I have loved the Lord Jesus since I was a
child. And I fell in love with Southern Gospel music when I first heard some songs on the
radio by such groups as the Cathedrals, Talleys, Nelons, Florida Boys, Hoppers, Bill
Gaither Trio and the Gaither Vocal Band. A local Christian station played some Southern
Gospel along with the contemporary songs when I was a teen. Today that station will not
play Southern Gospel on the FM station.
Before I could drive I remember begging my mom to take me to see the Florida Boys and
Hoppers when they were about 30 minutes from here. We went and I just loved it -- that was
in the mid-80's. And ever since I got my driver's license, I have been attending Southern
Gospel Concerts. The first few years after I was able to drive about the only concerts we
would get in the area was the Talleys and the Cathedrals |
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- so my sisters, a friend and I
went every time they were here. Eventually some other groups started coming around.
I remember seeing the Nelons, Mid South Boys, Greenes, Kingsmen, Speer Family, and several
others in the early years of my exposure to Southern Gospel Music. I have been a
subscriber to the Singing News Magazine since the first concert I attend in the mid 80's.
The first thing I did when I got my magazine each month would be to go through it and see
what concerts were coming to my area. Back then, I went whenever they were within about an
hour.
Later on, I moved to AL for two years of Voluntary Service
through the church. While there, I was able to see the Bishops, Greenes, Dixie Echoes,
Dixie Melody Boys, Pfeifers, Nelons, Gold City, Florida Boys and a few others. Upon
returning home from there, I would still attend as many as I could find close to home.
Then I started venturing a little farther from home like about 2 hours or so, to see
groups like Jeff & Sheri Easter, Bishops, Greenes, Gold City, and many others. In just
saying hey to the groups and that I enjoyed their singing, I have gotten to know many of
the groups and have come to really love them like family.
Around 1995, there was a country station in the area that started playing Southern Gospel
in the evenings, I listened to that every chance I got and also did some volunteer work
with the dj trying to get some material into the station and get some product give-aways
from the groups. Also about the same time, there started being a whole lot more concerts
in the area. In fact, the Village Event Center just a few miles from home started
promoting concerts about once a month. This makes it nice - not having to travel far for
concerts.
In September of 1995, I went to my first ever National Quartet
Convention in Louisville, KY for 3 days. I thoroughly enjoyed it - seeing all the groups
and visiting and making new friends. After that year, I've made it a yearly vacation to
attend the last 3 days of NQC. The second year, I went to NQC - I went down with the
Calvarymen Quartet out of MI on a tour bus. On this trip to NQC, I met some sweet gals
from about an hour from my place. This was the beginning of a close relationship. After
the second year of attending NQC together, we started going to concerts around the area
together. Now we see each other often -- either going to concerts around the area or
getting together to scrapbook photos that we have taken. The Lord is just so awesome in
the way He works giving us friends to do things with.
Now back to the story. I think it was in 1997, I had gone on a Friday night to see Brian
Free and Assurance in the area. We were talking and they were like - are you coming
tomorrow night? I was like where? They said not too far from here -- about 3 hours. I said
I don't think so. Well - the more I thought about it on the way home - the more I wanted
to go and see them again especially since it was Mike Lefevre's last weekend with them. So
the next morning I called up a friend and asked if she wanted to go - well - we ended up
going to see the guys - they were shocked. Anyway - that was the beginning of me driving
anywhere from just a few minutes from home for a concert to driving up to 5 hours in one
night for a concert. I seldom sleep over - I usually go and come back all in a day. It's
been so much fun surprising groups all over the place.
I have also gone on several Southern Gospel Cruises that Templeton Tours sponsors. Those
are fun cause you get to be away from work and get to relax and enjoy some wonderful
singing and fellowship. Also, I've been online for about 4 years now and have met some
wonderful people who also love the Lord and Southern Gospel Music through a Southern
Gospel Chatroom and through some talk-lists. I have met lots of people in person whom I
first met online and that is fun to do. I have also made some wonderful friends this way.
I attended the Great Western Quartet Convention in 1998 with an internet friend and that
was fun! In 1999, I went to Alberta, Canada for the first ever Canadian Quartet
Convention.
If asked about a favorite group, it's very hard to say just one group over another. I love
so many groups including but not limited to: Pfeifers, Karen Peck and New River, Poet
Voices, Won By One, Steeles, Common Bond, Gold City, Brian Free and Assurance, Jeff &
Sheri Easter, Cathedrals, Greater Vision, Dixie Melody Boys, Dixie Echoes, Dove Brothers
Quartet, Crabb Family, Perrys, Wilburns, Galloways, Calvarymen Quartet, Gospelmen, One
Heart, Tony Gore and Majesty, Mast Brothers, Booth Brothers, Bishops, Kingdom Heirs,
Anchormen, Freedom Sound, Sisters x Two, Parsons, Melody Boys Quartet, Legacy Five, and
well - I think you get the idea - the list just goes on and on.
On Thursday, September 21, 2000, I was surprised to have my name called from the stage of
the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. The artists nominated me as the 2000
Super Fan of the year. Thanks to all who were responsible for that. It's a real honor to
be chosen for that award.
God bless you and again thanks for stopping by my page.
Gwen |
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