I can remember watching the Talleys sing when I was barley old enough to sit on my mother's knee. LOL How long have the Talleys been
singing? Where did each of you get your start?
Roger: I've been singing all my life. My dad began leading singing at his church immediately after being saved. My first Sunday was the week after I was born. He and my mom have sung in quartets and trios my entire life. Some of my best childhood memories were going to other singers' homes and listening to my parents sing. After awhile, they "convinced" me to play the piano for them. My mom says I would prop a comic book on the piano and read it while I played for them. I can only imagine how that must have sounded. My dad taught a few singing schools locally so we learned "shape note" singing as children. After getting my first "record player", I got some albums by the Downings and the Speers and I was hooked on their style of music. I corraled my brother and sister and decided we could sing some of these songs. We began singing as The Talley Trio when we were in high school. After graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1973, I was hired to play piano for The Hoppers, and that was the end of The Talley Trio until 10 years later, when we began again with Kirk, Debra, and myself.
Family groups always have such great harmony. Tell us a little about the history of the Talley family. Did your Mom and Dad's sing? Where does your talent come from?
Roger: I was playing piano for the Hoppers when Debra and I met. A mutual friend, Reb Lancaster was playing bass for the Dixie Melody Boys at the time and he introduced us at Ed O'Neals home one evening. Both our groups were so busy that we didn't see each other very often. We ended up writing letters and visiting occasionally until Christmas of 1977 when I begged until she agreed to marry me! We married in June 1978 and lived in North Carolina. She got to stay at home for a few months until The Hoppers needed a singer and she went back on the road singing with them as the first girl singer they'd ever had other than Connie.
Debra: I started singing when I was two years old in the church where I grew up. My mom was and still is the pianist. It was a singing church so it was very natural. I never had any ambition to sing professionally. It never occurred to me that I could sing anywhere other than my church. It’s really a great story how God, I believe, called me to do what I have done now for thirty-three years.
When I was nineteen years old, God began to deal with me about doing something more for Him. I remember going to the altar at my church many times and asking God what it was He wanted me to do. I was burdened by this and didn’t feel that my prayer was being answered. I remember one Sunday night I went to the altar so burdened that I said, “God I will do whatever it is you want me to do.” I didn’t ask Him to show me first that time. I was miserable and I just surrendered. It occurred to me later what a commitment I had made and frankly, it scared me to death. I was always taught that you honor commitments, especially, to God. I didn’t get an answer right away, but I had complete peace.
My dad had been following a regional group from Milan, Tennessee, the Song Masters. Due to my work schedule, I had not heard them, but he really liked them and scheduled them at our church. He asked me to try to be there when they came and I said I would do my best. Keep in mind my dad knew nothing of my struggle or my commitment to God. I hadn’t shared it with anyone. The night that the Song Masters were at our church, I had to work a little late, but I arrived shortly after the singing started. Back then, many groups sang each other songs and they were singing some songs I knew. I was sort of quietly mouthing the words to a song and really enjoying the concert. When it was over my mother, a few rows ahead of me turn and told me to go to their table and purchase a songbook she wanted. I did. As I was leaving the sanctuary, Joel Kelsey, the manager and bass singer, shook my hand and said, “ young lady do you sing?” I thought that was very odd, but I told him that I did at church. As I was talking to some people outside, Joel asked my dad if he knew me and if I went to church there. My dad said, “yes she goes to church here and I know her pretty well, she’s my daughter.” Joel told him to ask me to come back in and talk with him and his wife. I was very puzzled as I went back into the church. They asked if I would come up to the piano and sing a few with them and I said I would. After we had sung two or three, they told me their daughter was leaving the group to have her second child and they were looking for someone for the position. They asked me if I would be interested and I said I would have to pray about it. Joel said he would have been disappointed if I had said anything else. We planned another meeting for a couple of weeks later and after much prayer I took the job.
After I had been with them a few months, we were talking on the bus one day and Joel told me the rest of the story of why they hired me. They had been praying that God would show them the one that he wanted to take their daughter’s place, without advertising it. He said that they would just watch and pray at the places where they sang waiting for God to put that person in their path. The night that they were at my church, I walked in late and Joel said God spoke to him and said that’s the one you’re to talk to. As he was singing, he was praying. He asked God to give him another sign and have me purchase a specific book from their table, which unknowingly, I did. He also prayed that someone there that they knew would know me. That was my dad. I have always marveled at the way God worked in my life. That started a wonderful journey not just in singing, but learning that God is pursuing us to trust Him in our walk, even with the smallest details. When someone asks me how I got started, I always ask him or her how much time they have. There are many details to the story that only God could have orchestrated. I always say, too, that God could have placed someone there that was a much better singer than I was or am, but he chose me, not for what I was, but for what He wanted to show me!
How did Roger and Debra meet? Was it love at first sight, or did someone have to do a lot of begging?
Debra: Roger and I met on the road, when he was with the Hoppers and I was with the Song Masters. It was not love at first sight; in fact, we just spoke and didn’t start dating until several months later.
I remember seeing Lauren singing at the Steve Hurst School when she was a very young teenager. When did you realize that she was a talent that would rise to the top? When did you realize that she was ready to take the "plunge" into this world of Southern Gospel Music?
Debra: Lauren showed musical ability at a very young age. At the age of two, she got away from the sitter at an auditorium in Alabama and headed for the stage. Rhonda, our sitter, was just enough behind her that she was out of her reach. I could see her coming up the side aisle. While I was singing, I was praying she would catch her. She didn’t. Lauren came up the side steps to the stage and stood there until we ended the song. Kirk looked at her, and said, “What do want?” She said, with a lisp, “I want to thing.” She sang "Victory In Jesus" and we threw in a key change just out of habit and she went straight to the new key!
We never planned for her to have a career in gospel music. She was just a part of what mom and dad did. We never planned to form the Talley Trio. When we came off the road in 1993, we just wanted to make sure she was grounded and involved in normal church and school activities. She missed being on the road and there was really not much opportunity for her to sing and she was expressing interest in singing. We sang a few places locally to give her an outlet. God had other plans and we just followed as he lead us.
Lauren, I know that your parents put off singing so you could get an education. If I am right, you may still be getting that education. What have you been majoring in? How will this tie in with your musical career?
Lauren: My parents decided to come off the road when I was 10 years old to be more involved in church and my school activities and be somewhat of a "normal" family. We began singing together on a very limited basis when I was 13 years old and traveled all throughout my high school career. At 25 years old, I am now exactly halfway through my collegiate studies. I am majoring in business administration to supplement my music career, so that I can have full control of my own managerial and business affairs.
The Talley Trio has a very progressive sound. Who picks out the music? Do you still try to keep some hold on your Southern Gospel roots and the tradition that goes with that?
Lauren: We enjoy lots of different styles of music and we try to incorporate the things we like into the music we sing. The three of us choose the songs together and we almost always agree on what we like and don't like. My dad, Roger, and I (Lauren) work together on arranging the vocals and the basic concepts of the tracks and Jason Webb, who plays piano on many of our recordings, also works with us on arranging. We are of course very aware of our Southern Gospel roots and the fact that our audiences are primarily made up of Southern Gospel lovers, and our sound will probably always have that trademark. However, we don't feel the need to limit ourselves to just one thing; folks can come to a Talley concert and expect to hear traditional Southern Gospel as well as black gospel, praise and worship, traditional hymns and everything in between.
Roger, your brother Kirk, whistles, even at some of his concerts. Is this a family trait and could you whistle at your concerts if you wanted?
Roger: I'm afraid the whistling is a skill that I missed out on! Until lately, I've always thought that was something that Kirk just learned to do on his own. As many of you know, my mom has Alzheimers and is in the late stages now. During Christmas she was getting agitated at night so we decided to sing. As we began to sing, she quieted down and then began whistling along with us-right on pitch. She can't sing the words anymore but she can whistle! Who knew?
Debra, a picture on your website has you standing at the stove tasting something out of a pot that you were cooking. Are you really a good cook? Do you cook Southern, Italian, Mexican? What's your specialty? What's your favorite entree to cook? Would you rather cook or have Roger take you out to eat?
Debra: I love to cook! I love to try different recipes, but I am more of a Southern country cook. My mom started teaching me to cook when I was seven years old. My mom worked outside the home and need help. I was the oldest of four kids, so when I was about twelve, I started cooking for the family. I love the dishes I grew up on. You know, the ones you cook from memory. I love to have people over and cook for them. We have been to Italy, so I would love to go to one of those cooking retreats in Tuscany. My go to dishes are pot roast and gravy, chicken potpie from scratch, baked chicken, etc., just good home cooking. As far as Roger taking me out, I love to go to one of our favorite places, but we eat so much out on the road, we all love to eat at home when we are here. Now with Roger’s mom’s Alzheimer’s
disease, I cook even more for all of us.
Lauren is a lovely young woman. How does Roger keep all the guys away? Does Lauren's singing ability come from her Mom or Dad? For the sake of any young men who may be interested, does Lauren cook like her Mother?
Lauren: It's funny you mention that; someone recently asked me if my dad had a big stick to keep the guys away! I responded that he had turned the stick over to me and I had buried it. 
Seriously, whenever God chooses to reveal to me the man He has for me, we'll all be ready and very happy. I don't cook like my mom, never been very interested; however, I am a sports fanatic and will watch football and basketball games for hours, so I think that should make up for it!
I think my musical talents come from both sides of the family in different ways. People compare my voice to my mother's, but I also inherited my dad's ear and bent for producing and arranging. My maternal grandmother plays seven instruments, has never had a lesson in her life and doesn't read music. My paternal grandparents have sung in quartets and trios in church for years and I learned to sing alto by the shaped notes sitting in church next to my mamaw. Everyone on both sides of my family is musical so I have good genes everywhere!
I know that Roger does a lot of producing. How would anyone get in touch with you if they wanted to do a recording, or if htey wanted to book the Talley Trio?
Roger: I love working in the studio and I enjoy working with other singers on recording projects. Lauren has recently begun doing some producing as well as vocal coaching. We have our own studio here in Morristown called The Summit. We record our all our vocals there and many other artists as well. Anyone who is interested can email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call our office at 423 235-2916 for more information. Our booking agent is Fay Shedd, Artist Direction Agency 770 537-9387.
You can visit The Talley Trio online at http://www.talleytrio.com
Author: SGN
| Author's Website: http://sogospelnews.com/
Written: 02/15/2008
| 
Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 3
RSS Feed
| (What's an RSS feed?)
Ads Sponsored by Southern Spin
Very nice article of the Talley Trio! Thank you for sharing and giving us a little more insight into this wonderful group! I really enjoy their singing and their music!
Amazed in His presence and humbled by His great love!
“God makes everything happen at the right time.” (In His Time) Eccl. 3:11
Great article on a great trio! I love their music & I love their spirit.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
Debbie is still as sweet as she was when she was with the Song Masters. She's like one of my kids and I'm so proud of her success in Gospel Music. Hand in there, girl, you are the best.
Roger and Lauren stand a big second place in my heart, so may the Lord continue to bless your ministry and keep you safe. LOVE YA much, much, much
Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
