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NEWS |
(April 5, 2010) The Spokesmen Quartet returned home to Ocean Lakes Family Campground and Resort in beautiful Myrtle Beach, SC for Easter Weekend. This was the first time in 3 years that we were able to return and sing for all 3 services on Easter Sunday. Last September when we were at Ocean Lakes for Labor Day Weekend, Mr. Nelson Jackson, owner and founder of Ocean Lakes, was unable to attend the services because of health problems. In late September Mr. Jackson called me and said "Easter at Ocean Lakes just ain't the same without The Spokesmen! Everyone complains that it's not Easter without you guys. I want you to promise me that you will be here for Easter in 2010 even if I'm dead! I promised him, "The Spokesmen will be there in 2010 for Easter." On February 1, 2010 as he was getting ready to leave home for a Dentist appointment, Mr. Jackson suffered a heart attack and died. As many of you know he always opened the Sunrise and Worship services on Easter by stating "HE HAS RISEN" and this year was no exception. Kirk Lawton, minister of OLFC, played a tape of last year when Mr. Jackson opened the services. It was good to hear his voice but we all knew he would be looking down on his favorite day of the year. Thousands lined the beach, near the 3 crosses, on a beautiful, cloudless morning and watched at 6:59 am as the sun rose over the Atlantic ocean and The Spokesmen sang "He's Alive" . Then at the 9:00 AM morning worship service over 2100 people attended the Easter Service. The Spokesmen sang "Gone" and "I Believe In A Hill Called Mt. Calvary". It was good to have Mrs. Emily Jackson present for the morning worship service. She looked great and couldn't wait to hug our necks. On Sunday night, for the 8:00 PM concert by The Spokesmen Quartet, the largest crowd in many years attended. According to the Ocean Lakes Staff, over 600 people attended the Sunday night concert and what a time we had. They sang us to death. We can't wait for Labor Day to return and do the Labor Day Weekend concert. Hope to see you all there.! Again we would like to thank Tracy Barker for filling in for us through Easter. He did a tremendous job and what a singer he is. All you folks who were taking pictures of us singing at all of the services, please forward some pictures to us at our email address here. We would love to post some of the pictures on the website. I have never seen so many people taking pictures at all of the services. Especially the morning worship service. (Feb. 8, 2010) This past weekend we were with The Dove Brothers for their 8th annual anniversary singing in Elizabethtown, NC. At noon on Saturday things started off with a pig pickin' at the Historic Building in Bladenboro, NC. All the Artist Cirlce ticket holders were present and The Diplomats and Dove Brothers performed. On Saturday night, The Spokesmen Quartet opened the program to a great crowd of about 800 people. Bad weather came in on Friday and hindered some from coming this year. However people were there from about 10 different states. It was good to see some folks we haven't seen in some time from Florida and Virginia. Our friend Nancy Straughn who promotes in the Richmond area was there and we haven't seen her in many years. In the early 70's we sang with a group called The Diplomats and the young man singing the bass was Calvin Runion. The lead singer was Jimmy Pearson. Well Calvin has gone on to be with God but Jimmy is still singing the lead and mama ( Rita) showed them all how it is done...wow what a great voice. Close your eyes and you would have thought Vestal was in the building.. Now mama and Jimmy have this son, Corey who can play anything and sings tenor, lead or whatever Jimmy wants him to sing. And of course old Joe is still hitting those low notes. Joe is one of the lowest basses in gospel music today...(and he can sing low too..ha ha)! We are going to have them in our area this year so watch out for The Diplomats coming to our area. Jimmy promotes about 6 singings a year in Atlanta, Ga area and The Spokesmen look forward to being with him on a Saturday night concert and Sunday morning church in 2010. Then of course it was good to see Shay back with The Chuck Wagon Gang. She sounds just like her grandmother Anna Carter Gordon Davis who was an original with the Gang and later married Gov. Jimmie Davis. They still have that great Chuck Wagon Gang sound. Then of course it was the first time we had seen Little Roy since the Lewis Family retired but he is still going strong and crazy as ever, thank God they only made one of him. It is now "The Little Roy and Lizzie Show" and they do a great job on bluegrass. Barney Fife (Larry Delawder) was there doing his thing and man can he forever play a harmonica. Of course the Dove Brothers were great and their new piano player, Adam Harman was fantastic. For the last 30 minutes after intermission all the groups were on stage together and what a time we had singing. We did those old songs and of course Mcray wanted all those 56 endings of J. D.'s so the 3 basses, Joe, David and Linwood rattled the walls and brought the crowds to their feet. We are looking forward to next year. Get your tickets now and make plans to attend. The Dove Brothers / Spokesmen Quartet 4th annual singing will be on Nov. 12, 2010. Make plans to attend that as well. (Jan. 2010) 2009 has been another great year. God has richly blessed us in our music ministry. 2010 brings new things to our ministry with some personnel changes. Tracy Barker will be filling the baritone position until we find a permanent replacement. Maybe Tracy will decide to stay. Tracy has sang professionally with several groups including Carolina Royalty and Full Surrender. Those of you who know Tracy knows what a great Christian young man and talented singer he is. We look forward to working with him. Linwood is meeting with DPAC representatives this month to dicuss bringing a series of 3 Southern Gospel Music programs to the DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) during 2010. The Spokesmen Quartet will host the series which will hopefully include Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, The Hoppers and The Dove Brothers. Hopefully we will return Southern Gospel Music concerts to Durham again. For many years Linwood and The Spokesmen worked with well known promoter J. G. Whitfield to promoted concerts at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh and Fayetteville, NC bringing in such groups as J. D. Sumner and The Stamps, Hovie Lister and The Statesmen, The Blackwood Brothers, The Happy Goodmans, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Hoppers, The Cathedrals, Dixie Echoes, The Rambos, The Hemphills, The Hinsons and many many more. If you would like to see gospel music return to this area again then please pray for this to happen. The past 3 years The Spokesmen Quartet / Dove Brothers Quartet have had our annual singing at Roxboro, NC at Somerset Baptist Church. On February 5-6, 2010 we look forward to being part of The Dove Brothers Homecoming Singing. Friday night talent includes: The Dixie Echoes, The Dixie Melody Boys, The Diplomats, Larry Delawder, The Easter Brothers and The Dove Brothers. Saturday night talent includes: The Spokesmen Quartet, The Greenes, The Chuck Wagon Gang, Little Roy and Lizzie and The Dove Brothers. Click here for ticket information 8th Annual Dove Brothers Homecoming For many many years we have been at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, SC for both Easter and Labor Day. We have been unable to be there for Easter the past 3 years but look forward to returning on April 4, 2010. We will be singing on the beach for the sunrise service where thousands gather for this special service. Then at 9:00 am we will be singing in the morning worship service and at 8:00 pm we will be in a complete concert. We look forward to seeing all our friends at Ocean Lakes. Make your reservations now to attend and celebrate Easter with The Spokesmen Quartet at Ocean Lakes. Visit their website to make online reservations. www.oceanlakes.com
We look forward to seeing you in 2013!
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