Great Western Southern Gospel Fan Festival, Day 1
The 10th annual Great Western Southern Gospel Fan Festival is underway in Fresno…it began as the Great Western Quartet Convention, and remains the largest southern gospel music event west of the Mississippi River. For a few years the event was held in Sacramento, but returned to Fresno three years ago with the opening of the 18,000 seat Save Mart Center…I have attended all trhe conventions in Fresno, and intend to continue to do so as long as the event remains here.
I will review each night and post my impressions, as I have done in the past.
The turnout wasn’t that bad, although it could have been better…I realize that opening night being on a weeknight could deter some from coming or staying as long as they’d like. But the arena was half full, and those who came were quite enthusiastic about what they saw.
Opening up the festivities was the Beene Family, a group that had its’ beginnings right here in Fresno. They are a talented family who have already risen from regional to national status in the business in a relatively short time. Because of that, they are sort of a “favorite son” type group here…they did not disappoint the hometown fans one bit. They did a lively set, getting the crowd to stand up with “Stand Up”, the old Kingsmen song.
Then came arguably California’s leading male quartet for many, many years…the Songfellows. The group is perhaps best known for their 91-year old baritone singer, Bob Jones, Sr., who will be inducted into the SGMA Hall of Fame this year. The group did a solid set, and gave Jones his obligatory feature number, where he wept after the verses due to the crowd’s enthusiastic reception for him. Jones called Fresno home for a couple of years in the 1940s, and is still remembered fondly by local gospel fans, particularly for his brief association with the late Don Smith, an area gospel legend himself. I got a chance to talk at length with Jones later in the evening, and although he is somewhat slowed by age, his singing voice remains smooth and easy on the ears. His acute memory recalled many stories from bygone days, which I could listen to for days on end.. Jones is a truly humble man who more than anything loves to sing gospel music, and it was heartening to see the Fresno audience recognize him for the treasure he is.
Next came a group that I can never speak of objectively, regardless of how hard I try. They’ve now been in existence for 20 years, and I can distinctly remember playing their first recordings on our gospel program. The kids were young and green as the proverbial billboard table, and needless to say, polished they were not. But enthusiastic they’ve always been…and a few years ago, the Herb Henry Family really turned the corner. Now, they are among the finest sounding, most accomplished singing groups in gospel music today…bar none. Last year I described them as the stars of the convention, especially in light of the fact that they were never given top billing or a big buildup. They just came out, snag their songs and won the hearts of the crowd with class, dignity, and good singing.
Herb is a pastor and ex-pianist for the Premiers Quartet in the 1960s, and is a tremendous person and group leader. He has written a number of songs for the group, and he has settled into a Brock Speer-like role with the group. His son Chris has become quite a capapble lead singer, and his daughters Amanda and Angela have become two of the finest singers to be heard anywhere. In particular, Angela is an especially gifted vocalist. She ha learned how to get “inside” a lyric, and get the most out of it, eschewing the vocal histrionics used by so many young female singers.
I can’t watch the Herb Henry Family without grinning from ear-to-ear with almost paternal pride, the kind one would get if one’s own children were conquering the world from the stage. They have come so far, and I have seen every step of their astounding development. When they broke into the old Nelons song, “Alleluia To The Lamb”, I was simultaneously beaming with pride and moved by the quality of their singing. The capper was an a cappella version of “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” with the kids as a trio…a reading which out-Martinsed the Martins!
The Herb Henry Family, as Lee Roy Abernathy would say, is going to make a lot of other groups “live hard”…they are that good.
The highlight of the rest of the first half to me was the Dixie Melody Boys coming out and singing a number of songs in a completely old-fashioned way, not in a self-conscious way a la the Dove Brothers, but a simple, straightforward, heart-filled way that charmed the crowd immensely. Ed O’Neal always puts a good, well-prepared quartet on the stage, and tonight was no exception.
The second half opened with the Florida Boys, who are better now than they have ever been. From tenor Harold Reid to the friendly lead Josh Garner to the agelss Glen Allred to the incredibly gifted Gene McDonald(the best current bass singer going, IMO), to the joyful smile and style of longtime pianist Derrell Stewart, the Florida Boys were a delight, and they won the affection of the crowd in nothing flat.
Next came the group I believe is the finest quartet going in the West…the Liberty Quartet from Boise, Idaho…the group has a top-notch, professional sound combined with a strong evangelical message and one of the finest bass singers going, Royce Mitchell, who has an outstanding range and control, as well as an engaging personality as the group’s MC. They had the most enthusiasic crowd reaction of any group that night when they did a lively handclapping version of Phil Cross’ “Have A Good Time”…I don’t remember seeing 9,000 people clapping and moving so much to a song.
I forgot to mention that Cross and his group, Poet Voices, was on in the first half…they too did a solid job, if not a spectacular one.
Next was the Crossroads Quartet, then Legacy Five came out with their feet on the gas pedal, and of course the presence of Roger Bennett contributed a lot to that. Theirr lively set brought the evening to a stellar close. I’m looking forward to the next two nights.
From a personal standpoint, it was nice to chat with Bob Jones, Herb Henry, the girls at gospelharmonies(gharmonies on message boards), Jim Weatherford(Bass-ic-ally Yours on the boards and a delightful man), and Harold Timmons, who brought plenty of classic Lps with him once again(guess where I like to hang around when I’m not busy).
It appeared a good time was had by all…I certainly did. Be back for more tomorrow!
Posted on Apr 28, 2006 - 08:04 PM | [0]
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