By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

Sand Spring Baptist Church, located just south of Lawrenceburg, Ky., has announced its 2019 gospel concert schedule. The lineup includes several returnees from 2018, including Ivan Parker and a concert featuring Triumphant Quartet and His Heart.

The series also includes The Old Time Preachers’ Quartet for the first time and features a stop by The McKameys on their farewell tour.

The complete schedule is as follows:

Jan. 24    The Legacy Five

March 7    The Perrys

April 11    Ivan Parker

May 16    The New Spear Family

June 14    Triumphant Quartet and His Heart

July 25    Greater Vision and The Jaystone Singers

Aug. 8    Carolina Connection: Carolina Boys Quartet and The Shireys

Sept. 12    Old Time Preacher’s Quartet

Oct. 17    The Hoppers

Nov. 14    The McKameys

Dec. 31    New Year’s Eve: Old Paths and The Coffmans

(7 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.)

All concerts start at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge but a love offering is taken each concert.

 

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

If the calendar says “December” and David Phelps is ready to sing, it can only mean one thing: It Must Be Christmas!

Phelps, the powerful tenor who is one of gospel music’s most recognizable voices, has been bringing the message of hope through Jesus Christ across the country in his annual “It Must Be Christmas” tour.

We caught up with David after he performed to an enthusiastic crowd at Shelby Christian Church in Shelbyville, Ky. It had been a night of dynamic worship, fun and a challenge to help others. Continue reading “It Must Be Christmas when David Phelps sings in December” →

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

Bob Sellers is at peace.

He was living a life many would consider a dream and secure in his position as lead singer for one of gospel music’s popular quartets. But something was just not right in Bob’s heart.

“I was there almost seven years,” he says of his stint with The Kingsmen. “I wouldn’t trade anything for the opportunity.

Continue reading “Bob Sellers’ leap of faith has given inner peace” →

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

It would be a bit of a stretch to say Russ Taff shaped my musical tastes. By the time I heard his debut on The Imperials’ “Sail On” album, I was already a fan of the group, had several of their albums and had seen them a few times around central Kentucky.

But there’s little doubt that Russ redefined The Imperials, taking them from a soft-rock and pop sound to something much more driving and cutting edge. His lead on “Water Grave,” was as radically different from anything heard in Christian music as the message it presented.

Continue reading “‘I Still Believe’ an emotional story of love and the transforming power of Christ” →

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

There’s a bit of nostalgia going around Kentucky gospel music circles.

Old-fashioned hymn sings are making a comeback across the Commonwealth with the next one set for Sunday, Oct. 21 at Spencer Christian Church in Taylorsville. The first song is set for 6 p.m.

Victory Road, based in Taylorsville, is acting as the host of the event, which is one of several that have been held in Kentucky in recent years. Continue reading “Taylorsville Hymn Sing promises to be a night of old-fashioned praise” →

Music reminds to focus on God, live in harmony

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

One thing about recovering from surgery is that that you have wayyyyyy too much time to fill. The good thing about that, for me, at least, is that I have been able to choose how I fill that time.

I had knee revision surgery on Oct. 1 at Jewish Hospital in Louisville. I spent the night there, came home and have been rehabbing that right knee vigorously since. I ditched my walker on Saturday and have been amazed at how the process is unfolding. I hope to be back full strength very soon. Continue reading “Music helping me get through rehab” →

Lawrenceburg native appears onstage with Oak Ridge Boys

By John Herndon

NOTE: This story appeared in the Aug. 29 edition of The Anderson News. It was one fun story to write.

Ryan Wells has rarely shown off his singing pipes, but thanks to Twitter, he did so with Hall of Famers last week.

The Lawrenceburg native, who is now a patrolman for the Lexington Police Department, joined several of his colleagues, officers from around the state and Kentucky State Troopers on stage to sing “Elvira” with The Oak Ridge Boys during the group’s annual stop at the Kentucky State Fair on Aug. 19. Continue reading “Getting a Hall of Fame debut” →

Acclaimed group delivers a night of pure gospel

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

FINALLY, I got to hear Brian Free and Assurance in concert!

It seems odd that someone who loves gospel music as much as I do had not seen one of the most acclaimed groups of our day before its appearance at Sand Spring Baptist Church on Aug. 30.

It was well worth the wait. And more. Continue reading “Finally hearing Brian Free and Assurance worth the wait” →

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

One of the coolest features of the Kentucky State Fair is the annual Gospel Music Showcase, presented by  the Kentucky Farm Bureau. It’s evolved over the years from a quartet contest, to a showcase featuring soloists, trios, quartets and other size groups all singing gospel.

The 2018 showcase drew 12 different acts from around the state who played before a nice crowd in the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center. Waylon Bayes, a teenager representing Johnson County, in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, took the Best Soloist and Best of Show awards. He will receive over $1,000 in cash prizes, trophies and ribbons. He will also receive $1,000 in complimentary promotion in the Kentucky Farm Bureau News.

Higher Praise, of Muhlenberg County in the western part of the state, took the Best Quartet award and The Waymakers, from the Lexington area, received the Best Gospel Variety award.  Higher Praise and The Waymakers receive $400 in cash prizes, trophies and ribbons.

Be sure to check out the photo gallery with photos of every act, except one, that competed.  (Sorry, but traffic did not cooperate with me on the way in and I was unable to get pictures of the first group.)

 

Michael Combs communicates message of hope from his heart

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

When he steps to the microphone, Michael Combs delivers an unmistakable sound driven by an unmistakable passion for Jesus Christ.

Such was the case when Combs was in concert at Renfro Valley on Aug. 4. There were no stage pyrotechnics or fancy displays.

There was just fire from Michael’s burning heart as he started singing one of his signature songs.

This heart belongs to Jesus ‘cause He saved my soul from Hell;

This heart belongs to Jesus, This heart’s not for sale!

Not for sale! I’m not for sale,

No way, no sir, I’m not for sale! Continue reading “Unmistakable message, unmistakable passion” →