Remembering The Cathedrals

So...I had a VERY blessed night last night at a wonderful concert in Springfield, MO.  A local quartet, The Ascension hosted a concert featuring none other than Legacy Five, Mark Trammell Quartet, Greater Vision, and Danny Funderburk, "Remember the Music".  The first half featured each artist individually, then the second half featured a "makeshift" (so to speak) quartet of Danny, Gerald, Scott, Mark, and Glenn.  Naturally, Fowler sat back on several songs so he could watch his heroes perform.  It was a very Spirit-filled time as the four former Cathedrals' members reminisced on times past, a couple bus stories, and different songs that hadn't been sung in years.  Glenn did a phenomenal job "filling in" for George, as Gerald Wolfe put it.  Personally, the most timeless moment of the night was when Danny started out on Somebody Touched Me.  He didn't even get the first phrase out before the audience erupted in applause, and it just got better.  Unfortunately, with my mother in vacation in Washington, I had no camera to record video with, but as many folks were there, I'm sure there'll be videos on YouTube in no time, and I'll have those up.

Upon scouring YouTube for several minutes, I've found one video from last night's concert of Greater Vision singing Hallelujah Square.  Slightly blurry, but the audio quality is grand, and Chris Allman's qualities shine on the video.  I will make more blog posts as more videos from the concert "pop up".  

I REALLY look forward to videos of the Mark Trammell Quartet from last night.  They really shined, and I was very impressed by the new sound, and how well Pat Barker has already gelled with the group.  The new tenor, Joel Wood, is also a class act, and through the performance, I could hear distinct similarities between his and Eric Phillips' voices...perhaps it was just me.  I look forward to what is in store for the Mark Trammell Quartet, though!

Legacy Five also did a wonderful job.  It was only the second time I've had the opportunity to see them live, and still not on a concert by themselves, as the first time I saw them was the first concert of the Jubilee Tour they did with Greater Vision and the Booth Brothers.  I would still like to see them on a full set soon, but Gus Gaches gave a stellar performance last night.

Greater Vision, too, did wonderful, performing hits such as He'd Still Been God, and My Name Is Lazarus.  Rodney wrapped up their set with one of my favorites of his songs, Faces.  What powerful lyrics, and a wonderful audible image of how the way one lives their life for Christ can do more than what they say.

"I dreamed my life was done, and I stood before God's Son.  It was time to see what my reward would be.  With love He reviewed my life to count was done for Christ.  For that was what would last eternally.  See, I'd done my best to share that Jesus really cares, and He would save if they would just believe.  Oh, but seldom did harvest come.  So few did I see won until the Lord said, "Turn around, and see."  Then He showed me faces of the ones who'd come because of me.  So many faces that my life had led to Calvary.  All those years I thought nobody saw, as I labored in lowly places.  That's when Jesus smiled and showed me all the faces."

What powerful and true words.

Until next time,

Timothy

I'm Still Here!

Well...it's been a while since I've posted.  Might as well address some Southern Gospel news.  Steve Ladd's new album has come out, featuring some wonderful tracks from my favorite Gold City tenor.  On the self-titled album, Steve covers several new songs, but also covers two of his Gold City songs, I'll Walk On, and When Jesus Saves.
I must say, though, my favorite song on the album is My Petition, a lovely track about a boy going door-to-door with a petition to the President, "with a list numbered one to ten, it said:  Make a law where daddies don't work late, keep Uncle Joe and those soldiers safe, give those kids on TV all they want to eat.  Put a stop to bullies on the bus.  No crime, no AIDS, no hate, no drugs.  Give a jacket and a job to people on the street.  I said, 'Son, that sounds like a world I'd like to live in,' and I signed his petition."  I encourage you to check the album out.  I don't think you will be disappointed!  Steve has such wonderful vocal ability and a way to communicate lyrics that I just love, and this album displays that very well.

That album was actually the reason I recently downloaded iTunes, but I have also made a couple recent purchases of a talented quartet in Oregon.  Rescue is an a capella gospel quartet, and between 2001 and 2004, Tim Storms sang bass with them.  If you don't recognize the name, Tim Storms currently holds two world records, one for the lowest recorded vocal note (8Hz, or the C two octaves below the lowest C on a grand piano), and for widest male vocal range, six and a half octaves, if I remember correctly. I believe that is just chest voice, too...NOT falsetto.  Comparatively I have a five octave range with falsetto, roughly three and a half octaves in chest voice.  Anyway...  Tim currently sings bass with Pierce Arrow in Branson, along with former lowest-bass-record holder Dan Britton, who sang down to a still-staggering 16Hz, or the C one octave below the lowest C on the grand piano.

Anyway.  Back to Rescue.  In 2003, the group released The Difference, a wonderful ten-track album that I love listening to.  In 2008, Before The Throne was released.  I purchased those two yesterday and have been listening to them nearly exclusively since then.  Even though Tim Storms left in 2004, the bass vocalist on Before The Throne still posseses stellar depth and range.  Both albums feature great vocal percussion by Brandon Bell.  It took me a few listens on many tracks to realize that the drums were NOT a drumset, but a human voice.  Outstanding!  For a nice demo of Tim Storms vocals, though, take a minute to watch this video of him singing That Lonesome Road from their reunion DVD.





Until next time,

Timothy