One thing that I definitely find spiritually refreshing is being out with folks who truly love and trust the Lord Jesus Christ … and especially when they are lovers of Southern Gospel music and listeners to enLighten.
Alicia and I … as I’ve mentioned on the air … recently returned from a trip south, which took us as far as Palmetto, Florida, where Bill Bailey holds his annual Winter Gospel Convention. While we got a late start out of the Nation’s Capital, we did manage to catch about half of the big six-day event. It’s always a joy to be there, as there are so many devoted enLighten listeners attending who we have the opportunity to chat with, as well as Bill always having several different artists each day for us to see as well.
Next, we headed about 70 miles north and spent several days with grandchildren and great-grandchildren … then it was on to Ocala, Florida.
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound . . .
Marlin with Ernie Haase and Landon Beene
I hadn’t had an opportunity to see and hear Ernie and the Signature Sound guys in quite some time, so catching up with them at the First Baptist Church in Ocala fit perfectly into our travel schedule. As you may have read, lead singer Devin McGlamery was not with them at the moment … as he was injured a few days earlier and had flown home to Nashville for surgery.
Filling in for Devin was one of God’s great multi-multi-talented gifts to Southern Gospel music, Wayne Haun … and he did a commendable job. Wayne, of course, has been the group’s pianist for the past few years, plus he’s also a composer and a recording producer for any number of groups – I did not know he could sing as well.
Ocala, Marlin with Don Ruland
As you see in the photo, I was wearing my enLighten T-shirt that evening. During intermission, a lady approached me, asking where I had gotten the shirt. As I explained there were no more and that I was affiliated with the station … she declared that I must follow her, as her husband had to meet me. That’s Don Ruland in the picture and his wife is Dana.
In the other photo is, of course, Ernie Haase, along with yours truly. The other gentleman is Landon Beene, who was formerly the leader of the singing family group, the Beenes. He now has joined the ranks, along with Bill Bailey, of major Southern Gospel concert promoters. His organization is known as IMC Concerts, and he handled the Signature Sound tour through Florida, as well as some recent group tours through the western states … and two forthcoming excursions to Arizona, California and the state of Washington in March and June by the Booth Brothers.
Bill Bailey
Plus, it’s just been announced that Landon is taking over Garden Spot Promotions, the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania-based promoter that has produced so many great Southern Gospel events in central Pennsylvania for so, so many years. For the past several years now, it was under the capable management of Twila Rohrer.
What brings joy to my heart is seeing Landon placing emphasis on bringing great Southern Gospel performances to parts of North America where I know there are many lovers of Southern Gospel and where enLighten has many listeners … but has seen little in the way of live performances in the past.
For more information about what all Landon is doing, visit www.imcconcerts.com and www.gardenspotpromotions.com.
By the way, Bill Bailey’s Winter Gospel Convention in 2013 will be February 4th through 9th.
Marlin
