Early last week, The Old Paths announced in a newsletter that those attending their concerts this past weekend would be in for a big surprise. As of yesterday, the secret is out: The Old Paths are a quartet once again with the return of bass singer Brandon Barry.

Barry was with the group for several years before leaving in August 2008. The Old Paths temporarily sang with Trent Adams (now of the Dixie Echoes), but eventually opted to travel as a trio. Until now, Barry sang with the Stamps Quartet.

I always thought that Brandon was extremely underrated as a bass vocalist, and that while the group sounded good as a trio, the sound just wasn’t complete without a bass. The beauty of hiring back any singer is that the blend will still be there, even on newer material.

Look for videos of one of Brandon’s first concerts back with the Old Paths in the next few days.

Update: Here’s a video compilation of some songs from one of his first concerts after the return. Thanks, DinanaSN!

From the press release put out by the group:

When 2010 began, Gold City introduced a new line-up of familiar faces with the addition of tenor Josh Cobb and pianist Roy Webb. As mentioned in the earliest days of this re-organization of the quartet, Roy was  on board in a temporary role to help develop Gold City’s future plans. During this time, Roy maintained a schedule of selected solo dates, with the intentions of one day returning to a full-time solo career.

That day has arrived, and Gold City is searching a for a new pianist. Anyone interested in being a part of a 30-year ministry is encouraged to send a resume and demo to Gold City, Attn: Jason R. Maise, P.O. Box 2100, Gadsden, AL 35903 or via email at jasonrmaise@yahoo.com.

“It has been a pleasure to be involved with Gold City,” says Roy. “I wish them much success and I believe that this group is truly one of Southern Gospel music’s all-time great quartets.

“However my heart is in my solo efforts and that’s where I feel I need to be. So it is time to make the move.” Roy’s scheduling will be handled through The Beckie Simmons Agency.

“We wish for nothing but the best for Roy,” adds Gold City’s Daniel Riley. “Roy’s contributions to this group have been numerous and they are greatly appreciated.

“In the meantime, we look forward to the next person God will put in our path. We’re excited about what may lie ahead for us.” Personal appearances for Gold City are also scheduled through The Beckie Simmons Agency (www.bsaworld.com).

It seems the “Singing News cover curse” strikes again. For those who don’t know what I’m referencing, it’s a running joke that, like the “Sports Illustrated cover curse” in which the player featured on the cover usually suffers a serious injury afterwards, any group featured on the SN cover is usually due for a lineup change. Gold City was on the August 2010 edition.

Roy built quite a following with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, and even more so with Gold City. While he will be missed, his contributions towards Gold City’s image and sound will leave a lasting mark, and his fan base is big enough that his solo ministry should do well.

The obvious question on everyone’s mind now is this: who will the new player be? I have a feeling it may be an “unknown,” but it is certain that whoever is picked will be an asset to what the group is doing now. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but I would love to see Garry Jones on the piano bench with the group again. His arranging and producing with the current vocal lineup is a match made in Heaven.

From this press release at AbsolutelyGospel.com:

Rick Fair New Bass For Southern Sound Quartet

We wish to announce that Rick Fair has accepted the position of bass singer with Southern Sound Quartet. Rick brings a long and rich history with great quartet groups including Palmetto State and Hovie Lister and The Statesmen Quartet. We went through an exhaustive search for the right man, both in fine bass voice and Christian character, and Rick is the perfect fit.

Rick replaces Alan Brewster who is leaving the group to have more time to devote to his business in Ringgold, GA. Alan has made many friends during his tenure with Southern Sound, and many in the industry have come to recognize him as one of the finest bass singers ever to grace a stage. Alan and his lovely wife Pam will be missed more than words can say. They brought a touch of grace and character to Southern Sound, and are lasting members of our extended family. Although Alan will not be part of our touring ensemble, he will in fact, always be a member of Southern Sound and very much loved by all of us. Alan, we wish you and Pam only the best, as you have given your best, not only to us, but to your Heavenly Father. These two kind and generous people are the real thing. They both love the Lord and prove it everyday in their walk with Him. Be well my friends and go with God!

And now a new chapter begins with Rick Fair as the anchor of our group. Rick’s calm laid-back style is a perfect fit for our group. His voice is huge and powerful, and we look forward to the months and years ahead. This decision did not come lightly, but only after many hours of praying and asking God for His will. We had many great candidates contact us with interest in becoming our new bass singer, and we are honored by your interest in Southern Sound. In the end, Rick was both the voice and the man we felt fit us the best. Help us welcome Rick Fair to Southern Sound Quartet. And, be sure to come hear Rick on his first engagement with Southern Sound at Grand Ole Gospel Reunion in Greenville, SC in mid August.

Once again, Southern Sound impresses me twofold; they made a great hire in Fair, whose smooth bass voice I’ve missed hearing, and they also handle group changes better than most other groups out there. The press release is written well; they mention the reasons for the change, they commend the departing member on their contributions during their tenure with the group, and make it clear there are no hard feelings. However, they also devote equal attention to welcoming the new member.

I am looking forward to hearing the new vocal lineup of Southern Sound Quartet.

There were several things that took place in the SG world last week that I was unable to cover because my Internet was down. An old pine tree in my neighbor’s yard split down its trunk and caused some problems when it hit the lines around the house. Here’s some of the items I missed:

1. Doug Oldham Passes Away at age 79 Growing up in Bedford, VA, which is a small town outside of Lynchburg, I was very familiar with Oldham’s work at Thomas Road Baptist Church and in other areas as well. Last week, he was awaiting surgery for a broken spine sustained in a serious fall, and passed away peacefully early on the morning of July 21. The funeral is today; a final dose of the reality that another legend has gone home. Here’s one of my favorite clips of Doug from the Gaither Homecoming series:

2. Matt Felts Joins Perfect Heart In a press release from the group:

One of Southern Gospel’s most beloved groups, Perfect Heart, is delighted to announce that Matt Felts has joined the group as their new tenor. “Matt has proven himself to be a premier talent in Southern Gospel but more importantly his deep desire to see God’s kingdom grow line up perfectly with our group’s main goal. Matt is a wonderful addition to our family and we look forward to all that he brings to us.” stated Mike Presnell, Legendary bass for Perfect Heart.

Matt is well known to the fans of Southern Gospel, singing for groups such as Monument Quartet and the Skyline Boys. As a member of Monument, Matt gained fans both in the Gospel and country music world through their numerous live and television appearances.

“It is an incredible honor to join a legendary group like Perfect Heart. They were the very first live concert I ever attended and I’ve always been a fan of Mike’s. Though they have a rich tradition, I am more excited about all that God has in store for us. There are so many great things coming and I can’t wait to see the fans of this group as I hit the road with them.” said matt Felts. Matt has already began touring with Perfect Heart.

Perfect Heart currently can be heard on the radio with their chart hit “Glory Waves”. Fans can see this incredible new lineup at the Showcase Spectacular on Monday at the National Quartet Convention. To learn more about Perfect Heart, fans can go to their official website at www.perfectheartqt.com

I’m interested to hear how Matt will affect their sound. The new Perfect Heart is a good quartet already, and adding a tenor like Felts will only improve them. For those unfamiliar with him, here is a clip of him with Monument Quartet singing the tenor standard, “Hide Thou Me.”

Jason Crabb stated that Mike & Kelly are being released from the hospital to go home tomorrow. Kelly will not have surgery, but will be in a body cast for three months. Mike is improving, but it will be a long road, and everyone else is banged up but OK.

The situation could have been a whole lot worse, so all things considered, this is great news. Please keep them in your prayers.

This news story states that the group was involved in a serious wreck this afternoon near Charlotte, NC. Mike Bowling and one other person have been airlifted to the local hospital, and it’s been reported that Mike is in critical condition. Terah Crabb Penhollow sustained a broken arm. There is no word on the others as of yet.

Please keep the group in your prayers. I will send updates as I receive them.

Update: Reports have come in that Mike Bowling is alert and talking. PTL!

Further update: From SGReporter:

The latest report from family members says Mike Bowling and six year old daughter, Katelanne.. appear to have sustained the most serious injuries as a result of a bus crash earlier today near Charlotte, NC. Reports say they were on the side of the bus that took the brunt of the impact,.. and were thrown forward. Family member Brian Lawing told our reporter: “Mike has a skull fracture, broken wrist, and lacerations. Kelly has a broken or crushed vertebrae and possible broken ankle. Katelanne’s collar bone is broken in two places and she has a deep laceration on her face. The piano player has a broken ankle. The rest of the family/band/crew are all okay. Shaken up and bruised but praise God they are okay.” Mike and Katelanne were airlifted to a nearby medical facility,.. the others were transported by ambulance to the same hospital. All involved are expected to make a complete recovery.

Police officers working the accident scene released a statement tonight saying: “A tractor trailer was stopped in traffic in the northbound lane of I-85 when the tour bus — also traveling north — hit the tractor trailer in the rear. The tractor trailer then hit a box truck in front of it.” The Bowling Family was enroute to a concert appearance in Indian Land, South Carolina.

It seems that when I went on vacation, the Southern Gospel world decided to go on overtime with newsworthy items. Here’s some of the things I missed out on:

1. Check out Daniel Mount’s short interview with Gold City tenor Josh Cobb. In it, Cobb mentions two of his features on the upcoming mainline release from the group. The first is the song that he is probably most recognized for from his Legacy Five days, “I Stand Redeemed,” which he mentions Gordon Mote has arranged this time around. The second is a Michael English song from the early 90s, “Heaven.” With a singer well-known for performing the song producing the project, it will be interesting to see just what he brings out of Cobb for that particular track.

2. The master schedule for NQC 2010 has been posted. A quick perusal shows that up-and-coming groups like Liberty Quartet and The Ball Brothers have finally made it to mainstage, and there is a showcase highlighting young artists called “Legends of Tomorrow” that has a Wednesday afternoon slot. That will be worth going to, especially if it is like the “Torch” video that was released a couple years back.

3. Speaking of legends of tomorrow, check out this clip of a recent Remember The Music concert: A quartet comprised of tenor Danny Funderburk, lead Scott Fowler, baritone Mark Trammell, and bass Pat Barker sing “Movin’ Up To Gloryland,” and this is the first time I’ve seen an instance where Glenn Dustin didn’t take the bass on the song.

At a Mark Trammell Quartet concert I attended a couple of weeks ago, I was talking to Joel Wood and Dustin Sweatman beforehand, and both of them mentioned how, since Barker had joined the group and gotten his own mic, he had adopted a George Younce style of bass singing that showed a lower range he didn’t get to display often with the Dixie Echoes’ two-mic style. I certainly noticed it during that concert, but this clip is by far the greatest evidence of that fact. Whether intentionally or not, young Barker’s tones and placement are very reminiscent of those of Younce’s, especially here. This well-rounded bass will only improve with age.

4. My friend Andrew Graham attended a recent Kingsmen concert, and got several videos. You can view the four that he posted at his Youtube channel, but the one that perhaps best highlights the impact that Randy Crawford is having on their sound is this clip of a song originally led by Phillip Hughes, “Mountain of Grace.”

5. I noticed that Wes Hampton posted the track list and features for the upcoming Gaither Vocal Band project, Greatly Blessed, on his blog. Interestingly enough, ChristianBook.com also has a preview of five songs from the new project here. The first three songs were already featured on the latest GVB videos (although, the studio versions have added instrumentation), but about halfway through the preview comes two new songs. Check out the heavily orchestrated Crabb Family cover, “Please Forgive Me,” featuring Michael English. The vocal lead-in is stunning, and the entire arrangement sounds like it will be stellar.
Update: Looks like a preview for the entire project is up here.

6. As a last-minute addition to this roundup, Greater Vision just posted a sneak preview of their upcoming project at their Facebook page. It’s a re-recorded version of “You Were Faithful Yesterday” from their 2009 project, Not Alone, released with Jacob Kitson. The difference is almost indiscernible until the second verse when Chris Allman takes a solo. This says good things about both Kitson and Allman; Kitson’s vocal style is close to that of the stellar Allman’s, and Allman’s ability to seamlessly blend after so many years is impeccable.

From a press release on The Kingsmen’s Facebook page:

Ray Dean Reese is thrilled to announce the addition of Randy Crawford to The Kingsmen. Randy will be filling the vacant baritone/ lead position. Many will remember him from his past tenure with the Kingsmen. He can be heard on the 2002 top ten song, “Justified”. More recently he was a member of Brian Free & Assurance. Randy is an extremely gifted vocalist as well as a fine Christian gentleman. Randy will be relocating to the mountains of Asheville, NC immediately. He will share the stage with Ray Dean Reese (bass), Bryan Hutson (lead/ baritone), Harold Reed (tenor), Cody McVey (piano), and Brandon Reese (sound). Randy looks forward to seeing his many friends as he embarks on this new chapter in his life. To find out when the Kingsmen will be in a city near you please visit www.kingsmenquartet.com

There had been rumors floating around ever since Randy had departed Brian Free & Assurance that he would be making this move; glad to see they were true. Even when he was filling in for the past several weeks, he seemed to be having the time of his life, and seemed to fit seamlessly into the group. I enjoyed Randy’s sound with the group when he was with them the first time (although, they were The Carolina Boys for most of his tenure), and the “Justified” song mentioned in the PR is one of my favorite Crawford features.

Looking forward to hearing this new lineup in action!

Edit: Check out this clip of Randy’s first night with the group. Here, he sings a Phillip Hughes feature, which is a perfect platform to compare/contrast their respective styles.

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The bloggers featured in this review are Daniel Mount, Wes Burke, Brandon Coomer, Nate Stainbrook, Phil Boles, and myself. The project released today (June 1, 2010) and was produced by Lari Goss.
We hope you enjoy reading this review as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Song 1: A Higher Throne

Daniel: A few hours before this CD arrived in my mailbox, I was pondering Lari Goss’s iconic introduction to the Cathedrals classic “Champion of Love.” It’s an instantly recognizable riff—and not just because it is the melody of a line whose lyrics we remember. It’s inherently unforgettable on its own merits. I was pondering whether Goss would ever offer another intro of that caliber.

Now Declaration isn’t even in bookstores yet as I write this, so it’s far too early to declare this intro iconic. But incipiently iconic or not, the introduction instantly grabs your attention. A soaring trumpet crescendo is answered by swelling strings and woodwinds. The trumpet sounds again, and the orchestra answers. The band kicks in, and trumpet, orchestra, and band set a fittingly majestic backdrop for a lyric depicting Heaven’s throne room.

Though Declaration is so full of strong songs that there will be stiff competition for radio slots, this song should unmistakably go to radio. Though it’s 5 minutes 25 seconds long, a tempo on the fast side of midtempo makes it seem to go by faster.

Wes: What a great choice to open the disc.  I love the anthemic feel of this song, and right away this cut shows that the partnership between Lari Goss and the Booth Brothers is going to exceed every possibility you’ve imagined since it was made known.

Nate: Agree totally with you guys about this song. I can’t help but get excited when I hear this song. I love it from the opening to the ending. It ends with a breathtaking, sweeping, epic ending.  You mentioned the beginning being a great opening stanza, but the song also ends on a great note. Great song that Lari Goss struck gold on again. And I can’t wait to see this song get staged live.

Daniel: I knew the song was good on its own merits. But not until several weeks later, when I came across the original, by Keith & Kristyn Getty, did I fully appreciate what Goss had done with the song. I should say that I rediscovered the original, to be precise, since I had already heard it. But the arrangements are so different that I hadn’t connected the two until searching for the songwriter.

Goss deserves to be named in the same breath as Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. It would take a talent of that level to take the original and give it this level of treatment.

Song 2: God Did it All
Daniel: This Ronnie Booth feature starts simply enough. A lush orchestral track featuring the woodwind section accompanies a beautiful, lilting melody about Creation. By the chorus, the song becomes a powerful statement of God’s sovereignty. The song builds into a huge ending that should equally captivate live audiences and radio DJs (though Daywind should cut the encore before singling it, as 6:10 is too long for a single.)

The melody for this Rusty Golden / Dianne Wilkinson collaboration has a fascinating provenance: Wilkinson wrote the lyric and composed a melody for the chorus. She brought up the song during a collaboration session with Golden, who proceeded to come up with a melody for the verses—without having heard her chorus melody. Then she showed him what she had for the chorus—and they realized it was a perfect fit.

Nate: This song is very well written and very well performed. I love Ronnie Booth’s voice. This song makes you take notice of just how good of a singer he really is. I love the message to this song. It should challenge you to get ready, and to tell others that “God Did It All.”

Wes: This is the first big ballad you hear from Goss and the Booths, and it doesn’t disappoint.  Ronnie Booth turns in a tremendous performance.  This should be a single, the length not withstanding.  Actually, the Kingdom Heirs singled “He Had To Hold To Calvary” back in the mid 90s, and it was 6:01.

Daniel: It wouldn’t be more than a minute of work to cut out the encore. They’d be wise to single it without the encore (even if they leave the alternate version on the radio compilation disc  for any DJs who want it).

Song 3: I See Grace
Nate: This song written by Jim Brady along with Barry Weeks and Tony Wood, is a song that the Booth Brothers have been staging for several months now. It is one of my favorites on this project. It starts with a epic sounding intro, that settles into to a great medium to fast tempo song, that is very well orchestrated. Jim Brady gets the lead on this song.He never ceases to amaze me with his vocal versatility and range, and he really shows it here. He has Michael Booth stacked above him for part of the first verse, making for some nice harmony. I love the end of the second verse that says “Those who have come through unbearable loss not defined by the past but defined by the Cross.” That is a great line that really defines this song and makes it a potential radio hit. I have been told that this song has been going over particularly well in concerts, and I can see why.

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Here’s a couple interesting tidbits from the weekend you may have missed:

First, check out this video that David Bruce Murray blogged about last week and recorded at a recent Dove Brothers concert. The song is “I’ll Fly Away”:

A couple thoughts:
1. The low G that bass singer David Hester hits actually vibrates two Bose speakers right off the stage. Wow.
2. The Dove Brothers are a good quartet to begin with, but throwing a live band into the mix takes them to a whole new level. Look to see how that affects the arrangements on their recordings from now on.
3. Speaking of which, the group has a full preview of their upcoming release, Unstoppable, available on their website’s music player. It’s well worth the listen.

In other news, Daniel Mount has posted both the song list and cover art for the upcoming Gaither Vocal Band project, Greatly Blessed, on his site. The songs are as follows:

1. Better Day
2. When He Blest My Soul
3. Love Like I’m Leavin’
4. You Are My All In All – this is possibly the popular Praise & Worship song, and if so, it will be interesting to see how the group can present it to an SG audience without being too polarizing. Then again, the GVB has never been strictly SG. I can see this as a David Phelps or Wes Hampton feature.
5. Please Forgive Me – An interview I was fortunate enough to do with Michael English indicated that he would be out front on this Crabb Family classic.
6. Greatly Blessed, Highly Favored
7. He’s Alive – There is a song of the same title about Jesus’ resurrection that has been featured on a Homecoming video, and was also recorded by David Phelps on his very first solo project, Journey to Grace, that came before his time with the Vocal Band. (Watch a performance from a couple years ago here.) A solo by Phelps with the whole group kicking in on the final choruses would be a powerhouse sound for sure.
8. Ain’t Nobody – if this is the same song by Soul’d Out Quartet, it would be one of the most unique sounds the GVB has ever adopted. Keep an eye on this one.
9. Clean
10. Muddy Water – The group has adopted a country flavor to several of their songs recently (Jesus & John Wayne, anyone?), so I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the tune made famous by Trace Adkins. A Michael English lead could possibly come from this, especially since the lyric is essentially the story of the prodigal son.
11. That Sounds Like Home To Me – This Happy Goodmans classic was mentioned in the interview. It will be interesting to see how the group arranges this song.
12. I Know How To Say Thank You
13. He Is Here – Michael English stated that this would be a big song for Wes Hampton, and I’m sure that Wes will do great on this Kirk Talley staple.