays the trumpet and was a music minister in Illinois for 15 years before pastoring in Georgia. All four of us guys learned alot of what we know musically from our parents.

Q. Compared to the rest of your songs, how difficult are the a capella songs you do? Do any of you have perfect pitch to keep the others in key?
Andrew: We love singing a capella! I guess for us a capella is actually easier than singing with music. We’ve found that the main thing when singing acapella is blend. As long as all three part are blended well, pitch issues aren’t as noticeable. None of us have perfect pitch, that I know of.

Q. Which musicians and groups, whether Southern Gospel or otherwise, were your greatest musical influences?
Daniel: We all agree on the one group that had the most influence on us, The Cathedrals. The Cathedrals were one of the few sg groups that made is up to Central Illinois. They also always took time to encourage us and give us a few pointers. Over the past year, EHSS and the Martins have really influenced our music. We listen to a very wide range of groups and pick up every cd that we can.

Q. What is the most unusual thing that has happened at a Ball Brothers concert?
Josh: This story is pretty unusual and comical. We were singing on a Sunday night at a little mountain church in Virginia, when we got there the pastor had just got back from a visit with a lady he was convinced was demon possesed. He told us the story in his office before we went out to sing. He had a special prayer to bind demonic powers away from the concert. The whole thing had him really shook up. The concert was going great until about the third song when a radio station started bleeding through our speakers (this wasn’t that uncommon with the song system we had at the time.) We knew exactly what it was, but unfortunately the pastor about passed out because he thought that the demons had made their way into the church. =)

Q. If you could pick any place in the world to perform a concert, where would it be?
Andrew: Each of us have been on multiple foreign missions trips. We were all talking the other day about one day doing a Southern Gospel tour of Europe. We would like to go back and sing in some of the countries that we did missions work in. Such as: Romania, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Germany and maybe a few others.

Q. Does the group have a resident comedian?
All: Andrew has a very dry sense of humor.
Daniel has a quick whited sarcastic humor.
Stephen has more of a situational comedy type of humor.
Josh is humorous to look at.
During our concerts people will see each guys unique style of humor.

Q. Ernie Haase introduced you this summer by telling the story of playing a basketball game with you before discovering you could sing. Did he decide on the spot to include you in the Summer Spectacular tour? (If he called later, what was it like to get that call?)
Stephen: He mentioned the possibility of doing some of the summer tour dates which included the first weekend. After the first weekend was over, he invited us to come on the bus for all of the summer tour dates. Needless to say we were ecstatic about the opportunity.

Q. Was there a “most memorable moment” in the Summer Spectacular tour for you?
All: It’s hard to pick out one moment because so many great things happened each week of the tour. So here are two “most memorable moments”. All of us agree that one of the top moments was when we sang in Fort Worth, TX in front of nearly 3,000 EHSS [Ernie Haase & Signature Sound] fans. The other top moment was getting to be a part of EHSS new DVD.

Q. I understand your next release to radio will be the song “Mercy Said No.” When did you first hear the song, and what led you to decide to record it and release it to radio?
Daniel: We first heard the song from our manager, Terry Hudson. It was the first song he sent us when we started talked about what to put on our first project. In order for a song to make it on our project, all four of us guys had to agree it was something we all wanted to record. I guess that’s why we went through about 1,500 songs before we all agreed on ten. Our main reason for making it our second radio single is because of the response from people. It’s one of our most requested songs.

Q. Might there ever be a bass in the Ball Brothers’ future?
Andrew: Josh would sing bass now if his voice was low enough. All of us have high voices and we don’t have any plans on bringing a “non-brother” in, but you never know.

Q. If you ever record a project of your favorite Southern Gospel songs, what are some of the songs you might pick?
All: Here are a few of our favorites:
Oh What a Savior
He Set Me Free
Because He Lives
I Bowed On My Knees
Where Could I Go

Q. Do you hope to be singing Southern Gospel for the rest of your lives?
Stephen: Definitely! We would all like to sing Southern Gospel all of our lives like, Glenn Payne, Jake Hess, George Younce and all the other heroes that we grew up listening to.

Q. Do you have any future plans you’d like to share, or any other comments?
Ball Brothers: A couple of exciting things that are coming up is:
1. Mr. Gaither asked us to be part of some new Homecoming Videos that will be recorded in February.
2. We are making final arrangements on starting our second project, which will be an a cappela project. We hope to have it finished [and released] by the first of the year. We started putting samples and updates on the website over the next few weeks.

Click here to listen to samples from the Ball Brothers’ debut CD.

This is the first interview I’ve posted on this blog. I will see if I can arrange an interview every month. Feel free to post requests for future people to be interviewed in the comments.

No Tribute/Monument Quartet news has come out in official press releases since yesterday afternoon’s press release announcing the formation of the Tribute Quartet. But it’s almost funny to watch this Singing News forums thread where people purporting to know various individuals involved are trying to put out their spin on the case.

It appears as though Marshall Pugh either told all three members to leave, or, in a story that sounds more probable, asked one to leave and the other two decided go as well.

But there is something that doesn’t exactly line up about either story. The original press release, printed here in Singing News, referred to Gary Casto as the manager:

Gary Casto, who will be handling the management of the group, says, “In the past few weeks, we have had many inquiries as to what the future would bring for Josh and me. Our hearts continue to be in Southern Gospel Music, and we are excited to be forming this new music ministry.”

In a post earlier this morning, I mentioned that there was a rumor that the Monument Quartet was disbanding. When I contacted the Monument Quartet’s office, my email was answered by Marshall Pugh, who informed me that the Monument Quartet was not disbanding.

Sharp reader Jennifer noticed that Singing News’s SG Wire posted a press release this afternoon announcing that while the Monument Quartet may not have disbanded, three of its members (lead Gary Casto, baritone Josh Singletary, and bass Dennis Dugger) have left to form the Tribute Quartet.

The Beckie Simmons Agency, which had booked the Monument Quartet, has signed the Tribute Quartet to a booking and recording agreement. So although the Monument Quartet is still featured on BSA’s website (as of 3:00 this afternoon), it appears as though Gary, Josh, and Dennis got to keep the booking deal, and Marshall got to keep the name and possibly the recording deal.

I wish both Marshall and the members of the Tribute Quartet the best of success as they attempt to rebuild their groups.

Southern Gospel online magazine www.thesoutherngospel.com has their Southern Gospel Music Awards online voting taking place right now. In the “Favorite Male Soloist” category, the top five nominees are Kirk Talley, David Phelps, Ivan Parker, Guy Penrod, and Michael Combs. Guy Penrod?

For whatever it’s worth, I’m casting my vote for Guy Penrod, for no reason in particular other than that I’d be amused to see what happens if he wins.

I also voted for Karlye Hopper for favorite junior artist. I did not know that she sang at all, but perhaps the Hoppers have started training her to sing alto to be ready whenever Claude and Connie retire.

A recent poster in the Singing News forums posted a rumor that the Monument Quartet was disbanding.

The Monument Quartet formed just last year, by two former members of the Wilburns (Gary Casto singing lead and Josh Singletary singing baritone and playing piano), Dennis Dugger at the bass position, and Marshall Pugh singing tenor. The quartet got off to a strong start and were one of the Top 5 Nominees for Horizon Group of the Year in the 2006 Singing News Fan Awards. (I voted for them; they may well have won had it not been for the radio success of the Mike LeFevre Quartet’s cover of the CCM song “Days of Elijah.”)

I contacted the Monument Quartet to make them aware of the rumor. I heard back from Marshall Pugh who is the group’s tenor and now owner. He confirmed that the group will not be disbanding. However, he said to be watching for an upcoming press release about possible personnel changes.

I wish Monument Quartet the best as they go through this challenging time; may they come out of it as strong as ever.

The Associated Press wire recently put out a feature story on Kenny Bishop. This story can be found online in Lexington, Kentucky’s Herald-Leader. Kenny Bishop was fairly open with the story’s writer (Roger Alford) about his journey as a prodigal – and what prompted him to come back home.

While visiting a Lexington nightclub, a young man walked over to him and started talking.

“He told me ‘you sang in my church the night that I accepted Christ,’” Bishop said. “And at that moment I realized where I was. It was like cold water in the face.”

Those piercing words, Bishop said, allowed him to see that he was in the prodigal’s pigpen and that he needed to return home.

The story contains several items of interest to Southern Gospel trivia buffs (such as Bishop’s current salary, of all things). It’s worth checking out.

Daniel Britt, who has established a reputation for getting the scoop on Southern Gospel news, has posted the audio on the story of Kelly McRae’s announcement that she is coming off the road. He also posted the audio from the American Gospel Music press conference at the National Quartet convention.

A member of the Providence Gospel Trio posted on the Singing News forums a review of a Crabb Family last night in Oklahoma. At the concert, it was announced that Terah and Adam Crabb are planning to start a new group. Aaron and Jason still plan to expand their preaching ministries. (Although it was not mentioned in the post, Kelly Crabb Bowling’s last announced intentions were to join her husband Mike in his mixed quartet, the Mike Bowling Group.)

Rating: 4 Stars

The Palmetto State Quartet released their most recent project, Sweet Land of Rest, on June 13, 2006. It is the final Palmetto State project featuring tenor John Rulapaugh and bass Aaron McCune in the same group. It was Rulapaugh’s fifth project with the group and McCune’s fourth.

Black-and-white photos with sepia tinting give the cover and packaging of the album an old-fashioned look. The liner notes give the copyright information, credits, and a list of the group members.

The project starts with two uptempo songs, “I’m Gonna Pray” and “No Doubt Salvation.” The former, an uptempo Dianne Wilkinson tune, was introduced by the Dove Brothers in 2001 on Every Time I Feel the Spirit. Ironically, John Rulapaugh first recorded the song on an album released during his final year with the Dove Brothers, and brought it back on an album recorded during his final year with Palmetto State. The Blackwood Quartet (Rulapaugh’s current group) would be advised to avoid recording the song if they want to keep him around for a while!

Aaron McCune has the solo on the song’s first verse. His voice quality on this song has a quality reminiscent of Bill Lawrence and, to a lesser degree, of Tim Riley. In hindsight, his performace of this song could well have helped Aaron get the call from Gold City. Kerry Beatty takes the solo on the second verse.

The third song on the project, “Sweet Land of Rest,” is probably the highlight of the project. This Dianne Wilkinson song was introduced by the Kingsmen on their 2005 project The Past is Past. John Rulapaugh turns in one of his finest performances with the Palmetto State Quartet on this song. If Rulapaugh had not left the group a few months ago, this song could have been a very strong radio single. It is unlikely that this song would ever hit the airwaves, and that’s unfortunate because it would probably do quite well.

Though the song is new, it has an old-time feel; this might be because adding Rulapaugh’s classic tenor voice to a song with melodic similarities to the chorus of “Sweet Beulah Land” can put the listener in a nostalgic mood.
The fourth song is another up-tempo song, “Old Fashioned Altar Call.” The song, written by Daryl K. Williams of the Daryl Williams Trio, is the group’s current radio single and is presently at #30 on the Singing News October 2006 Top 40 Chart.

Several mid-tempo and slow songs follow. Aaron McCune is featured on “In the Palm of His Hand.” Kerry Beatty is featured on the following two songs, “Only By the Blood” and “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.” (”Only By the Blood” is not the same song as Brian Free & Assurance recorded on their Live in New York City album last year.)

Rick Fair is featured on a slow ballad, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The project closes with two mid-tempo songs, “What a Wonderful Lord” and “I am Sailing Away.”

On the initial listen, I would probably have given the project 3 or 3.5 stars. But the songs grow on you after you’ve played it seven or eight times, and I think that this solid performance deserves 4 stars. It is unlikely that it will receive the attention it deserves, since the Palmetto State Quartet will probably release a project with their new tenor (Wesley Smith) and bass (Burman Porter) as soon as they can. But this is a solid project, and is (along with their 2004 release It’s Settled) one of the two best that the Palmetto State Quartet has released in recent years.

Ever since the Inspirations and Signature Sound tied for Male Quartet of the Year in last Thursday’s Fan Awards, this unlikely tie has been the topic of heated discussion on various Southern Gospel message boards.

Most of this discussion has centered around how hard it would be to find two less similar groups. But looking beyond the surface dissimilarities reveals some interesting parallels.

Both groups are vocally led by a tenor and anchored by a bass; in each case, the tenor and the bass are (arguably) the most popular of the group members. While the bass part often has the best-known individual, relatively few groups are led vocally by a tenor.

But there is a key similarity, which makes the many of the same fans willing to vote for either for quartet of the year. Both devote about least half of their live concerts, and a quarter to a third of the slots on their recordings, to bringing back classic songs that were popular before that group’s founding. Many of these songs are convention songs with a walking bass part. After they establish a connection with live audiences with familiar songs, they sing the new songs that they have introduced.

Granted, there are differences between the groups as well–musical differences such as instrumentation or accents, and superficial differences such as hairstyle or tie length.

But since bloggers such as averyfineline (figuratively) tear their hear out in puzzlement over how the same voters could possibly vote for one group one year and another group another year, it’s worth stepping back for a moment to take in the fact that, after all, both groups do come from and utilize the same Southern Gospel tradition, in ways that have their similarities just as they have their differences.

In conclusion, I have no idea what the Inspirations think of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound but it’s fascinating to read what Ernie Haase thinks of Archie Watkins and the Inspirations.