Daniel Childs, descendent of the original Blackwood Brothers Quartet and lead singer for Southern Gospel group Blackwood Legacy, announced today the addition of Paul Secord as tenor singer for the quartet.

“Our last tenor left very suddenly,” Daniel said, “so we were pressed to find a fill-in as quickly as we could.  After praying about it and searching through dozens of resumes, we knew that Paul was a special candidate and was someone we wanted to meet.  And, as it turns out, he’s not only a very talented guy, but an incredibly nice guy as well.”

Secord flew to Portland, Oregon to join the group on tour last week, and after much prayer and thought, both Secord and Rick Price (group leader / emcee) felt that making Paul a permanent addition to the group was the right step.

“So excited to have Paul here,” says Price.  ”He will be recognized as one of the great vocalists in Gospel music today.  He’s a great friend, musician, and has an ability to communicate with an audience – which is truly a gift from God.  We feel blessed to have the sudden opportunity to add him to our team.  God certainly can take something that was meant for harm, and turn it into something good!”

Paul Secord has a long history in ministry and in entertainment, having been a featured performer at Walt Disney World, as well as having been a Worship pastor at a church in Virginia Beach.  Paul currently resides near Nashville with his wife, Dawn, and their two wonderful children.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Blackwood Legacy,” says Secord.  ”I believe my gifts are a great match for their ministry and can’t wait to see what God does when we put it all together.”

Paul will be featured on all the upcoming tour dates with the group, and will also be featured on their next album, which is currently in the works.

For more information, visit the group online at www.theblackwoodlegacy.com.

I admit that I am unfamiliar with Secord’s voice, but I am looking forward to hearing how he affects the sound of the group. Perhaps this change will be one that finally stabilizes the lineup for a good long while!

(l-r) Ray Dean Reese, Bob Sellers, Randy Crawford, Chris Jenkins, Brandon Reese)

After a fill-in period that once included Ernie Phillips, and a guessing game this past weekend on Facebook that built some excitement, the Kingsmen have finally announced their pick for the tenor position:

The Kingsmen are pleased to announce the addition of Chris Jenkins as our new tenor vocalist.

Chris, 25, has been singing in various ministries and groups since his teenage years, most recently tenor vocalist for the Vintage Quartet since 2010. Prior to joining The Kingsmen, Chris worked as a loan officer and banking manager for the last six years.

“I am so thankful that God has allowed me to do what I have always loved to do,” says Chris. ”I could not be more excited about joining a group with such a legacy and rich history as The Kingsmen.  I have been a fan of The Kingsmen since I was very young. I look forward to seeing what the future holds with this great quartet, especially this line-up of individuals as they are top-notch vocalists. It is a real honor to follow in the footsteps of some of my heroes.”

Chris will begin touring with the group immediately. In fact he has been filling in with us in recent weeks. Chris, along with his wife Kimberly, and two children make their home right outside of Greensboro, in the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

Chris is looking forward to meeting many friends and fans of The Kingsmen as he begins this new chapter in his life. To find out when the Kingsmen Quartet will be in a city near you please visit us at www.kingsmenquartet.com, and also visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kingsmenquartet

I have been excited about the possibility of this hire ever since I learned that Chris was filling in after Ernie Phillips came back off the road. Jenkins has already impressed me with his work with the Vintage Quartet, and I am glad that he has been given a platform with such a well-known group. I would encourage anyone in the “bring back Ernie” camp to give this guy a chance; Jenkins bring a sound to the table that is a throwback to the Ernie days of the group, while still having the modern flair the group has adopted over the past few years.

I am looking forward with renewed anticipation to the release of material featuring this lineup of Chris Jenkins, Bob Sellers, Randy Crawford, and Ray Dean Reese.

No videos of Chris with The Kingsmen have surfaced yet, but here’s a clip from the Vintage Quartet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gWYjQfagTE

I’d like to thank the Dixie Echoes for allowing me the opportunity to live out my dream for the past 14 years. I joined the group when I was 17 years old. Randy and Scoot Shelnut have became like family to me, and it’s been a blast traveling with some great guys through the years. I realize that when people put out statements saying they want to spend more time at home, it seems to be a cover for unhappiness within the group. That is not the case here. I simply have the desire to come off the road for a while. I wish nothing but the best for the Dixie Echoes, and pray that one day, if it’s God’s will, I can return to Gospel music.

I have no future plans at the moment and will be filling in for the group until a replacement has been found. Thanks also to the many friends that I have made while traveling! It has been an honor to get to meet so many fine people. I will still be active behind the scenes promoting the music that I love. Anyone interested in auditioning should contact Randy Jr. at scoot@dixieechoes.com

In a later update, Stewart also confirmed that he will still be involved with promoting events like the Memphis Quartet Show and the Gospel Jubilee Cruise.

Remaining for fourteen years with one group is no small feat, and I appreciate Varnado’s longevity and commitment, qualities that are arguably a rare find in the revolving door of SG group changes. While I’m certainly shocked by this announcement and am sad to see him go, I’m sure that he’s probably ready to rest after being on the road for so long! Perhaps we’ll see him back playing again in a few years.

As far as a replacement… the return of Andrew Ishee, anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQAEM1iNjUY

The next song is quite a bit older; over thirty years old, in fact. “It Won’t Be Long” was recorded on the 1980 album Singing in the Smokies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZyeDehrV7M

What strikes me about both of these “covers” is that, with this lineup, it doesn’t feel that way. The hiring of Jodi Hosterman changed the sound and dynamic of the group, and while they are still maintaining the classic sound that makes them “The Inspirations,” the vocals are versatile enough that they can do different things with the harmonies on these older songs. It makes more of a mark on them than it would have if the Dallas Rogers lineup had gone back and re-recorded them; in that case, it would have just sounded like the old group recording it with modern technology. I’ve enjoyed hearing the harmonies changed up even in these short clips, and I am looking forward to the final product.

Chickamauga, GA – THE SKY IS FALLING! The previous line was intended to make the following statement less shocking. After 6 years with the Ball Brothers, Joshua Ball has retired . . . at age 26. Josh states, “I was going to resign, then it dawned on me that retirement made more sense. The guys will have to pay me until Social Security kicks in. All joking aside, I am leaving the Ball Brothers. I will miss all the friends I have made and I will miss singing and being with the guys, but I am definitely looking forward to spending more time at home. I’ll still be the Ball Brothers ‘#1 fan’ but it won’t be as weird now that I’m no longer in the group.”

Daniel Ball said, “Most press releases are boring and void of useful information. I read them . . . then wonder what the ‘real’ story was? In order to avoid unfounded speculation, I will seed speculation with misinformation. We fired Josh because he is our family’s version of “Joseph”. Andrew and I were jealous that he was Dad’s favorite so we sold him on eBay and told dad that he was eaten. BAM!!! There’s your story! Seriously . . . We’re saddened that Josh is leaving, but fully support his decision. We are thankful for Josh’s hard work and contributions and look forward to seeing what God has in store for Josh and the Ball Brothers.”

The new Ball Brother will be announced soon!

For more information about the Ball Brothers visit: www.theballbrothers.com

I will be interested to see what kind of sound the group adopts as a new vocalist is brought in. Josh was a bass, but was more of a “lower blend” part than a true bass. The hire of a bass singer in the traditional sense would give the Ball Brothers sound a whole new dynamic. I enjoyed Josh’s work with the group and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Side note: The group put this press release in a Facebook status update, and had this note at the bottom: “Our sincere apologies to any blog or news editor that has to edit this release.”

Apology accepted, guys! As always, I got a chuckle out of reading a press release from the Ball Brothers, no matter what the news was!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhEkZeCTwCU

2. Dixie Melody Boys tenor Matt Felts has released a project highlighting hymns of the Civil War. The project, Angels On The Battlefield, will be carried by parks across America, and features a throwback style of music, as well as guest vocalists Johnny Minick, Aaron Minick, and Mike Allen. This website features clips and ordering information.

3. Dailey & Vincent have released an instructional video on quartet harmony. The video features the current vocal lineup of Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Jeff Parker, and Christian Davis, and can be purchased here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qs-B3RwI4

Former Statesmen/Palmetto State Quartet baritone Rick Fair even started his career with the group. Now, he’s helping to bring the name back. The lineup for the “revived Rebels” is tenor Mike Young, lead Alan Kendall, baritone David Fair, bass Rick Fair, and pianist Barry Patrick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAzPd-eucls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMmFFWMICtE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQh7bjt0wzA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8MUGUq0DqA

If this group has a sound that’s familiar to you, the reason may be that everyone except the lead singer was most recently heard together in the Southern Sound Quartet with Ben Harris. With the addition of Alan Kendall, who has a very “classic Southern Gospel lead” quality to his voice, this group has the potential to go far with their music. I appreciate the fact that a former vocalist for the group has brought back the Rebels name with the blessing of former members and a quality lineup that will match what fans of the original quartet might expect.

The group is traveling on a limited schedule, but I hope to catch them in my area some time soon, if not at NQC. You can find out more about them at their website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQeXy33pWyQ

If the group can retain these singers, I’m interested to hear what the four man lineup sounds like and what music they will produce.

You can obtain the download by going to the group’s Bandcamp site.

If you’ve been to the Palmetto State Quartet website in the past few days, you may have noticed that both the site and the group have gotten a revamp. David Staton just posted the above picture to his Facebook with the caption, “This is the new Palmetto State.”

Pictured from left to right are Mike Allen, David Staton, Casey Martin, Paul Lancaster, Larry Strickland, and Jeremy Easley. Be on the lookout for a press release soon. I will post my thoughts on the change once the press release goes out.

Update: That was quick. Right after I hit the publish button, I received this:

PALMETTO STATE POISED TO EXPAND REACH
PSQ Partners to bring Southern Gospel Music to Wider Audience

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The historic Palmetto State Quartet announces the newest incarnation of this enduring vocal ensemble that defies the quartet label. The group assembles not four, but five vocalists, and breaks out of any traditional mold by refusing to define its members by vocal part. The diverse lineup includes: Mike Allen, a fixture on the popular Gaither Homecoming television series, who had never signed on officially with any one group until now; Jeremy Easley, the X-Factor season-one, top-15 finalist (male vocalist ages 15–30 category) who received a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and L. A. Reid; Paul Lancaster, longtime Palmetto State member and former member of the Mullins, winner of two Dove Awards with gospel music siblings, the Martins; Casey Martin, popular keyboardist for an array of secular and gospel artists, brings a soulful influence and plays an integral part in the PSQ presentation; David Staton, Grammy-nominated songwriter, singer, producer, and adroit industry thought leader; and Larry Strickland, who sang with the famous Stamps Quartet in the ’70′s when they backed up Elvis Presley, and has been seen on the OWN network show, The Judds.

“Ask any of these guys and they would tell you that singing with other great singers causes you to step it up. And once in a while you hit this magical combination where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” according to Strickland. Besides their stellar talent, each member brings a unique new audience to the gospel music they love and its message they cherish.

With so many tie-ins to pop culture that cross musical genres, this group is uniquely positioned to attract and influence new listeners. This will be welcome news to music promoters and presenters of gospel music globally. Not since Strickland’s Elvis days with the late J.D. Sumner and the Stamps has there been another vocal group that has featured two great bass singers.

Most recently, PSQ has been touring with the Judds, singing backup to Wynonna’s powerful voice and introducing southern gospel music to a whole new audience.

“We are not interested in anyone labeling us a ‘super group’. What we hope is that churches will leverage whatever we’ve been blessed to do in order to reach out to various crowds that typically aren’t planning to come to church or a gospel concert,” said Staton. And with some strategic use of traditional advertizing and social media, church leaders may be surprised the number of first-time attendees who drop in to check out the great music and happen to hear some very good news. The members of Palmetto State are committed to effectively sharing the gospel in a clear, compelling manner and consider that their top priority.

Palmetto State is booked exclusively through the Becky Simmons Agency at +1 615.595.7500 or Info@BSAworld.com.

It should be noted that Mike Allen was with the Poet Voices as a member several years back, and was with The Prophets Quartet during their short revival period, so the statement that he has never officially signed on with anyone until now isn’t entirely true.

When I saw the new group picture over the weekend, I had wondered what the deal was with having two bass singers (Larry Strickland had been the group’s bass up to this point.) I had wondered if maybe Strickland was taking a Jim Hamill/Eldridge Fox type of role with the group and handing bass singing duties mostly to Mike Allen. This five-man revamp, however, is interesting; Palmetto State has been a quartet its entire existence, and while the Gaither Vocal Band did make the transition to five vocalists, they have never been a Southern Gospel quartet in the traditional sense with their vocal arrangements; truly, more of a vocal band with four (now five) part harmony.

I was intrigued by the fact that the point was stressed that they would “refuse to define members by vocal part.” This would make it interesting in terms of arrangements; lots of part swapping among the vocalists. I would imagine that we’ll be hearing Strickland and Allen trade off on the bass vocals quite a bit, but it’s anyone’s guess how the three others will end up configured on a given song. David Staton sang lead with The LeFevre Quartet from its inception until last year, and Jeremy Easley held the tenor slot with that same group for a time. Paul Lancaster has a versatile enough voice that the possibilities are numerous as far as where each vocal will stack.

While the group may not be interested in “being labeled a ‘super group,’” Strickland has definitely brought together a lineup of talent that many may think of them that way. The problem with super groups, however, is that they don’t always stick together for one reason or another (see the Ron Blackwood Quartet of a few years ago). I, for one, am hoping to see this one pan out, and am listening with interest for what these vocalists will produce.