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Legacy Five just distributed a press release announcing that pianist Tim Parton will be leaving the group “to pursue other interests.” He will leave once a replacement is found.

Tim Parton stated that he “enjoyed filling in for Roger Bennett during his illness and was glad to stay on board after his death,” but that he got to the point where he had to choose between touring and other musical opportunities. (This could involve producing, since he has been involved in producing albums before.) He thanks Legacy Five fans “for welcoming me and accepting me into the Legacy Five family.”

Scott Fowler thanked Parton for helping through “a rough transition” with “humility and class.” He added, “There isn’t an unkind bone in Tim’s body. He’s one of my favorite people and all the guys will miss him but we wish him all the best.” Fowler will be auditioning pianists and can be contacted at scottfowler@legacyfive.com.

Parton is the second pianist to leave a major Southern Gospel group this week, Matthew Holt’s departure from the Perrys. The particularly weird feature is that both are top 5 nominees in the Singing News Fan Awards. Voting on the final round has ended, so this will not affect the vote. However, Singing News may not choose to count votes for Holt and Parton as being valid; their policies aren’t entirely clear on that point.

Everyone knew Roger Bennett would be a difficult and nearly impossible act to follow. Tim Parton did well under the circumstances, quietly supporting the group from the background rather than trying to duplicate Bennett’s on-stage charisma. His year and a half as the group’s official pianist (with several months spent filling in previously), though more or less an interlude in the group’s history, will go a long way toward letting the group’s third pianist bring his own set of shoes to fill.

Rating: 4.5 stars (of 5)

Producer: Ken Harding, Daniel Riley.

Songlist: Ain’t That What It’s All About; When I Get Carried Away; Introduction of Members; Teach Me Lord to Wait; I’m Rich; Look Who Just Checked In; Under Control; If God Be For Us; Truth is Marching On; Get Up, Get Ready; After Awhile; Alone in the Garden; Mercy Came Running; Preach the Word.

Available from: Amazon, CBD, artist.

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This summer, Gold City releases two projects. Moment of Truth, a CD of new songs, was reviewed last week. Live at the National Quartet Convention features thirteen songs recorded over Gold City’s three sets at NQC last September. Unlike a Gaither release, where a CD and DVD released together feature (mostly) the same songs, this video features songs from Gold City’s previous release, Revival.

Gold City staged seven of the ten songs on Revival for the video; the only three that weren’t were “God’s Still Good,” “That’s What I’m Talkin’ About,” and “Not Anymore.” Five classics also made the set list–”When I Get Carried Away,” “Under Control,” “If God Be For Us,” “After Awhile,” and “Alone in the Garden.”

This is Jonathan Wilburn’s last film project with the group. It was the first in another way, though–Gold City’s first DVD without a band. But since NQC’s stage setup hides the band down on the side, their absence is less felt than in a concert taped in a typical church or theater setting.

Since performers don’t have the opportunity to stop for a re-take, often live-at-NQC videos suffer a little in video and audio quality. But the videography is impressive–though a notch below Gaither’s Hi-Def quality, it’s several notches above video quality in some previous NQC projects. There are few if any awkward cuts as a group member moves out of the camera’s zoomed view, and few instances where a shot is dampened by a sudden spotlight change.

Gold City’s last few studio projects have experimented with new styles as the group redefines its sound, with mixed (though largely positive) results. Constant personnel changes have been a challenge that the group has had to work hard to overcome. But this DVD demonstrates that they are still masters of the live stage.

Yesterday, my family and I went out to Harrod, OH to see the Blackwood Brothers in concert. The Blackwood Brothers Quartet is run by Jimmy Blackwood, son of James Blackwood. Jimmy himself sang lead for the Blackwood Brothers for some time in the ’70s before leaving the road; several years ago, he brought the name back.

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet is one of the few groups on the road today to do their entire program with two old-fashioned microphones. Much of their program is done with light soundtracks (piano and perhaps some bass guitar), but for some of the program their baritone/pianist, Brad White, moves over to the piano (where a third old-fashined microphone is set up) and accompanies the group live.

First set:

• How About Your Heart (featuring lead singer Jimmy Blackwood)
• The Man Upstairs
• The Old Country Church (with encore)
• Group Intros
• Jesus is Coming Soon (featuring Jimmy)
• I’m Feelin’ Fine (featuring a piano interlude by baritone/pianist Brad White)
• This Old House (featuring bass Randy Byrd)
• The Lighthouse (featuring tenor Wayne Little)
• Since Jesus Came Into My Heart (Brad White piano solo)
• How Great Thou Art (Randy, Jimmy)

During intermission, Brad White played a second piano solo, “Tis So Sweet.”

Second set:

• Jesus is a Waymaker (Jimmy)
• He Bought My Soul
• I Get Happy (Randy)
• I’ll Fly Away
• I Wanna Be More Like Jesus

Then, they did a request time, taking several audience requests:

• Sweet Hour of Prayer (Brad on the melody)
• Prayer is the Key (Jimmy)
• Suppertime (Randy)
• Looking For a City (Wayne)
• His Eye is on the Sparrow

Then, returning to the program, they finished with:

• Learning to Lean (Jimmy)
• Oh, What a Savior (Brad)
• I’ll Meet You in the Morning (Jimmy)

The requests time was certainly one of the evening’s highlights. Much of their program was the same as when I saw them two years ago (with This Old House being a delightful addition), but the requests are different every time. In fact, the requests are perhaps the biggest reason to go see the group multiple times–even if the rest of the program remains the same, you can always ask for a favorite during requests.

After entertaining the thought of asking for “Excuses,” primarily to see what they would say, I settled on “Victory Road.” They didn’t know it well enough to feel comfortable doing it, but they let me have a second pick, and I asked for “Suppertime.” I had heard good things about Randy Byrd’s rendition, and I was not disappointed. He is one of the hidden gems on the Southern Gospel scene, and has both the voice and the personality to become a fan favorite once more fans get to know him

It was an enjoyable evening, and worth the nearly two-hour trip.

Dan Keeton (of the Dan Keeton Quartet) recently launched SGTracks.com, a site which he hopes will become a one-stop source for Southern Gospel soundtracks. Currently the only tracks available are from his old groups (Keetons and Dixie Melody Boys) and his current group (Dan Keeton Quartet), but he hopes to expand the selection eventually. He invites groups interested in selling their tracks on his website to contact him at dan@dankeeton.com.

Chuck Peters of Southern Gospel Reporter caught up with Matthew Holt, whose last date as pianist for the Perrys is coming up shortly, and asked the questions we were all wondering. Highlights: He’s leaving on good terms and still counts the group as his second family, and he will continue songwriting with Joseph Habedank. The full interview is here.

In the news:

• The Southern, a website identifying itself as Southern Illinois’s Homepage, recently featured an interesting interview with Roger Menees, currently filling in on bass for the Stamps Quartet. The interview is a fascinating look at someone who has been in and around the genre for decades.
• David Bruce Murray has an interesting post on Joel Hemphill’s unorthodox theology.
• XM Radio’s SG channel, enLighten 34, announced that they’ll be hosting an hour-long live, in-studio concert on Wednesday, July 23, at 6:30 PM EST. More details are here.
• The Dove Brothers have expanded the digital downloads section of their website store; now most (all but two) of the recordings the group has made are available.

David Mann launched a new Southern Gospel blog, Southern Gospel Discussions, at www.southerngospeldiscussions.blogspot.com. There’s currently only one post up, so I don’t really have any in-depth commentary as of yet, but I thought I’d pass the word along.

Yesterday afternoon, an anonymous individual posted comments on several blogs that pianist Matthew Holt had left the Perrys. (I didn’t approve the comment left on mine.)  The official announcement came out last night; Holt will be leaving the group after this weekend’s concerts. The press release states:

The award-winning Perrys have announced the departure of their pianist of four years, Matthew Holt. Group spokesman, Tracy Stuffle, says, “Life is a series of seasons and this group has been blessed to enjoy Matthew’s talents for a fantastic seaon. He’s a very fine pianist and an even better young Christian gentleman, husband and father. We know great things are in store for him and we fully support him in his decision to slow down.”

Matthew will be departing Southern Gospel road life to become the Assistant Director of the Renaissance Music Program at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn., the west Tennessee community where Matthew makes his home with his wife, Lindsey, and their son, Fletcher. His last tour with the Perrys will be July 24-26.

The Perrys will announce the name of their new pianist within the coming weeks.

The press release doesn’t mention any open audition call, but with a piano player (Troy Peach) already on the bus as their bus driver and sound man, they shouldn’t be hurting in the interim until a new player is announced.

Last night, I had the chance to catch the Mark Trammell Trio in Shelby, OH.

First set:

• Won’t it Be Wonderful There (old one)
• I Still Believe
• Weary At the Well
• How Great Thou Art
• Moving the Hand of God
• Introductions
• There’s Something About That Name / In the Garden
• Hallelujah, I’m Going Home
• Glory Road
• Once Upon a Cross

The group got three standing ovations during their first set. The first was for Mark Trammell’s rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Then they got back-to-back standing ovations for “Glory Road” and “Once Upon a Cross.”

Mark Trammell introduced “Glory Road” by explaining how he loved coffee and his wife didn’t care for it but fixed it for him anyhow since she loved him. He said he’d been singing “Glory Road” ever since he started in Southern Gospel thirty-four years before, even singing it at his first talent contest, and he’d performed it with every group he had been with since. He said that he was sick of the song, but like his wife making him coffee, he loved the audiences enough to do the song for them anyhow. Tenor Eric Phillips tore the song up, as always.

During group introductions, Trammell commented that, interestingly enough, this was their first concert at a Lutheran church.

During the intermission, Dustin Sweatman played two piano solos, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and a quartet-style mid-tempo piano solo. The song sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it.

Second set:

• Thank God I’m Free
• Walking with Jesus
• When Compared to God
• I Know that I Know
• I Believe In a Hill Called Mount Calvary
• Won’t it Be Wonderful There (new one)

“I Know that I Know” will be on their next project. They had a great routine leading into it, with Mark Trammell asking lead singer Dustin Sweatman about the song’s title. Dustin said something, to which Mark replied, “I Know, but what’s the song title?” Dustin said, “I Know that I Know.” Mark said, “That’s all good and well, but what’s the song title.” Dustin replied again. Mark ended up saying he gave up, and “just tell me what key it’s in.” (They played it in F.)

Mark Trammell got a standing ovation for his performance of “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary.” The final song on their set, “Won’t it be Wonderful There” (this time, the newer Chris Allman-penned tune), also got a standing ovation (which was partly for the overall concert).

A couple of weeks ago, I set up an account at Pandora Radio, www.pandora.com. It is a free online radio service that plays a customized mix of songs based on songs you’ve said you like (or don’t). You set up an account by defining one or more artists whose style you consistently enjoy, and refine results in the future by clicking thumbs up or thumbs down when you particularly like a selected song.

Their Southern Gospel selection is decent, though with a rather heavy focus on Homecoming artists (as would be expected from a project that is not SG-specific). Crossroads artists are featured from time to time; Daywind artists seem to appear more rarely than their popularity in the genre would suggest.

One tip: Don’t click thumbs up on songs you like but only want to hear occasionally. Songs you’ve marked thumbs up are circulated back into the rotation frequently, and the only way to break that is by clicking thumbs down, which more or less removes the song from rotation altogether.

Pandora doesn’t have a wide enough selection to supplant live365 stations and streams of physical AM/FM stations yet, but it is based on an interesting concept and seems to be an enjoyable site.