His Heart performs at Sand Spring Baptist Church, near Lawrenceburg, in 2018. From left are Kyle Harris, Jeremy Dickerson, Bill Sowder and Bob Abbott.

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

His Heart, a Southern Gospel quartet based in Mt. Vernon, Ky., has been named the 2019 Artist in Residence by the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame director Avery Bradshaw made the announcement on March 26. The Hall of Fame is located on U.S. 25 North, near Renfro Valley, just off Interstate 75 at Exit 62.

Since coming together in 2010, His Heart has become one of Kentucky’s favorite gospel quartets. The group stays busy with appearances in churches, fairs and concerts throughout the Commonwealth and surrounding states.

Bill Sowder,a gospel music veteran, fulfilled a dream when he put His Heart together in 2010.

Founded by gospel music veteran Bill Sowder, His Heart has gone through several changes over its life. Sowder, a Mt. Vernon resident who is retired from the finance industry, sings baritone and is the only original member still with the quartet. “We want to be four guys that God can be proud of,” Souder says.

Rounding out the quartet are tenor Kyle Harris, a London pharmacist; bass Bob Abbott, a retired Lexington firefighter who lives in Nicholasville; and lead Jeremy Dickerson, a Lawrenceburg resident who works in the screen printing business. Dickerson is another gospel veteran who has traveled nationally singing gospel music.

Bradshaw serves as the group’s sound engineer. His Heart’s accompanying music is largely pre-recorded, but Harris, who originally joined the group as pianist, often performs on the keyboard during concerts.

Jeremy Dickerson, a gospel veteran who traveled full time, sings lead.

Among the group’s most requested songs are “He Is So Wonderful,” a work Sowder penned, and the gospel classic, “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” which features Abbott. The group added Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag,” also featuring Abbott, and it quickly became another fan favorite.

His Heart has had three songs crack the Top 80 on Southern Gospel charts. Among the group’s most well-known current songs are “If You Knew Him,” “Calvary Answers for Me” and “I Stand Redeemed.”

His Heart will be hosting a CD release concert on Saturday, May 11, at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, introducing songs from their latest work, “Truth.” It is one of several performances by the group at the Hall of Fame during 2019.

His Heart simply seeks to uplift Christ during concerts and sees its own bond as a strong witness.

“We have a fellowship and camaraderie that amazes me,” Harris said in an interview with KentuckySings.com last year.

Abbott added, “A lot of times, when I am singing, I say, ‘Thank you, Lord. Thank you for Jeremy, Bill and Kyle. It’s such a privilege to be with them.’”

In the same interview, Dickerson said, “I want us to sound good, but if we can’t be friends and can’t get along, it doesn’t matter what you sound like. If you don’t have the heart, it won’t matter.”

Bass singer Bob Abbott delivers a soulful verse of “I’d Rather Have Jesus” during a concert at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in March.

Tenor Kyle Harris joined His Heart as pianist, but started singing three years ago. It was his first time singing with a group.

His Heart performs at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. From left are Kyle Harris, Jeremy Dickerson, Bill Sowder and Bob Abbott. (All photos by John Herndon)