October 2004

On the 1^st Sunday in October of each year Columbia and the surrounding area celebrate Blanche Goodson Day. The celebration is in the form of a gospel concert featuring many of the local groups in the area and a national recording artist. Ms. Goodson is the General Manager of WLGO radio station. This is an all gospel radio station. She is also the Founder and CEO of the SC Gospel Quartet Awards Banquet.

This year’s celebration was held on October 3, 2004, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1000 Poplar Street, Cayce, South Carolina. The program began with an uplifting devotion by Deacon Roosevelt Robinson & The Flying Clouds.

The groups that appeared on the this year's program were The National Juniors, Rev. Matthew Mickens and The New Highway Travelers, The Brewsteraires, Revelation, Rev. George Johnson and The Johnsonaires, Women of Strength, The Chosen Ones, Cavaliers of Eastover, Mount Mariah Mass Choir, The Southern Gospel Singers, Deacon Joe Davis & The Choice Gospel Singers, Deacon Nathaniel Moyd & The Satisfied Gospel Singers and The Metro Mass Choir, Georgetown.

Headlining the program was The Flint Cavaliers of Flint Michigan. For those that might be wondering, yes, Rev. Richard Bush was with the group and he sang with the group. The members of the group, along with Rev. Bush, that appeared on this program were Craig Johnson, Jay Britt, Marcus Peterson, George Carter and Phillip Shipp. They were awesome.

Several hundred individuals witnessed the best in gospel quartet music from the Columbia area and two great choirs. Among those that attend the celebration were Clarence Conner of the Gospel Incredibles of Atlanta, Georgia, Gregg Anderson of Richmond, Virginia, Cathy Hines from North Carolina and a host of Ms. Goodson’s family members from Georgetown.

The emcees for the program were Ms. Goodson’s son, Toby Goodson, and Deacon Nathaniel Fulton. Each year, the proceeds from this celebration benefits several students in the area by awarding them deserving scholarships. Congratulations to Ms. Goodson for her service to the community and for being a faithful servant of our Lord and Savior.

The Gospel Redeemers is the most recent South Carolina Quartet Group to obtain their own web page at www.scgospelquartet.com.

Yes, there was a gospel concert in Lake City last night. According to Gospel Correspondent Loretta Coleman “the program was to long. There were seven (yes - 7) local groups on the program. The program started a little after 6:00 PM and it was not until 8:25 PM before the first major group, The Gospel Four took the stage. That was just to late for the first major group to take the stage. Unfortunately, like at to many gospel concerts, the emcees had to do a lot of talking. The program was good, but too long. There was just to much down time between groups and the stage was to small.”

Along with the seven local groups and The Gospel Four, also on program were The Williams Brothers. On this night, the Brothers were at their best. And when Lee joined them on stage for "Cooling Waters," everyone that could was standing. This night belonged to The Williams Brothers.

Lee and The Spiritual QC's followed the Brothers and as always, they were good. The Doctor closed the program. It was almost midnight when Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites took the stage, but for those that were still there, Doc did not disappoint them.

It was a good crowd at the concert. There were approximately 1600 persons in attendance at Lake City High School. Among those in the crowd were Dwayne Watkins (formerly of The Canton Spirituals) and Glenn Stevenson (formerly of MCG Records). Dwayne now has his own group - The Dwayne Watkins Group. Look for their new project very soon. Glenn Stevenson is now the CEO of Humility Records. Humility's first release, which is by Charles Davis and The Clouds, should be in stores very soon.

On yesterday (October 16, 2004) The New Gospel Keynotes took Winsboro like a whirlwind. They really stirred up the people.

Yesterday was the annual event for the best in gospel quartet to be presented to the Winnsboro community. Each year Ms. Hendrix and Small’s Chapel showcase groups from the area. This year they brought to Winnsboro Pelham Myers and The Five Singings Stars, The Six Voices of Zion, Revelation, Women with a Vision, Ms. Hendrix’ group, Marlese Hendrix & The Gospel Singers.

All of the “local” groups were great, but Pelham Myers and The Five Singing Stars were exceptional. These gentlemen let it be know that they were there for just one reason; and that was to worship and praise the Lord in song, and that they did.

After the local groups, The New Gospel Keynotes took the stage. And although Norris was not with them, they were still great. They went back and did some of the favorite Keynotes’ songs and also songs from their “The Legend’s Dream Lives” CD. Minister Teddy Cross and the group really blessed the folks of Winnsboro. This is the second time this group has been in the area within a month. They were in Camden, South Carolina on September 19, 2004. So, it was not surprising that they brought a different lineup of songs to Winnsboro. The Old National Guard Armory will never be the same.

There were several hundred persons at the concert. The emcees were Blanche Goodson and Nero “Mr. Gospel” Tindal.

On October 24, 2004, the National Juniors celebrated their 42^nd Anniversary at New Ebenezer Family Life Center, 1236 Gregg Street, Columbia. The Juniors were dressed in beautiful burgundy suits with white shirts and red and white neckties. Blanche Goodson wife of Ronald Goodson brought the group on stage in a classic way. Group members came in one at a time as their name were called. Ms. Goodson who is the wife of Ronald Goodson gave a detailed history of The National Juniors. Ronald Goodson is a member and one of the guitar players for the Juniors.

The Six Voices of Zion was excellent; they really sung and looked great in their black tuxedos with red bow ties. Rev. Matthew Mickens was outstanding. I was very impressed with this group on last evening. They had everyone on their feet. The Gold Trumpets, the guest group, was also very good. The crowd really enjoyed them. About 200 persons attended the anniversary. All the other groups on the program did quite well.

Deacon Billie Pharr[1], a member of Bibleway Northeast Temple, advised us that there was a very inspirational concert at Round Top Baptist Church in Blythewood on Sunday, October 24, 2004. He informed us that the program was spirit-full from the devotion to the benediction.

The program was Round Top’s Annual Calendar Gospel Sing Out. The program began promptly at 5:00 PM. Deacon Pharr stated that the following groups were on the program – The Gospel Redeemers, Jessie Walker & The Hi-Lites of Camden, The Heavenlyaires of Tukedo, T. D. Brown & The Gloryaires, Big Mack & The Harmonettes and the Ellison Brothers. The Round Top Inspirational Choir also blessed all in attendance with very uplifting songs.

[1] We wish to thank Deacon Pharr for taking the time to provide us the information about this concert.