Dr. Jerry Goff Attends Madison Heights Baptist Church

Sunday, September 1, 2013, was an extra special day at Madison Heights Baptist Church, as Dr. Jerry Goff dropped in unannounced to worship with our congregation.  Needless to say, I asked him to share a song with us, and he graciously agreed to share with us.  At the age of 78, his zeal, nor his ability to sing a song have diminished in the least.  Every Sunday, we expect the Holy Spirit to be in the service with us, but what a delight when Brother Goff showed up!  As everybody knows, Jerry is always obedient to the Holy Spirit when he is ministering to an audience, so when he partnered with the Holy Spirit at our church, you can guess what happened.  Yep!  The power of God came down, and many folks touched the hem of His garment as Jesus passed by.  As a true "legend" in the field of Gospel Music, it is difficult not to been in awe when Jerry is present.  His persona is larger than life, but his character reflects that of Christ's.  As most know, Dr. Goff is as adept at preaching as he is singing and songwriting.  I only have one regret, and that is that I did not ask him to share God's word with us, but perhaps on another occasion God will allow that to happen.  Honestly, Brother Goff's physical appearance is as youthful and robust as ever, and his vocal strength has never waned.  I had never met Jerry until the 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion, although I have been a fan of his for years.  I was taken by Jerry & the Goffs after they recorded the song "Please Search the Book Again".  I heard them sing that profound song at a concert at the Paramount Theater in Ashland, Kentucky in 1975.  Jerry's influence in Southern Gospel  continues, and will be remembered long after he is gone, not only through the songs he has written, the music he's published and recorded, the TV shows he's produced and hosted, but mostly by the life he has lived for the Lord, and the souls he has won to Christ.  Now, that my friends, constitutes a "Legend"!

    

The Therapeutic Value of Gospel Music

Everybody, from time to time, goes through one of those days when you just "kinda have the blues". You know those times you just feel like you aren't quite the success you had hoped for, or when you feel like the world is against you, or you can't seem to make anybody happy.  One of the quickest "pick-me-ups" is listening to a peppy gospel tune.  I don't know about you, but I cannot stay depressed when I listen to one of those old Kingsmen recordings with Jim Hamill singing lead on "I'd Rather Be An Old-time Christian", or "Excuses", and I really get happy when I an old recording of the Statesmen singing "Get Away Jordan".  Without a doubt there has never been anything that can touch the soul like a good ole gospel song, and nothing can chase the blues away any faster.  It has to be a pretty dead church that will not respond to "foot-tapping" gospel music.  There have been untold multitudes of souls who have come to Christ while listening to an anointed gospel singer.  I truly believe God has been the inspiration behind the music that untold millions have come to love, and unlike many, I believe Gospel Music is here to stay. 

This weekend, my wife Judy and I went to Lexington, Kentucky to join our life-long friends Dinsmore and Joann Nisbet, John Paul and Kay Barker, Henry and Jane Horton Wilhoit, Carl and Bobbi Jo Taylor, and Ted and Barbara Faulconer in a reunion that has been taking place every year since 1971.  In the beginning when this group would get together, we would start singing gospel music early in the evening, and we would sing through the night and never repeat a song.  Very often, we would be standing in a circle, arms around each other's necks, singing way after the sun had come up.  Of course now we don't sing through the night because of our old age, but our time together is none-the-less therapeutic for the few hours spent singing about the Savior we all know so well.  Judy and I, in our mid-sixties, are the youngest of the group who are in their late-seventies to early-eighties.  It's amazing how many songs you can sing from memory in four or five hours.  The group has decided that we're going to cram as many reunions into what little time we have left on this earth, so we're going to get together every quarter from now 'til the Lord calls us all home.  We're going to sing 'til the last man is standing (or sitting)!  This gang started when we were all very young, and we found out then that gospel music created an unbreakable bond between us.  We all consider each other as "best friends".  These friends have been the greatest blessing in our lives, and when God has called us all home, we're going to gather on the front porch of Dinsmore's log cabin and sing "While the Ages Roll On".  Well this weekend was therapeutic for Judy and me, and I know for days we'll be hearing from the gang reiterating what a great time we all had together.

I guess in all my ramblings I would like to convince somebody to listen to some good ole gospel music.  It'll be therapeutic for you! 

What Makes A Legend?

When considering the artists who are to be invited to the annual Gospel Legend's Reunion, I take into account what kind of witness for Christ the individual artist has displayed, how long the artist has continued in the field of Gospel Music, even if not always on a full-time basis, what kind of reputation the artist has among his peers, what the artist has contributed to Gospel Music, whether the artist is admired and loved by the public, and of course, can I afford to the artist.  I have invited a few artists with some trepidation, wondering whether they would be difficult to work with, only to find that they were very humble and quite cooperative.  Actually, every artist that we have ever had at the Gospel Legend's Reunion, has been absolutely great to work with, and they have been willing to do everything in their power to make each event a total success.  What blessings they each have been to me, and there are great friendships that are being cast every year through this great reunion. 

Next year, the Gospel Legend's Reunion will take place on August 1 & 2, at the Goodlettsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 226 South Main Street, Goodlettsville, TN., and will offer opportunities to be up close and personal with these great artists.  On Saturday, August 2, we will be having a "Front Porch Reunion & Bar-B-Que" in the gymnasium where the "Legends" will gather on a large stage set up like an old fashion front porch, will sing some songs "off the cuff", tell some "road" stories, answer some questions, and will share some "good ole down-home eats".  Each evening you'll be entertained by a band under the direction of Nick Bruno, and will hear each of your favorite "Legends" perform your favorite songs.  We hope to have some "Lady Legends" in the mix next year as well.  Actually, some invitations have already gone out to some ladies. 

We've been asked by Channel 57, LIVE-TV, Atlanta to air the 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion video, that is still in the process of being edited, and we hope to have videos available for purchase soon as well.

Believe me, all 24 guys that were part of the 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion are Legends!

Blessings!
Tim Stutler

Judy and I had the privilege of spending the evening with Nick Bruno and his wife Cece last night at Maggianos in Nashville.  To say that Nick likes Italian food would be an understatement, but I was able to keep a close second behind him as we both devoured a huge plate of Eggplant Parmigiana.  There is one thing that Nick does a whole lot better than devouring an Italian dinner, and that goes without saying, he's one of the finest piano players to ever come along in Gospel music.  Actually, he's one of the finest piano players, period, as well as writer, arranger, producer, but even more than that, Nick is a real fine man of God.  He and Cece take their walk with God very seriously and their lives reflect it.  Nick has agreed to take charge of the music for the 2014 Gospel Legend's Reunion, so we will see a huge improvement over the job that I've been doing myself.  Bringing his talent and many years of experience to the GLR team means that the band will be better than ever, the selections will be just what folks want to hear, and will mean I don't have to work quite as hard!  Nick was such a great asset to our 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion with his ability to take off on anything I tossed at him without notice.  The joy he brings with him because of his love for the genre in absolutley contagious.  I probably sound like I'm thrilled to get to work with Nick, because I am!  We talked about some other great "Legends" who will be invited for next year, but I'll save sharing that until we know for sure they're onboard, but I can assure you, if they accept, it will be great!

One of the things we're working on for next year is a "Front Porch Reunion & Bar-B-Que" with all the Legends gathered on a huge front porch where they can share stories, songs, and answer questions from the audience who will have the opportunity to buy a ticket to come to the Reunion and share a meal with the Legends, and to get up close and personal.  At our "Front Porch Jam Session" this year, everybody had such a good time sharing stories and reminiscing, that I believe they could have stayed there for hours.  The only thing missing was the fine fixin's!

Well, that seems to be enough for now, 'cause I have a hankerin' for some good ole pork bar-b-que for some reason!  Oh, don't forget, tomorrow's Sunday,so get up early and go to church, and maybe you can go to Bar-B-Cutie after church!  Oh Yeh! 

2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion Great Success

On August 2 & 3 folks came from all over the country to the 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion held at the Goodlettsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, just north of Nashville, Tennessee to hear and see some of Gospel Music's best known and beloved Gospel artists from over the past six decades, the oldest of which was Armond Morales who started singing bass with the Weatherfords in 1948 at the age of sixteen.  After spending fourteen years with the Weatherfords, Armond was asked to join Jake Hess in making up the new group known as Jake Hess & The Imperials.  I guess you could say the rest is history, as Armond later went on to own and manage the group that would simply be known as the Imperials.  Armond, along with Jim Murray, Dave Will, and Russ Taff went on to make the Imperials a household name, and ushered in a "new kind of gospel music" that would become known as "contemporary gospel".  Even though there were some personnel changes in the group over the years, there were not as many as most "Southern Gospel" groups  would have.  The popularity of the Imperials remained primarily with younger listeners which propelled the group into the "mainstream" of "Pop Music", allowing doors to open to them that would not have otherwise opened.  The group was seen on numerous "Prime-time" TV shows, received more awards than any other gospel group, and allowed them to tour over twenty countries singing about Jesus.  Saturday night, August 3, at the 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion, three of the "old gang", Armond, Jim Murray, and Dave Will were together in a reunion concert, joined by Jeff Walker, who was recruited to fill in on lead.  These guys had not lost a thing after all these years, but blended their voices together as they revisited their top hits from the past.  The folks that crowded that church were enthralled, and it was apparent that they would have stayed all night listening to the unforgettable sound of the Imperials.

While the Imperials were the feature group for Saturday night, the actual 2013 Gospel Legend's Reunion started on Friday, August 2 with a reunion of the Singing Americans with Dwayne Burke, Ed Hill, Scott Whitener, and Danny Funderburk, joined by Nick Bruno on piano.  These guys sang together back in the eighties and were known as one of the top "Southern Gospel" groups in the country.  After forty-five minutes of hand-clapping, foot-stomping gospel music, the guys gave a rousing patriotic tribute by singing the "Statue of Liberty", bringing the crowd to there feet.  Immediately after the Singing Americans, the very recognizable faces of some of the best known members of J. D. Sumner & The Stamps took the stage with Donnie Sumner, Ed Hill, Bill Baize, and filling in on bass, the very well known Gene McDonald.  Did they ever take us back in time when they sang "The Old Country Church"!  Having these guys that were back-up singers for Elvis Presley on stage meant that we just had to "do a little Elvis", so with the help of Steve Warren, Elvis impersonator, we did the well known introduction to Elvis' shows, "CiCi Rider", with  a full band that sounded just like Vegas!  Of course, an Elvis tribute would not be complete without "American Trilogy" and "How Great Thou Art".  After a short intermission, there was a reunion of Jerry & The Singing Goffs, with Jerry Goff, Bill Dykes, and Tank Tackett.  At 78 years old, Jerry Goff still brought the house down singing "I'll See You In the Rapture".  Did that ever take us back!  Later the remaining "Legends" were introduced including: Roy Tremble, Chico Nix, Carl Sanders, George Forbis, Ken Klaudt, and Butch Sanders.

On August 4, 1973, The Prophets Quartet, a group started by Ed Hill in 1959, presented their last concert before breaking up for good.  In addition to Ed Hill was Carl Sanders, Chico Nix, and Butch Sanders, and their young drummer was Gary Scott.  After almost forty years to the day, The Prophets were together again on the stage of the 2013 Gospel Legedn's Reunion with the very same guys, with Nick Bruno on piano who had played for them from time to time back in the day.  What a reunion it was!  The guys sounded great, but the emotions ran high as they broke into song for the first time in all those years.

Each night was kicked off with a pre-show that was as good as most "Main Events", and featured a young group called Steve Hess & Southern Salvation who received a standing ovation when they sang "If You Knew Him". Also a part of the pre-show was Keith Wilbanks and the Gospel Legends Band, and The Singing Stutlers.

Plans are already underway for the 2014 Gospel Legend's Reunion, and you will be amazed by some of the "Legends" who will be there.  The location will remain the same, the Goodlettsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 226 South Main Street, Goodlettsville, TN.  This event was developed and is promoted by Tim Stutler, his wife Judy, and they are joined by their sons Tim II, and Matthew.  The Tims go by first & second Timothy.  First Timothy pastors the Madison Heights Baptist Church, at 815 E. Old Hickory Blvd., Madison, TN. where the Gospel Legend's Reunion began, and Second Timothy pastors the Goodlettsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church where the event is presently held.  From the overwhelming response to the event, the search is on for a larger venue to accomodate the crowd for the 2015 Gospel Legend's Reunion. 

To follow all that is happening with us, follow us on FB or our website, www.gospellegendsreunion.com