Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Carroll Cooke’s Lowesville Gospel Concerts Making an Impact

Written by Staff on May 4, 2018 – 10:07 am -

Charlie Griffin of SGNScoops’ Magazine tells the

story of one of the fastest growing gospel concert series

Carroll Cooke is a man on a mission, with a passion that is manifested by his actions and his love of gospel music. But when you get to know him, you will find out he just loves his family and everyone. He has never met a stranger. Gospel music is just one of his many interests.

His music is rooted in his faith. Cooke says, “I was saved when I was 10 years old. I don’t remember the church or the message. I do remember going to my dad and mom, telling them I had to go to the altar. The preacher led me in the sinner’s prayer and I accepted Jesus into my heart and he saved me forever. The preacher asked

me to say something and all I could get out was, ‘I just want to thank him,’ ‘I just want to thank him,’ and to this day, I still just want to thank him.”

Over the years Cooke has been a singer, active church member, choir member, deacon, business owner, husband, father, and community leader. Each phase of his life has been fulfilled in so many ways. Yet in the last five years, his life has come into a richness that is being showcased in the small community of Lowesville, N.C.

His love of gospel music started at a young age. Cooke shares, “My dad (Roy A Cooke), mom (Lois Cooke), sister (now Hazel Sain), and I began singing as a quartet when I was six years old. We did this every weekend for about 15 years, then the next 40 years, I served as minister of music at different churches in and around the surrounding counties.

I have only been trying to promote our music since late 2012.

“My dad was the most influential person in my life,” confesses Cooke. “He lived and breathed music. He was the choir director at our local church, and he wanted so badly for everyone who had a desire to sing, to be able to sing, and sing well. He would have V. O. Fossett of the Stamps Baxter Music School from Dallas, Texas, come for two weeks and teach the old shaped notes, along with voice, piano, and harmony. He then would go beg other churches in the area to have Fossett come teach at their church, and he was successful in doing just that. This way, we would attend singing schools about all summer.”

Sometimes it was more than just the singing. Cooke loved the buses too. “The first concert I ever remember attending was promoted by Charlie Burke at a ballpark in Newton, N.C. I don’t even remember who sang, I just remembered the busses, and thinking what a life that would be. I was probably 10 or 12 at the time. At 75, I have no desire to crawl in one of them, I just love to see them

pull in and pull out.”

During those years, his family grew. He became a leader in the community and in the church while developing a successful business. Cooke operated the Lowesville Automotive Warehouse in the Lowesville community near Stanley, N.C. Upon his retirement in 2012, he sold the property to Living Word Ministries.

In that former parts warehouse and store, Living Word Ministries shares the gospel with regular worship services each week since August 2012. Pastor Derrick Dellinger leads a growing church that is on fire for God. Their Outreach ministries are impacting the surrounding communities by helping the needy, feeding the homeless, and loving people. They present the gospel in a way that the new Christian can understand and

the mature disciple can continue to grow and be inspired, in a shame-free environment. No attitudes or judgment found at LWM, just a church family that is excited about what God is doing in the community.

As the church grew, Cooke found a desire to reach the community in a new outreach: Saturday night Southern gospel concerts. With the encouragement of Pastor Dellinger, Cooke started in January 2013 with concerts on the second and fourth Saturday nights of each month. That is 24 concert promotions each year.

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Tags: Carolina Quartet, Carroll Cooke, Charlie Griffin, Cockman Family, gospel music, Guardians, Heart 2 Heart, hyssongs, Jaidyns Call, Jeanne Johnson, Jordan's Bridge, lefevre quartet, Lowesville Gospel Concerts, nelons, Pine Ridge Boys, sgnscoops, Sheltons, Shireys, Troy Burns Family, Wisecarvers
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Sights and Sounds of the Carolina Quartet by Charlie Griffin

Written by Staff on August 29, 2017 – 1:42 pm -

The Carolina Quartet is rich in talent and legacy. Most of the group members have been together off and on for 20-plus years. When you attend one of their concerts, you will enjoy energetic performances, great songs, clean vocals, enthusiasm and a true love for the people they sing for and the Lord they serve. Those Carolina characteristics are the ingredients of a professional music group that can only be said for a few in today’s gospel music circles.

 

The group’s sound is defined by the recognizable lead voice of Scott Whitener. Now, Whitener is no stranger to gospel music. His first singing experience was with the church trio where his dad pastored. He was an influential member of the regional powerhouse quartet the Regals for many years. In 1987, he joined the award-winning Singing Americans. His dynamic voice and interpretations really grabbed the attention of Gospel Music fans in this time.

After leaving the Singing Americans, Whitener also sang lead with Jericho – which was formed along with Dwayne Burke of the Singing Americans – until 1996. This group was recognized for their smooth, focused vocals in a church ministry setting.

Subsequently, Whitener transitioned to the Melody Masters in the mid-1990s as lead singer. During that time, the group lineup of Chris Roberts, Whitener, Roger Burnett, and Richard Sanders achieved success with performances at the National Quartet Convention and the Canadian version of the NQC, which was held in Canada’s in Red Deer, Alta.

As in life, things come full circle. After more than 20 years in full-time Gospel Music, Whitener is now an ordained minister, serving as senior pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Gastonia, N.C., and as lead pastor of Gateway Cowboy Church in Stanley, N.C.

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Tags: Carolina Quartet, Chris Roberts, christian country, gospel music, Roger Burnett, Scott Whitener, southern gospel
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Southern Gospel News January 2014 Magazine

Written by SGN Scoops Staff on January 12, 2014 – 10:17 pm -

 

Happy New Year! We’re kicking off 2014 right with the one and only David Phelps on the cover! Also in this issue, enjoy articles on Donna King, the Old Paths Quartet, Chris Allman, Page Trio, Carolina Quartet, Suzanne Hise and Mike Manuel. Don’t miss who topped the SGNScoops radio chart for January and don’t miss the latest update on our Creekside Gospel Music Convention. We are thrilled to welcome David Staton to our writing staff! David unveils his new column, “Can You Handle The Truth?” Catch the latest devotions from Sherry Anne and Jeff Steele as well as tips from Laurette Willis on Christian Fitness. Legendary Lou Wills Hildreth’s articles are always great. You don’t want to miss “Life, Love and Legends.” It’s a special treat to share an article on Edna Wright, the newly elected Southern Gospel Music Promoters President! Check out January’s music reviews as well as Publisher, Rob Patz and editor, Rhonda’s Frye’s expectations for the New Year. Remember, SGNScoops is absolutely free. Read. Enjoy. Share!

Tags: Angela Griffin, Carolina Quartet, Chris Allman, Craig Harris, Creekside Gospel Music Convention, david phelps, Dixie Phillips, Donna King, Edna Wright, Lorraine Walker, Mike Manuel, Old Paths Quartet, Page Trio, Rhonda Frye, rob patz, SGNScoops radio chart, southern gospel, Southern Gospel News, Suzanne Hise
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