Tag: GMF Sightings

Angelics' Theresa Burton-Richmond walks down 'Gospel Lane' with group's biggest hit

Theresa Burton-Richmond of the Angelic Gospel Singers sings at Greater Cleggs Chapel Community Missionary Baptist Church.

Theresa Burton-Richmond of the famed Angelic Gospel Singers performed a pair of Margaret “Babe” Allison (1921-2008) and the group’s beloved gems, “Touch Me, Lord Jesus” and “If You Can’t Help Me,” last evening at Greater Cleggs Chapel Community MBC’s Black history musical in Timberlake, NC. The former, first recorded by the Angelics in the late 1940s, was the title of their biggest selling release.
 
The program, called, “Traveling Down Gospel Lane,” featured a narrated contextual overview of gospel’s pioneers and trailblazers as well as performances of sacred music spanning the 17th century to the present.

GMF Sightings – William Rigsbee of Willie Banks & The Messengers

William Rigsbee
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William Rigsbee, formerly of Willie Banks and the Messengers, performed several tunes from the group’s catalog on Sunday, June 2, at the anniversary musical of the Spiritual Lights of Rougemont, NC.  Rigsbee currently resides in Nashville, NC, and is known to his following as “The Singing Angel.”

Photo by Libra Boyd

GMF Sightings – Thomas "Butch" Cobbs, Founding Member of the Gospel Persuaders

GMF’s Libra Boyd and Thomas Cobbs
I had the privilege to worship with the God’s Temple Holiness Church family in celebration of Pastor Mary Cobbs’ anniversary Saturday night. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that her husband is Deacon Thomas “Butch” Cobbs, founding member of the Gospel Persuaders. He appeared equally surprised to learn that I own one of the group’s popular 1980’s 45 singles, “God Will Take Care of You.”

The Gospel Persuaders were a traditional quartet group from the Danville, VA area that traveled nationally during the zenith of their music career. In addition to being the founder and guitarist, Cobbs was the group’s chief songwriter. Among the Persuaders’ most popular tunes was their gospelized cover of “You’ve Got A Friend.”

GMF Sightings – Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals and Walter Hatcher of WNCU 90.7 FM

WNCU 90.7 FM radio personalities Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals and Walter Wallace Hatcher, aka the Ol’ Chatham County County Boy, are prepping to emcee Saturday’s concert at Lattisville Grove Baptist Church featuring Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s.

Pettiford-Ryals and Hatcher are the hosts of “Hallelujah Praise,” which airs every Sunday morning from 6 to 11 AM EST.  Both hosts play a mix of traditional gospel music (mostly quartets), oldies and new releases by local artists.  The broadcast also streams live from www.wncu.org.

GMF Sightings – Keynotes’ Guitarist Val Alexander

 
 
 
GMF sighted Val Alexander, longtime guitarist and member of Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes, this weekend at New Hope Person Baptist Church in Timberlake, NC.  Alexander traveled with the quartet (whose notable songs include “Show Me the Way” and “Jesus, You’ve Been Good to Me”) approximately 25 years.  Currently, he performs with Mattie Alston (also known as “The Dipping Lady”) and the Voices of Praise from Greensboro.