Christian Music Online

Garren and Carlene Ellick first became Southern gospel music

November 27, 2006 – 10:30 am

Garren and Carlene Ellick first became Southern gospel music fans 40 years ago when two of their children joined up with a local gospel quartet.

Four decades later, the passion is still there. That’s why the couple drove up from McNatt Saturday evening for the 7th Annual Four-State Thanksgiving Gospel Sing at Crowder College.

While the concert brought out three well-known gospel music groups, the Ellicks weren’t sure before the show which artists they were looking forward to hearing most.

“We don’t really have a favorite,” Carlene said. “They’re all good.”

About 400 people packed into Crowder’s Elsie Plaster Auditorium to hear gospel groups Signature Quartet, the McCunes, Christian comedian/song writer Aaron Wilburn and - headline artists - The Lesters, a St. Louis-based singing group which has been featured on the cover of Singing News magazine and the U.S. Gospel News and appeared as guests on Paul Heil’s, “Gospel Greats” radio program, Reach Network and Gospel Music Television.

All of the featured groups record in Nashville and receive air time on radio stations across the country, according to Duane Garren, director of marketing for Brumley Music and promotor of Saturday night’s concert.

Garren said he sold advance tickets to gospel fans from as far away as Kansas City, Muskogee, Okla., Harrison, Ark. and St. Louis. He said while the annual event has previously been held in Diamond, Crowder College proved to be a more centralized location for the fan base and adequately fit seating requirements as well as other needs.

“We’re just delighted to have this here at Elsie Plaster - it’s a nice auditorium,” Garren noted. “I don’t think people in the Neosho area understand what kind of facility they have out here at Crowder College.”

The concert kicked off with a lively, hand clapping rendition of McDonald County native Albert E. Brumley’s “I’ll Fly Away” before The Lesters took the stage amidst wild applause.

Saturday’s evening show was recorded for a live album the group will produce later. Most of the songs performed were from recent albums, though a few older numbers were included as well.

The family singing troupe first went on the gospel music circuit 81 years ago. Today the faces include brother and sister Brian Lester and Ginger Pitcher, children of the original founders, Brian’s son Jonathan Lester and Ginger’s daughter Jenny Revelle.

Seth Revelle, Jenny’s husband, sat on the side line Saturday night with the couple’s children, three-year-old Emma and three-month-old Ava. While normally he said he doesn’t get to travel very often with his wife on tour, Seth mentioned he came along this time to take care of the kids as Jenny helped develop the group’s live album.

“It’s been a little more crazy this week than usual,” he said.

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