Tag Southern Gospel

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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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Popular singer truly knows ‘God Can’

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Bill Sowder, third from left, sings with His Heart in the quartet’s first concert of 2023 on March 19 at Shiloh Christian Church, Columbia, Ky. Members of the group are, from left, Kyle Harris, Jeremy Dickerson, Sowder and Bob Abbott. (Photo provided.)
Sidelined by horse riding accident, Sowder counts his blessings in return to His Heart Quartet

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. – When he stepped on the stage with His Heart Quartet at Sand Spring Baptist Church, Bill Sowder hopped around with an energy that would belie the fact that he’s now 69 years old. He moved. He thrust his forefinger toward Heaven. He pumped his fist.

It was vintage Sowder, one of Kentucky’s best-known gospel music personalities.

And it’s certainly not what one would expect from someone who was supposed to just be learning to walk again.

“I tell you, I feel like a million bucks. I might look like a Dollar General store but I feel like a million bucks,” Sowder said shortly before His Heart opened for Triumphant Quartet.

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Just praising and worshiping God

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Triumphant in concert at First Baptist Church of Cold Spring, March 16, 2023. From left are David Sutton, Scotty Inman, Clayton Inman and Eric Bennett.
Clayton Inman talks about Triumphant’s newest CD, one that ‘bridges the gap’

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

COLD SPRING, Ky. – There’s not even a group photo on Triumphant Quartet’s latest album.

The album title, “Hymns & Worship” along with the obligatory song titles and credits are there, but nothing else.  Nothing, that is, other than a quote from the Old Testament book of Numbers.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

– Numbers 6:24-26, New International Version ®

It’s more than fitting.

After all, Triumphant Quartet is about praising God and bringing people to a closer relationship to Him.  Nothing more. Nothing less. 

So yes, Triumphant’s newest project might seem to be somewhat different from anything the quartet has done, but the core of what someone hears is the same as it’s always been.

“It’s only different because people come to hear their favorite songs – ‘White Flag,’ ‘Somebody Died for Me,’” Triumphant lead singer Clayton Inman reflected shortly after the group sang before a full house at First Baptist Church of Cold Spring on March 16. “We have those songs and still sing those songs, but we were looking to do something that would bridge the gap.”

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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.”

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Drew’s dream really is coming true

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Drew Laney (left) sings with Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Famer Ray Dean Reese during The Kingsmen concert on January 12. Laney is learning from one of his heroes less than two years after asking Reese for advice on getting started in gospel music.

Less than a year after getting his start in gospel music, Laney learns from Kingsmen legend

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

CRAB ORCHARD, Ky. – Describing Drew Laney’s introduction to the world of Southern Gospel music as fast is akin to saying there’s a little bit of speed at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It would be the monumental understatement. 

Laney, all of 21 years old, has been turning heads since he started appearing on stage with The Kingsmen just before the National Quartet Convention got underway last September in Pigeon Forge. 

“Just who is this kid singing bass beside Ray Dean Reese?”

“Is he here to stay?”

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Joyaires’ ministry is aptly named

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The Joyaires, Ernie and Debbie Peters, seek to bring the joy of Christ in their
music ministry. (Photo by John Herndon)

After 43 years, joy in Christ continues to be the message they bring

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

You probably won’t find any artist of any genre with a more fitting name than The Joyaires.

They’ve been singing gospel music since 1979, bringing joy to anyone who hears their message about Jesus and the joy that is found in Him.

“We hadn’t thought about what we were going to call ourselves, so we just jotted down a bunch of names,” Ernie Peters says of how the group came up with its name. 

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Cultivating creativity, growing a ministry of outreach

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Canaan Coffman sings during one of her family’s sets during Coffmania in Danville on Oct. 22, 2022.

Canaan Coffman debuts as a solo artist with A Night of Worship in her hometown

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

DANVILLE, Ky. – Canaan Coffman knew the day was coming when some changes would be taking place. She just didn’t know exactly what they would be or when they would happen.

That time has come.

Canaan will be introducing her friends and fans to some of her new look with “A Night Of Worship With Canaan In Her Hometown” on Sunday, November 13. The event will be held at her home church, Danville Church of God. The night of worship begins at 6 p.m.

It’s new. It’s different. But it’s not a complete break from her role as a member of her family trio, The Coffmans.

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Leading listeners to God’s path

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Greater Vision sings at Sand Spring Baptist Church on Oct. 6, 2022. From left are Gerald Wolfe, Jon Epley, Rodney Griffin and Chris Allman.

Early detours led Rodney Griffin on road to SGMA Hall of Fame

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. – Once he tells his story, it’s hard to miss the irony of where the detours along career paths have led Rodney Griffin on his way to a place in the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.

“I was trying to get into med school,” Griffin says, remembering his days as a student at Berea College. “As I got into my studies, I saw that my grades were not going to be the straight A’s that are required to get into medical school. Those people were brilliant that I was in class with. “I thought I had better find something else because that is just not my thing.”

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