Alabama family combines timeless gospel with 80s country sound

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

One of the best things about taking in the summer concerts at The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum is being introduced to those new artists who might not be popping up on my playlists, but are talented and making their own path in the various branches of Christian music.

Such was my experience with the Fortner Brothers 4 Christ, an Alabama-based band with a sound straight out of the 1980s. Think Diamond Rio or Restless Heart or Exile. Think the Eagles.  And of course, think Alabama, the megastars who made their hometown, Fort Payne, famous.

I ran into the Fortner Brothers 4 Christ at the Inspirational Country Music Association awards show at the Grand Ole Opry House on May 29. They had been nominated for the ICMA’s Group of the Year award and showed an infectious enthusiasm that endears the brothers to Christian music fans throughout the southeast. Unfortunately for the Fortner Brothers, they were not included in the five announced finalists.

Growing up in Rainsville, about 10 miles away from Fort Payne, the Fortners had to be fans of Alabama, but decided to use their talents to spread the gospel of Jesus. For the Fortner Brothers, the ministry drives the music.

“We have that traditional country sound. We just want to bring the gospel in that form of music,” said Layne Fortner, the oldest of the brothers at 21. Layne sings and plays a variety of stringed instruments for the group.

The Fortner Brothers 4 Christ music and videos leave no doubt about the message and their website even has a Bible Study with Kennon, one of the 19-year-old triplets in the group. “We always grew up listening to all the classic country groups. We had an opportunity to play good country music and spread the word,” said Kennon, who sings and plays drums in the group. “God has really blessed our ministry and it has been so much fun.”

And about that Alabama influence on the Fortner Brothers’ music? Kennon took drum lessons from former Alabama drummer Mark Herndon.

The other triplets are Konner, who plays bass guitar, and Kyle, who mans the rhythm guitar. Both are vocalists with the group. 

The Fortner Brothers’ father, Phillip mans the keyboard and their mother, Kayla, serves as the group’s manager. According to the group’s website, she taught her sons how to sing harmony at a very young age.

The Fortner Brothers 4 Christ have impressed the promoters of the Faith Country & Bluegrass Festival enough to warrant invitations to the Ark Encounter, near Williamstown, Ky. Last year they were on a billing with Jackson Heights and Chris Golden. This year, they will appear with Scotty Inman and Chosen Road in the Answers Center on Saturday, June 15 at 4 p.m. At noon, they will sing a longer set outdoors at Noah’s Village.

“This will be our third year,” Layne said. “We love going to the Ark.”