January 4, 2007

New Year’s Day 2007

Columbia, South Carolina

The flier read A Tribute to Some of the Legends in Gospel Quartet Music.  The event was the Annual New Year’s Day program presented by Loretta Coleman and L. C. Ministries.  As in the past 2 years, this program was held in Columbia, South Carolina.

Ms. Coleman put a great deal of effort into this program.  She even had the national groups that were scheduled to attend conduct “live” radio interviews leading up to the program.  Those that were scheduled to attend were Tommy Ellison and The Singing Stars, The Swanee Quintet, The Sensational Nightingales, Spencer Taylor and The Highway QC’s and The Gospel Four.  Other groups scheduled to be on the program were Brain Mayes and HeavenBound, Women of Strength, Pelham Myers and The Five Singing Stars and The Gospel Legends.

It was a great day for the program, Monday, January 1, 2007.  It was not raining and it was not cold.  There were plenty of parking spaces and the venue (Bethlehem Baptist Church Family Life Center) was comfortable.  And the tickets were only $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door.    

Well, at the time the program began the emcees were not there.  So, Minister Brian Mayes stepped in and did the devotion and emcee duties.  Minister Mayes was great in bring the crowd together on one accord after there was much delay.  He had the time to actually do a sermonette.  And, this writer is convenience that it was all part of God’s plan for this program.  For, Minister Mayes challenged the crowd to treat their ticket price as a seed into the program and L. C. Ministries.  What was unique about his challenge is that he had not plan to make it, and it was so fitting for anyone that may have wanted their money back because all of the “national” groups may not have been present.  Now, if these in attendance took his message to heart, then they should, with faith, expect to receive a harvest.  What a great way to look at the admission one pays to a gospel quartet concert – as a seed! 

After the sermonette Women of Strength took the stage and truly ministered to the crowd.  The young ladies have a new CD (Put It In God's Hand).  It is a good CD.  It entered the SC Gospel Quartets Top 20 this month at number 12. 

Pelham Myers and The Five Singing Stars were next to minister.  This is a very polished group.  They may do the same songs each time they minister, but you are sure to get a message from the songs every time.  The Gospel Legends took the stage and “brought down the house.”  Allen, Mark and the guys get better and better each time they are on stage.  This group has found itself in great demand.  In fact, they made it back from Florida just in time for the New Year’s Day Program. 

After the Gospel Legends, you would think that it would be time for the “national groups.”  Well, there was a surprise for few hundred that were in attendance.  For, the Doctor was in the house.  Yes, Doc McKenzie and The Hi-Lites were there, not to perform, but just to support Ms. Coleman.  And in doing so, he brought with him The Singing Angels of Sumter, South Carolina and Ernest Pearson and The Singing Disciples of Manning, South Carolina.  Both groups had spent the weekend touring with Doc and The Hi-Lites. 

The Singing Angels performed and showed why they are one of the groups to watch in 2007.  These ladies were outstanding.  Ernest and the guys did their thing, with one exception.  Doc joined him in singing one of the songs.  The crowd was on their feet the entire time they were singing.

Next the Gentlemen of Songs, The Legendary Sensational Nightingales, ministered.  These gentlemen deserved all of the accolades that have been thrust upon them.  They really ministered to the crowd.  And they gave us a history lesson in song.  For, they went back and sung songs they recorded in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.  It would have been alright had they sung for another hour or two.

Spencer Taylor and the Highway QC’s closed the program.  This Legend knows how to please the crowd and at the same time leave them with strong spiritual message.  They too took us down memory lane.

In spite of all of the groups scheduled to perform not showing up, it was still a great program.  Sometime it is not the number in attendance, but what those there got out of the song service.  There is a reason why the scripture states[1] ^“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Isn’t it wonderful that it does not say 100, or 200, or thousands?  Just two or three!