Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Please Pray For The Family of Derrell Stewart

We at SGN SCOOPS are saddened with the news of Derrell Stewart’s passing.

Please join us in praying for the family.

In 2013, The Times Examiner wrote about Derrell…

Darrell was born in Brunswick Georgia. Derrell began to play piano at five years of age and continued to take lessons all through school. He stated that his introduction to Southern Gospel Music was through the all-day singings and other church related musical events. One of his piano teachers was James Walbert and according to Derrell he was one of the best quartet style piano teachers in the business. If you have ever been to a concert of The Florida Boys you know that Derrell learned his piano lessons well and, although Derrell is very modest in talking about himself as a pianist, he would have to be numbered among the best in the business. Some of his heroes were Hovie Lister and Wally Varner. They too are know for not only their ability to play but also for their stage presence.

When Derrell finished high school his plan was to enroll in college but music was in his blood. He was offered the piano playing position in January 1953 with the Dixie Rhythm Quartet, so at the age of eighteen and without his mother’s blessing he joined the group. The quartet moved to Macon, Georgia, for a time and then on to Dothan, Alabama, where they had a radio program on WOOF-AM a 5000-watt station. This program was heard in Northern Florida, South Georgia and parts of Alabama. This group traveled and sang for about three years and broke up late in 1955. It was during Derrell’s year with the Dixie Rhythm Quartet that the idea, which has become a trademark, of always wearing “red socks” began. Derrell stated that while with this group he wore red socks, red suspenders and a red tie. When he joined The Florida Boys he continued to wear red socks but drops the other red items.

The next chapter in Derrell’s life was and still is his tenure with The Florida Boys. J. G. Whitfield called Derrell in January of 1956 and invited him to join his group as piano player. Of course Derrell had been off the road for a few months and was anxious to be with a quartet so he accepted the offer. By this time he was married and had a small child. Derrell packed his family and himself and moved to Florida where some 50 plus years he played piano with the same group. If you have followed Southern Gospel Music over the years you know that The Florida Boys are one of the most awarded groups in gospel music. In the 60’s and 70’s the Gospel Singing Jubilee TV program was seen coast to coast.

I asked Derrell to share some of his most memorable moments and here are a couple of the stories. He shared a story about a young man who came to him at the quartet convention a few years ago. This young man told Derrell what an influence he had been on his life. It started with this young man watching the Gospel Singing Jubilee on Sunday mornings. This young man admired Derrell so much that he asked his grandmother to give him piano lessons and through Derrell planting a seed in this young man’s life he has gone on to not only be a pianist but also a pastor of a church in West Virginia.

The other story is about a young lady in a wheelchair who Derrell prayed for because she was having surgery the following week. A year later he was back in the same town and the lady walked up to him and reminded him of who she was and what God had done in her life. Derrell related these stories not for self-recognition but to show how God will use some one to minister to other people. People can be and are reached for Christ through Southern Gospel Music.

Click HERE to read the entire story.

Derrell will surely be missed by his many friends and family.

Love this video of The Florida Boys!

Please Pray for The Beasley Family

Remembering Les Beasley

Singing News posted this morning:

Les Beasley, the president of the National Quartet Convention and the longtime owner/manager/singer of The Florida Boys, has passed away at the age of 90.

Born in Crockett, Texas, in 1928, Mr. Beasley would go on to become one of Gospel music’s most influential personalities. J.G. Whitfield hired Mr. Beasley in 1953 to sing in his Gospel Melody Quartet, which was later renamed The Florida Boys. After the retirement of Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Beasley assumed part ownership (with Glen Allred and Derrell Stewart) and leadership of the quartet, and continued those roles until 2007.

During his time with The Florida Boys, Mr. Beasley became a key decisive leader in the development, promotion, and expansion of many of the entities that have provided the foundation of the modern era of Gospel music: “The Gospel Singing Jubilee” TV program, the National Quartet Convention, The Gospel Music Association, and others.

Tentative funeral plans include services Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. The family will share additional information as it is confirmed.

The Beasley family appreciates your prayers during this difficult time.

We at SGN Scoops are praying for Clarke and The Beasley Family and all our friends at the Singing News:

COUNTRY FAITH — SOUTHERN GOSPEL SALUTES THE GENRE’S BIGGEST SONGS, PAST AND PRESENT

COUNTRY FAITH SOUTHERN GOSPEL SALUTES THE GENRE’S BIGGEST SONGS, PAST AND PRESENT

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Country Faith Southern Gospel, a new collection featuring 15 timeless songs from some of the genre’s most beloved artists, is now available from Curb | Word Entertainment.  Showcasing a range of favorites, past and present, Country Faith Southern Gospel is highlighted by classics from such legends as The Happy Goodmans (“The Lighthouse”) and The Cathedrals (“Step Into The Water”), alongside Mark Lowry’s “What’s Not to Love,” The Nelons’ “Oh For A Thousand Tongues” and The Crabb Family’s career-defining hit, “Through The Fire.”

With eight albums to date and $2.5 million in retail sales, the Country Faith music line—part of a multi-faceted brand including books, jewelry and other products—unveils this debut Southern Gospel compilation following the success of Country Faith Hymns, Country Faith Love Songs and Country Faith Christmas, among other music titles. Previous releases have featured many of the format’s superstars, including Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, George Strait and Brad Paisley. 
 
“Southern Gospel music is one of the genres I grew up listening to, and I love it,” says Deborah Evans Price, award-winning journalist and cofounder of Country Faith, LLC. “There are so many Southern Gospel songs that have been anchors in my life, and many of them are on this project. I feel like when people hear this collection, they’re going to be moved, encouraged and comforted. These are songs that people have known and loved and made a part of their lives, and I’m honored to have them on the Country Faith Southern Gospel collection.”
 
“Brand New Star,” a poignant tune from multi-genre icons The Oak Ridge Boys, resonated deeply with Evans Price following her mother’s death. “That one has been such a light and comfort for me after losing Mom,” she explains. “It’s the closing song on the album, and it will always be special to me.”
 
Longtime Southern Gospel fans will appreciate the inclusion of Greater Vision’s toe-tapping hit “My Name is Lazarus,” while The Florida Boys, Karen Peck & New River, Legacy Five and Canton Junction are also featured on the new release. Additionally, the project includes inspired performances from favorite soloists Jason Crabb, Michael English, Joseph Habedank and Janet Paschal.
 
“We are thrilled to have our song ‘God’s Got a Better Plan’ included on Country Faith Southern Gospel,” says Matthew Hagee, founding member of Canton Junction. “Music from The Cathedrals, The Happy Goodmans and The Oak Ridge Boys, along with so many others, filled our home growing up, so being on the same record as these Gospel music pioneers is an honor we do not take lightly.”
 
A sought-after journalist and recipient of the Country Music Association’s prestigious Media Achievement Award in 2013, Deborah Evans Price has interviewed numerous luminaries, including Dolly Parton, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Dennis Quaid and Tim Tebow. She is the author of three books and serves as a contributing writer for Billboard, Redbook, People, Sounds Like Nashville, First for Women and Woman’s World, among other outlets. 
 
Country Faith, LLC partners Deborah Evans Price, Bob DeMoss and Wildfire7 launched the successful brand with Evans Prices’ acclaimed books Country Faith (2013) and Country Faith Christmas (2015). In addition to eight full-length albums, the brand’s growing catalog includes books, jewelry and other items celebrating country, Christian and Gospel music. Time Life Music features the Country Faith book on national television as a bonus product in its Faith, Hope and Country collection, while other brand partners include Curb | Word Entertainment, Regnery Faith Publications, Cracker Barrel, Bob Siemon Designs and New Day Christian Distributors. 
 
Country Faith Southern Gospel is available atiTunes and Amazon, among other digital retailers, as well as in select stores across the country. For further information, visitcountryfaith.com orturningpointpr.com.  

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.

Gospel Music Today On SGNScoops.com

“On the Road” Segment on Gospel MusicToday

Gospel Music Today’s current edition is an “On the Road” special, as Ken and Jean Grady take a look back at some of the southern gospel concerts they have visited in the past months. The Florida Boys, Brian Free and Assurance, Blake Bolerjack, The Dove Brothers Band, The Downings, In Him Trio, The Lesters, and The Taylors are on the show, recorded live in concert by Gospel Music Today’s cameras. The show is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.

The Freemans on Gospel Music Today

Darrell and Misty Freeman are the guests on the current edition of Gospel Music Today. The Feature Group is Steel Bridge, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. Gospel Music Today visits the Texas Gospel Music Hall, in Athens, TX, to hear The Kingsmen Quartet sing. Jean reviews a new CD by The Gospel Messengers, and the show features singing by The Freemans and Carla Bragg, and David Bruce Murray takes a look at Southern Gospel History with The Florida Boys. The latest edition of Gospel Music Today is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.

Perrys Special Guests on Gospel Music Today

The members of The Perrys are the guests on the current edition of Gospel Music Today. The Feature Group is Endless Praise, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. Gospel Music Today visits the Southern Gospel Worship Gathering, in Broken Arrow, OK, to hear Mark Robertson sing. Jean reviews a new CD by The Daae Family, and the show features singing by Paul’s Journey and a vintage video by The Florida Boys. The latest edition of Gospel Music Today is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.

The Isaacs Special Guests on Gospel Music Today!

The members of The Isaacs are the guests on the current edition of Gospel Music Today. The Feature Group is The Faith Harmony Boys, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern news and concert updates. Ken and Jean visit The Owasso Gospel Opry, in Owasso, OK, to hear Chosen Quartet sing. Jean reviews a new CD by Omega, and the show features singing by Tribute Quartet and a vintage video by The Florida Boys. The latest edition of Gospel Music Today is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.

Forgiven Quartet Special Guests on Gospel Music Today

The members of Forgiven Quartet are the guests on the current edition of Gospel Music Today. The Feature Group is The Tradesmen, and Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. Ken and Jean visit the Owasso Gospel Opry, in Owasso, OK, to hear The Florida Boys sing. Jean reviews a new CD by Josh Oldaker, David Bruce Murray tales a look at the history of The Cathedral Quartet, and the show features singing by The Crabb Revival and a vintage video by Gold City Quartet. The latest edition of Gospel Music Today is online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com.