November 8, 2004

The Fifth Anniversary of The Parade of Quartets

Loretta Coleman, Blanche Goodson and Alex Snipes were presented with the Golden Drum Awards in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday, November 6, 2004.  The award was presented to them for their efforts to keep quartet music alive.  The Brewsteraires paid tribute to many of the legends of gospel quartet music.  For the entire story on the program go to www.gagospelquartet.com/news.html.

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November 22, 2004

Keith In the Swamp

On Saturday, November 27, 2004, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and The Spiritual Voices will be the guest artist at the Congaree Swamp Fest 2004.  The all day event will begin at 10:00 AM at the Old Mt. Moriah Church site.  There will be vendors, good food, great fellowship and tours of the Congaree National Park.  Capping off a great festival will be the Wonderboy in concert.  The Gospel Redeemers will also participate in this concert.  For more information see www.scgospelquartet.com/congareefest.html.

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November 28, 2004

For those in the Lower Richland area of South Carolina, yesterday (Saturday, November 27, 2004) was a unique day.  Why you ask?  Well, it was a cold, sometime almost reaching freezing temperature, and rainy day.  It was the kind of rain that you would expect in May, but certainly not in November.  Secondly, it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and a group of folks thought that people would attend a daylong festival in the swamp of the Lower Richland area of Richland County. 

Thirdly, the festival would include hayrides – in November.  And probably must uniquely, the festival would be a family oriented affair, with a religious theme and a gospel quartet concert.  Thus, it was the day for The Congaree Swamp Fest 2004. 

The Lower Richland Community overwhelmingly supported the "Fest."  In fact persons from Columbia, West Columbia and other parts of the state also attended the Fest. 

The Congaree Swamp Fest is an annual event that started last year.  Therefore, this was the second year for the Fest.  The Fest began with prayer and then the fun started.  There was a performance by The Lower Richland High School Junior ROTC, Turkey Strut Walkathon, Drum Shout, Tours of Lower Richland Historical Sites, old fashion hayrides, a variety of games for the young and the young at heart, and food, food, food.

After a morning of fun and games, the afternoon was dedicated to praising our Lord and Savior in song.  The gospel quartet concert was held at the Old Mt. Moriah Church site.  In spite of the cold and rain, it was an outdoor concert.

The emcee for the concert was Lower Richland’s very own Ms. Blanche V. S. Goodson, who is the general manager of radio station WLGO.  Ms. Goodson certainly got the crowd (that was standing in the rain) into to a praise and worship mood.  Christian comedian Akintunde brought a little sunshine to the stage with his family oriented humor.  This young man is on his way to becoming one of the best Christian comedians of our time.

The Gospel Redeemers than took the stage and blessed those in attendance with a variety of songs, beginning with their signature song – “We The Redeemers.”  In spite of the cold and rain the audience was enthusiastic about their performance. 

And then the Wonderboy took the stage and created another type of storm; a spiritual, Holy Ghost filled, anointed, shouting storm.  If there were any doubts about whether Keith would minister to the crowd, those doubts immediately evaporated with his first song, “Send A Revival.”  Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and The Spiritual Voices is an excellent group and on this day they really ministered. 

They warmed up the crowd with thirty minutes of pure traditional gospel quartet singing.  The next song they sang was reflective of the holiday season – “12 Days of Christmas.”  This was followed by “Shower Down Your Blessing On Me.”  Keith and The Spiritual Voices teased the crowd into “Hide Behind The Mountain.  After the teasing, they put the crowd on fire with this song.  Although it continued to rain and it was getting colder the crowd let it be known, during the singing of this song, that the whether may have been chilling their bodies, but certainly not their soul.  They were on fire for the Lord.

Next Keith sang an extended version of  “Let Go and Let God.”  The Spiritual Voices closed with “Oh Peter.”  What a wonderful song service it was by Keith and the guys.

Although no alter call was made, the concert and the Fest’s events closed with a benediction.

The committee for the Fest really put together a great event for the community.  The Honorable Bernice G. Scott (Chairperson of The Richland County Council) served as Chairperson of the Committee.  The Vice Chairperson was Marie Adams.  The other members were Dorothy Anderson, Edith Caudle, Deidre Dove, Eddie Green, Sr., Thomas Gunter, Jimmie L. James, Sr., Zack Prioleau, Carnell Simmons, Ann Stocker, Rev. Sammy Wade, Valerie Washington, Carrie White and James White.

We extend our congratulations to the Committee and our thanks for making gospel quartet music a part of the Congaree Swamp Fest 2004.     

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November 30, 2004

By:  Gospel Correspondent Blanche V. S. Goodson

On this past Sunday, November 28, 2004, The Carolina Gospel Singers celebrated their 62^nd anniversary.  How wonderful it is that the Lord has allowed this group to minister in song for so many years and to continuing to grow in the Lord.

One of the original members, brother Kelly, is still with the group.  Deacon David Cohens is the manager and he has been with the group since the early 50's. The program started on time, 6:00 PM.

The program was held in Ladson Chapel Family Life Center in Hopkins. The devotion was conducted by Rev. Lyles.  The first group on the floor was the Singing Jubilees of Hopkins.  They set the tone for what was to be a great program.  Next on the program was The Southern Gospel Singers, followed by the Flying Souls.  The Flying Souls are training the next generation of gospel quartet singers.  They had on stage with them a three (3) young man that sang “Too Close To The Mirror.”  He had the crowd of about 125 on their feet. 

The Singing Cavaliers of Eastover continued what the young man had started.  They were followed by The Prodigal Sons.  The anniversary group was next and they really showed why they have been able to sustain for so many years.  They were good.  Brother Nathaniel Fulton, one of the emcees (the other being Blanche V. S. Goodson) gave the audience a brief history of the anniversary group.  At the end of their ministering, Deacon David Cohens, Brother Rainy Sumter, and Bother Kelly came down off of the stage singing a song that was actually the group’s testimony.  It was just wonderful.

Next, the National Juniors ministered.  They really let the Holy Spirit use them on this night.  Pelham Myers and the Five Singing Stars came up next, with a style that was out of this world. Then the audience was blessed with the song ministry of The Gospel Redeemers.  Since, it was not know that they were going to be on the program, their appearance just added to what was already a great program.  Deacon Joe Davis and the Choice Gospel Singers closed the program. 

What a night it was.  It was definitely a night to remember.