Wanted: gospel quartet

Subject: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: Venthony
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 12:46 AM

I'm new to this forum, and I love it. The topics are encyclopedic, and the discussion and give-and-take is exciting and challenging. God bless you all.

Anyway ...

I live in St. Louis, and I'm a fair-to-good Travis guitar player.

My dream is to lead a straight-ahead, four-square gospel quartet. None of this smarmy, overproduced "Southern gospel" junk, but just a clean, simple quartet like the Blackwoods were back in the 50s. I believe the audience --and the promise of a great witness -- is there.

I would rather not sing myself -- though I can cover second tenor or baritone if need be. Mostly I just want to book the dates and play guitar or keyboards behind guys who can sing their hearts out and bring a genuine Christian witness to a wide variety of audiences.

If you live in my area, love the Lord, and love to sing harmony, please give me a yell back at [e-mail].

Every good wish and prayer, Tony

Subject: RE: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: Abuwood
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:49 AM

Pity you live so far away or I'd be there with you! Gospel goes down well over here too.

Subject: RE: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 08:05 AM

Hi, Venthony: There have to be folks out your way who want to sing straight ahead gospel quartet music. The best place to look is in area churches, I'd think. Tyhe big problem is trying to find people who like to sing and play without being dependent upon sheet music. I looked endlessly to find someone to sing bass on a gospel album I did many years ago, and the bass singers in the church I was going to at the time insisted they couldn't sing unless they had sheet music. That seems bizarre to most folk singers... just as I've met many people who say that they've been playing piano all their life and when I ask them to play something for me they say they can't, because they don't have any sheet music.

I started a black gospel quartet five years ago and found it was much easier than I thought because people in the church find it more natural (it seems) to sing in a choir without sheet music. I sing in a 40 man Men's Chorus and we sing 95% of the songs we do without sheet music. Are there any barber shop quartet orqanizations in St. Louis? There's enough overlap in style with the older southern gospel that you might find people there who'd be interested.

My quartet sang at Dave Para and Cathy Barton's Big Muddy Festival in Boonville, Missouri a year and a half ago. Went right through St. Louis. Too bad we didn't know you were there. We would have thrown you in the car and taken you with us. You might try Dave and Cathy and see if they know anyone anywhere near you. If you want to call them, P.M. me, and I'll give you their phone number. Singing in a gospel quartet (if you truly believe what you're singing) is an indescribably joyful experience. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: SussexCarole
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:31 PM

What a wonderful idea - I'd be there like a shot from a rocket if it wasn't for the miles

Subject: RE: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: GUEST,Uncle Jaque in Maine
Date: 24 Aug 02 - 01:38 AM

I've been dreaming of getting a Gospel group together up this way for decades - or at least an old-fashioned "Glee Club" such as were popular in the mid to late 19th Century.
Most of the music from the late 1700's through the early 20th Century seems to have been written in four-part harmony, and singing was a much more popular and common pastime back before the age of radios and recording media.
It's my understanding that in the 1880's, someone got the bright idea of moving the melody or "lead" line down to Baritone instead of tenor, and thus was born the "Barbershop" genre'. It would not be a great stretch, I suppose, for someone familiar with Barbershopping to "retro-arrange" a piece back to the way it would have been sung prior to that innovation, and reflect with greater authenticity many of the gospel greats from the early Victorian age. Of course the later Fannie Crosby pieces & contemorary Gospel greats such as Bill Gaither could be effectivbely arranged and performed in a great number of ways.
I would love to see a Barbershop group specialize in Gospel / Spiritual / Praise & Worship music, and would be rather surprised if there is not one already out there somewhere.

May Blessings abundantly attend your quest, Bro. Tony!

Subject: RE: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: Banjer
Date: 24 Aug 02 - 11:38 AM

I can't sing but would certainly be part of an avid audience! It always amazes me, hearing a quartet (Barbershop or gospel) singing acapella, and realizing about halfway through the piece that there are NO instruments being played. All that wonderful sound is coming from the blend of the voices!!! Good luck in your endeavor.

Subject: RE: Wanted: gospel quartet
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Aug 02 - 12:57 PM

You're right, Banjer: Just listen to the Fairfield Four (their recordings in the 90's, especially, when they were a capella.) I back my quartet on electric guitar on most of the songs we do, but I'll often just stop playing the guitar so I can enjoy the blend of our voices. And,we sing several songs a capella, too. Nothing like the sound of four voices in harmony.

Jerry