Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Big John Hall: A Voice Sent From Heaven

Big John Hall

Anyone who has been associated with Southern Gospel Music for any length of time will know the name Big John Hall.   This great baritone/bass singer has been around the Gospel music circuit since the early 1960’s and probably before that.

In the early days, he was probably best known for his great bass singing with the Stamps Quartet.  This was before J.D. Sumner bought the group, and changed it to J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.  He also sang bass for the Blackwood Brothers from 1965-1968.   After leaving the Blackwood Brothers, John Hall began a solo career and has been featured on many of the Gaither videos.

One of my favorite moments on one of the Gaither videos was watching the faces of some of the younger bass singers, when John Hall was asked to come and sing “How Big Is God.”   You could see them looking with admiration and awe.

Big John Hall

John Hall has recorded many great records.   Included in the list are: Here Come The McDuff Brothers with Big John Hall; I Don’t Know Why; If God is Dead; I am Loved; Life In Jesus Name; Light of the World; The Lord Liveth; Portrait In Sound; Reason I Praise; Rise And Be Healed; and many more.

There are many great bass singers singing today. My own personal opinion is that many bass singers can really hit those low notes, but they are not great soloists. George Younce was an exception and so is John Hall. Big John can take a song and give it his own personal touch, and you can understand every word.

My late father was not too knowledgeable on Southern Gospel Music but every once in a while he would ask me, “What’s that Big John Hall doing these days?”  He loved John Hall’s singing.

I was asked to run the audio for Big John at a concert a few years back at my home church in Peterborough and I was struck by his professionalism. I had set up a microphone for him, an SM57. On the pulpit was another mic, I can’t remember the brand, but John asked me if he could use that microphone instead. After hearing the sound that came out of that mic during practice, well, let’s just say, the man knew what he was doing.

I had the privilege of talking with John Hall recently and he told me that he had been in London, Ontario, with the new Blackwood Brothers with Jimmy Blackwood. John had been asked to attend as well as Bill Shaw and to join in with the group! John said, “It sounded as good as the old Blackwood Brothers.”  Wow! I wish I had been there!

What is Big John Hall doing these days?   He is still very busy, traveling and singing in many churches.

John Hall has a heart for ministry, and was quoted by Jerrell Millar, editor of the Remnant magazine, as saying,  “he has a voice sent from Heaven for days such as this”(1) (referring to a revival meeting, that John Hall was asked to sing at). In 1989 he was asked to come to Dothan, Alabama, to participate with Dudley Hall in a series of meetings at the Auditorium there. What happened in that meeting had a long-lasting effect on the body of Christ in the Southeast Corner of Alabama. John was asked to come and be the worship leader.

Big John Hall

John Hall then led the worship in what was supposed to be just a few meetings organized by the local churches in that southern city. It was as predictable as afternoon thunderstorms in Alabama but the lightening was supplied by God. Night after night Big John took the mic and led people into the realm of the spirit where they had never been. It was revival as they had never seen it before.  That was in 1989 and the flow and move of God has only increased.

You can hear John’s deep baritone voice as it sings in a majestic rhythm but what is coming through that voice is not just a normal deep voice. Big John will tell you it takes more than talent to sing before thousands of hungry people each week. The responsibility of change and the mantle of freedom comes along with the voice these days. (2)

Big John Hall considers his voice secondary to his ministry. Sharing Christ and leading a congregation in worship is first in his life. John and his wife Judy attend Calvary Cathedral, in Fort Worth Texas.

I’m not a bass singer. I’ve tried. I’m a baritone. But if I were a bass, I would want my voice to sound like Big John Hall.

By Philip Foster. Find out more about Phil here.

First published 2012/09/17 on www.sgmradio.com

ADAMS CALL ANNOUNCES NEW VOCALIST

HENDERSONVILLE, TN (April 29th, 2014) – Breakout trio, Adams Call, along with their booking agency, the Adoration Agency, are excited to announce the addition of Joe Combs to the ministry team. Joe will fill the baritone position that was recently vacated by founding member Sam Fisher. Sam has accepted a worship position at his home church in Warner Robbins, GA.

Joe has been actively involved with Christian music his entire life. He has participated in music and ministry in his local church, as well as having been on the road in music ministry with some of the greatest names in Southern Gospel Music. Most recently, Combs toured with the legendary Stamps Quartet. He will continue to appear with the Stamps on future dates, as his schedule allows.

Group Manager and Lead Singer Bobby Davenport shares, “We have had an incredible year in 2013. With that, we felt strongly that we needed to find just the right fit for our ministry. We made this a serious matter of prayer, and, once again, GOD answered faithfully. Joe is not only a strong vocalist, but his testimony and heart for God will be a great help to us as we continue to work to encourage a world of broken and hurting people. I am truly excited to see what the rest of 2014 holds for Adams Call. I know the plan God has in store will take us to places we cannot even begin to imagine.”

“Every once in a while we see a group comes along with the true heart of ministry and a talent that is out of this world. Adams Call is one of those groups and we are blessed to represent them. There are great things ahead for this ministry,” says Sophia Davis of the Adoration Agency.

To schedule Adams Call for your church or concert ministry event, contact the Adoration Agency; an affiliate of Michael Davis & Associates. Booking information can be obtained by calling the NC office at 828-454-5900 or the TN office at 615-590-7453. For more information on Adams Call, visit www.adamscall.com.

About Michael Davis and Associates-

Michael Davis and Associates is proud to represent a family of stellar talent agencies including-

* Dominion Agency
* Mountain Top Talent
* Blue Ridge Artist Agency
* The Adoration Agency

To learn more about all of the artists who call the Dominion Agency. Mountain Top Talent, Blue Ridge Artist Agency, and the Adoration Agency home, visit the following websites:

Dominion Agency- www.dominionagency.com
Mountain Top Talent- www.mountaintoptalent.com
Blue Ridge Artist Agency- www.blueridgeartistagency.com
Adoration Agency- www.adorationagency.com

To schedule any of the wonderful artists with any of the four Michael Davis And Associates agencies, call 828-454-5900 or email scheduling@thedominionagency.com.

Gospel Music Today On SGNScoops.com

The members of The Freemans are the guests on Gospel Music Today for the week of March 30. Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates, the Feature Group is The Erwins, and Jean reviews a new recording by The Mark Dubbeld Family.  An article entitled “Where Are They Now” is the subject of this week’s Singing News Notes. Darrell Freeman and The Stamps Quartet sing, and the show includes exclusive  video of  The Kinsmen, recorded by Gospel Music Today’s cameras at The Mid Arkansas Southern Gospel Convention, in Plumerville, AR, and a visit to the Gospel Music Today Archives for an exclusive television clip of The Blackwood Brothers.