The special guest for episode 16 is Les Butler! Les started in radio as host of Crossroads For Christ, a Southern Gospel radio show in the Chicago market, in Oct 1978. He was a host on the Solid Gospel Radio Network, winning the March of Dimes AIR award for his Bluegrass Gospel radio show called Front Porch Fellowship. He has also hosted the Southern Gospel radio channel on Delta Airlines. Les was the Publisher of Singing News Magazine for several years. He has held various positions with the SGMA, SGMG, and NQC. He's hosted the Bluegrass Showcase at NQC for over a decade, as well as stages at Dollywood and Silver Dollar City.
Les has also played on stage with top groups such as The Kingsmen, The Isaacs, The Singing Echoes, & toured with The Old Time Preachers Quaret, playing piano & singing baritone!
Les, truly has been "behind the music" in Southern Gospel Music!
***Excerpts from this introduction about Les is from https://butlermusicgroup.com/about***
#LesButler
#BehindtheMusicPodcast
#REALSouthernGospelMusic
https://www.facebook.com/BehindMusicPodcast
Episode 15 features David Owen! David was an original member of Karen Peck & New River(1991-1999)! With David being the original bass guitarist for Karen Peck & New River, he played many great Karen Peck & New River songs nightly! Listen as David talks about the bass guitars, bass amps, & bass guitar strings that he used while touring with Karen Peck & New River.
#davidowen
#karenpeckandnewriver
#bassguitar
#modulusbass
#southerngospelmusic
#behindthemusicpodcast
The guest for Episode 14 is Scoot Shelnut! Scoot plays bass guitar & sings the bass part in the legendary, Dixie Echoes! Scoot also sang the baritone position before moving to the bass vocal position. Scoot is a very talented musician, playing the bass guitar, drums, & piano!
#scootshelnut
#dixieechoes
#bassguitar
#warriorbass
#southerngospelmusic
#behindthemusicpodcast
The guest for Episode 13 is Nick Bruno! Nick is a legendary pianist & producer for several Southern Gospel groups! The list of groups that he toured with is The Keystone Quartet, The Rebels, Coy Cook & The Senators, JD Sumner & The Stamps, and The Kingsmen! Nick produce several albums for The Kingsmen . Nick also produced the hit song, "Excuses" & also produced Squire Parsons' "Beulah Land"! Nick now works at Daywind Records as a consultant & producer!
Listen as Nick talks about his live album experiences with The Kingsmen, his days on the road with The Keystone Quartet, The Rebels, Coy Cook & The Senators, & his experience being Elvis' personal pianist!
#nickbruno
#kingsmenquartet
#JDSumnerandTheStamps
#coycookandthesenators
#keystonequartet
https://sghistory.com/index.php?n=N.NickBruno
https://www.facebook.com/nick.bruno.33821
Episode 12 features Adam Borden! Adam was my guest for Episode 1 in August 2024, but during that interview, we never talked about his bass gear that he used when touring with Gold City. We went back & recorded a new episode & did a "walk thru time" discussing the bass guitars & gear that Adam used while on the road! Adam played bass guitar with Gold City from April 5, 1995 thru 2005!
https://evangelistadamborden.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BehindMusicPodcast
https://www.facebook.com/josh89griffin/
#adamborden
#bassguitar
#southerngospelmusic
#goldcity
#bandofgold
#behindthemusicpodcast
The special guest for Episode 11 is Tim Surrett! Tim played bass, acoustic guitar & sang lead/baritone for The Kingsmen(1989-1996)(2002-2005), The Isaacs(in the late 90’s), & now Balsam Range! Tim is a very talented multi-instrumentalist & also does studio work! Surrett’s musical history includes projects with a diverse range of bluegrass, country, and gospel musicians. He has performed or recorded with Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, and Tony Rice; with the Primitives and the Isaacs; and with Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban-among many others. During his years with the Kingsmen, the quartet received the Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Band of the Year for seven straight years, from 1989 to 1995. Surrett himself was voted Favorite Musician by the Singing News readers in both 2004 and 2005. Tim is best known for recording “Wish You Were Here” & “Rise Up From My Grave” while with The Kingsmen!
#timsurrett
#kingsmenquartet
#balsamrange
#bassguitar
#acousticguitar
#bluegrass
#southerngospelmusic
#behindthemusicpodcast
https://www.facebook.com/balsamrange
https://www.facebook.com/BehindMusicPodcast
Tim Surrett – Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. (n.d.). https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/artist/tim-surrett/
Jeff Tolbert is the featured guest on Episode 10 of Behind the Music Podcast. Jeff is a popular musician & singer in Southern Gospel & Bluegrass Gospel Music! Jeff currently owns & tours with Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road! Jeff is a former member of the Primitive Quartet, for nearly 30 years! Jeff also toured with The Easter Brothers, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Isaacs, & Ricky Skaggs!
https://primitiveroadmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JeffTolbertPrimitiveQuartet
https://www.facebook.com/BehindMusicPodcast
Randy Miller has been one of gospel music's sought after musicians. Starting out at the age of fourteen, he began playing music. Randy has traveled all over the 48 states, Alaska, every providence of Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas sharing God's message through song and speaking. He has been on every major stage in the U.S. including: The Grand Ole Opry, Hollywood Bowl, the Georgia Dome and many more venues. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including: Favorite musician, Horizon Individual nominee, won numerous band awards with The Kingsmen, who he traveled with for seven years. Randy has also been inducted into The Alabama Music Hall of Fame & inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, with The Kingsmen. His love for music and God shows in every arena that he has been in. Randy now travels with his wife Sherri, speaking and singing all over North America.
#behindthemusicpodcast
#randymiller
#southerngospelmusic
#telecaster
#harmonica
Episode 8 of Behind the Music Podcast features Luke Vaught, of The Inspirations! Luke is the pianist, guitarist, fiddle player, mandolin player, & baritone vocalist for The Inspirations! Luke has been with The Inspirations since 2009! Luke has played upright bass, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, & steel guitar for The Inspirations before becoming the fulltime pianist & baritone vocalist!
Listen as Luke talks about his time with The Inspirations & about his love for musical instruments!
https://www.theinspirationsquartet.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theinspirations/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568008801109
Today's guest for Episode 7 of Behind the Music Podcast is Terry Wooten! Terry is the pianist for Gold City since 2021! Terry speaks about his time with Gold City, his musical influences, and some of his favorites in Southern Gospel Music!
I greatly enjoyed meeting Terry and getting the opportunity to interview him!
Today's guest for Episode 6 of Behind the Music Podcast is Rob Novell! Rob is the son of Dr. Charles Novell and is the Director of the Charles Novell School of Music! Rob grew up in this music school attending classes and learning from the great faculty and instructors in the school's rich history. Rob is an accomplished musician and studio producer. He traveled with & played bass guitar for Perfect Heart and has played with Triumphant Quartet and the Nelons. Rob is currently involved in a solo ministry and ministers through song and speaking. Rob owns Counterpoint Recording Productions and Counterpoint Music Group in Atlanta, GA. Rob sits on the board of the SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum.
The Charles Novell School of Music:
Today's guest for Episode 5 of Behind the Music Podcast is Trevor Conkle! Trevor currently serves as the pianist for the Mark Trammell Quartet!
Trevor has been touring with the Mark Trammell Quartet since July 20, 2017! Listen as Trevor talks about his road gear, his experiences traveling & playing piano for The Hoppers, whom he started his Gospel music career, & the Mark Trammell Quartet!
Trevor has a new solo piano recording available at his website, as well on all major streaming sites!
Nick Succi is the guest for Episode 4 of the Behind the Music Podcast! Nick resides in Hamilton, Ontario Canada!
Nick played piano for the Carolina Boys Quartet(September 2001-2003) & The Kingsmen(2004-2007)!
Listen as Nick tells how he got hired with The Carolina Boys & his experiences in Southern Gospel Music!
Today's guest is Greg Fox! Greg played drums for The Kingsmen, from 1977-2001! In the 1990's, Greg also became the road manager for The Kingsmen. Greg's father, Eldridge Fox, owned & managed The Kingsmen from 1957-2001.
Greg Fox now travels with The Hoppers, Balsam Range, & plays the drums on occasion with Carolina.
This week's guest is Richie Works! Richie plays piano for Phil Cross & Poet Voices and The Kingsmen, when his schedule allows! Richie originally joined Phil Cross & Poet Voices in the late 1990's & stayed there until 2002.
Richie just released a new instrumental album titled, 30 Southern Gospel Piano Favorites. This album is available on CD & on all of the streaming sites!
If you would like to contact Richie, his email address is drrichieworks@gmail.com
