
As life goes on, changes happen. Even in our most stable and admired groups, at sometime a change is going to occur. The good thing is that change is not always bad. Such is the case with Gold City's recent change as Steve Ladd joined this premier quartet in Southern Gospel Music.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Steve Ladd and I want to share what he had to say about how things have changed for him since joining Gold City.
Steve Ladd started singing as a youngster with his family, The Ladd Family. Ladd and his siblings traveled in a trailer singing at tent revivals as their Dad preached. When he and his brother entered high school, they were so busy finding jobs along with extra school activities that they eventually stopped traveling with their Dad, though their Dad continued on preaching the Word by himself.
After high school, Ladd felt the yearning to start singing again, so he sang for a short while with a local group. That didn't last long, and at the age of 20 he joined the Anchormen in 1996. He stayed with them for 8 years, doubling as the road manager for the last four of those years. It was this loyalty that made Ladd attractive to Gold City. Though Ladd felt that a move to Gold City would be an advancement to his musical career it was with much toiling and prayer over the matter that he decided to accept the move.
When asked what it was like moving to another level both musically and emotionally, Ladd replied that the biggest difference that he sees and feels is atmosphere. "Gold City is like a well oiled machine," he said. "The crowds are different, they treat you like royalty." It appears that Ladd is well loved by the crowds as they have been very complimentary to him. He feels that the fans and the men in the group have all been very patient with him and forgiving of whatever few missed notes or words that he might have had.
How does Steve Ladd feel about the comparison of himself to Brian Free? "It is a great compliment to be compared to Brian, because Brian is a great tenor," said Ladd. Though never having tried to copy Brian Free, Ladd does admit that as a youngster Free had a lot of influence on him vocally. Ladd strives to have his own identity as a singer, but does say that if he sounds like Brian Free on the older Gold City songs it's probably to his advantage and the fans seem to love it.
Steve Ladd admits that singing with Gold City is a dream come true and that it is surely a sign that God does give us the desires of our hearts.
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