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Jerry Trammell is coming to Ringgold April 11.

One of the best known tenors in gospel music will share his amazing talents at the Ringgold Depot April 11.

Jerry Trammell’s voice helped to forge the sound of Southern gospel music through his participation in some of the most pivotal group’s in the music’s history. Of course, his family has also brought the industry the talents of former Cathedral member Mark Trammell, who now leads his own trio.

Jerry starred on the landmark show “The Gospel Singing Jubilee” as part of its host group — The Florida Boys from 1974-1980.

I visited with Jerry by telephone from his home near Raleigh, N.C.; he shared with me that working with the Florida Boys was a pivotal period in his life.

“I gleaned from the knowledge of (Florida Boy) Les Beasley as a manager,” he said.

Trammell said this was a great period musically because he played a part in the group introducing so many great songs.

“We had writers from across the country writing for us,” he said. “The Florida Boys were really on top in the early 70s.”

Among those numerous titles which hold Trammell’s distinct tenor sound are “Scars in the Hands of Jesus” (1974); “Standing of the Solid Rock” (1978), and “When I Stand in the Presence of the Lord” (1977).

I can still hear his voice today as the Florida Boys introduced “Standing of the Solid Rock.” He points to “When I Stand in the Presence of the Lord” as his personal favorite because he and his brother Mark wrote the song.

He traveled with other mainstays such as The Blackwood Brothers (1983-88), J.D. Sumner and the Stamps (1988-1991), and The Blue Ridge Quartet. These are not the only groups with which he performed, just the most widely recognized.

Jerry said that it was J.D. Sumner innovative approach to the business that most stuck with him from his tenure with the legend whose career spanned from early western films to Elvis Presley’s Las Vegas shows and beyond.

“He was constantly sitting on the bus thinking of different things we could do,” he said. “With Les, I was so young back then. I was asking him questions and he was giving me answers. It was more a learning process however, with J.D. it was more a sharing process.”

In his testimony, Trammell shares how God helped him overcome alcohol addiction and use the experience of those lows to reach out to thousands of people and share that even someone who has given their life in His service can be lost or can succumb to outside influences that will wreck their lives.

“My testimony any more means more to me than the music,” he said. “The music means a great deal but my testimony seems to reach more people. The music opens the door for me to be able to do that so it goes hand and glove.”

In the last year, Jerry has begun another phase in his life, dealing with the effects of Parkinson’s disease.

“Parkinson’s has not quieted the message,” he said. “My wife Terri asked me what we will do after the diagnosis and I said ‘I’ll just shake for Jesus.’”

He travels appearing for audiences two and three times each week.

“It’s ultra important to me that people know that I am real,” he said. “You hear drug addict and alcohol stories all the time. Anybody can make up a story.

“To have lived it and lived life after and know the joy of knowing Jesus as a personal Savior is what I want everyone to know,” he said.

The Share America Foundation will host Sacred Sounds Fridays with soloist Jerry Trammell, on Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot, located at the corner of Depot Street and U.S. 41 in Ringgold. Soloists Bill Stobaugh, Shelia and Lindzy Reed will also appear. Randall Franks from TV's "In the Heat of the Night” will emcee. The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund helping musicians achieve higher education. Donations for tickets are adults: $5, Children 5 and under free with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at The Catoosa County News (706) 935-2621 in Ringgold and SonShine Christian Books (706) 861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe. For more information, contact the Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visti online at myspace.com/shareamerica.

Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.”. His latest CD release, “God’s Children,” is by etrecordshop.com. He is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He is a columnist and staff writer for The Catoosa County News and can be reached at rfranks@catoosanews.com.

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