LIVING EDITOR
After more than a year, music will return to The Capitol Theatre stage on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Four popular gospel music groups will inaugurate the new music series:
• The Florida Boys will perform on Saturday, Sept. 26;
• Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet will entertain on Saturday, Oct. 3;
• The Chuck Wagon Gang will be here on Friday, Oct. 9;
• The Stamps Quartet entertain on Saturday, Oct. 17.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m.
Ron Blackwood, agent for the four groups, said in a telephone interview that his lead singer with the Blackwood Quartet - Josh Garner- is from Limestone. Blackwood said he has heard a lot about this area from Garner.
Blackwood called Friday from the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Ky.
When contacted by Hartman last week, and after he learned the background of the situation, Blackwood said that he decided "If there's anything we can do to help, I'm going to pull out all the stops."
It was fortunate that all four groups were available. The Florida Boys are playing at the Carolina Nights Dinner Theatre in Maggie Valley Thursday, Friday and Sunday, but had open Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Chuck Wagon Gang's Friday night performance is the only date the entire year that group would be available, Blackwood said.
The Florida Boys
A press release quotes the Web site www.thefloridaboys.net: "For more than 60 years, fans have flocked to see The Florida Boys. They appeared on the first gospel quartet concert ever held in New York's Carnegie Hall.
"With No. 1 hits like "Standing On The Solid Rock," "When He Was On The Cross, I Was On His Mind," "Lead Me To The Altar" and "I Lean On You Lord," this legendary group has recorded some 100 albums and attained a following of devoted listeners, including the late Elvis Presley.
The group includes lead vocalist Charlie Waller, baritone Buddy Burton, bass Chip Cooper, and tenor Eddie Broome.
The Web site states: "In July 2007, Les Beasley, Glen Allred and Derrell Stewart decided to retire.
They sang their last song together as The Florida Boys in September at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Ky. It was at this performance, before 10,000 fans, these three legends passed the mantel to the present group to continue the Florida Boys legacy which began in 1947."
Waller, who is executive director of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum at Dollywood, called The Greeneville Sun Friday afternoon to say that he is excited the group is to be at The Capitol on Sept. 26 and that they're looking forward to performing.
When the Florida Boys perform, he says, "We enjoy ourselves, and we try to project that energy to the audience."
The Blackwood Quartet
Ron Blackwood and members of the famous Blackwood family have won nine Grammy Awards, 27 Dove Awards, and five All American Awards.
The Blackwood Quartet, called the "Super-Group of 2009" meets Blackwood's vision with a show interspersing comedy with their precise four-part harmony.
The Blackwood Quartet features John Rulapaugh singing tenor, Josh Garner singing lead, Tracy Trent singing baritone, and Joe Cox on keyboards. Blackwood leads the show as the group's MC. The group's Web site is www.blackwoodbrothersqt.com.
Blackwood said that the day after the Blackwood Quartet leaves Greeneville, the group will appear on national television with Willie Nelson for his "Farm Aid" show.
Chuck Wagon Gang
After 73 years, the Chuck Wagon Gang remains true to its calling by original founder D.P. "Dad" Carter, "Sing the old songs, and sing them the way I taught you."
Rooted in the tradition of such songs as "The Church In The Wildwood," "Higher," Echoes From The Burning Bush," "Heaven's Really Gonna Shine," "We Are Climbing," "I'll Meet You In The Morning," and "Looking For A City," the mixed quartet also continues to branch out with new songs in the classic gospel style.
The current Chuck Wagon Gang consists of: Dave Emery (bass, emcee, and manager), Julie Hudson (soprano), Stan Hill (tenor), and Penny Greene (alto). The source for the information on the Chuck Wagon Gang was taken from the Web site www.thechuckwagongang.net.
The Stamps Quartet
The Stamps Quartet says it has the longest history of any professional male quartet in this country still in existence and singing after 85 years.
During that time, they have sung backup vocals for such music legends as Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Willie Nelson.
The Stamps Quartet began in 1924 and was founded by V.O. Stamps and Frank Stamps of Gilmer, Texas. It was the first professional gospel group to record for a major record label, RCA Victor, and, with its "Give The World a Smile," was the first gospel quartet to sell more than 1 million records.
The current members are Ed Enoch (owner, manager, lead vocalist), Terry Allen (baritone, road manager), Brian Worley (tenor), Brandon Barry (bass), and James Rainey (pianist).
Information on the Stamps Quartet was taken from the group's Web site www.thestampsquartet.com.
The Capitol
Hervie Hartman Jr., who purchased The Capitol Theatre on Aug. 18 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency, opened the lobby of the Art Deco theatre to the public with an art exhibition, "Civil War Views," to coincide with the arrival in town of Morgan's Men to mark the Sept. 4, 1864, death of the flamboyant Civil War General John Hunt Morgan.
Under the previous ownership, the last show at The Capitol had been the patriotic "Kilroy Was Here," on July 4, 2008, following the RDA's June 2008 foreclosure on the property, which was owned by Little Theatre of Greeneville, Inc.
Capitol's Plans
Plans for the theatre's future include an expansion of the music series to include bluegrass, blues, jazz, and Christian rock concerts; screenings of classic movies; theater workshops and classes for children; and productions of plays for Greene County and surrounding communities, according to a press release.
Dan Burkey is artist-in-residence at the theatre and will "be the new face of The Capitol," Hartman said earlier this week.
For the shows, call ahead to reserve a $22 premium seat. General seating tickets will be sold the night of the shows for $15 at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.
For wheelchair-accessible seating, call ahead.
The telephone number is 423-638-1300.
