Tag Bluegrass Music

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The song will continue

John Herndon 4 Comments
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.

Continue reading “The song will continue” →
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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)
Continue reading “Primitive Quartet still shines the light on Jesus” →
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A half-century of  bringing music to the people

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Paul Belcher at his desk in his Tellico Plains, Tennessee home. He conducts most of the business for Paul Belcher Concerts from his home.

Paul Belcher ready for a big night in Ashland; Primitive Quartet to perform in Farewell Tour

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. — Paul Belcher can only laugh when talking about the first concert he promoted. 

He’d booked The Hopper Brothers and Connie for a night of gospel music in his hometown of Detroit and was waiting when the group arrived for the concert. Belcher chuckles as he picks up the story. “To this day, Claude Hopper still tells the story if I am in the audience,” Belcher says. “He says they pulled up to the auditorium and here comes this little fat boy up to the bus and says, ‘I’m Paul Belcher.’

“Claude says, ‘I drove 800 miles for a 17-year-old kid.”

Continue reading “A half-century of  bringing music to the people” →
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A Touch of Heaven Touching People for 50 years

John Herndon 6 Comments
Primitive Quartet at Sand Spring Baptist Church on September 23. From left are Reagan Riddle, Randy Fox, Jeff Tolbert, Mike Riddle and Larry Riddle.

Primitive Quartet in final months of amazing ministry, still giving God all the praise

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. – Little did some fishing buddies know that a springtime camping trip would be the beginning of a career that has been reeling in accolades from almost every corner of the gospel music industry.

But that’s how God has worked through Primitive Quartet ever since April 1973. 

The Primitives have cast their influence through a true-to-their-roots music and a faithful-to-their-Savior faith that has led them to touch more people than could have ever been imagined when the Riddle brothers and Wilson brothers were sitting around a campfire picking and singing.

Continue reading “A Touch of Heaven Touching People for 50 years” →

Opening doors in a Grand fashion

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The Isaacs perform at Coffmania in Danville, Ky., on August 28.

Isaacs humbled by Opry invitation, see another opportunity to share the gospel

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

(First of two parts. Coming soon, The Isaacs talk about their latest album, “The American Face.”)

The Isaacs had no idea that August 10 would be a night that would change their lives forever. 

None. There was no clue that a special night would be elevated to the realm of extraordinary.

And there was certainly no indication that the most coveted invitation among Nashville musicians would be theirs before they left the stage that Tuesday evening.

And almost three weeks after being asked to become the newest members of The Grand Ole Opry, there was still a sense of wonder in their voices. 

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Coffmania is Coming!

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The Coffmans will be hosting Coffmania at their home church, Danville Church of God, on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. From left are Louis, Tamra and Canaan Coffman. (Photo courtesy of The Coffmans.)

The Isaacs headline fast growing gospel showcase

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

DANVILLE — Louis Coffman comes across as a laid-back, low-key guy whether on stage singing with his wife, Tamra, and daughter, Canaan, or just chatting over lunch.

But he looked like he was ready to jump up and kick his heels as we talked about Coffmania over some chicken.

“We are real excited about this year, being able to go ahead with Coffmania” he said, breaking into a huge smile. “After last year, we are real excited to have it.”

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‘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!” →