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. 

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