Ever wonder how some of the legends of yesterday that are no longer “in the spotlight” sound today on a more modern song? Here’s one of those legends: Ernie Phillips. One of the more famous tenors to come along in the history of the Kingsmen, and Southern Gospel in general (remember his big ending on “Love Lifted Me” on Live… Naturally?), and the father of Mark Trammell Quartet tenor Eric Phillips. Since the departure of Harold Reed for the LeFevre Quartet, Phillips has been filling in for The Kingsmen. Here he is taking one of Reed’s signature songs while with the group, “God Saw A Cross.”

If this doesn’t make the case for why The Kingsmen should try their hardest to get Phillips out there with them full-time, I don’t know what does. (Well, this and the fact that, from what I hear, he can still do those sky-high endings!)

Update: Daniel Mount informed me this morning that there had been more videos from this concert uploaded since this post went up. I’ll post a few more, some of which also highlight new lead singer Bob Sellers. Even if Ernie Phillips doesn’t turn out to be the man for the job, this is still an interesting look at one of the legends still toting the mail!

The LeFevre Quartet got a makeover right around the time of NQC 2011 with the departure of lead singer and founding member David Staton, and the additions of Mike LeFevre’s son Jordan at the lead position (moving up from soundman/former drummer) and Old Paths bass Brandon Barry finally filling the position that was being held down long-term by Mike Allen. In December, it was announced that tenor Jeremy Easley was leaving the group and that Kingsmen tenor Harold Reed was coming aboard. Now, three videos have surfaced of this new lineup in action. These are from Reed’s second weekend with the group, and it should be noted that Jordan LeFevre was performing with laryngitis.

This quartet classic features each vocal part out front at some point, and does a good job highlighting the new sound this combination of voices brings to the table. Here’s “Oh The Glory Did Roll:”

One of the changes that Harold Reed brings to the stage presence of the group is a keen sense of humor. The previous lineups knew how to have fun for sure, but Reed brings some new comedy to the group, especially in learning the words to the songs! Here’s a double feature of “Crown Him King” and “Wait Upon The Lord:”

You never really know how a group’s dynamic changes until you hear a new vocalist singing one of the group’s popular sings. This tenor feature has been sung by Gus Gaches, Jeremy Easley, and even Stephen Sigmon in a fill-in situation. Reed’s voice is a different timbre and style than all theirs, but no less effective on “You’re Never Too Far Away.”

Count me in the camp that is looking forward to a project of new material from this lineup of the LeFevre Quartet. I really like their sound!

On January 6, I was privileged to be able to attend the Soul’d Out Quartet concert in East Bend, NC, hosted by JOY FM and a local group, The Boys. Every Soul’d Out concert I’ve ever been to has been great, but there was an extra level of excitement to this one, as it was the debut concert for the group’s new vocalist, Bryan Hutson. Hutson came from singing lead with The Kingsmen to fill the void left by Tanner Stahl’s departure in December 2011.

The activity center of Enon Baptist Church was filled to capacity, making it one of the biggest crowds I’ve seen for a concert that wasn’t NQC or Gaither related. There were quite a few singers in our genre, past and present, that were in attendance as well; among those spotted were Phil Barker, Darren Osborne, Harold Reed, and Chris Collins.

Bryan Hutson fits the Soul’d Out Quartet like a glove in sound, stage presence, and personality. I also picked up the new Soulace project and a pre-release copy of their upcoming Crossroads debut, What The World Doesn’t Know, and both are really good. But you don’t have to take my word for it about their live sound; see and hear for yourself!

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I attended a Down East Boys concert in my area on January 1st, and got several videos of the event. This was my first time seeing the Down East Boys outside of a couple sets at NQC over the years, and I was particularly looking forward to hearing their live sound with Tony Jarman at tenor. This was their first date in about fifteen days, so though they were getting back into the swing of things singing on the road, they still put on a great concert.

Click the link below to see the videos!

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Near the end of 2011, it was announced that Valor III would be making the transition to a quartet with the addition of former Palmetto State Quartet/Dixie Echoes/Blackwood Brothers bass singer, Ken Turner. This is the first group that Turner has sung in for a number of years, so I was particularly thrilled to have the opportunity to hear one of my personal favorite bass singers again.

I’ll let some of the videos taken at their debut concert a few weeks back speak for themselves as to how good Turner still is. I’ll only use a couple of them, but you can watch all the videos that were posted here. Here’s the first song of the concert:

I’ve always felt that Turner was underrated, due in part, perhaps, to his goofy stage demeanor! But the range that Turner possesses, both back in his day and now, is incredible. This is displayed with “Lonesome Road,” complete with some of his more comedic side:

Here he is in a more serious setting with “How Big Is God:”

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include something that featured the vocals out front. That happens with the A Capella classic, “Sweet Sweet Spirit:”

Youtube is an amazing tool. I found a high quality clip of the group singing a brand new song that I assume McCray Dove wrote, and it’s probably one of the better ones I’ve heard from him. There haven’t been too many videos of the group since Keith Casstevens joined as tenor, other than a couple in the beginning, so it’s nice to hear more from this form of the group. It’s clear that Casstevens brings a different tenor sound than the group is used to having.

As good as the sound is, I want to draw particular attention to the lyrics of the song. It should be a wake-up call for a lot of people, both fans and industry personnel alike. I know that I, personally, was gripped. I can think of several examples right in the world of Southern Gospel music where someone failed in some way, and people in both camps I mentioned were guilty of kicking them when they were down. Granted, some go on living like the Devil and seem to have no intention of changing that, but how many of them have been truly, sincerely sorry and have repented of what they have done, only to be shunned and cast out by those that are commanded to forgive? It’s a slap in the face of the One who created them, loves them, and forgave them, no matter what they did. May such an attitude of unforgiveness, contradictory to what God commands, not be found in us.

Today’s Youtube finds are three videos that have been posted of the much-discussed Ryan Seaton Quartet, a group that Seaton put together and travels with part of the time. Besides Seaton on lead, the lineup consists of Toby Hitchcock (Austins Bridge) on tenor, Andrew Goldman at baritone, and Aaron McCune (Palmetto State Quartet; Gold City) on bass. Roy Webb (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound; Gold City) was a special guest at this particular date, playing piano.

This video has already been featured today by Adam Edwards. I echo his comments; it’s nice to hear McCune sing this again.

Hearing the Gaither Vocal Band arrangement of “The Love of God” with a true bass singer… I like it!

It’s only fitting to include a clip of the song that introduced this quartet: the GVB song “God Is Good.”

Last night, I attended a Gold City concert about 45 minutes away from me, and took plenty of video of the event. Rather than write a review, I’ll let the videos speak for me.

This was my first time seeing them outside of NQC since Brent Mitchell and Craig West were still with the group. I was looking forward to hearing Dan Keeton with them, as well as hearing new lead singer Jerry Pelfrey. He has only been with them for a couple of weeks. Take a look at how the sound has come together:
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Hat tip goes to Daniel for this one: check out this clip of a new quartet that was just announced. The lineup is tenor Matt Hagee (pastor of Cornerstone Church), lead Aaron Crabb, baritone Michael Sykes, and bass Tim Duncan.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRZfopUAlZI

Tim Duncan had this to say on his Facebook page:

I am so excited to finally be able to tell you about the new quartet!! Canton Junction consists of Pastor Matt Hagee, Aaron Crabb, Michael Sykes and myself. These guys are great and I am so blessed to be a part of this amazing new group! Stay tuned for more information!!

No real word yet on whether this group is full-time or part-time, but I have a feeling that with Hagee’s pastorate, it will be part-time. The Youtube video description also bills them as the “new Cornerstone Church quartet,” which further leads me to believe it’s a part-time deal. I’ve been surprised before, though.

Either way, these guys have a really good sound (a la the Ryan Seaton Quartet), so hopefully we’ll get a recording out of them at least.

Youtube user bigdrummer21 has put up a couple of videos of one of Jerry Pelfrey’s first concerts as lead singer for Gold City (hat tip, jdsumner):

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsnOJ1P6p4U

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIv5XV0Oa6E

Though the videos are certainly not pristine quality, these offer a glimpse into the potential of this lineup. I noticed that Pelfrey’s stage presence is already strong, and will only get better the longer he’s with the group. I can already hear the Ivan Parker similarity in his voice as well. I’m looking forward to hearing them for myself in a couple of weeks.