Question: What inspired the song, The Extra Mile?

Answer: I remember the day that song was written. I was in a co-write with Barry Weeks and Tony Wood one afternoon, and Barry was noodling at the piano while we were getting ready to throw out songs ideas. What he was simply playing off the cuff felt to me like a perfect fit for an idea I had called “The Extra Mile.”

The hook was centered around Matthew 5:41 where Jesus addresses a law of the day that said a Roman soldier could force a person in subjugation to carry his armor or materials for one mile. And since Israel was under Roman rule, it was a common practice for the people to which Jesus was speaking. But He encouraged them, saying basically, “We are required to go one mile…but go two.” That kind of selflessness would create opportunities to demonstrate the Love of God that resided within them.

It’s the same with us today. For example, as Believers, we read in scripture that the tithe belongs to the Lord, and as cheerful givers, we bring it to the storehouse each Sunday. But we can choose to be “second milers” in our giving and also bring an offering. Not only that, we can BE an offering. It doesn’t have to be something epic. Instead of just holding the door at the store for an elderly person, we can do the inconvenient thing and carry their groceries to their car. That is the second mile—the extra mile. It’s going above and beyond what the moment requires for the opportunity to look like the One who resides within us and to bear fruit.

Tony and Barry liked the idea, and we decided to write several stories of people going the extra mile to help others. It wasn’t hard for me to come up with a suggestion for verse one. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans—when most of us were sending money, food and water, and teams from our churches to help rebuild communities—family members of mine near Jackson, Mississippi, went the second mile and opened up their home to a family that had lost everything in the storm. That measure of inconvenient Love had a tremendous impact on me, and Blaine and Janie’s inspirational “extra mile” became our first verse.

The rest of the writing session is a blur. If I remember correctly, while Barry and I worked on the melody of the chorus, Tony wrote most of verse two. And at the end of the day, it felt like we had written something quite special. When Lauren Talley heard the song, its message resonated in her heart. She told me at NQC a few months ago that what cinched it for her was the line about Love reaching to the “broken ones.” As an artist, she heard that lyric as the perfect follow up to their hit song, “The Broken Ones,” which was amazing to me because none of the songwriters made that connection.

I love the song, and Tony, Barry, and I are honored that Lauren would record it.

* * *

The Extra Mile
Kenna Turner West, Tony Wood, Barry Weeks

1. Two hundred miles away
A storm had just blown through
Before the sun came up the next day
The church was on the move
With so many hurting
Left with nothing of their own
That’s when people of the Lord
Opened up their homes

Chorus
Love goes the extra mile
And gives itself away
It reaches to the broken ones
To help restore their faith
Till the lost are redeemed
Till every heart is reconciled
Love goes the extra mile

2. At a Wednesday night church meeting
A prayer request was made
For a husband and a wife whose vows
Were just about to break
And when they said amen that evening
The Spirit stirred some friends
To drive across that little town
And go to pray with them

(chorus)

Bridge
It never plays it safe
It goes on unafraid

(chorus)

(Reprinted by permission)

Though I will probably always have a soft spot for their all-too-brief quartet with a live band era, the year between recordings was well spent. They have adapted to the different vocal dynamics of a trio and come out with a solid sound.

Journey Down the Old Path Volume Three is a collection of ten Southern Gospel classics. Though there is one classic that practically everyone has cut (“We’ll Soon Be Done with Troubles and Trials”), the overall song selection focuses on those songs that long-time fans will remember and associate with a group, but practically nobody has done since the original. Granted, there may be one or two other cuts (by professional groups) out there, but when was the last time you heard someone cut the Cathedrals’ “My Lord Will Send a Moses”?

Or anyone besides Kirk Talley sing “I Know a Man Who Can”?

Or anyone besides Gold City cut “Windows of Home”?

Or anyone besides the Rambos cut “In the Valley (He Restoreth My Soul)”?

While many groups would have cut, say, “Boundless Love,” “Step Into the Water,” “Midnight Cry,” and “He Looked Beyond My Faults,” this approach to song selection, coupled with delightful arrangements, make this recording a pleasure to listen to.

At about the same time the Old Paths reissued Songs From the Old Path Vol. 3, they also issued Signature Collection. The recording takes fourteen of the group’s earlier songs and delivers new trio arrangements. While it breaks little new ground, that’s not its purpose—to have the concert favorites by the group available at their table. For someone new to the group’s music, it’s also an excellent introduction to the sound of their current lineup of some of their best songs.

Rating: 4.5 stars. ♦ Average song rating: 4 stars. ♦ Group members: Jeremy Peace, Tim Rackley, Doug Roark. ♦ Produced by: The Old Paths. ♦ Available from: Artist. Review copy provided. ♦ Song list: Homeland; He’s Still Living; I’ve Got a Feeling; In The Valley (He Restoreth My Soul); He is Mine; My Lord Will Send a Moses; Windows of Home; I Know a Man Who Can; Hello Mama; We’ll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials.

This afternoon, I had some spare time, so I installed another photo gallery, this one built right into Wordpress. View it here, or by going to the top right menu bar and selecting “Gallery.”

Reading this account reminded me that, in reality, most of us really have nothing to complain about. Life may be hard but it could be a lot harder. We may not understand why certain things happen to us but God is still very good to us just like He was good to this family. It may not seem like goodness for God to let them lose their home and some of their family members but God has a plan and I trust that He will somehow use this for His glory. Maybe others will come to know Him because of the faith of this family. I don’t know but I do know that God’s love is strong for each of His people and He loves you as well. No matter what you are going through, take some time to thank God for His love and His goodness. Sing “It is Well” for, if you are a true Believe, it really is well with your soul and that is truly something to be thankful for.

Winter is coming to an end in Ohio, and Southern Gospel groups are starting to venture back north. This Perrys concert would have been my second concert of the year; however, being snowed out from a Legacy Five concert in February makes this first.

Song list:

• I Love to Tell
• I Know it Was the Blood
• Come and Get Me
• You Cannot Improve on the Truth (lead singer Joseph Habedank)
• Prior to a Prayer (baritone Troy Peach, alto Libbi Perry Stuffle)
• This Old Sinner Testifies (bass Tracy Stuffle)
• Group introductions
• Just Over in the Gloryland (piano solo, Bryan Elliott) (Yes, Bryan, I did figure out which song it was this time!)
• The Chainsaw
• I Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ For My Journey Now (Joseph)
• If You Knew Him (Joseph)
• Intermission
• Jesus Opened up the Way (after which Tracy explained that they were singing the shape notes!)
• Old Fashioned Altar (Troy, Libbi)
• Did I Mention (Libbi) – with an a capella encore. It’s not a Perrys concert without an a capella encore; though other groups do it occasionally, it’s a consistent trademark of their sound.
• Almost Morning (Joseph)
• I Wish I Could Have Been There (Joseph)

It was a dinner concert, and that probably played into the audience not being prone to stand. The only two songs that received standing ovations were “If You Knew Him” and “I Wish I Could Have Been There,” the songs that wrapped up the first and second halves of the program.

Troy is holding down the baritone part with more confidence than a year ago; he was up in the mix noticeably, to the point that the Perrys had a more four-distinct-voices full sound than the tighter harmonies I’ve heard before. Every group needs a cheerleader (whether or not they have one), and Troy ably holds down the part well for the group. His stage presence, always smiling or cheering on the featured group member, adds greatly to the group’s stage presence.

Most of the program was similar to what I’ve heard the last few times I’ve heard the group. There were a couple of notable differences, though; for one, Tracy Stuffle did less talking, starting the set with six songs back to back. Also, during the little comedy piece Tracy and pianist Bryan Elliott do at the end, Bryan has typically only sung two short lines; this time, he carried the bass part through the end of the encore, with an impressively resonant slide down to the bottom of the scale.

One other highlight: The last few times I’ve seen the Perrys, they have sung “Prior to a Prayer”; this time, however, it was featured a little more, delivered in such a way that connected with the audience more than any other song except possibly “If You Knew Him.” If they have one more slot for a single left from Almost Morning, audience reaction suggests this would be the best choice.

After the concert, it was a pleasure to meet a reader of this site, Cheryl / Carolina Fan. She had driven all the way from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the concert, and was going to drive back that night.

Blackwood Quartet

There was apparently one more change in the works after the merging of the Blackwood Quartet and the Blackwood Gospel Quartet. As of yesterday, former Dixie Melody Boys / Dan Keeton Quartet tenor Dan Keeton is now officially their new tenor singer.

It’s great to see him back on the road.

It is fascinating, and well worth the 26 minutes.

As I considered who to catch up with for the inaugural question, there was no doubt in my mind who I should email. And fortunately, new Mark Trammell Quartet bass singer Pat Barker was gracious enough to get this series going.

How have you been settling in? Are you done with the move? Any highlights from the road yet?

We are signing on our new house in Gadsden, Alabama on March 15th.  We will be moving the very end of April.  The delay is so that my son Andy can finish his semester at the Christian school he attends. We are very excited about the move.  Most of my family is within a 30 mile radius of Gadsden, and my wife’s family isn’t far from there.

As far as highlights go i don’t think there is enough space to type that on your blog.  From the very first prayer when we stepped on the bus to pulling into the yard this morning it has been one highlight after another.

A few would be:

• Singing “Master Builder” for the first time.  WHAT A MEMORY!
• Singing at a men’s Bible conference.  I heard some great preaching from some great pastors.
• Eating with people from all over the country.  One in particular was Dianne Wilkinson.  We sat in her living room and listened to old records and some new songs.
• Also, our first date was canceled due to snow, our battery went dead on the way to a concert, and I got a stomach virus on the Singing at Sea.
• Speaking of Singing at Sea, I got to sing “How Big is God” and “Gentle Shepherd” with Gerald Wolfe at the piano.

It has been one thrill after another.  It was also a joy for me to see Trent Adams on YouTube with the Dixie Echoes. He sounded fantastic.  I could not be prouder of someone than I am of Trent.

We have alot in store for fans of the Mark Trammell Quartet.  I can not wait to see what the future has in store.  We love and appreciate all of you.  Please keep all of the groups in your prayers.  We need the Gospel today as much as we ever have.  Thank you, Daniel, and all of the bloggers out there.  Keep up the “God” work!

And thank you, Pat!

Mansion is headed by former Homeland Records executive Bill Traylor. The label also recently signed the Hoppers. With one of Southern Gospel’s most awarded family groups and the current Male Quartet of the year on their roster, it looks like Mansion could be well on its way to being a serious force in the genre.

The press release also mentions that Wayne Haun will remain producing the group, and that they will be working on a live CD and DVD that will be released in September.