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Chapelaires and Legacy 5 leave a lasting impression in London

Legacy 5 at London

On Saturday, April 27th, 2019, a concert was held in London, Ontario that was for some the end of an era. The event was a fundraiser for New Life Prison Ministries, a jail outreach program in the area.

Chapelaies in London

London Gospel Temple was the site for many gospel music fans who were happy to hear some good, live music after a long, cold winter.

Opening the evening was the popular Ontario group, the Chapelaies, who are into their 51st year of ministry. This mixed quartet has won the hearts of many over the years. Led by David and Sheila Jackson, who are joined on stage by Myrna Hand and Phil Pugh, this group performs with grace, class, and the love of Jesus Christ.

Legacy Five followed the Chapelaies and the audience was treated to an outstanding performance of male four-part harmony at its best. Enthusiastically singing their hit songs, the group showed why they are so often mentioned among the best in the U. S. Scott Fowler; the gracious host, and Josh Townsend, the expert pianist, joined superb bass Matt Fouch, as the group members who will bring the L5 into the next decade. New members will join them this weekend, but the Canadian audience was witness to the very last concert of Legacy Five with smooth baritone Scott Howard and the incredible tenor style of Josh Feemster.

The evening was fun as well as worshipful and engaging, as attested to by the continuous calls for encores at the end. Afterward, group members stayed late to talk with every fan. Many selfies were snapped and much laughter filled the hall.

It was an encouraging, enjoyable evening, surpassing even the greatest expectations. A huge thanks to all involved. The evening was truly unforgettable.

Scott Fowler and Lorraine Walker

By Lorraine Walker, who will be able to tell the story of how she was there at the last concert of two of the best vocalists in gospel music.

Special thanks to photographer Jillian Whitson for providing the concert images.

Legacy Five announces departure of Scott Howard

Scott Howard departs Legacy Five

Scott Howard, long-time baritone for Legacy Five, has announced his retirement from Legacy Five. “I’ve lived my dream. I’ll never be able to express my gratitude to Scott Fowler, Roger Bennett and the Lord for giving me the desire of my heart all those years ago to sing Southern Gospel Music. I’ve had the opportunity to make life-long friends, sing night after night to people all over the world about God’s love, and share the stage with the finest men in the industry. I am grateful beyond words for the privilege to do this for almost 20 years. However, seasons come and go, and for over a year now I have sensed this chapter coming to a close for myself and my family. Scott and I talked about it during this last year and he graciously gave me time and space to listen to the Lord and wait for His timing. Change is never easy for a group either personally or financially. So, after discussion, Fowler and I both feel it will be better to coordinate my departure with that of Josh Feemster’s. I am hopeful it will ease the transitional costs and adjustments on Legacy Five as a whole.

Legacy Five

“To all of you across the industry and to all the fans of Southern Gospel Music who welcomed me with open arms and supported me all these years, ‘THANK YOU!’ You all have been my second family – my road family! This is not good-bye, it’s just the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next.”

Scott Fowler states, “I could not have asked for a better man to have by my side for 20 years. Scott Howard is a man of impeccable character and has stood with me thru some very difficult times in the life of Legacy Five. He is a rock and I have relied on him for more than I can tell you. I will miss him greatly, but I support him and his decision 100%.”

Josh Feemster of Legacy Five

Scott will continue on the road with Legacy Five for the next few weeks as transitions are made. He plans to truly “retire” for a few weeks before joining Danley Sound Labs assisting and developing clients with audio needs.

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Legacy Five: Unchanging message in changing times

Legacy Five

Scott Fowler leads Legacy Five into the future

By John Herndon

Rooted in one of the greatest traditions in gospel music, the Legacy Five has embarked on a 2019 schedule that will see the group pay tribute to history, yet do so by embracing the changes of the times.

I was fortunate to talk with Scott Fowler, one of the quartet’s founding members, after a concert at Sand Spring Baptist Church, in Lawrenceburg, Ky., on Jan. 24. It was a performance that drew a good crowd on a bitterly cold night and prompted several extended standing ovations.

Fowler was excited to talk about the group’s plans for the coming year. “We are getting ready to release our first video in about five or six years,” he said, noting that 21-year-old pianist Josh Townsend will be prominently featured. “A couple of things people have been asking for are J.T.’s testimony, which you heard tonight, and the song that he sings.”

Josh Townsend of Legacy Five

Townsend, who has overcome two childhood tumors and a massive stroke while being carried in his mother’s womb, shared his testimony with a mesmerized audience before singing the tear-filled “God’s Been Good,” a bonus track from the “Faith and Freedom” album released in late 2017.

“People ask a lot if we’ve got the patriotic segment we did tonight on video,” Fowler continued. “That’s going to be on the video with ‘I Made it to Arlington’ along with the ‘Tribute to the Troops’ we do. Those are two big items that will be on the DVD. It will be called, ‘Live in Peoria.’

“It will come out around the first of March, maybe the 15th. Then we are working on a new studio album. We don’t have it titled yet, but it will have 10 brand new songs on it. That will be coming in the late spring or early summer.”

Scott Fowler of Legacy Five

Fowler said the Legacy Five will be on a normal tour schedule of about 135 concerts, too.

The Sand Spring concert was heavy on songs from “Faith and Freedom,” including “God Bless the USA,” “Hallelujah Chorus,” and a rousing version of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” as the finale.

Fowler explained the reasoning behind the album. “I have always been very patriotic personally,” he said. “I have always had a deep sense of gratitude. I have been to El Salvador. I have been to the Dominican Republic. I have been to the nation of Colombia. They are great places with great people, but the kids there will never have the opportunities of kids in America because of where they were born. I realize that the only difference between my kids and those kids in other countries was where they were born. There is no other difference.

Legacy Five

“They may speak a different language and their skin might be a different color but God doesn’t love them any less than he loves my kids. I am very grateful that my kids were allowed to be born in America.

“Then you have the political climate. The culture got there for a while there that people were apologizing for America and not standing for the Anthem, just not being respectful. I wanted people to know where Legacy Five stood on those issues, so that is what we did.”

The group took time to recognize veterans from all branches of the service. “Veterans deserve everything our government will give them and more,” Fowler said.

Fowler is one of the veterans of gospel music, singing with the Cathedrals for 10 years before legends George Younce and Glen Payne retired the group. Fowler and Cathedrals pianist Roger Bennett formed Legacy Five to begin touring in January of 2000. Bennett died in 2007, but the group continues as one of gospel music’s most popular.

Scott Howard of Legacy Five

Part of Legacy Five’s appeal has been its ability to adapt to a changing world. “The actual style has changed. It always gets a little more progressive,” Fowler said, noting the same thing happens in other styles of music.

“The biggest change is technologically. You know with all the social media, now your music is available online and on YouTube. You can stream it. Nobody knew what those terms were 20 years ago.”

When Fowler talked about CD’s and other merchandise available at the product table, he noted the group had a USB-drive loaded with several albums available.

Fowler smiled, “The message doesn’t change. The package changes, but the message never changes.”

It’s why Legacy Five remains near the top of gospel music.

All images by John Herndon, except for promotional photographs.

Josh Feemster of Legacy Five

By John Herndon

John Herndon is a writer for SGNScoops Magazine and also has a website called KentuckySings. John is a Kentucky native who was raised listening to gospel music. As a child, the Sunday morning routine always included the Gospel Singing Jubilee and his summers were filled with all-day-singings-and-dinner-on-the-ground listening to local groups just about every Sunday. He remembers seeing The Prophets at his county fair when he was seven years old and eventually, he became a huge fan of The Oak Ridge Boys, The Imperials and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps. John spent 20 years in the located ministry and during this time, he began writing local sports for The Anderson News in Lawrenceburg, Ky. For the last 16 years, he has been the full-time sports editor of that paper. John has won over 100 awards from the Kentucky Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and Landmark Community Newspapers. He loves listening to gospel music or playing one of his guitars. John lives in Lawrenceburg with his wife, Stephanie, and 17-year-old daughter. He has three grown children and four grandchildren.

***Note: This article was written before the announcement that Josh Feemster is leaving this popular quartet. See elsewhere on this website for more information.

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Legacy Five Announces New Tenor

Legacy Five

Recently, Legacy Five’s long-time tenor, Gus Gaches, announced his resignation from the popular quartet. Group manager Scott Fowler announced the replacement for Gaches this week. Josh Feemster was re-introduced to the Southern Gospel music world by a video in which Fowler brought Feemster to the forefront, posted this week on the Legacy Five Facebook page.

Josh Feemstra and Family. Legacy Five Facebook page

Today Legacy Five posted a picture on their website that introduced Feemster’s family. The caption stated, “Introducing Josh, Brandy, Joshua and Beasley Feemster. Josh will start singing tenor on November 6 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

Josh Feemster was well-known during his stint with Mercy’s Mark for the song, “Something’s Happening.” His resume also includes time with N’Harmony and in church ministry.

For more information on Legacy Five click here.

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