Ten On Ten – Perry Sisters

With change in the air, the ten on ten feature will now become a periodic feature instead of weekly.  In this last weekly edition of the ten on ten feature, I will highlight the recording career of the Perry Sisters.

Outside of the Johnson Sisters in the 1960′s, the Perry Sisters were the first all female group to find success in Southern Gospel music.  Their rise began in the mid 1980′s and by the end of the decade the Perry Sisters would get that mega-song to define their career; “There’ll Be A Payday”.

The ten best albums by the Perry Sisters are as follows:

1. Heavenly Rain, Showers Of Blessing (1991)
2. Still Water (1995)
3. We Shall Stand Live (1987)
4. Garden Of Dreams (1992)
5. Do It Right (1989)
6. His Name Be Praised (1988)
7. A Family Portrait (1994)
8. Celebration (1990)
9. Expressions Of Truth (1985)
10. Eyes Of The Heart (1997)

• With just over 20 albums in their discography, the pinnacle of the Perry Sisters recording career is the 1991 live album Heavenly Rain, Showers Of Blessing.  This album captured the Perry Sisters at the height of their popularity.
• The album contained one of the top five songs at radio for the entire year 1991 in “I Don’t Want No Rocks”.  To this day, this song has one of the most unusual harmonica introductions of any song recorded in Southern Gospel music.  The listener is also treated to “Borrowed Tomb”, “If It Had Not Been”, “Shout And Shine”, “Since I Learned How To Pray” and “There Is Hope”.
• The best studio recording in the Perry Sisters discography is the 1995 album Still Water.  This album probably has the best song selection than any other the group recorded.  Highlights include “Climbing Up The Mountain”, “In The Valley”, “I’ve Got Victory In My Soul”, “Let The Fire Fall”, “There Ain’t Nobody”, “You Are The Potter” and “You’ll Hold My Hand”.
• The Perry Sisters had a second live album in their arsenal.  The 1987 recording We Shall Stand Live ranks 3rd among the group’s ten best.  Two of the group’s early hit songs, “I Wonder How Mary Felt” and “We Shall Stand”, are both found on this recording.  This is one of the hardest recordings to find in all of Southern Gospel music.
• Diana Gillette is the only original member of the Perry Sisters to remain with the group for its entirety.  The other two original members were sisters Bonnie Belcher and Carolyn Edwards.
• The best recording with the original line-up is the 1985 album Expressions Of Truth.  Diana Gillette was also the resident songwriter of the Perry Sisters, penning most of the group’s biggest hits.
• By the late 1980′s, Diana’s daughter Angela Gillette and Bonnie’s daughter Tammy (Belcher) Underwood would both join the group singing and playing instruments.  Bob Gillette (Diana’s husband) played drums while Jeff Hogsten rounded out the band playing many different instruments.
• If I was compiling a list of Southern Gospel’s most underrated artists, the Perry Sisters would be near the top.  This talented all female group never seemed to get the recognition afforded all the male quartets/groups in the genre.
• In addition to the songs already mentioned, the Perry Sisters introduced the following songs to the Southern Gospel listener:  ”Bought By The Blood Of The Lamb”, “He’ll Deliver Me”, “Imagine If You Will”, “In The Ark Of Safety”, “Let His Name Be Praised”, “More Like You”, “Resurrection Morn”, “They Can’t Start The Celebration”, “You Took This Life”, “When You’re Looking At Me” and “Where Was God”.
• The Perry Sisters, composed of Diana Gillette, Tammy Underwood and Nicole Matthews, are still doing select dates in 2013.

Ten On Ten – Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet

Another week, another ten on ten feature.  This week takes a look at the recording career of the Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet.  Of the twelve recordings in the group’s discography, eight of those were recorded as a trio and four recorded as a quartet.

One would be hard pressed to find another Southern Gospel artist with the resume of Mark Trammell.  That resume includes time spent with the Kingsmen, Cathedrals, Greater Vision and Gold City.  Now, Mark has been at the helm of his own group since 2002.

The Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet’s ten best albums are as follows:

1. Always Have A Song (2008)
2. Once Upon A Cross (2007)
3. Love To Tell The Story (2002)
4. This Time (2005)
5. Lifetime (2012)
6. Testimony (2010)
7. Beside Still Waters (2004)
8. Something Good (2003)
9. Journey Thus Far (2006)
10. Treasures (2011)

• With just twelve albums in the group’s discography thus far, it wasn’t difficult to come up with a list of ten.  In fact, determining the pinnacle of the Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet’s discography wasn’t difficult either.
• The top album in the group’s discography is the 2008 trio recording Always Have A Song.  Not only does this album contain the group’s best song to date, “Loving The Lamb”, but also has one of the strongest song selections of any album by the group.
• In addition to “Loving The Lamb”, Always Have A Song gives the listener “At The Whisper Of His Name”, “Called In, Called Up, Called Out”, “I Know That I Know”, “If Only Just A Few” and “Safe On The Glory Side”.
• Ranked #2 among the group’s ten best is the 2007 trio recording Once Upon A Cross.  This was the first album to contain a really huge song for the Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet.  The title track became a song of the year nominee and the album also received an album nomination.
• The Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet is one of those few groups who released a stellar debut album.  Such is the album, Love To Tell The Story, which ranks #3 among the group’s ten best.  ”I Have A Heavenly Father”, “The Lamb Upon The Throne”, “Long For Beulah Land”, “The Lord Is Good”, “My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me” and “Roll Back River Jordan” all highlight this album.
• Of the four quartet recordings, three of those landed in the top ten.  The highest ranked quartet recording is the 2012 album Lifetime, ranked #5 overall.  Big orchestrated, Lari Goss, arrangements dominate Lifetime.
• The Mark Trammell Quartet currently has one #1 song to their credit.  Their cover of the quartet classic “I Know” topped the charts in 2011.  The album, Testimony, which contains “I Know’ ranks #6 among the group’s ten best.
• Pat Barker, Steve Hurst, Eric Phillips, Joseph Smith, Dustin Sweatman, Nick Trammell and Joel Wood have all been members of the group thus far.
• The group has recorded four custom album’s in their career thus far.  The highest ranked of those is the 2006 album, Journey Thus Far (ranked #9).  The group gives the listener great covers of “Had It Not Been”, “Just A Little Closer Home”, “Master Builder”, “Thank God I Am Free” and “Won’t It Be Wonderful There”.
• The Mark Trammell Quartet is just getting their recording career started.  They have many years ahead of them to change this current top ten list.

***UP NEXT ON TEN ON TEN:  PERRY SISTERS***

Ten On Ten – Spencers

The ten on ten feature this week highlights the recording career of the Spencers.  A recording career that began in 1972, the Spencers would rise to prominence in Southern Gospel music in the early 1980′s after signing with MorningStar Records.

This family group’s style was all acoustical; a mix of bluegrass, country and mountain gospel.  Patriarch and matriarch, JB and Barbara, are still recording and doing selected concert dates as the Spencers in 2013.  The Spencers have just over 30 recordings in their discography.

The Spencers ten best albums are as follows:

1. It’ll Be Worth It After All (1990)
2. Coming Soon (1989)
3. Live In Tortola, British Virgin Islands (1991)
4. Praying (1985)
5. Live! (1986)
6. Up Calvary’s Hill (1993)
7. When I Crossed That River (1982)
8. God’s On Our Side (1983)
9. I’d Like To Home Again (1987)
10. Where Are The Children (1994)

• The Spencers prime years in Southern Gospel music fell between the years 1985 and 1994.  Eight of the group’s top ten albums were all released between this ten-year period.
• The pinnacle in the Spencer’s discography is the 1990 album, It’ll Be Worth It After All.  The group garnered two #1 hits from this recording, the title track and “Let’s Meet By The River”.  I consider “It’ll Be Worth It After All” the best song ever recorded by the Spencers.
• #2 among the group’s ten best recordings is the 1989 album, Coming Soon.  The song, “Coming Soon”, became the landmark song for the Spencers becoming their first #1 hit in 1989.  The song spent four months at #1 that year and went on to be nominated song of the year.
• The album also gave the listener great songs such as “God Took Nothing And Made Something Out Of Me”, “He’s Coming Back”, “I’m Longing For Home”, “Shepherd Of My Valley” and “Walking Through The Ages Of Time”.
• The success of the song “Coming Soon” allowed the Spencers to travel to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to record a live album.  The 1991 live album recording in Tortola ranks #3 among the group’s ten best.  To hear the crowd sing the words to “Coming Soon” is pure gold.  This album is filled with great songs that include “He Was Taken Up”, “Heaven On The Horizon”, “It Takes A Miracle”, “Let’s Get Ready”, “Let’s Pray Down A Burden” and “Looking At Calvary”.
• The Spencers first Live! album was released in 1986 and ranks #5 among the group’s best.  Recorded in their hometown of Mansfield Ohio, this album featured a live version of a Spencer original, “In My Robe Of White”.  This song, that became a Gold City standard, was written by Spencers member Geneice Spencer Ingold.  The Spencers originally recorded “In My Robe Of White” on their 1982 album, When I Crossed That River.
• Speaking of When I Crossed That River, this 1982 album was the oldest in the group’s discography to find a home in the top ten (ranked #7).  Not only did the album have the original version of “In My Robe Of White”, but also contained “Grave Could Not Hold Him”, “I’ll Never Die”, “It’s So Peaceful”, “The Model Church” and “When I Crossed That River”.
• The Spencers were able to find their greatest success apart from a major record label.  The group started their own label (Peaceful Stream Records) and released their first album on Peaceful Stream in 1987.  Six of the group’s ten best albums were released on Peaceful Stream.
• In addition to the songs already listed, the Spencers introduced the Southern Gospel listener to the following songs:  ”Chances Are”, “Endless Supply”, “Go Get My Children”, “God’s On Our Side”, “He Promised”, “Heaven On My Mind”, “I’d Like To Go Home Again”, “Praying”, “Sounds Of That City”, “Then We’ll Be Glad”, “We Shall Meet” and “Where Are The Children”.
• I don’t know if they were innovators but MorningStar records were releasing concept videos in the mid 1980′s from certain artists.  My earliest recollection of the Spencers was the video for their song, “Praying”.  I found a YouTube clip of that video.  Enjoy!

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  MARK TRAMMELL TRIO/QUARTET***

Ten On Ten – Perfect Heart

The ten on ten feature this week is the result of another request.  In this Valentine’s week 2013, why not feature Perfect Heart in the ten on ten feature this week.

Perfect Heart formed in 1990 among a bit of controversy regarding their formation.  They were immediately labeled the ‘million dollar quartet’ before they even had a chance to prove themselves.  Danny Funderburk exited the Cathedrals to become a founding member of the group and sing tenor.

The initial quartet also had Dale Shipley of Songmasters fame singing lead, Mark Lanier of the Bibletones singing baritone and Mike Presnell singing bass.  Jeff Stice (piano) and Aubrey Stephens (bass guitar) made up the band.

The ten best albums by Perfect Heart are as follows:

1. It Comes From The Heart (1990)
2. I Hold A Clear Title (1993)
3. Looking For The Wounded (1991)
4. Live! (1991)
5. On Time God (1995)
6. Turning Point (1996)
7. Live At The Forum (1994)
8. Command Performance (1993)
9. Keeping The Faith (1998)
10. The Best Of (2009)

• Perfect Heart’s four best recordings were all recorded by the original vocal line-up.  The group only had 13 albums in their entire discography.  Their recording career started in 1990 and ran until 1998 (11 albums).  Mike Presnell would re-form the group in 2008 and record two additional recordings before hanging it up again in 2011.
• For Perfect Heart everything great came at the start of their career.  Their first single (“Somebody Touched The Lord”) went #1 and won song of the year in 1991.  The group also won horizon group that year.
• Speaking of firsts, Perfect Heart’s debut 1990 album, It Comes From The Heart is the best album in the group’s entire discography.  Anchored by the #1 smash “Somebody Touched The Lord”, the album also contained “He Will Come Back”, “He’s Coming”, “I”m Getting Ready To Get Carried Away”, “I’ve Got Jesus”, “They That Sow” and “Till I Can Feel You Hold My Hand”.
• Serious Southern Gospel collectors need to have It Comes From The Heart in your collections, if you’re looking for that one Perfect Heart album to own.
• The 1993 album, I Hold A Clear Title, ranks #2 among the group’s ten best.  This album saw Mark Lanier turn in one of the best vocal performances of the classic song, “I Hold A Clear Title”.  The album also contained “Angels Unaware”, “Jesus Still Saves”, “Living Water”, “We Have Won” and “Where’s The Broken”.
• The best album that didn’t come from the original vocal line-up was the 1996 recording On Time God.  Ranked #5 among the group’s ten best, On Time God featured the vocal line up of Gary Sheppard (of Kingsmen fame) singing tenor with Shipley (lead), Lanier (baritone) and Presnell (bass) still holding down their vocal spots.
• This album contains one of my all time favorite Perfect Heart songs, “There’s A King On The Way”.  The listener is also treated to “God’s Been There Before”, “Mercy Sent Grace”, “On Time God”, “The Rose Arose”, “The Well” and “What A Wonderful Day”.
• Mike Presnell re-formed the group in 2008 and recorded two additional recordings.  One of those, the 2009 album The Best Of, was strong enough to land at #10 among the group’s ten best.  Mike was still in rare form singing bass and that was most evident on the group’s cover of “Glory Waves”.
• While the group didn’t really record a bad album, the 1993 recording Request Time could be forgotten.  It was the standard, run of the mill, collection of previously recorded songs.
• Perfect Heart’s legacy has already been cemented in Southern Gospel music; more for the group’s organization and original vocal line-up than anything else.  I would label Perfect Heart, ‘a dynamite group’; they blew in, blew up then blew out.

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  SPENCERS***

Ten On Ten – Ruppes

The ten on ten feature continues this week, highlighting the recording career of the Ruppes.  Sisters is one of the best vocal groups touring the Southern Gospel circuit in 2013.  All three members of Sisters (all siblings) got their start singing with mother Brenda Ruppe as part of the female trio, the Ruppes.

The trio recorded their first album in 1975 and ended up with 15 albums by the time they recorded their final album as the Ruppes in 2005.

The Ruppes ten best albums are as follows:

1. Through The Fire (1995)
2. Seasons (1997)
3. Born To Serve (2001)
4. Sweet Forever (2005)
5. Harbor Of Hope (1999)
6. Something In The Air (2004)
7. Until He Comes (1992)
8. Free (2002)
9. Up There Somewhere (1993)
10. Put That On My Account (1986)

• The pinnacle in the Ruppes discography is their 1995 album, Through The Fire.  This was the album that launched the Ruppes career and made them a household name in Southern Gospel music.  Their break through mega-song, “Under His Wings” is found on Through The Fire.
• “Under His Wings” went on to be nominated song of the year at the Singing News fan awards in 1997 and their performance of the song on the awards show was one of the best NQC performances of the last 20 years.  The album also contained “Cross By The Cross”, “The Father’s Compassion”, “Follow The Leader”, “He’s Not Here” and “We’re Gonna Rise”.
• The Ruppes 1997 album, Seasons ranks #2 among the group’s ten best.  This album contained the group’s first #1 song, “Angels In The Room”.  The Ruppes became the first all female group to garner a #1 song on the Singing News chart.
• The album also gave the listener “Bless The Lord”, “Come Sweet Anointing”, “Light From Heaven”, “Redemption Complete”, “We Shall Behold Him” and “When Jesus Speaks Peace”.
• The Ruppes spent their biggest years in Southern Gospel music with SpringHill Records.  Six of the group’s ten best were recorded with SpringHill.
• If you can find a copy, the real gem in the Ruppes discography is their 1992 album, Until He Comes.  This recording was my first introduction to the Ruppes, anchored by the song “Thorns Crowned The Rose”.  This song still remains one of my favorite Ruppe songs.
• The oldest Ruppe album to make the list of ten is the 1986 recording, Put That On My Account.  The album contains some great covers of “He’s On The Throne”, “Overcomer”, “Then I Met The Master”, “This One Thing I Know” and “Welcome To Heaven”.
• In addition to the songs already listed, the Ruppes introduced the Southern Gospel listener to the following hits:  ”By The Way Of The Cross”, “Do You Love Me”, “The Healer”, “Hope Is Alive”, “Jesus You Are Him”, “Lord It Hurts”, “Made By Mercy”, “My Wants Been Changed”, “Singing In The Rain”, “Some Things Never Change”, “Up There Somewhere” and “The Victory’s In The Shout”.
• The Ruppes are one of only a handful of all female groups to have success in Southern Gospel music.  They join groups such as Heirloom, Johnson Sisters, McRaes, Perry Sisters, Red Roots and Sisters.
• It is nice to see the Ruppe legacy continue with Heather, Kim and Valerie (Sisters).

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  PERFECT HEART***

Ten On Ten – Cumberland Boys/Quartet

As long as requests keep rolling in, I will continue new ten on ten features.  This week I will highlight the recording career of the Cumberland Boys/Quartet.  The Cumberland Boys started as the Opryland Gospel Quartet and released their first album as the Opryland Gospel Quartet in 1981.

The group changed their name circa 1982 to the Cumberland Boys and remained the resident singing group at Opryland USA in Nashville TN until the park’s closing in the 1990′s.  In 2000, the group made one more name change to the Cumberland Quartet.

The ten best albums by the Cumberland Boys/Quartet are as follows:

1. New Ship Sailing (2000)
2. Worth Every Mile (2002)
3. New Horizons (1993)
4. A Matter Of The Heart (1989)
5. Presenting Opryland’s Gospel Quartet (1982)
6. The Opryland Gospel Quartet In Concert (1981)
7. Nothing But Love (1995)
8. I Owe It All To Jesus (1984)
9. Opryland’s Gospel Quartet (1983)
10. Canada Live (1997)

• The pinnacle in the Cumberland Boys/Quartet discography came when the group changed their name to the Cumberland Quartet.  The 2000 album, New Ship Sailing, ranks #1 among the group’s best albums.
• This album is one of the best albums released in Southern Gospel music in the year 2000.  This is another album that every Southern Gospel collector should own.  Highlights include “Because He Stayed”, “Go Tell The People”, “The Gospel”, “I Wanna Feel Like I Felt”, “New Ship Sailing” and “Waiting On The Water”.
• The Cumberland Quartet configuration also has the #2 album in the group’s discography; the 2002 recording Worth Every Mile.  This album gave the Southern Gospel audience their first listen to bass singer Ian Owens (who would go on to the Imperials, Signature Sound Qt and Soul’d Out Qt).
• “For Your Love Alone”, “I Am Because He Is”, “It’ll Be Worth Every Mile Of The Trip”, “Labor Of Love”, “Mine For The Asking”, “My Treasure, My Crown” and “Stranger Things Have Happened” all exemplify the best of Worth Every Mile.
• The remaining eight albums in the top ten were all released as the Cumberland Boys.  The top Cumberland Boys recording is the 1993 album New Horizons (ranked 3rd).  It is no surprise during this time period, the group carried a country sound with their Southern Gospel considering they were the resident group at Opryland USA.
• The group’s first four albums all made the top ten.  All four albums were released by Opryland USA and were released between the years 1981 and 1984.
• The highest ranked of those (at #5) is the 1982 album, Presenting Opryland’s Gospel Quartet.  Tenor Depp Britt and bass singer Steve Goforth were original members of the group.  Depp Britt would be the only member to remain with the group for the entirety of the group’s career.
• The most noted vocal line-up of the group’s career was that of Britt (tenor), brother Bill Britt (lead), Jim Worthing (baritone) and Steve Goforth (bass).  This vocal line-up remained together for ten years between the years of 1988 and 1997.
• To my knowledge, the Cumberland Boys/Quartet are the only Southern Gospel artist to record an entire live album in Canada.  The 1997, Canada Live, album ranks #10 among the group’s ten best.
• In addition to the songs already mentioned, the Cumberland Boys/Quartet introduced the following songs to the Southern Gospel listening audience:  ”A Matter Of The Heart”, “I Call Him Friend”, “I Cast My Bread Upon The Water”, “I’ll Keep On Leaning”, “I’m Gonna Walk Right Through It”, “That’s Pretty Amazing” and “Today I Might Be Going Home”.

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  RUPPES***

Ten On Ten – LeFevres

This week finds another ten on ten feature highlighting the recording career of the LeFevres.  A group that began as a trio dating back to 1921, legend Eva Mae would join the group after marrying Urias LeFevre in 1934.

The group started their own record label (Sing Records) in Atlanta Georgia in the early 1960′s that recorded many of the most popular groups of that era.  The group would continue as the LeFevres until Eva Mae decided to retire in 1976 handing the reigns over to bass singer Rex Nelon.  As a continuation, the Rex Nelon Singers were born.

The LeFevers ten best albums are as follows:

1. Experience (1975)
2. The New Sounds (1972)
3. Stepping On The Clouds (1974)
4. Sing (1963)
5. A Man Who Is Wise (1967)
6. A Visit With (1966)
7. Lord, It’s Me Again (1964)
8. The Best Is Yet To Come (1969)
9. Without Him (1964)
10. Singing Til He Comes (1977)

• The LeFevres best recordings are evenly split among their Canaan Record years and their Sing Record years (5 each in the top 10).  The pinnacle in the group’s discography is the 1975 album, Experience.
• One of the best vocal line-ups of the group’s career is found on Experience.  Ronnie Hutchins (of Inspirations fame) sang lead, Janet Paschal sang the soprano, Alphus LeFevre was on baritone while Rex Nelon head down the bass notes.  Eva Mae was still traveling playing piano and singing specials.
• Song highlights on Experience included “Bringing It Home”, “He’s Ready To Come, I’m Ready To Go”, “Jesus Is Coming”, “Nearing The Shore”, “Todays Gonna Be A Brighter Day” and “When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold”.
• The 1972, The New Sounds Of The LeFevres, album ranks #2 among the ten best.  The original version of “I’ve Come Too Far” (Hoppers #1 hit) is found on this particular album.  The listener is also treated to the LeFevres versions of “I Can Feel The Touch Of His Hand”, “I Will Serve Thee”, “I Won’t Have To Worry”, “In The Valley He Restoreth My Soul” and “Wonderful Day”.
• The top Sing Records album in the 1963 recording Sing (ranked #4).  This early LeFevres album had Urias and Alphus on vocals along with Pierce LeFevre and Rex Nelon.  This was the first album to feature the Rex Nelon classic “I Love To Call His Name” and the Eva Mae piano mastery on “When The Home Gates Swing Open”.
• The LeFevres most recognized song is the Mylon LeFevre penned, “Without Him”.  Mylon would join the group in the late 1960′s and would later have a huge career in Christian Contemporary Music.  The album, Without Him, ranks #9 among the group’s ten best.
• In the 1960′s, when the Gospel Singing Jubilee television program was getting off the ground, the LeFevres along with the Blue Ridge Quartet, Johnson Sisters and the Prophets had success with the Gospel Singing Caravan television program.
• The group closed out their career on a high note with their final Canaan Records album, Singing Til he Comes, landing at #10 among the group’s ten best recordings.  This album contained the Rex Nelon Singers line-up (Rodney Swain, Janet Paschal, Kelly Nelon, Rex Nelon) with Eva Mae.
• Other songs, in addition to the ones listed, introduced by the LeFevres included “A Man Who Is Wise”, “Come On Let’s Go To That Land”, “Happy Tracks”, “I Love Him So”, “I’ll Go”, “Let The Redeemed Say So”, “Stepping On The Clouds” and “Victory Shall Be Mine”.
• With a recording career as extensive as the LeFevres there were several albums that deserve honorable mention that didn’t make the top ten.  They include:  Songs Of Happiness (1958), Gospel Music USA (1976), He’s Wonderful (1963), Happiness Is Gospel (1973) and Sing The Gospel (1965).

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  CUMBERLAND BOYS/QUARTET***

Ten On Ten – Palmetto State Quartet

Just when you think you’ve exhausted all the ten on ten options, additional requests open up another feature.  This week we’ll take a look at the recording career of the Palmetto State Quartet.  A group that started in 1946, still sings today and working on 60 years in Southern Gospel music.

The group found their greatest success after 1990.  The group remained under the leadership of the two Jacks (Bagwell and Pittman) for over forty years until they retired in the mid 1990′s.  The current group is under the leadership of Larry Strickland.

The Palmetto State Quartet’s ten best albums are:

1. When He Blessed My Soul (2001)
2. Grace (2011)
3. There’s Something Going On (2002)
4. It’s Settled (2004)
5. Rock Solid (1994)
6. Sweet Land Of Rest (2006)
7. When It Pours God Reigns (2005)
8. Born To Royalty (1996)
9. Forefront (1999)
10. Close To The Heart (1990)

• All of the Palmetto State Quartet’s best albums came after the year 1990.  The pinnacle in the group’s discography is the 2001 specialty recording When He Blessed My Soul.  The vocal line-up of Brion Carter (tenor), Kerry Beatty (lead), Tony Peace (baritone) and Jeff Pearls (bass) recorded a classic quartet recording that competes with some of the best quartet albums recorded in Southern Gospel music.
• The listener was treated to classics such as “I’m Going There”, “Moving Up To Heaven”, “One Of These Mornings”, “Our Debts Will Be Paid”, “Tell My Friends” and “When He Blessed My Soul”.
• The album ranked #2 among the group’s ten best is a total 180 on the style spectrum from When He Blessed My Soul.  The 2011 album Grace took a country-style and I named this album one of the top ten albums released in all of Southern Gospel music for 2011.
• With songs “A Moment Of Grace”, “All Hail The Power”, “The Debt Has Been Paid”, “Don’t That Sound Like Heaven”, “There’ll Be No Dying” and “There’s No Place Too Far From Grace” make this an album every collector should own.
• The same vocal line-up of Carter, Beatty, Peace and Pearls had two more albums among the group’s ten best.  They include There’s Something Going On (#3) and Forefront (#9).
• The highest ranked album that still had the two Jacks (singing lead and baritone) was the 1994 recording Rock Solid.  I would consider this album the Palmetto State Quartet’s break through album in terms of hit songs.  The first two top five songs of the group’s career came from Rock Solid.  They included “Jubilee’s Comin’” and “Rainbow Avenue”.  Brion Carter (tenor) and Harold Gilley (bass) held down the high and low notes on this album.
• Hovie Lister spent a couple of years with the Palmetto State Quartet recording two albums with the group.  The 1990 album Close To The Heart was strong enough to rank #10 among the group’s ten best.  You could hear Hovie Lister’s touch on both of those albums.
• In addition to those members already mentioned the Palmetto State Quartet alumni include:  Woody Beatty, Eddie Broome, Joel Duncan, Rick Fair, Jerry Hovis, Andrew Ishee, Aaron McCune, Burman Porter, John Rulapaugh, Wesley Smith and Ken Turner.
• In addition to the songs already listed the Palmetto State Quartet introduced the following songs to the Southern Gospel listener:  ”Angels Will Stand”, “Born To Royalty”, “Good Morning”, “He’s Real”, “Knock Knock Knock”, “No Doubt Salvation”, “There’s Something Going On” and “We’ll Meet Again”.
• The Palmetto State Quartet of 2013 is composed of Jeremy Easley (tenor), David Staton (lead), Paul Lancaster (baritone), Mike Allen (bass), Casey Martin (pianist) with Larry Strickland at the helm.  I look forward to what this line-up will bring on their next recording.

***NEXT UP ON TEN ON TEN:  LeFEVRES***