Playing Catch Up

I'm doing a little bit of catch up today after a blog hiatus. I'm hoping in 2019 I can get back to blogging more regularly. I've got a stack of CDs to review and several concert events coming up in early 2019.

But for today, there are several big news items I've missed over the past couple of months -

• Gospel music lost two legends in Les Beasley and Ernie Phillips. Les passed away on Saturday, Nov. 17 at age 90. He was the president of the National Quartet Convention and the longtime owner/manager/singer of The Florida Boys and a producer of "The Gospel Singing Jubilee." Ernie passed away on Nov. 29 at age 68. He was a legendary tenor and former Kingsmen Quartet member.
• Gary Casto of Tribute Quartet announced that Riley Harrison Clark is stepping down as the group's tenor to pursue a solo career. Riley has been with the group for nine years. He will be replaced by Gus Gaches, formerly of Legacy Five. 
• Squire Parsons had heart bypass surgery to repair blockages in his heart. He is now at home recovering well.
• The 2019 Grammy nominations were announced. For the first time in a while, the nominations for the Roots Gospel category were all Southern Gopsel artists: Unexpected by Jason Crabb, Clear Skies by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Favorites:Revisited by Request by the Isaacs, Still Standing by the Martins and Love Love Love by Gordon Mote. 
• 2nd Generation based in Oak Grove, Arkansas announced the group's retirement. They will do two final concerts in Arkansas in January. The group consists of Brenda Denney, Elaine Robinson and Randy Barnes. 
• A new group has been formed, Redemption’s Promise. The group consists of Chuck Pettyjohn on tenor, Shannon Yates on lead, David Emery on baritone, and Paul Hyde on bass. They are based on Morristown, Tennessee.