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SGN Scoops Fast Five: The Alliance Quartet

Alliance Quartet

Alliance Quartet is a male quartet from Alabama, who are in their tenth year of singing Southern Gospel. Members Dustin Bearden, Bill (BT) Thomas, Jeff Smith and newcomer Keith Wix are well known in the Alabama/Georgia Gospel music scene and loved for their tight harmony and engaging presentation. Their latest CD is entitled I Know What Lies Ahead which includes Gospel favorites like “We Shall See Heaven Someday,” “I Wanna Know” and “Working On A Building,” as well as newer songs like “Sandals,” “When I Start My Day With You,” and “Heart Break Ridge and New Hope Road.”

Alliance sings part-time and all of the members have full-time jobs, yet they hold down a very busy schedule. The decision to remain part-time and keep their jobs was a choice they made to keep their performance fee as low as possible, allowing them to appear at any venue, regardless of size.

Be sure to follow the links below to find out more about these fine gentlemen!

Join Vonda Easley as she peppers The Alliance Quartet with the rapid-fire Fast Five questions…

Vonda: B.T., at what age did you begin singing Gospel music? Who is your favorite Gospel singer ever?
B. T. : I started at the age of thirteen. I led the singing at my home church.
My favorite Gospel singer is Elvis Presley.

Vonda: Dustin, tell us about your experience in Gospel music through the years.
Dustin: In the past, I sang with Providence, New Vision, Narrow Way Quartet, The Florida Boys, and The Blackwood Gospel Quartet. I now sing with Alliance  and I sing tenor.

Vonda: Keith, tell me a funny bus story. Also, what is the group’s favorite place to eat?
Keith: This happened on August 5, 2012 on Highway 69 near Oakman, Alabama on the way to a homecoming singing. No sooner had we stopped after the rear differential blew up, then there were two men there who each had a tractor discussing among themselves who would be best to get us up the hill and out of the middle of the road. While they were talking, another man drove up who was pulling a tractor on a trailer behind him, and he joined the discussion with the other two men. A few minutes later, a small Kubota tractor with a mower deck behind it was brought up and the bus was towed about one-quartet mile up a fairly steep grade hooked to the mowing deck. To see that little tractor pulling that Eagle bus was pretty funny.
The bus was down for a year. The first singing we did in 2013 with it was the same place we were going when it broke down the year before.
Favorite eating place while on the road I guess would be Cracker Barrel. I order from their breakfast menu quite a bit.

Vonda: Jeff, since you sing bass, who is your favorite bass singer?
Jeff: Hands down, Rex Nelon. I saw him sing bass several times live.

Vonda: B.T., what are some goals you have for Alliance in the future?
B.T.: It is our desire to see souls saved for the Kingdom of God. That is our main goal. We also would like to sing in some new areas and venues.

Find out more about the Alliance Quartet online and on Facebook.

Be sure to hear Alliance Quartet at the Creekside Gospel Music Convention in November!

For more Fast Five features, keep checking the SGN Scoops mainpage.