Harold Lane among 2009 Hall of Fame inductees

Southern Gospel Music Association board member Bob Brumley (right) inducts Harold Lane in the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame recently at Dollywood. (Photo: Randall Franks)

Singer and songwriter Harold Lane of Lebanon, Tenn., originally of Huntington, W.V., attended his induction into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame at Dollywood recently in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“Lane is a singer, songwriter, musician and arranger whose career in, and contributions to gospel music have spanned the past 55 years,” said Charlie Waller, SGMA executive director. “Lane formed the Gospel Harmony Boys, a professional group that continues to minister still today — 55 years later.”

Lane joined the Speer Family in 1967 following the death of “Dad” Speer where he worked for 22 years.
Some among his many songs are “Touring That City,” “I’m Standing on the Solid Rock,” “The Next Time He Comes,” and “What Sins Are You Talking About,” he said.
“What Sins Are You Talking About” was the instrumental theme for the TV show “The Hitchhiker” in the 1990s.

The Gospel Harmony Boys performed Lane’s “I’m Standing on the Solid Rock” in honor of his induction and Dr. Jerry Goff introduced him to the stage.

Mr. Lane was not able to speak and his daughter Judy Huff spoke on his behalf.

She said if her father could, he would say ‘Thank you very much’ esoecially to the Gospel Harmony Boys who made the nomination.

“Daddy’s never been one to be in the limelight,” she said. “If you know him at all, you will know what kind of a Christian man he is.”

She read a poem reflecting her loving thoughts about her dad’s life and the tremendous legacy he gave their family as a man.

“Many times he sat with paper and pencil arranging and writing songs for the faithful,” she said. “The songs he wrote came from the heart….”

The other 2009 SGMA class of inductees are Neil Enloe, Ed Hill, Don Light, Bill Lyles, Elizabeth “Lady” Mull, Billy Todd and Charlie Waller.

Country Music Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell received the James D. Vaughn Impact Award at the event.

The Southern Gospel Music Association is a non-profit organization that maintains the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, the only facility honoring this genre of music, for the historic preservation of the accomplishments of the music and its people. Museum hours match those of Dollywood. Donations are tax-deductible. Individuals and businesses may donate to assist with honoring inductees with special bronze plaques that are displayed in the Hall of Fame. For more information about the museum or its inductees, visit www.sgma.org.