The Cerces in Bakersfield

Firt of all, my apologies for being so slow in posting here…”real” life has been ultra-busy of late, and there have been a lot of things going on…I assure you, though, that this “inquiring mind” is as active as ever!

Plus, I’ve been in a “packing” mode here…because this blog will be moving soon! I’ll keep you all posted with the details as they become available.

Last week, I had the privilege of making the drive down Highway 99 to Bakersfield to see some good friends of mine sing. The Cerces were singing at a very humble church on the eastern edge of Bakersfield, and though it was a small facility, it was a place where one could be intimate with the Lord…and a church that seemed to suit the Cerces just fine.

Groups from two other area churches came as well…so the attendance was quite good, and it was heartening to me personally to know that some of the people there came because they heard about the event on the radio program I co-host every week.

Cliff Cerce is a gospel trouper in every sense of the word…he played piano for years with several groups back east, and has quite a reputation as an engineer and producer. He has “rubbed elbows” with a lot of the most talented gospel singers in the business, and he’s obviously learned a great deal from all of them.

In recent years, he has traveled with his wife and another male singer as the Cerces, and like his heroes(and mine)the Couriers, he has a very evangelistic, people-oriented musical ministry that endeavors to sing songs with strong spiritual content that people can enjoy, and relates to them in a natural, personable, winning attitude from the stage.

As he did on this night. The group has come a long way musically in the few years they’ve been in existence, and on this night, they mixed uptempo favorites that the audience clapped their hands and tapped their feet to, and mixed those with thoughtful, reflective songs that reached the hearts of those in attendance…and no doubt the humble atmosphere of the church helped contribute to tht necessary feeling of initimacy.

The group admittedly lacks the polish of groups like the Couriers and others who are on the full time circuit today, but as I reflected on it that night, since when does the overall effect of music absolutely depend on how polished an artist is anyway?

When Cliff or Anita or lead singer Andy Fauth took a lead on a lyric, they communicated the meaning and sense of it in a meaningful and direct way that got through to us in the audience…it was on key and on pitch, but far more important, it was heartfelt…and it communicated its’ message in a completely effective and unqualified way. It really was a meaningful musical experience, and while the Cerces may never be accused of being musical virtuosos in the way that the Blackwoods or Statesmen(or even the Couriers)were, the results of their efforts could not have been surpassed by anyone else, if the smiles and acknowledgeents of the happy audience afterward were any indication. And after all, isn’t THAT what music is really supposed to do? Especially gospel music!

I had a wonderful time of fellowship with the Cerces afterward…it wa the first time I had met Cliff or Anita, let alone Andy or his wife Sylvia, though I’ve been in contact with them all for some time before that. And the waffles tasted pretty good at 10:30 PM!:-)

The Cerces are wonderful, God-loving people who are absolutely dedicated to sharing music inspired by God with people who care to hear it, and with people who need the lift that only that kind of music can provide them. And I was privileged to be a part of that evening on the eastern edge of Bakersfield with them, in an old country church.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Comments

Add Comments

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Please enter the word you see in the image below:

* Note: Members of Southern Gospel News.com who are logged in do not have to fill in the above information each time they post

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?