Catoosa resident Alan Brewster, the group’s bass singer, shared their new CD with me and invited me to a performance at the Parkway Baptist Temple.
They glided through vocal arrangements that were spectacular, they had a nice mix of songs and their stage presence shows that they aren’t riding in their first rodeo.
I must say that I was so impressed by both the CD and the performance that I knew I wanted them to be part of our Sacred Sounds Fridays series at the Ringgold Depot at Depot Street and U.S. 41., and they agreed.
Southern Sound Quartet will kick of our 2008 season Friday, Jan. 11. at 7:30 p.m. in a special concert for the Share America Foundation, Inc. Ticket donation is $5.
It will be something you won’t want to miss. I’ll be on hand to emcee the show. Also appearing will be the talented Ringgold United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and youth artist Brady Hughes.
If you have never heard Brady sing, you will be impressed, I am sure, he has a terrific presence when he walks in front of an audience.
This will be a night to remember, but so will all the others ahead this season as we welcome artists such as Voices Won, The Greesons, Jerry Trammell and The Marksmen Quartet. There will be many surprises in store as we get going and I hope you will come and enjoy every evening.
Now let me tell you a little more about Southern Sound Quartet. Its lead singer is Ben Harris and he guides the talents of baritone Trevor Haley, tenor Mike Young, pianist Barry Patrick, and Brewster.
“When we began in the fall of 1998, the original intent was to form a group that would take the time to learn complicated arrangements holding tight to the traditional quartet sounds of groups from the early golden years of quartet music, like the Statesmen, Blackwoods and others from that time period,” Harris said in a recent interview. “We began by rehearsing for about six months before we did our first program in April of 1999.
That effort shows when they approach complicated arrangements.
“It required an immense amount of work on everyone’s part,” he said. “But the challenge was indeed what we needed. And slowly the pieces began to fall in place.
“The group has never lost that original focus, even with the change in personnel over the years,” he said. “In fact, Southern Sound Quartet as you see and hear them today, in my opinion, is the best group we have ever had.”
He adds that Brewster’s addition to the group is certainly a blessing.
“I truly believe he is the finest bass singer going today, but most of all, he is one I would call on when I needed someone to help me pray,” he said. “When we learned our original bass singer was needing to retire from the road, we were very concerned on who would fill those shoes,” he said. “Our own standards were set very high, as a result of the fine gentleman who had held the bass position for us since our inception.
“Not only can Alan sing a great bass, but also, we became very impressed with the Christian man of Alan Brewster. God has a way of making things work, even when we as mere mortals don’t understand the direction he intends for us every time.”
The quartet’s reputation for their polished, heartfelt presentations have garnered the opportunities to perform for the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame Inductance Ceremony, Gospel Music Television, Grand Ole Gospel Reunion, and Southern Gospel Quartet Reunion. For more information about the quartet, SouthernSoundQuartet.com.
I encourage you to stop by and get a ticket for this concert at one of our advance locations during business hours at The Catoosa County News (706) 935-2621 in Ringgold, Modern Woodmen of America office in Ringgold (423) 580-4915 and SonShine Christian Books (706) 861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe. Tickets will be available at the door but with this good a group, we may have to knock a wall out of the old Depot to get folks in. Just kidding of course.
For those of you who hope to attend each concert, Share America will have a special season pass covering admission to our first six concerts of 2008 from January-June available at the door for a $25 donation. When you purchase a season pass, the savings will make one of those six concerts absolutely free for you.
Donations for tickets are adults: $5, Children 5 and under free with adult. For more information, Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.
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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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