Spoken 4 Quartet - Names You Might Not Know Yet

Spoken 4 Quartet is a group based in Branson, Mo. that started in 2006. The group consists of Brandon Britton (tenor), Steven Hickinbotham (baritone), Cecil Stringer (bass) and Jon Charles Taggart (lead).

I've had the chance to see them multiple times when singing at Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel Picnic and most recently when they made their way to Hot Springs, Ark. They are a great group of guys that have a heart for their ministry and seeing people drawn to Christ. Get to know Spoken 4!


Question: When did you become interested in singing Southern Gospel music? What are some of your earliest memories of Southern Gospel?

Jon Charles Taggart - Spoken 4: When I was growing up in my hometown of West Point, Miss., my family attended First Baptist Church, and I always loved hearing the FBC men's quartet sing. I love their harmonies and seeing them work together. While I was attending college at Mississippi College in Clinton, I started following the Gaither Vocal Band because I loved hearing Guy Penrod singing with them. He had the perfect blend of style to me, because I grew up listening to country music as well, and he embodied the best style blend of Gospel, country and humbleness to me. So when I got asked to join a quartet with some friends of mine that I met at church while attending college, I jumped at the opportunity!

Some of my earliest memories of Southern Gospel include watching the Cathedrals, the Stamps and of course the Gaither Vocal Band.


Q: How did you get started as the Spoken 4?

Jon Charles: I met Cecil Stringer while working at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo. We both sang with their "in-house" Gospel group for four years when we got news that they no longer wanted to have a full time in-house group, We along with our friend who sang baritone at the City, asked a tenor singer from the Presley's show here in town if he wanted to join forces during the down season here in Branson and do some concerts. He said sure, and we had no idea how God would move and bless this group, but that's how we started out.


Q: How did you come up with the name the Spoken 4?

Jon Charles: After several bad name ideas from us all, I was traveling with my wife home to Mississippi when she had a thought. She asked me what I thought we all had in common, I started naming a wide variety of things from faith to sports, and she said well you are all "spoken for" by Christ so you could try SPOKEN 4. I thought at that moment, That's it! So I called Cecil and Jeremy (baritone singer) to see how they felt about the name possibility, and they liked it. And that's how God helped us figure out our name.


Q: Do you have a favorite song that you sing? And what song from another group has ministered to you?

Jon Charles: I have a bunch of songs that I love and connect with very strongly, but since you want me to pick just one, I think it would have to be "We Believe." The words are so ministering to my soul every time we sing it, that I get fired up and excited to proclaim it like its the first time that we have ever done it.

I love the song "The Promise" by the Martins and "Why Me Lord," the Guy Penrod/Gaither version.


Q: What artists have been your biggest influence musically and/or personally?

Jon Charles: Lots of answers here! I love a wide variety of music, but the artists in our field( besides the guys I sing with)that I have had the privilege to meet and work with,and whom I genuinely respect and have been influenced by:

• Jeff Stice 
• Danny Brown  studio engineer) 
• Tim Riley 
• Danny Funderburk 
• Mike Bowling and Family 
• JD Miller 
• Jerry Trammel 
• Brian Arnold 
• Roger Fortner 
• Bill Gaither 
• Mike Pillow 
• Jeff Steele 
• Guy Penrod 
• Larry Gatlin 

**haven't met the last two


Q: What has been your favorite memory so far in your ministry? Do you have a particular concert that stands out?

Jon Charles: Seeing God move by saving people's souls, and rededication's or people just being moved to serve Him more.....has been the best parts of our ministry! Just knowing that because we chose to make our talents and time available for God to use in a mighty way for His glory to reach His children is so humbling and rewarding! One that sticks out in my mind is when we sang in a town called Houlka, Miss., and a very respected coach from the community who had just been diagnosed with a very serious cancer came forward and gave his heart to Jesus after he heard our witness and music. He took the time afterwards to share that said he saw God in us, and knew that Jesus was speaking directly to him through us. All I can say is Wow, what a real and mighty God, full of grace, we serve!!!


Q: What new things are coming up for the Spoken 4?

Jon Charles: We have just completed a new and what we believe to be very anointed project with Jeff Stice who arranged, played and produced it all. He was a complete hard working professional who brings the best out of people! And he is such a genuine, God Loving, good man. Can't express how awesome it was to work with him, Danny Brown, and all the musicians that played their hearts out! And we are so excited to share these songs with everyone very soon!!! We expect this next year to be incredible for us all, and we can't wait to see how God is going to work! It's all about Jesus, and without Him there would be no hope for any of us, but when you believe in Him, serve Him, and seek His will, Nothing that the devil throws at you can bring you down!

For more on Spoken 4, visit their website - http://www.spoken4quartet.com

Gerald Wolfe and Josh Singletary - Fun Clip Friday

Happy Friday to everyone! I hope you all had a good holiday yesterday!

Today's Fun Clip Friday comes courtesy of fellow blogger, Lynn. She captured this moment at Singing in the Sun a couple of months ago. Watch what happens as Gerald Wolfe and Josh Singletary try to do a piano duet together!

Somebody Died for Me - When Lyrics Speak

Happy Fourth of July! It's a day when we remember the freedom we have in this country and the people who sacrificed so much so that we can have that freedom. I pray that today we not only pause to  thank God for the freedom we enjoy as Americans but also the freedom we enjoy as Christians.

One of the songs that comes to mind today is "Somebody Died for Me." It's a humbling thought to know that fellow Americans risk their lives so that we are able to live in this lifetime freely. It's an even more humbling thought to know that an Almighty God sent His perfect Son to die so that we could live eternally with Him and have freedom for all time.

I love the chorus of the song. When we couldn't save ourselves, Jesus died for us, before we could even ask for help. And more importantly, every day is a gift because somebody died for me. May we treat every day as a gift and an opportunity and never take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. May we use those freedoms to proclaim the One who died for all people of all countries and nationalities.

Today as we celebrate with family, friends and fireworks, it's my prayer that we will all stop and think about the fact that "somebody died for me."

The Talleys in Wynne - Concert Recap

The Talleys - Roger Talley, Lauren Talley Alvey
and Debra Talley

Last weekend was a great time for gospel music in Arkansas. There were plenty of concerts going on last week that there was no way I could make them all, but I enjoyed the two I did attend! After seeing the Perrys on Friday, I got the chance to see the Talleys on Saturday night in Wynne, Ark.

It hadn't been too long since I saw them last, but since they don't come to Arkansas that often, I didn't want to miss the chance to see them. 

It was a great night, they sang a lot of familiar favorites as well as songs from their most recent project. It was a really good mix. I heard them sing some songs that I'd never heard live before. 

Here's a breakdown of what they sang:

• "We Want to Thank You" - I really liked that they started the concert off with this song.
• "The Promise" - Always a favorite!
• "God Is Great, Good and Merciful"
• "Every Scar" - Upon listening to Love Won, this wasn't a song that stood out to me, but I love seeing them stage this song. Roger does such a great job with it!
• "Amazing Grace" - Always love hearing Debra on this one. She told the story of Angel to set up the song. 
• "Church Will Overcome" - This was my absolute favorite song on their latest CD. Brian, Lauren's husband, was featured on it. Lauren took the lead on this song during the concert. I love that they are staging this song now!
• "Broken World"
  
• "My Hope Is in the Lord"
• "He's Alive" - Lauren amazes me the emotion and conviction she puts into this song every time.
• "He Is So Good to Me"
• "Surely"
• "Up Above" - I hadn't seen them stage this song before. Roger took the verses that Brian had sung. Before the song, Roger talked about the day his father died. He was in the recording studio that day and Lauren and Debra were both at the Gaither Homecoming Women's taping. And yes, it was the same day that Debra fell and had a concussion. Even though his father had not been in the best health, he said you're never quite prepared for the day it comes. They have been going through his things and have realized that he didn't throw anything away. No matter how much we save down here, we can't take anything with us. We have to get our priorities straight while we are here. We might not understand everything, but up above we will.
• "Thinking About Home" - Love to hear Debra sing this song, always does an incredible job! Before the song she talked more about Roger's dad and mentioned that he had reached the point where going home means more than staying in this world.
• "Broken Ones" - Lauren tied this song in with their work with Compassion. She mentioned that through the organization 150,000 kids had come to know Jesus last year. She was telling about the young child's card she was holding and that she couldn't go to school right now because she needed to work to help her family. Lauren said that by the grace of God that girl could be any one of us. This led perfectly into the next song as well. 
• "Orphans of God"
• "Testify" - Great song to end the night on!

Always love seeing the Talleys, and Saturday night was no exception!

Living Up to the Legacy - The Perrys - Concert Recap

The Perrys - David Ragan, Leah Page and Bryan Walker

I have been looking forward to seeing the Perrys for a while now. This family and group has been through so much this year, and they are doing an incredible job carrying on with the ministry they have been called to.

With Tracy in the rehab facility and Libbi by his side and the departure of longtime lead singer Joseph Habedank, Bryan Walker is the lone familiar face in this lineup of the Perrys. David Ragan has joined the group as the lead singer, and Leah Page is filling in for Libbi. Even though it's not the Perrys you are used to seeing, the group is carrying on and living up to the group's legacy.

Leah got the night started by singing "The Blood and its Power," which is from the Perrys' latest project, Through the Night. Leah impressed me when I watched videos of her online, but seeing her live is even more impressive.

They then sang "I Got a Hold of Got This Morning," where we got to hear David step up and sing by himself. He is sounding great with the group. "This Old Sinner Testifies" was next where Bryan was featured. The crowd really got into this one and loved it!

They sang "Calvary Answers for Me" next which featured David. I don't remember seeing the Perrys stage this song before when I've seen them live. David absolutely nailed it! A highlight of the concert! Bryan said in the words of Tracy that cranked his tractor! :)

Many in the audience that night had not seen the Perrys before. Bryan explained Tracy and Libbi's situation. He said that his brain had gone through five hemorrhages, and doctors say that normally people don't survive one. It's evident that God is not through with Tracy! He said that he was anxiously waiting for them to get back because he was missing Tracy and Libbi who have been like a mom and dad to him. He talked about how God is definitely working in Tracy through the recent strides he has made.

He went on to say that God's faithfulness begins before we even realize it. God sent the Perrys the song "Through the Night" last year for their new album, before they knew the storms and the valleys they would go through. The song talks about praising God through those trying times, through the night. Bryan said that even when we can't see the hand of God moving, we can trust His heart. Leah then sang "Through the Night."

Bryan went into his a cappella rendition of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" next. I've always enjoyed hearing him sing this hymn and with him emceeing he was able to stop and repeat phrases he wanted to emphasize in the song. He then led the audience in singing "God Is So Good."

Bryan introduced Leah and David. He was in the middle of introducing David, and someone's cell phone rang. He kept going, but a minute later the phone rang again. So he chuckled and said, "Well if you're not saved, Jesus is calling you."

After introductions, they sang two Happy Goodman songs "Living in Canaan Now" and "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now." Leah sang "The Holy Hills of Heaven" from Libbi's solo CD.

They ended the first half with "If You Knew Him." Based on YouTube videos Bryan has been singing this song, so that's what I was expecting Friday night as well. From the videos with Bryan singing this song, I was looking forward to hearing it live, because he sounded great! But David took the song Friday night. I'm not sure how many times he has sung this song live, but he did an incredible job! The audience was on its feet.

They started back after intermission with "Blue Skies." Bryan read from Philippians 2 starting with verse 5. He said that he felt led to share the verses and talked about how we so often fail to communicate with the greatest communicator of all. Many times we just need to stop and humble ourselves before God and thank Him. Leah then sang "Did I Mention."

Bryan led in the invitation and then sang "Whosoever Will." They ended the night with "I Wish I Could Have Been There." It was good to hear Bryan take the lead on both of these songs, especially loved hearing him sing "Whosoever Will."

A couple of things about the night really stood out to me. First of all, Leah is an incredible singer! She just turned 20 years old, but her voice is far more mature. It would be easy when filling in for a veteran singer like Libbi to try to sound like her and imitate her as she is singing Libbi's songs, but Leah took the songs and made them her own adding her own vocal inflections in places. To me, that's a strong indication of how great of a singer she is! Bryan commented when he introduced her that he expects to see her full time in gospel music after Libbi returns to the stage, and I certainly hope that is the case. I expect a bright future for her after what I saw on Friday night.

It was interesting to me to see whether Bryan or David was going to sing the lead on songs. For now, they seem to be sharing songs that Joseph was featured on. I'm sure David is still learning songs and parts, but he did such a great job being with them less than a month.

Also, David fits in so well already. On stage, they encouraged each other when one was featured. Their voices blend together well. To me, it was evident that they have a friendship already off the stage as well as on.

Bryan is doing a fantastic job leading the group on the stage and emceeing. He did a good job of pacing the night and introducing songs. He led the invitation at the end, and it was evident that that is why he was there that night, to point others to Christ. He's been recognized since he joined the Perrys as a great singer and he's only grown since then, but he also showed that he's stepped up to the plate to lead the group.

This is not the Perrys you are accustomed to seeing, but I think that's all the more reason to go see them. You will see three solid vocalists who in a short amount of time are already blending well together on stage and stepping up to carry on the legacy of the Perrys that has been around for 40 years. This lineup is doing the name of the Perrys proud. Don't miss your chance to see them when they are close by!