Author John Herndon

Fifty years of touring, an infinite impact

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The Oak Ridge Boys at the Kentucky State Fair, Aug. 20, 2023. From left are Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. (Photo by John Herndon.)

Oak Ridge Boys’ farewell tour a time to reflect on their impact and personal blessings

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

I simply wasn’t ready for the news that hit my e-mail inbox last Tuesday.

The Oak Ridge Boys are finally saying goodbye. Almost 50 years after the current lineup first stepped on stage together, they announced their American Farewell Tour. 

“We are doing a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye,” William Lee Golden said in a release posted at http://www.oakridgeboys.com. “They have always been there for us through the good times and the bad. I will always be thankful to every person who came out to a show, bought a t-shirt, played our music, and overall, loved us enough to spend their hard-earned money whenever they could. This tour is for you!”

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Triumphant’s Sean Barber living in ‘The Goodness of God’

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Sean Barber thinks of God’s blessings during Triumphant Quartet’s rendition of ‘The Goodness of God’ during their concert at The Ark Encounter on Sept. 8, 2023. It was Barber’s first appearance as a member of one of Southern Gospel’s most popular groups.

Triumphant Quartet’s ‘new guy’ fits right in, only desires to glorify God

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. – The telling moment for Sean Barber might have come about halfway through Triumphant Quartet’s set at The Ark Encounter last Friday.

The new baritone had been flawless in his solos during his first performance with the beloved group. He’d displayed a low-key but unmistakable enthusiasm while performing before a packed house at The Ark’s Answers Center. The chemistry was new but visibly meshing. 

If there had been any bugs, only Barber or the rest of Triumphant knew. To say things were just right might have been an understatement.

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64 to Grayson approaching the exit

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Zack Shelton in his office at North Madison Christian Church in Madison, Indiana.

Zack Shelton says group’s farewell concert to be a time of praise and thanksgiving

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

MADISON, Ind. – Zack Shelton & 64 to Grayson has never been a conventional gospel singing group. 

Not when the group formed at Kentucky Christian University. 

Not when it was traveling across more than 20 states, playing anything from local festivals – think the Swamp Cabbage Festival in Florida or the Delta Chicken Festival in Ohio – to summer camps and churches big and small.

Not when you try to pinpoint the group’s genre, either. There’s a heavy dose of country, some bluegrass, some rock, some contemporary Christian and even an old hymn or two in the repertoire.

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They never missed a beat

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Back together after 31 years, Girls Next Door bring an energetic set of gospel music at The Ark Encounter on Aug. 23, 2023.
80s country stars Girls Next Door are back together sharing the message of Christ’s love

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. – The history of country music might note that the group, Girls Next Door disbanded in 1991 but their performance during 40 Days and 40 Nights of Christian Music at the Ark Encounter indicated they had only been on a sabbatical.

A 31-year sabbatical.

The tight harmonies and innovative arrangements that had made Girls Next Door one of country music’s most popular acts were still there on Aug. 23. The energy created by their music had never left as they delivered a set featuring some of their country hits along with a heavy dose of heart-pumping gospel.

And even though country music fans might not expect it, the 2023 version – Girls Next Door 2.0 proclaims their new CD and website – is remarkably like the one that last sang in 1991. 

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Nothing Fancy

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Mo Pitney at The Ark Encounter on Aug. 15, 2023.

Mo Pitney simply starts the conversation about Jesus with his music

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. – There’s nothing fancy about Mo Pitney.

Nothing.

He takes the stage as one of the headline artists in the 40 Days and 40 Nights of Christian Music at the Ark Encounter, but he looks like he’d be just as happy on his front porch as he is in front of several thousand music lovers.

There are no videos playing during the 30-minute set. There’s no backup band. Just Mo, his wife Emily, a couple of stools and Mo’s guitar.

And music. Simple music. Powerful music. 

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He believes he’s where he should be

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Anthony Davis is mighty happy singing bass during the Firm Foundation Reunion Tour on July 7, 2023.
Anthony Davis still loves to hit the low notes, but is happy in his calling in law enforcement

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The smile on his face left no doubt that Anthony Davis knew he was where he should be for the weekend.

A Southern Gospel fan favorite, Davis can still go low with the best of them despite leaving rigors of traveling music ministry behind more than two years ago. That was more than apparent over the weekend as he manned the bass spot during the third annual Firm Foundation reunion tour. 

Davis spent nearly a decade with the Owensboro-based group prior to becoming a household name hitting the low notes for Tribute Quartet for another 10 years. 

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Joshua Tomlin returning home

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Joshua Tomlin sings lead for Cumberland Thunder during a concert at Sand Spring Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg on Dec. 31, 2021. (File photo)

Cumberland Thunder singer-musician going solo to lead Danville benefit concert

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

Joshua Tomlin believes you can go home again and he’s put together what promises to be a great night of worship and praise to do so.

Tomlin, known to Kentucky gospel music fans as a vocalist and guitarist for Cumberland Thunder, will be going solo on Saturday, May 27 at Danville’s First Church of God. The concert, which will feature Tim Readnour as the opening artist, begins at 6 p.m.

Performing a solo concert is not new to Tomlin, but he will be plowing some new musical ground with the concert. “I have performed a small handful of solo dates, but it has been several years ago, and nothing of this magnitude,” he said in an email. “I will be singing, playing guitar and playing some piano. There is a full live band (including some backup singers) that I have put together specifically for this night, and we’ve been in rehearsal since February.”

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Soul’d Out stays true to mission

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Soul’d Out sings during revival services at Capital City Christian Church in Frankfort, April 28. From left are Chris Chavez, Matt Rankin and Jason McAtee.
Spirit-led music, theology-driven lyrics continue to characterize veteran group

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

FRANKFORT, Ky. – We’d never seen Soul’d Out in person before last Friday’s appearance at Capital City Christian Church. Suffice it to say we hope it won’t be very long until the next time our paths cross!

Simply put, Soul’d Out was fantastic!

Soul’d Out was in Frankfort for a weekend revival along with Bob Russell, the former minister of Louisville’s Southeast Christian Church, and his son, Rusty, of Port Charlotte, Florida. It could be described as a 2023 nod to an old-fashioned “meeting” loaded with powerful preaching and music that stirs the soul.

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The song will continue

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Jeff Tolbert, center, leads in the finale of Primitive Quartet’s concert with Gold City and The Inspirations at Ashland’s Paramount Arts Center on April 1.
Primitive Quartet’s Jeff Tolbert thankful for the past 27 years, excited about the future

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

ASHLAND, Ky. – Jeff Tolbert will be the first to admit he’s not looking forward to May 20.

That’s the night Primitive Quartet will be performing its final concert, a sold-out affair at Lakeway Performing Arts Center in White Pine, Tenn. The beloved group has said it will continue to sing some, as the Lord leads, but is retiring from the traveling ministry that night.

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Primitive Quartet still shines the light on Jesus

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Primitive Quartet sings at Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, Ky., April 1, 2023. From left are Reagan Riddle, Randy Fox, Jeff Tolbert, Mike Riddle and Larry Riddle. (Photo by John Herndon)
Nearing the end of its traveling ministry, beloved group still has a song

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

ASHLAND, Ky. – I will admit, I was choked up more than once as I watched and listened to Primitive Quartet in concert on April 1.

My friend, Paul Belcher, who was promoting the concert at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, had invited my wife, Stephanie, and me to watch these legendary gospel singers from backstage. It was an experience I will never forget as those three hours allowed me to observe Primitive Quartet up close and personal in a way I never had before. And in my final Primitive Quartet concert, I was reminded in a different way why these men are so beloved.

Larry and Reagan Riddle have been singing together since they and a couple of friends went on that now-famous fishing trip in 1973. A few years later, The Inspirations’ Martin Cook booked Primitive Quartet to travel with his group, which was at the top of gospel music at the time. 

Primitive Quartet sings at the Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, April 1, 2023. The Inspirations look on from backstage. (Photo by John Herndon)
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