Great Western Southern Gospel Fan Festival, Day 2

After a successful opening night, the GWSGFF headed into its second day at the Save Mart Center in Fresno.



As is my tradition of sorts, though, I was late getting into my box seat for the beginning, as I was socializing with friends I saw and perusing classic gospel LPs at Harold Timmons’ booth.



The Florida Boys had started things off, and done pretty well as always. I came in just as they left the stage and the Pfiefers came on. The Pfiefers have always been well received in Fresno, and I was looking forward to their set.



And they began in typical fashion, with instruments in hand…they did a truly swinging version of “Goodbye, World, Goodbye” to open. After a couple of obligatory hits, they picked up the instruments again to do a truly inspired version of “We Shall Behold Him”, and between the singing and the trumpet and saxophones, the crowd was moved to give its’ first standing ovation of the event…well-deserved, in my opinion.



The Pfiefers were followed by Liberty from Idaho, and they picked up where they left off last night. Royce Mitchell not only is one of the better bass singers going today, but is a personable MC as well. In fact, Liberty’s entire stage presentation is reminiscent of the Couriers, which is never a bad example to follow if you are a gospel singing group. Once again, Liberty proved they are one of the best groups almost no one has heard of in the country. Conventions are supposed to spotlight the best talent available, though, and that’s why Liberty is here.



For some reason, it seemed to be “Phil Cross Night”, as every group in the first half tonight sang a Phil Cross song…again, not a bad thing to do if you’re a gospel singing group, since Cross is among the leading gospel songwriters of the last 20 years.



Legacy Five came out for a first-half set, since they were going to leave after tonight. It was musically first rate, marred by a track malfunction midway through their set. This caused Legacy Five to exceed their time liomit, as the clock went off with a loud boom in the middle of one of Roger Bennett’s introductions. The group still managed to get one more song in before they left the stage.



The first half wound up with Greater Vision, a group I’ve always been of two minds regarding. There is no doubt that Gerald Wolfe is one of gospel’s finest musicians, singers, and MCs…and that Rodney Griffin is one of the very best songwriters there has been. But unlike the likes of Doug Harrison(#############), I’m not sold on the idea of Wolfe being this major gospel legend, or Griffin as a major performer. Despite their accomplished singing, if Greater Vision insists on singing quartet arrangements without a bass singer, then I will respond with indifference to them until they get a full group on stage. Wolfe made quite a to-do, though, about getting off-stage on time, however.



So call Greater Vision punctual, if nothing else.



The second half began with a full group, California’s Songfellows, who again gave the audience what they wanted…plenty of good songs, bass and tenor features, and 91-year old Hall of Famer Bob Jones, Sr. singing a standard of his(”Mansion Over The Hilltop”)…the look in Jones’ eyes while he sang was very moving…it’s clear that Jones loves to sing…small wonder why he’s been doing it for 81 years.



Another California quartet, the Watchmen, were next, and they did a very enthusiastic set. They have sung for 20 some years out of Southern California, and always been a part of this event…they were well received. They were also accompanied on piano and bass respectively by Herb Henry and his son Chris.



The Hoppers were next, intially accompanied by Gerald Wolfe…they seemed to focus on older songs in tonight’s set, though they did perform the obligatory “Jerusalem” to close off another fine set. “Jerusalem” earned the Hoppers the second standing ovation of the event.



And appropriately, Phil Cross and Poet Voices closed the proceedings with a particularly inspiring set. Perhaps Phil was touched by almost every artist doing one fo his songs tonight…I don’t know…but he sang better than I’ve heard him sing in years. He has become quite popular in California after numerous trips out here in the last 4 years.



The crowd was a little larger tonight, and really got into everyone’s music…Les Beasley and Claude Hopper hd to be pleased with the night’s proceedings. And Bob Jones, Sr. and his son Bob Jr. sat in our suite for most of the second half tonight…it was an honor to have the newest SGMA Hall of Famer keep us company.



As for me, I managed to buy a couple of classic LPs from Harold…and I have enjoyed the GWSGFF’s first two days. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s finale…I’ll post my impressions of that tomorrow.

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