Gospel groups to perform at gazebo

Harmonies of Southern gospel music will be featured at the Madison Gazebo Concert on July 5.

The Pine Grove Praise Team will be one of the groups at the Madison Gazebo Concert on July 5.

The Pine Grove Praise Team from Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church will sing. “The praise team was formed a little over a year ago and is made up of members from the four Pine Grove Church choirs,” director of music Calvin Drake said.

C. Jermaine Tuner is pastor at the church, located at 759 Pine Grove Road, one mile west of Wall Triana.

Each Sunday morning, the praise team sings contemporary and traditional gospel music at the beginning of the Pine Grove worship service. “The primary focus of the praise team is supporting the church congregation and other church choirs, so they do not travel much,” Drake said. “However, the praise team has accompanied Pastor Turner to several area churches, where they provided music ministry.”

From Decatur, Plus One’s members are Larry Littleton, baritone; Don Kyle, tenor; Todd Whatley, bass; and Wayne White, lead. Donna Akers accompanies on piano. “Donna is a musician ‘extraordanair,'” White said. “She is a wonderful musician.”

Plus One members attend Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church on Spring Ave. in Decatur. “Don Kyle organized the group about five years ago to see how it would sound. After practice, we knew that we could not have put it together. We’re God-called,” White said.

“That why we’re name ‘Plus One,'” White said. “We have a lot of fun and sing freely.”

Akers has composed some songs for Plus One. “Donna plays organ for the choir at the church. She is so smart and has conducted orchestras,” White said.

Most Southern Gospel quartets “have one man that sings really high. We don’t. We sing traditional songs and some contemporary in four-part harmony,” he said.

The Majestics from Madison also will perform. Group members are Pete and Teresa Brammer and Bill and Judi McGee. The two couples have a shared love of Southern Gospel music and met at Whitesburg Baptist Church.

The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free. For more information, visit artsmadison.org.