Give me Liberty, or…
Who says all the good southern gospel comes from down South?
One of today's better quartets calls its' home base Boise, Idaho...right out West! And make no mistake, they are one of the better quartets going today in the entire country!
The Liberty Quartet became a full-time quartet in 1996, and is made up of four very good singers...not to mention good men(even more important!)!
They are led by bass singer Royce Mitchell, an original member, and consist of Mitchell, tenor Keith Waggoner, lead Dan Gilbert, and baritone and pianist Doran Ritchey. Their repertoire ranges from the old-fashioned quartet sounds of yesteryear to more modern stylings. And it is backed up with a deep commitment to ministry, which to me makes them reminiscent of the old Couriers Quartet.
They have been regulars at Fresno's Great Western Fan Festival, formerly the Great Western Quartet Convention for the past several years. That is where I first saw them, and have followed them closely ever since. They do about 200 dates(on the average)throughout the United States and Canada, and even into Alaska(where they recorded a live project). Like the Couriers, most of their appearances are in churches, but they occasionally appear at concert halls and auditorimus as well.
Their presentation is always professional...competent and heartfelt, but also with humor and fun from the stage. But they never forget their mission and calling, which is to present the gospel in song and deed for their audiences. In this sense, they are also similar to the Couriers. With those similarities, it's not hard to understand why I am such a fan of the Liberty Quartet.
But also, like the groups I listened to in childhood that first attracted me to gospel music in the first place, the Liberty Quartet features an outstanding bass singer in Royce Mitchell....he not only can rattle chairs with his lowest notes, but can carry solos in his mid and upper ranges as comfortably as you could hope for in a bass singer. His tones are clear and his diction immaculate, and he sings with absolute confidence whether he is supporting the group in harmony or out front carrying a lead. His voice is among the finest in gospel music today, and if Liberty were more widely known, Royce would be considered at or near the very top of the bass singer field.
On the Southern Gospel News message board, a poster there mentioned Royce among the outstanding bass singers going, and I enthusiastically agreed. Unfortunately, my support was so enthusiastic, I unintentionally offended a quartet-loving friend with a comparison to another oustanding bass singer of today.
Which I didn't mean to do at all....but honestly, I can't think of very many bass singers that are better than Royce...I'm not saying that he is the best, mind you, but if you'll listen to him at some length, I'm willing to wager that you'll agree with me that he is among today's very best bass singers. In addition to his marvelous voice, he is also a gifted arranger, and a very dignified, upstanding representative of the gospel that the Liberty Quartet so devoutly presents to its' audiences.
The rest of the quartet shares Royce's professionalism, proficiency, and dedication. So if you're wondering who I might recommend to you as a prime example of a great gospel quartet today, I would unhesitatingly endorse the Liberty Quartet to you...absolutely.
If the Liberty Quartet appears anywhere near you, I invite you to check them out and see(and hear)for yourself...you'll be glad you did(and blessed)!
Posted on Dec 08, 2006 - 09:29 PM | [0]
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