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As I grow older I often become somewhat nostalgic. This time of year that is especially so. It’s not just the Thanksgiving and Christmas season and all the wonderful memories they bring. Nor is it even missing those that are no longer a part of that celebration. This year, there are many people missing for the season that were here last year at this time. Part of that makes me sad because we miss them, but part of it brings joy because I KNOW I will see them again one day!
In the 70s and 80s Thanksgiving brought an abundance of SGM concerts in the Carolinas and Tennessee. My favorites were Greenville, SC put on by Jack Pittman and the Palmetto State, Asheville, NC with ‘Foxy’ and the Mighty Kingsmen and Knoxville, TN promoted by J. Bazell Mull. Many years we made the rounds attending these concerts and enjoying the tremendous groups that shared their wonderful music with fans that were eager after their Thanksgiving meal to enjoy a ‘feast’ of music never to be duplicated.
The Greenville and Asheville concerts at Thanksgiving no longer exist and Knoxville has moved to Pigeon Forge, time marches on and things change. This year I looked at one thing that hasn’t changed, Alabama’s Oldest Thanksgiving singing in Florence, AL, they celebrated their 26th year on Friday, November 24th. I decided it was worth the drive to be a part of this concert.
The line-up in Florence was stellar, The Mike LeFerve Quartet, The Perrys, Gold City and the Kingsmen. As I looked at that line up, I saw a lot of tradition, not just the twenty six years they had been having the concert, but the groups they were having, they also had a lot of tradition.
LeFerve a name recognized by anyone that knows anything about SGM. Not just the legacy left by the famous LeFerves but Mike has quite a legacy of his own. He has been a member of several top groups in SGM. He has put together a line up with the quartet that won this year’s Horizon Award in the Singing News. I listened to the group in Florence and even with a substitute bass singer as theirs was unavailable, they were a hit with the crowd. And having seen them in concert several times in the last few months that would seem to be the case wherever they go. But being a crowd favorite and an award winner doesn’t seem to be enough to get this group with a legacy in SGM on the main stage that the legendary NQC in 2007. Tradition and legacy doesn’t seem to be worth quite as much as it used to be.
The Kingsmen are celebrating 50 years in gospel music and surviving a couple of years as the Carolina Boys before returning the Kingsmen name to it’s rightful place. I’ve heard all the great singers that have been a part of Kingsmen history. Known for the high, strong tenor, a position held by the ‘whose who’ in SGM and the low growling bass of Ray Dean Reese, the Kingsmen have put together another spectacular combination. Jeremy Peace is a classic ‘Kingsmen’ tenor; he can hit those high notes with the best they have ever had. Phillip Hughes is a strong lead singer and Ray Reese is, as ever, the corner stone bass of the group. I had not seen the group since Tony Peace joined them as baritone and wasn’t really sure how that would fit into their sound or stage presence, Tony can be a bit overwhelming at times. You can’t help but be reminded of the Kingsmen in the heyday of Jim Hamill watching him control the program and in fact the crowd. The Kingsmen have another feature that I love, the full band. Nick has long proven himself to be a versatile and gifted pianist, Brandon is an accomplished drummer and the addition of Grant Barker on the bass guitar is superb! Grant is a bass guitarist that becomes a part of the music and the guitar becomes a part of him and the music as he plays. This is by far one of the strongest Kingsmen groups in some time and reminds me of the groups I enjoyed at those concerts in the 70s and 80s. The crowd at the concert seemed to agree with me on that as they were treated to both new and progressive songs and the old favorites.
The Perrys have gone thorough changes in the last few months, as they were joined by Nick Trammell, a young man with a family legacy in SGM and full of talent and potential. There was also the switch from baritone to lead by Joseph Habedank. Having watched this progression since the beginning, I was thrilled to see how Nick is continuing to make his feature songs his own as well as perfecting the strong vocal needed to complete the blend of this group. This young man with so much potential is recognizing that potential more each week as he becomes more and more the polished professional that Tracy and Libbi Stuffle knew he would be. The full sound and tight blend that has been the signature of the Perrys in recent years is there along with an excitement and spirit of ministry that is unequalled in their recent history. This concert is no exception, with a blend of the old and the new; the Perrys were a crowd pleaser. Tracy had Joseph sing a new song he and Matthew have recently written. This song hasn’t been recorded yet so the accompaniment was simply the piano but the message of this song will touch many hearts and lives as it ministers to us at the times we feel ready to give up and shares with us that God is there holding us in those troubled times. Not only were the vocals strong and true, these folks were having fun on stage. Matthew who is by far one of my favorite pianists and one of the most talented young men in gospel music was fantastic as always. And while the Perrys’ message is clear and their focus is on ministering to those who come to hear them, they are having fun doing just that. Tracy even called Eddie Lenz from the audience to join them on a rousing rendition of “I Wish I Coulda Been There” near the end of their set.
Having attended one of the very first Gold City concerts in Gainesville GA twenty six years ago, I’ve seen and heard every combination of Gold City quartet. Until recently my favorite combination was the Parrack, Wilburn, Trammell & Riley era. The current front line of Gold City rivals any group in their history. Steve Ladd is a incredible tenor, with both power and astonishing clarity. Jonathan Wilburn has not missed a step in his ten year tenure with the group and is still adding extraordinary lead vocals with excitement and masterful stage presence. Daniel Riley is exceptional baritone singer who has always been an impressive vocalist but who has matured into a solid quartet singer that is the glue that brings their sound together. Aaron McCune is an impressive young man with a superior quality bass voice. While many bass singers use movement and showmanship to accentuate their vocal abilities, Aaron is a bass singer that can just belt out those low notes without excessive contortions to draw attention from the group or the song. Their accompaniment by Josh Simpson, whose piano capabilities are unsurpassed, rounded out this first-class group.
The banter of Steve and Jonathan add a touch of entertainment to the unadulterated message both of their music and their speech. They show how fully ministry and entertainment can be blended with excellent results.
Each group on this concert had a tradition and each in recent months and years have grown as they found the new twists needed to keep their music and presentations fresh and lively for their audiences. They have had changes and used these changes to extend and magnify the talents they have. They have reached for the ultimate in entertainment while keeping their roots in the ministries that are dear to their hearts. They know that many attending the concerts need the lift of laughter, yet they recognize that the only true relief for any need we have is found with the Savior and they share this with audiences night after night.
If there is anything that can ‘top’ this tremendous line-up of talent, it would be the addition of the SGM veteran, Jim Hamill, the Perrys doing a tribute to the Goodmans and a KingsGold performance. Jim sat on a stool sang and shared of his wife’s recent illness. While he is no longer the robust ‘mighty Kingsmen’ lead, he sang from his heart and everyone was blessed.
The Perrys’ tribute to the Goodmans is always a treat. Libbi belted out the notes in true Vestal style and Joseph was featured on ‘Who Am I’. Truly it was an awesome addition to the night.
Another tradition that has not been seen often in recent years KingsGold featured a sensational blend of strong vocalists and talented musicians. The dueling tenors, Steve and Jeremy, were showcased as were the low notes of Aaron and Ray. Jonathan and Phillip shared verse of ‘How Great Thou Art’ and Daniel was featured on ‘He Touched Me’.
This was one of the finest concerts I’ve attended in some time. Considering the number of concerts my daughter and I have attended this summer and fall, that is a remarkable statement. There was not a weak performance all night.
I saw groups that have roots in SGM that go back many years uphold the tradition, so much a part of their heritage, while moving to reach greater heights in their musical abilities. Each of these groups have weathered hardships and grown into better groups thorough those times. They have brought into their folds young people who will carry on this wonderful music that we all love. They have stretched themselves musically, rather than settle for the same old sound day after day. Yet each group has maintained the core sound that their fans know and love.
This Thanksgiving concert has brought back many memories of those incredible concerts in the past, it has inspired me to believe that the best is yet to come. Gold City has found a sound that those die-hard fans will love with continuing their progressive and trend setting music. The Perrys have welcomed an outstanding member from another SGM family into their family sound and have reached a new level of accomplishment in their performance. The Kingsmen have only one member from the ‘glory years’ but have found men who can retain the sound while growing their musical bases. The Mike LeFerve Qt is just begining the journey that his family and he have already traveled; they have so much of the future ahead of them.
My disappointment of this time was that the crowd was not better; it seems that gospel music doesn’t seem to be high on most Christians’ list of priorities these days; it falls behind shopping and other mundane activities. And I know without the crowds even concerts like this that provide excellent entertainment and spiritual renewal cannot continue. I know that in twenty more years, my daughter may not have the option of even driving seven hours to attend one of these concerts, like we did, instead of having it in our back door as I did twenty years ago.
As I close out for the year 2006, my prayer is that we as Christians recognize that one of our most valuable musical assets is slipping away because we don’t care enough to support it. And I pray that we change that as we go into 2007.
God Bless, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dee Ann Bailey
http://www.deeannbailey.com
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Written: 12/01/2006 
Author: Dee Ann Bailey
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DeeAnn Bailey
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