Last night my family and I attended the Stamp's Quartet concert at Clear Springs Baptist Church in Mascot, TN. This has been a really rough week for us and we were really looking forward to getting away from everything and just enjoy some good Southern Gospel Music. And, enjoy it we did! Even my 14-year old daughter had a good time at the concert, and that's saying a lot considering how much she complained about me "forcing" her to go. Of course, I found out the true reason she enjoyed it...she, along with all of the other young girls at the concert, was struck on the young 18-year old bass singer in the group. She said that he was "CUTE!" So, anyways, let's get on with the concert review:
The concert was scheduled to start at 7:00 pm. We arrived about a quarter till and were surprised to see such a crowd already there. As we walked in the foyer of the church we were greeted by a nice gentleman, whom we later learned was the music minister. He handed us a pre-Christmas flyer that was advertising the Living Christmas Tree program that they are going to perform on Dec. 7-9 this year. We entered the church and took up a bench on the right hand side of the 3-row sanctuary, about 3/4 of the way back. We spotted one of our old friends, whom we knew from when I was the music minister at House Mountain Baptist, and she came over to welcome us. After that we settled in for some good Southern Gospel.
After the church's music minister opened up with a couple of verses of 'He Keeps Me Singing,' the church pastor,
Rev. Chris Taylor, came forward and led us in prayer. Shortly afterwards, the Stamps Quartet took the stage.
Ed Enoch, the man that Elvis Presley once said had the “most powerful and best lead voice in Gospel music,” filled the stage with his presence. With him were four young men that make up the rest of the Stamps Quartet. Tenor,
Joseph Frech from Lynchburg, VA. Baritone,
Michael Hellwig from Canada. Bass, eighteen-year old
Seth Dillehey from Tennessee. Last but not least, their new hot-shot Pianist,
Hale White, whom has taken over since Harriman, TN native,
Andy Stringfield, departed 2 weeks ago to play piano for the
Kingdom Heirs.
We came to hear some singing and we were not disappointed. During the one-hour concert, the Stamps performed 18 songs! They opened up with the catchy, 'I Just Feel Something Good is About to Happen,' and then just poured out song after song, only pausing long enough to do a few introductions and to tell a couple of jokes. I was really hoping to hear Ed Enoch tell a little bit of his rich Southern Gospel background, but he never even mentioned himself or any of his great accomplishments. Instead he bragged on all of the talented young men that he has surrounded himself with, and tried to get the single ones married off. Some of my favorite songs that they sang were, 'Up Above My Head,' 'Cross Over Jordan,' 'Glory Road,' 'Oh What A Savior,' and of course one of the Stamps all-time classics, 'Give the World a Smile.'
The concert was over before we knew it and we walked out thankful that we spent our Friday evening listening to some great Southern Gospel music instead of sitting around watching television or playing on the computer. My only complaint was that I didn't check the batteries in my camera before I left the house and I was only able to take two pictures, neither of which turned out very good. Oh well, live and learn!
If you would like to see the Stamps Quartet in concert, you are in luck. They have several concerts scheduled around the Knoxville area this month. Check out their schedule
here.
Matt Felts joins Cross 4 Crowns as new tenor
