Southern Sound Quartet 6340 Spera Pointe Crossing, Nashville, TN

Transcription

1 Hey Big news, Southern Sound Quartet has been nominated for the second year in a row, for the Best Traditional Southern Gospel Recording of 2009 by Southern Gospel News. Southern Sound Quartet 6340 Spera Pointe Crossing, Nashville, TN

2 During the 1950 s and 60 s, Southern Gospel quartet music raced to the forefront with great groups like the Statesmen and the Blackwoods. Now, since those original roots of Southern Gospel Music, the art form we now call Southern Gospel Music, has widened its scope by including strong influences from other music forms such as country and bluegrass. Sadly, much of that truly golden era has been lost, as has the style and artistry that was the hallmark of that genre of southern gospel talent. The oft-heard comment is that there are very few, true traditional southern gospel male quartets to be found anymore. Well, I would like to introduce you to five men who seem determined on reviving that polished style of quartet singing, and the real bonus is they re doing it for all the right reasons, serving Christ through a ministry of song and testimony. They of course, sing great, but their testimony is powerful and inspiring too. They sing with what can only be described as excellence in music and exuberance in presentation. To get the full impact of these men you must, without doubt, hear and see them face-to-face. I can tell you, I can find no fault in either their testimony or their very talented presentation in song. I once personally believed the golden age of Southern Gospel to be an era gone by. I am now rethinking those beliefs, for Southern Sound makes it all so fresh, alive and vibrant. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Southern Sound, and gospel music may never be the same again: Good tenors are hard to find these days, but Southern Sound has a gem in Mike Young, from Dahlonaga, GA. Mike brings a great tenor voice, very much in the vein of those wonderful quartet tenors of days gone by, such as Rosie Rosell and Bill Shaw. Mike s Dad, David Young once played piano for the Couriers, and Mike musically speaking is cut from the same cloth. His love of the Lord, his family, and his love for Gospel Music are clearly evident in everything he does. One of the nicest guys you ever likely to meet, always smiling and very quick to make you laugh. His un-ending energy, and zest for life, are often mentioned by those meeting Mike for the first time. Mike Young is sure to win the hearts of Southern Gospel fans everywhere. Mike and his wonderful wife Cheri live in Dahlonaga, GA and attend a church in that area. Ben Harris, lead singer for Southern Sound, or second tenor if you prefer old school, traditional titles, provides the unmistakable classic lead that southern gospel music became so well acquainted with during the golden age of quartet music. He can be added to a distinguished list of fine lead singers such as Roy McNeal, and Ben s long time friend, the legendary Jake Hess. Ben s stylistic approach to singing lead is very much his own, but still appears familiar to those true fans of southern gospel quartet music. Ben was a highly regarded recording engineer/producer and backup vocalist in Nashville for many years and was awarded numerous gold and platinum albums as testament to his exceptional musical abilities. Ben does much of SSQ s vocal arrangements, and serves as the group s emcee. Ben and his wife Delita attend a church in the Nashville area.

3 The youngest member of Southern Sound, is Adam Forsythe who sings the baritone with confidence and poise most often attributed to men with far more years experience. While still only in his twenties, Adam sings far better than his young age would indicate, a pleasant surprise to many people hearing him the first time. Adam has that silky smooth baritone blend that provides the rich harmony the group is so well known for. Adam recently completed a tour with the U. S. Navy defending our country. An accomplished singer with a great ear for intricate harmonies, Adam brings a youthful exuberance to Southern Sound. You would have to search a very long while to find a better young Christian man than Adam Forsythe. He and his pretty wife Melissa, and baby live in Owensboro, KY and attend a local church in their area. Alan Brewster, sings the low bass, and I do mean low! Alan is very much in the mold of great bass singers such as George Younce, Tim Riley and The Big Chief. It would be rare indeed to find a man who can sing more bass than Alan. It has been said that Southern Sound s musical arrangements are some of the most musically challenging in southern gospel, and this makes the bass position a tremendous task for all but the most proficient. Alan takes it in stride. One of the finest bass voices in Southern Gospel today, Alan Brewster provides the anchor in fine low voice while still maintaining that superb tight harmony the group has become so well known for. Alan and his lovely wife Pam live in the Ringgold, GA area, and attend a church in the area. And of course no Southern Gospel Quartet is quite complete without a great piano man providing the background and the drive, and Southern Sound is certainly no exception. Allow me to introduce to you Barry Patrick from Fulton, Ky. An exceptional talent, Barry is able to play many different styles and all of them equally well. He is easy to talk with and fun to be around, down home friendly, and just a great personality within the group. It has been said that he is also full of mischief, a fact that certainly makes him right at home with these fun loving Christian men. Barry also writes and arranges songs and has become a great asset to the group in this regard. Barry and his lovely wife Susan and family, attend a local church in their area. ********* This brief overview is simply a thumbnail sketch of what Southern Sound is really all about, for these guys are deeply rooted in traditional Southern Gospel, four-part close harmony and in the testimony that Christ is Lord. I was fortunate to hear the group recently at a large church near my home, and they were indeed breathtaking. I lost count of the standing ovations they received that evening from a packed church, quite accustomed to hearing the finest southern gospel has to offer. The concert I attended will stay with me for quite some time, but even now, I hunger for more. Southern Sound s attitude, infectious enthusiasm, stage presence, and fine sense of quality music, makes a concert by Southern Sound one to be cherished for a very long while. In a word, Southern Sound Quartet is classy! The guys have appeared on the National Quartet Convention, Southern Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame Inductance Ceremony, Gospel Music Television, Brush Arbor Jubilee, Grand Ole Gospel Reunion, Paul Heil s Gospel Greats, Lake Country Jubilee, Southern Gospel Quartet Reunion, and countless personal appearances from Michigan to Florida and from Texas to Pennsylvania. They are refreshing, super talented, and simply a joy to listen to. These five great talents come together forming a truly magical work of art. Their sound is unique tight harmonies telling of the joy in serving the Lord. Take my word for it, you really need to hear SOUTHERN SOUND, for southern gospel music may well be in for a very thrilling ride. Written by Bruce Dees, Nashville, TN, and reprinted by permission.

4 RADIO SINGLES. Wait Till You See My New Home Headin Home If Everybody Prayed Let Your Love Happy To Say Jordan s Swelling Tide Someday When We re Called Away What A Morning That Will Be You Must Make Up Your Mind Today Heaven Is Better Than This I have known Ben Harris, lead singer for Southern Sound Quartet, for a very long while, and I think he is one of the finest lead voices in Southern Gospel Music today. And Southern Sound Quartet, well let me tell you folks, they are nothing but fine. CURRENT PROJECTS. Through The Years Reflections A Tribute For Heaven s Sake We Will Stand One Voice 6340 Spera Pointe Crossing Nashville, TN

5 RECENT COMMENTS Traditional quartet fans, I highly recommend Southern Sound Quartet's new CD, For Heaven's Sake. They've got it all; low bass, high tenor, powerful lead and baritone along with a tight 4-part blend. Les Butler Director Business Operations Southern Sound sets a high standard for traditional quartet music in the vein of the Statesmen, Stamps, and Blackwood Brothers. This group may very well be the best in the business. David Bruce Murray There have been many tributes to the Statesmen Quartet through the years, but none have been better than Southern Sound s Reflections A Tribute. Group leader and lead singer Ben Harris is as good an arranger as is going these days, and his knowledge of Statesmen music is as extensive as there is. The group's harmony is among the best in the business in the past several years, and nowhere is that more evident than on their rendition here of Goodbye Troublesome Blues. Among all the groups going today that specialize in keeping traditional quartet music alive, perhaps none are better than Southern Sound. John Scheideman Southern Gospel News.Southern Sound are men of distinct Christian character and worthy of any confidence we can place in them. Keep up the good work. Neil Enloe Couriers Quartet I have been a fan of Southern Sound for a good while and count Ben, Trevor and the other guys as friends. Anyone who knows Ben realizes he is a perfectionist when it comes to the group s music and also their character. For those who have never heard Southern Sound, do yourself a favor and purchase their product. If you are a fan of good, solid quartet singing, you ll not be disappointed. Dean Adkins Professor West Virginia Gospel Music Historian I m not only a fan of Southern Sound, but I m honored to count them among my friends. Their latest cd is without doubt, one of the best released in 2009 Southern Sound should be counted among the top quartets in the business today. They are superb. Alan Kendall Grand Ole Gospel Reunion This is an excellent quartet. These gentlemen are first class singers who promote a genuine Christian lifestyle. John Crenshaw Grand Ole Gospel Reunion Up until 5 minutes ago, I felt there were 3 outstanding remakes that offered some elements that topped the originals. These were Al Hirt s remake of Bunny Berrigans I Can t Get Started, and The Cathedrals remakes of The Statesmen s Oh What a Savior and I m Climbing Higher and Higher. But, after listening to Southern Sound s remake of The Statesmen s Heading Home. I now have expanded my list to 4 instead of 3. All of the voices are superb and Southern Sound is phenomenal. Cliff Cerce

6 It s all about excellence a perfect example of which is Southern Sound Quartet, out of Nashville, TN. Although we ve played a few selections by them all along, I was not really familiar with them until David Murray did a very upbeat review of their new recording on his MusicScribe website a few weeks back. Several days ago a copy arrived here at my XM desk. And, this past week, I managed to carve out an entire day for listening to new Southern Gospel recordings. This allowed me to get through quite a few recently arrived singles discs as well as full albums. Personally, of everything that I listened to, I enjoyed the Southern Sound s CD the most. You ll begin hearing selections from it a week or two down the road, once the XM Library folks get all of the music and required data loaded into what I call our giant digital tub, which holds just about every piece of recorded sound that s heard on any of XM s 170 channels. Back to the Southern Sound Quartet, this recording demonstrates that these gentlemen are committed to excelling at their craft of singing. I can tell you they have been invited back for what I believe is their fourth appearance on the NQC Main Stage. If every Southern Gospel group would commit to achieving the level of excellence demonstrated by Southern Sound, the Southern Gospel music industry would rapidly gain new strength and bring new glory to our God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Marlin Taylor Romans 8:28... And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.