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Montgomery Family excited about first concert trip to The Bluegrass

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The Montgomery Family will be performing four concerts in Kentucky from Sept. 19-22. From left are Lisa Montgomery Simpson, Jeff Simpson and Robin Montgomery Stegall. (Photo furnished)

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

The Montgomery Family, of Monroe, North Carolina, will be making their first concert tour of Kentucky soon and they are excited for the opportunity.

“We have been to Kentucky to attend the National Quartet Convention, but only as spectators as a family,” says Robin Montgomery Stegall, the oldest daughter of Harold and Rhonda Montgomery who started the family group in 1971. “Since we are bi-vocational, we take one week a year to expand our territory. This is the first time doors have opened in Kentucky, but hopefully not the last time!” Continue reading “Montgomery Family excited about first concert trip to The Bluegrass” →

Victory Road to host second hymn sing

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Victory Road will be hosting its second Gospel Hymn Sing and Concert Friday at Spencer Christian Church in Fisherville, Ky. Members are, front row, from left: Larry Dennison, David Jones, David Stevens and Carroll Ingram. Back row: Tim Edwards, Freddie Sharp and Jerry Franklin.

 

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

The old hymns will be alive and well Friday night as Victory Road, a popular Southern Gospel music group, will be hosting its second annual Gospel Hymn Sing on Friday, Aug. 16. The hymn sing will be held at Spencer Christian Church, located at 5720 Taylorsville Road, Fisherville, and will get underway with well-known gospel pianist Jaydee Miller leading an instrumental concert at 6:30 p.m.

The Hymn Sing and concert get underway at 7 p.m. Continue reading “Victory Road to host second hymn sing” →

After 43 years, Jay Stone Singers still about ministry

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The Jay Stone Singers perform at Sand Spring Baptist Church on July 25. From left are Emma Carter, Sharona Stone Carter and Bobby Carter.

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

It’s all about ministry to The Jay Stone Singers.

The family harmony is superb and many of the lyrics are powerful when the veteran group takes the stage. There is very little showmanship and only a few jokes interspersed through their set opening for Greater Vision at Sand Spring Baptist Church on July 25.

But mostly it’s about ministry. Always has been. Always will be. Continue reading “After 43 years, Jay Stone Singers still about ministry” →

An amazing testimony

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Ann Downing sings at Cornerstone Church of The Nazarene in Frankfort, Ky., on July 28

 

Gospel legend Ann Downing is still spreading the message of God’s love and triumph

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Ann Downing took a microphone, looked over the small crowd of people who had come to hear one of gospel music’s true legends.

I stand amazed in the presence

Of Jesus the Nazarene

And wonder how he could love me

A sinner condemned, unclean.

How marvelous, How wonderful

And my song shall ever be

How marvelous, how wonderful

Is my Savior’s love for me!

–Charles H. Gabriel Continue reading “An amazing testimony” →

‘God is the beginning of everything’

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Dennis Parker, right, sings harmony for Ricky Skaggs at Renfro Valley.

‘Kentucky Thunder guitarist Dennis Parker is happy with the victory he’s been given through Jesus

Second of two parts.

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

RENFRO VALLEY, Ky. — Dennis Parker knows he’s seeing faith in action every time he takes the stage as a member of Ricky Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder.

“He only gets better,” Parker says of Skaggs, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018. “Since the time I have been with him, he’s grown and that extends from his relationship with the Lord. God has done a real work in his life and if we allow Him, He will work in ours.”

Parker knows quite a bit about God working. In the previous article of this two-part series, Dennis recounted his battle with alcoholism that ended with him in jail after a fifth DUI conviction. While in jail, a friend shared that God still loved him and Dennis was where he needed to be. Continue reading “‘God is the beginning of everything’” →

Just give him Jesus!

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Dennis Parker, right, takes the lead on “Carolina in My Mind” as country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs sings harmony at Renfro Valley on July 20.

Dennis Parker had big-name gigs and a Grammy to boot, but found real joy when he had nothing but God’s love

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

First of two parts.

RENFRO VALLEY, Ky. — In a few hours, Dennis Parker would be delivering some driving rhythm guitar for group aptly named, “Kentucky Thunder.”

The group would accompany Country Music and Bluegrass Music Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs and  bring the house down with standards like “Uncle Pen,” “Rawhide,” and “Pig in a Pen,” each of which could elevate the heartbeat enough to qualify as aerobic exercise.

But in a dressing room backstage, Parker reflected on a life that has taken him to the heights of country music with a Grammy Award and performing in sold out arenas across the nation. It’s a life that has also seen him homeless and struggling with alcoholism that eventually put him in jail on five different occasions.

He’s asked if he has a favorite song. Continue reading “Just give him Jesus!” →

New Speer Family striving to Let the Songs Go On again

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The New Speer Family performed at Sand Spring Baptist Church in May. The group got together in 2018 as Brian Speer wanted to keep the songs of his legendary family going. From left are Brian Speer, Allison Speer, Ben Waites and Mike Allen.

(NOTE: This article, by John Herndon, originally appeared in the June edition of SGN Scoops magazine.)

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

Brian Speer just knew he needed to get back on stage.

It didn’t matter that it had been 36 years since he stopped traveling with his legendary family. It didn’t matter that he really didn’t know what direction he would take or who would sing with him. He just knew he needed to keep The Speer Family legacy alive.

“After all of Brian’s people were gone, he woke up one day and said, ‘I think we need to do a quartet,’” Brian’s wife, Allison Speer, says. “It shocked me! We had never talked about it and had never discussed it.” Continue reading “New Speer Family striving to Let the Songs Go On again” →

Back where they started

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The Noblemen Quartet sings at David’s Fork Baptist Church on July 11.

Nearly 50 years after first coming together, The Noblemen Quartet is happy singing old style gospel music

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After nearly 50 years, The Noblemen Quartet is back where it started.

And the group, or its fans, could not be happier.

“We are having a lot of fun right now,” says bass singer Dan Clark, one of the quartet’s founding members. “These guys love to sing. They are all great Christian men and we really try to uplift Jesus Christ. We are not entertainers. We are just singers and try to sing for God.” Continue reading “Back where they started” →

His Heart delivers “Truth” in latest CD

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His Heart sings at Sand Spring Baptist Church, opening for Triumphant Quartet on June 14. From left are Kyle Harris, Jeremy Dickerson, Bill Sowder and Bob Abbott.

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

When His Heart Quartet went in the studio for the group’s newest CD, there might have been a bit of apprehension about a new work that emphasized the old.

The reception of “Truth” indicates there should never have been any questions about one of Kentucky’s most popular Southern Gospel groups. Continue reading “His Heart delivers “Truth” in latest CD” →

“The first face I’ll see will be Jesus!”

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Marlana VanHoose plays the keyboard during a gospel concert. She says she is “God-taught.” (Photo furnished)

Blind since birth and small in stature, Marlana VanHoose’s powerful voice blesses many

 

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

It was more than fitting when Marlana VanHoose told me the first concert she ever attended was one by The Oak Ridge Boys.

“I was three years old,” she says before breaking into “Elvira, Elvira!” as we sat in a Lexington restaurant. I didn’t know she sang the legendary group’s most famous hit but I knew the 23-year-old singer could deliver a rousing version of a song the Oaks are also known for today.

The National Anthem. Continue reading ““The first face I’ll see will be Jesus!”” →