Tag Renfro Valley

‘MERRY DOWN HOME CHRISTMAS’

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The Oak Ridge Boys opened the Renfro Valley concert season before a packed house in April. They will close the season Sunday night as part of their 30th Christmas tour. From left are Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban.

Oaks remain focused on Christ’s birth, close Renfro Valley’s concert season Sunday

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

Staying fresh in the music business is never easy. Doing so after nearly a half century of performing together is almost unheard of.

But then again, The Oak Ridge Boys are anything but an ordinary group. The current lineup first sang together in 1973 and is now in the last two weeks of the legendary group’s 30th Christmas tour. Continue reading “‘MERRY DOWN HOME CHRISTMAS’” →

‘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!” →

Playing for The One who gives the gift

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Multi-talented musician Chris Golden brings a night of country gospel music to Renfro Valley, Kentucky on June 1, 2018.

 

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

Chris Golden is happy just playing for The One who gave him the gift.

There are few packed crowds like he’d enjoyed during his 17 years as drummer for country and gospel music Hall of Famers The Oak Ridge Boys. Instead, Chris is his own driver, sound man, publicist, merchandiser and musician. “I’m a one man band now,” Chris says with his easy smile.

And he’s happy with the direction his musical journey is taking. Continue reading “Playing for The One who gives the gift” →