HALL OF FAME HONOREES
› Joe Collins, Noblemen Quartet› The late Weldon Deerman, Golden Harvest Quartet› Jerry Foster, promoter› Jo Deerman Hall, Golden Harvest Quartet› Mike Hartley, Noblemen Quartet› Mike Holcomb, Inspirations Quartet, now with Old Time Preachers› Randy Perry, The Perrys› Chanda Roberson, Webb Sisters› Andy Sharp, The Sharps Quartet› The late Tracy Stuffle, The Perrys› Greg Witt, Emmaus Road Quartet
What could very well be the largest gospel singing held in North Georgia opens Thursday and continues through Saturday, Aug. 2-4, in Patriot Hall, 320 Emberson Drive in Ringgold, Georgia.
Pat's Heavenly Jubilee Gospel Festival will host more than 150 soloists and ensembles, who will perform from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
"Each gets two songs and a testimony - about 10 minutes," says host Pat Hookey, in order to keep the program moving.
Hookey says she began hosting gospel singings with two to four acts nearly 40 years ago in locations around Ringgold. In addition to Saturday morning singings at the Biscuit Barn, which she still hosts, she provided music for nursing homes, church programs and any other organization who asked.
As word grew about her singings, so did requests to participate. Her events grew into this festival, which is marking its 20th anniversary this weekend.
Hookey is turning this weekend's anniversary festival into a food drive to help stock three churches' food pantries.
"Admission is $5 plus seven nonperishable or canned items to feed the hungry. Anyone who brings the cans and $5 will receive a blue ticket that gets them in for all three days, as long as they hold onto the ticket and present it on the second and third days. Those who don't bring canned goods will pay $10 each day," Hookey explains.
PAT'S HEAVENLY JUBILEE GOSPEL FESTIVAL LINEUP
THURSDAY
Steve Swaggerty, Soldiers For Christ, Camelle Gibson, Jessie Conner, Jo Stephens, Faye Ivey, Gary Guinn, Dorothy & Andrew Couch, Deborah Andrews, Walt Carroll, Janet Johnson, Luke Stone, Phyllis Cabe, George Foster, Liz Haley, Blood Bought, Charlie Long, Mount Carmel Trio, Cathy Cordell, Kay Glover, Marcellus Scott, The Howleys, Debra Schultz, Looking Up, Lloyd Gilreath, Damascus Road, Tiffany Keeler, Allen B. Coleman, Kindred Spirits, Nancy Eldridge, The Eldridges, Jamie Stancil, The Schultzes.
FRIDAY
Three Purple Crosses, Jerry Hall, Hannah Hall, Gary Winningham, The Sherry Trio, Austin Olvey, Jerry & Hannah, Joy Card, 2for1, Don Kaye, Tara & James, Alma Oakes, Hope For Tomorrow, Joe Heflin, Keith & Carolyn Bobo, Heavenly Journey, Mike Robinson, Spirit Filled, Linda Odom, Adopted, Dwight Sanders, Living Right Trio, Rethal Martin, Joe & Don, James Sprayberry.
Gary & Darlene, Haley Horn, Lulu & Larry Burns, Chad Winningham, Karen Hendricks, The Masseys, Vernon Greeson, Calvary's Way, Lynn Newman, Clarence Garrett, The Cokers, Casey Hindman, Lighthouse, Sharon Foskey, Under Grace, Chris Van Allman, Redemptive Grace, Darlene Tackett, Sacrifice, Skeeter Hindman, Johnny Feagan, The Helms Family, Sarah Davis, Ordained, Johnathan Bond, Kindred Spirits, The New Beginning Youth.
SATURDAY
Mays Youth, Joy Mays, Greg Finch, Quickened, Brooke Crowder, Hiley Forez III, Leon Couch, Mays Family, Donnita Rozzell, Forgiven, Buck Elvis Gouger, The Webb Sisters, Kathryn Adams, Charity Gospel, Kenny Webb, Redeeming Grace, Faithful Promise, Rhett Ouzts, Curtis Moneyhunn and Everpresent, Spirit Led, New Day Gospel, Craig Kirk Tyndall, Lexie Stephens, Witness 4 Him.
Debby Faye East, Michael Mays, Anthony & Caleb, Deborah Sansing, Junior and Wendy Claridy, Roy Pool, Blessed & Delivered, His Call Gospel, Sherry Richardson, Redemptive Grace, Anthony Phillips, Eric Street, Renee Barton, Blood Line of Grace, Caleb Howard, Rescued, Edalene Ellis, Mark Cave Jr., Zeke Turner, Rhett & Annette, Kadie Baker, The Hendersons, Marcellus Scott In Memory of Jim Dautry, The Moore Sisters, Crystal Campbell, Brothers in Christ, Wes Beavers, Called, Brenda Foster, Charles & Bethany, David James, Shelia Reed, Driven By Faith.
Gospel Hall of Fame inducting 11 on Saturday
Ten gospel singers and one show promoter will be honored Saturday night, Aug. 4, when the Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame inducts its 2018 class.
The Hall of Fame was founded by Herb Oliver in 2005. Nominations are accepted by the board of directors, who select honorees, says Will Dickerson, board chairman.
"We have 180 in our Hall of Fame, and 90 of them are still alive," he says. The HOF annually honors individuals who have made an impact on gospel music in Alabama, Georgia or Tennessee.
The induction will take place at Parkway Baptist Church, 65 Stuart Drive in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, beginning at 6 p.m. The induction and gospel-singing program is expected to conclude by 8:30 p.m., says Dickerson.
The featured entertainment will be the Old Time Preachers Quartet. Its bass singer, Mike Holcomb, is among the hall's inductees.
Holcomb's signature song, "When I Wake Up To Sleep No More," was Song of the Year for 1974. The Old Time Preachers Quartet recently released their version of it in honor of the song's 44th anniversary. It is currently the No. 1 Pick Hit song on August's Singing News chart.
Dickerson expects 60 to 70 previous Hall of Fame inductees to sing in the Hall of Fame choir's performance. From those, about 10 male and female quartets will break out to perform as well. It gives the audience and singers a chance to hear quartets composed of singers who normally wouldn't be performing together.
The induction and gospel singing is open to the public. No admission is charged, but a love offering will be collected. The offering helps cover HOF expenses such as framed certificates and medallions presented to the new inductees.
For more information: tristategospelmusichalloffame.com
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.