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Original Battle of Songs features veterans of Southern gospel

By Staff Report March 2, 2017 1 min read

Photo Gallery

Gospel concert

Martin Cook, seated at the piano, founded The Inspirations in 1964 when he recruited current and former students to sing (he was a high school chemistry teacher in Bryson City, N.C.). Cook was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2003.

Members of the Primitive Quartet, from Candler, N.C., are, from left, Mike Riddle, Larry Riddle, Reagan Riddle, Randy Fox and Jeff Tolbert.

Members of The Greesons, based in Chickamauga, Ga., are, from left, Christian Demastus (baritone), Karen Demastus (soprano), Darrell Demastus (bass), Lisa Dykes (alto) and Joey Demastus (lead). The group was founded by Lisa and Karen's parents, the Rev. Herschel and Elon Greeson.

The Bowers Quartet, based in Cleveland, Tenn., features Kenneth Bowers, Don Bowers, David Cochran and Billy Hooker.

Music producer Paul Belcher is billing his next show as the Original Battle of Songs – not so much for a sense of competitiveness among the performers but in the audience’s difficulty in picking a favorite from these veterans of Southern gospel. Set to perform in Belcher’s annual spring concert are:

* The McKameys

* The Inspirations

* Primitive Quartet

* The Greesons

* The Bowers Quartet, based in Cleveland, Tenn., will start the show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Reserved seating on the main floor is $25. General-admission balcony seating is $20. Children 12 and younger get in free for balcony seats.

Tickets are on sale through TicketMaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at Sonshine Christian Bookstore, 1841 Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., 706-861-7675. For group rates, call 423-253-7900.