Southern Gospel Journal

Legendary studio musician Jeff Collins shares the story of his years recording many of Southern Gospel’s biggest hits, and also the stories of Hear Here! Studios, Horizon Records, and Crossroads Music. I had the chance to work with him for six years, and he is one of the people I have the highest respect for; I am so grateful he was willing to share his story. Keep up with the latest Southern Gosp...

I talked to Will Arasmith this summer, but that conversation was so focused on Liberty Quartet’s 30th Anniversary Podcast Mini-Series that we only touched briefly on his own story. So he agreed to come back for a part 2, and I’m glad he did, because the conversation was fascinating! Liberty Quartet Website: https://www.libertyquartet.com/   YouTube/Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjJ7c9X...

Dave & Kris Garms have a quite unusual story: Working in Christian education, later homeschooling their children, working as an airplane mechanic, taking a cross-country missions trip that went awry, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But each of these has led unmistakably to what they do now, touring as a full-time family music group out of Wisconsin and renovating a large old schoolhous...

Philip Kolb joined Legacy Five earlier this year as their new piano player. In this interview, he shares the story of the path that led him to his dream job! Show Notes Philip Kolb on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@philipkolb4317/   Philip Kolb on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100027200306849   Legacy Five: http://legacyfive.com/   Who Am I (Riley Harrison Clark, Andrew Gold...

It’s not every day that one gets to talk to a member of the Statesmen! Jerry Candler sang with a number of groups in the 1980s and 90s. The most notable of these was becoming a member of the Statesmen for several years in the early 90s. He shares memories of traveling down the road with Hovie Lister and Jack Toney, his deep friendship with Jack that lasted the rest of Jack’s life, and even a few f...

Jonathan Lawson is a member of one of the most exciting young groups in Southern Gospel, The Lawsons. Here’s his story!

Josh Griffin is the man behind the Behind the Music and Behind the Crown podcasts. He’s been previously featured on episode 11, discussing the Kingsmen Quartet’s legacy. This episode focuses more on Josh himself. Episode 11, The History and Legacy of the Kingsmen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA8m905bP94 Behind the Crown https://linktr.ee/behindthecrownpodcast https://www.facebook.com/behindthec...

A few weeks ago, Peyton Olive appeared on a podcast highlighting Liberty Quartet’s podcast. That episode contains his testimony; this episode tells the rest of his story. We also discuss his heart for reaching his generation with the Gospel. Liberty Quartet Website: https://www.libertyquartet.com/   YouTube/Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjJ7c9XJKR6_l0r9mc2PP7A   Southern Gospel Journal...

The Cathedrals’ retirement and the launch of Legacy Five was one of the most memorable moments in the last fifty years of Southern Gospel. Glenn Dustin was right in the middle of that moment, and he shares what it was like to be there. But he’s also very open about a more challenging part of his story and how God brought him back and used that dark period to help him minister to others today in a...

Nicholas Wilke shares his story and the story behind his podcast, Southern Gospel Conversations. We also dive deep into his signature question, discussing why the 1950s and 60s is his favorite era of the music. Southern Gospel Conversations: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/southern-gospel-conversations/id1698435251 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rRKa3E9ER4Mzn0ktdIDwN   South...

Will Arasmith and Peyton Olive, the baritone and tenor for Liberty Quartet, share the story of the Liberty Quartet Podcast mini-series and share the first part of their own stories. Liberty Quartet Website: https://www.libertyquartet.com/   YouTube/Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjJ7c9XJKR6_l0r9mc2PP7A   Southern Gospel Journal: Website: https://southerngospeljournal.com/ YouTube: https...

Alan Kendall shares stories behind the songs the new Kingsmen Quartet album, Stlll Jesus. The Kingsmen: https://kingsmenquartet.com/ All Kingsmen links, including Still Jesus: https://linktr.ee/KingsmenQuartet Southern Gospel Journal: https://southerngospeljournal.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@SouthernGospelJournal https://www.facebook.com/southerngospel Behind the Crown episode discussing “Old Sh...

Les Butler shares his testimony and life story and the story behind Real Southern Gospel and the Real Life Podcast with Isaac Moore. Show Notes Real Southern Gospel: https://realsoutherngospel.com/ Butler Music Group: https://butlermusicgroup.com/ Southern Gospel Journal Website: https://southerngospeljournal.com/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southerngospel YouTube: https://www.youtube.com...

Ben Harris shares his story and the story of his group, Southern Sound. Show notes: Learn more about Southern Sound: https://sghistory.com/index.php?n=S.SouthernSound https://southerngospeljournal.com/almost-statesmen-ben-harris/   Keep up with the latest Southern Gospel Journal episodes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthernGospelJournal   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southerngospel Web...

Riley Wheeler might be the owner of the newest Southern Gospel podcast, The Concert Attender Podcast, but his YouTube channel has been active for over seven years. I really enjoyed his thoughtful and earnest insight in this conversation! Check out The Concert Attender! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheConcertAttender Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConcertAttender Merch: https://theconce...

As the Southern Gospel fan base gets younger - which is a wonderful thing! - what stories do we need to make sure are passed along to the next generation? This is a question that legendary songwriter Dave Clark thinks about deeply. And he works to answer it through the episodes of I Love to Tell the Story Podcast. Show notes: I Love 2 Tell the Story: https://www.ilove2tellthestory.com/ Dave Clark:...

Evan Bradford is a co-host of Southern Gospel Forward and the bass guitarist for the the Kingsmen Quartet's Big & Live Band, appearing at select events through the year. His enthusiasm for this music is contagious! Show Notes Check out Southern Gospel Forward! Website: https://www.southerngospelforward.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthernGospelForward   Facebook: https://www.faceboo...

Mike Franklin sang tenor for the Melody Boys Quartet from 1987-2004 and at several other points since. He offers first-hand insight into the personalities and work ethic that ensured his era of the group preserved its legendary status for a new generation. If you’d like to read this interview: https://southerngospeljournal.com/mike-franklin-interview/ Gerald Williams’ autobiography: https://www.am...

Daniel Ball sang lead for The Ball Brothers for eighteen years. Now he represents World Vision on the Collingsworth Family tour and other events, and assists several artists in a behind-the-scenes capacity. He's one of the most innovative people I know! You can also read this interview: https://southerngospeljournal.com/daniel-ball-interview/ Show Notes Daniel Ball: Website Facebook Twitter Instag...

Chris White is the founder of Sonlite Records and a member of the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame. This conversation wraps up the three-part series where he shares his life story.  If you’d like to read this interview: https://southerngospeljournal.com/chris-white-interview-part-3/   Check out the first two episodes:  https://southerngospeljournal.com/an-interview-with-chris-white/   https://southern...

Join me in getting to know Randy Shaw, the final baritone singer for Southern Sound. If you’d like to read this interview: https://southerngospeljournal.com/randy-shaw-interview/  

Melvin Klaudt performed with his family, the Klaudt Indian Family, for decades. They caught listeners' attention by dressing in their traditional Arikara Indian outfits, but they kept their audience coming back with their talent and heart for ministry. Chief Melvin Klaudt is a 2020 inductee to the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame. His story is well worth hearing - and I say hearing in this case becaus...

Caleb Garms, the lead singer for the Garms Family, has been singing on the road most of his life. His passion and enthusiasm for the history and message of Gospel Music comes through in this conversation! Show Notes If you’d like to read this interview: https://southerngospeljournal.com/caleb-garms-interview/ The Garms Family: https://thegarmsfamily.com/   The Gospel Gym: https://thegarmsfamily.co...

In his college years, Ray Cragun sang bass for the Celebration Quartet. One Southern Gospel artist called this quartet “the best quartet that most people have never heard.” It's not hard to see why when you consider that the rest of the lineup was Mark Dubbeld (tenor), Dan Coy (lead), Jeff Keaton (baritone), and Kim Keaton - now Kim Collingsworth - on piano. After 25 years of pastoring, he now sin...

Greg Bentley discusses his off-stage impact on Southern Gospel, through writing for Singing News and his work at Horizon Records/Crossroads Entertainment. Along the way, we discuss what the song publishing/pitching process looks like, how artist relations work, and what it takes to make it in Southern Gospel. If you'd like to read this interview: https://southerngospeljournal.com/greg-bentley-inte...