Turn your radio on!

I have to drive 28-miles, one way, to work. That's a lot of time spent on the road going back and forth from Corryton to Farragut and back. I hate the traffic but I treasure the alone time. Every morning I always tune in to Praise 96.3 WJBZ on my truck radio. Mike Clark, the D.J., plays the best Southern Gospel music this side of heaven. I am supposed to be in the office at 9:00 AM but I very rarely ever make it on time. I'm usually passing the Cedar Bluff Rd. exit about the time the Golden Gospel Hour comes on the radio. Of course I have to sing along with it every morning, matching George Younce's bass during the opening song.

This morning as I was driving, it seemed that God was speaking to me through the songs on the radio. I guess it started when I heard the beautiful voice of Vestal Goodman singing God Walks the Dark Hills. My eyes started misting over as I sang along and thought about how God has always watched over and protected me. I could feel those glory bumps running down my arms as I imagined hearing the Highland Baptist Church choir sing that song. I decided right then and there that we would work on it in our next practice. My plan is to either have a soloist or just the altos sing the verses and then the rest of the choir join in on the verses.

Then, my favorite group of all time (the mighty Kingsmen Quartet!) came on the air singing, Ready to Leave. I was singing to the top of my lungs with my hero, Ray Reese, on this old favorite; "Ready to leave in a twinkling of an eye, making investments in the bank up in the sky, happy preparations no reason to grieve, are you in that number getting ready to leave?" I got so excited I nearly ran off the road! It was then that I started wondering, "hmmm, I wonder what it would take to get the Kingsmen to come out to Highland Baptist to sing?" If I could get the Kingsmen to come to my church it would be the a crowning achievement for me. I could probably die and be satisfied. So... my next step is to dig deeper and try to make that happen. (not to die but to get the Kingsmen out!)

On my drive home, I usually listen to WVLT news which is simulcast live on WJBZ. But, tonight I stuck my earphones in (which might be illegal while driving) and I listened to a couple of new sermons that I had downloaded to my Mp3 player. It wasn't long before I began to feel God's spirit again. I started getting excited and my head filled with ideas for my next sermon (which happens to be this coming Sunday evening.) I was so thankful that God is able to work through such simple means and for the love and mercy that he shows me each day. I am one of the least significant and lowly of his children and to know that he knows me by name almost overwhelms me.

Well, I guess I've rattled on enough. It's already 11:15 PM and I probably should try to get some rest but I'm way too excited tonight to think about sleeping. I'll probably listen to some more sermons or maybe some Kingsmen Quartet music instead!

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Mull's Singing Convention coming to the fair

Praise 96.3 WJBZ and PreView, are proud to bring the Mull's Singing Convention to the 2008 Tennessee Valley Fair! September 8th, starting at 6:30 pm. Reserved Seats - $5.00 Order now.

Featuring: The Roarks, The Parton's, Tommy Spencer, Eternal Vision, Lauren King, ReignSong.

DJ host: Shane King from Praise 96.3 WJBZ

Coordinator and Soloist - Harry House

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Here's to the preacher

Another great video posted by Ark Studios. The song, Here's To The Preacher, is written and sang by Tommy Spencer. It conveys the feelings of thousands of folks that loved preacher Mull. The video was shot at my parent's church, Union Baptist. My mother is singing in the choir on the 2nd row, 2nd from the right. She was proud to be part of this great tribute to preacher Mull.



Preacher Mull is one of the biggest influences in all of Southern Gospel music. As I sadly posted on the day of his death, Rev. Jacob Bazzel Mull was a true Christian business man and follower of Christ. His name will forever be synonymous with Southern Gospel music.

I also posted a tribute to him a year after his death. It details his life and also includes his obituary. It is hard to believe that it has already been nearly 2-years since he passed away. I still miss him.

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Praise 96.3 Listener Appreciation Concert

Great news Southern Gospel Music lovers, it's time for the Praise 96.3 listener appreciation concert! Below is all the information from the Praise 96.3 website. One group that they don't have listed in the lineup is, Cross 4 Crowns. According to the radio spots and C4C's website schedule, they will be there as well!

From Praise 96.3:

"It’s time once again for the Praise 96.3 Listener Appreciation Concert…and what a lineup we have for you!

You’ll enjoy The Roarks, Eternal Vision, Reign Song, The Hyssong's, New Heights, Kingsway, Tommy Spencer, Trevor Thomas Drama Ministries and The Parton's

And the best part…it’s all free! It’s just our way of saying thanks to you for supporting gospel music on the radio.

Here’s the date…Thursday June 5th at 6:30 pm at Black Oak Heights Baptist Church.

There’ll be a big crowd, so get there early and have a great time. It’s the annual Listener Appreciation Concert, Thursday June 5th at Black Oak Heights Baptist Church.

We'll see you there!"

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New Years Eve Concert at Union Baptist in Knoxville

Want to ring in the New Year by listening to the sweet sounds of Southern Gospel Music? Well, my friend, you are in luck! Union Baptist Church on Washington Pike, in Knoxville, TN will be overly blessed with So. Gospel. See details below:

What: New Years Eve Concert

Where: Union Baptist Church at 6701 Washington Pike, 37918, phone is 865-687-4500 or contact Dale Burress at 865-335-9405 for more details.

When: Monday, December 31, 2007 at 8pm

Who: The Roarks, Eternal Vision, The Profitts, Reignsong, Faith 3, special appearance by Lauren King and Special Inspirational speaking by Praise 96.3’s Shane King. Videos will be shown prior to the concerts.

How Much: FREE! No Admission, A Love Offering Will Be Taken

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Tim Lovelace, a Golden Oldie?

Just a little bit of Knoxville related Southern Gospel trivia.

Yesterday in the Catoosa County News, there was an article about Southern Gospel singer, writer, and comedian, Tim Lovelace. Yeah, the same Tim from the musical/comic, husband and wife team of "Tim & Mary Alice Lovelace."

The article mentions that Tim wrote the Southern Gospel song, "Old Convention Song." Well, for those of you that listen to Mike Clark on Praise 96.3 WJBZ on weekday mornings, you will quickly recognize that this is the theme song to his "Golden Gospel Hour," which airs from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. I'm a quartet kind of guy, so this is my very favorite feature that airs.

From the article: "Among his favorite compositions is “My Favorite Place,” co-written with Rodney Griffin and recorded for Greater Vision while another is “Old Convention Song.”
He shared that it is used as a theme for the oldies show on J. Bazzel Mull’s Knoxville radio station.
“It is funny it is their theme,” he said. “I sat there listening to the Speer Family and the Blackwoods and I thought to myself. I know I am becoming an old writer when a song I’ve written is the theme for the oldies show.” "

This was a really neat article. I would love to see more of these types of posts in our local newspapers.

To read the entire article, click HERE.

For more information about Tim Lovelace, click HERE.

For more information about Praise 96.3 WJBZ, click HERE.

For J. Bazzel Mull's biography, click HERE.

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Rutledge Pike Baptist radio broadcast on WJBZ

Rutledge Pike Missionary Baptist Church in Corryton, TN would like to announce that they now broadcast on Praise 96.3 WJBZ, each Sunday morning from 9:00-9:30 am.

Make sure you tune in each Sunday morning while you are getting ready for Church. You will be delighted to hear a Spirit filled message from their pastor, Rev. Gary Smith.

Visit the church website for more information. WEBSITE HERE

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What might have been

I posted this over on my Knoxville Trivia blog but thought I would add it to this one as well since it is Southern Gospel related.

The music that is the most near and dear to my heart is Southern Gospel. I have been listening to it ever since I can remember. When you live in this area of East Tennessee, it's hard not to be influenced by gospel music in some form or fashion. Whether it was listening to Preacher and Lady Mull on the Mull's Singing Convention, or being rocked to sleep by a dear old mother or granny as they sang those old gospel hymns.

I was raised on a healthy assortment of gospel music, with my dad spinning those big old 33 rpm albums on our console stereo. We listened to the Chuck Wagon Gang, the Carter family, Naomi and the Segos, the Singing Cookes, Calvary Echoes, the Inspirations, and the Primitives, just to name a few. My very favorite album in the whole world was the Kingsmen Quartet's, Big & Live. The album was recorded live in Gadsden, Alabama, in 1973 . My singing idol was the Kingsmen's bass singer, Ray Dean Reese. I sang along with him, matching every dip and slide that he made. It is with this album that I learned to sing bass. My mother was always singing also. She sang in Churches and with a trio called the Singing Rainbows. They used to travel around in the Knoxville area and sing at homecomings and such. I learned many a gospel song by listening to my mother.

My uncle, Ronnie Spencer, was a big influence in my life. He was always singing. He was in several local gospel quartets in the Knoxville area. Most notably the King's Servants Quartet. I traveled around with them as often as possible. They played every church and fair in the Knoxville and East Tennessee area. Some mighty big names came out of the King's Servants quartet, including, Steve and Kreis French, of the Kingdom Heirs, David McGill, music minister at Ridgeview Baptist and lead singer of the Bread of Life Quartet, and David Hoskins, former WJBZ radio personality and manager of Crystal River, now manager of Cross 4 Crowns.

I perfected my bass singing talents under the direction of the late Mr. Jerry Reeves, former choral director at Gibbs high school. It was during my time in chorus that I learned to read music, how to breath properly, and how to conduct myself as a musician. I was classified as a "contrabass." Mr. Reeves nicknamed me "boom-boom." My friends and I started a barbershop/gospel quartet and we went around singing at different churches. That was my first taste of how God works his power through music. Sadly, after graduation, we all went our separate ways and the singing stopped. I still sang in Church and with my family, but not with any organized quartets or groups.

I was 19 years old, had been married for about 6 months, when the phone rang at my house. I answered, and on the other end of the line was Steve French. Steve had started up a quartet that was singing part-time at Silver Dollar City (now Dollywood), and they were looking for a bass singer. He wanted me to come out the next week and practice with them and see how I liked it. "Well, I'll think about it," was my reply. The truth was, I was scared to death. I made every excuse I could think of. "I'm newly married and can't be away from home." I'm working full-time and don't think I could give up the $4.25 an hour that I am making." Blah, blah, blah... One of the guys in the group, Wayne Mitchell, ran a Service Master company and even offered me a job working for him. "I'll think about it," I said. I wrestled with the decision night and day, right up until the evening that I was supposed to meet with them. I didn't show up. I missed out on my golden opportunity to do what I always wanted to do with my life. How could I have been so stupid? If I had put my trust and faith in God during that time, and not relied on myself, things would have been much different. The Lord only knows all of the great things I have missed out on since that opportunity 20 years ago. There is hardly a day goes by that I don't think about it.

Nowadays, I try to use my God given talents by leading the music program at my church. I still have dreams of singing bass in a big time Southern Gospel quartet, but if that never happens, I'll be OK with it. Meanwhile, I'll be satisfied knowing that I am trying to follow God's will in my life, and not my own. Still, I can't help but wonder...what might have been?

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Jacob Bazzel Mull Biography

I've been thinking about Preacher Mull a lot lately. It is hard to believe that next week it will be a year since he passed away and I was blogging about it. He was such a big part of my life growing up. We always tuned in to the Mull's Singing Convention on WBIR-10 television every Sunday morning before church. We also attended numerous Mull concerts in Knoxville. I still watch the Mull's Singing Convention, however, it is now on WVLT-8 on Sunday mornings at 7:00. Mrs. Mull and Charlotte still carry on the tradition, but it just isn't the same without the preacher.

Some time earlier this year, the information and biography about Preacher Mull was taken off the Praise 96.3 website. I emailed the webmaster and asked what was up, but I have never gotten a response back. The only reference I can find on the site concerning the preacher is a small blurb about him underneath an ad for the Mull's Songbook series. So, I did some web cache work and pieced together a biography for him. You can read it below.

Biography of Preacher Mull:

Rev. Jacob Bazzel Mull was born October 4, 1914 in Burke County, North Carolina. He was born into a musical family and, as a child, played the banjo in "The Valdese Sacred Band," a gospel group made up of his mother, father, brothers, and sisters. His grandfather, Wallace B. Mull, was a circuit riding preacher in the 1800's.

Rev. Mull became legally blind at the age of eleven months when he fell into an open-pit fireplace. He only had a 3rd grade education yet became one of the most successful preachers, promoters, and businessmen in the Southern Gospel music industry.

He began preaching in 1939 when he was twenty-five years old. He said he learned scripture by having it read to him day and night. God gave him a memory for scripture. It was hard for him to remember a telephone number, but he could remember scripture.

In 1942, Rev. Mull moved to Knoxville to start his first radio program on WROL AM then to WNOX AM in Knoxville. He produced his first gospel concert in 1943. He promoted thousands of gospel concerts over a fifty-year span. He became well known all over the nation when ,between the years 1957 and 1982, he sold Chuck Wagon Gang records on several fifty thousand watt radio stations.

Rev. Mull met Elizabeth Brown (Lady Mull) at a church in Lenoir City during a revival. After an extended courtship, they were married September 10, 1944. Mrs. Mull became his eyes and she continuously read the Bible to him, adding to his Biblical knowledge. Rev. Mull organized several churches in North Carolina and Tennessee. He had one daughter, Charlotte, and one grandson, Doug.

Rev. Mull was the owner of four gospel music stations. The flagship station was Praise 96.3 WJBZ in Knoxville, where Rev. Mull and his wife hosted the Mull's Singing Convention from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday and he taught Bible Prophecy each Sunday at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm.

Rev. Mull was a 2003 Inductee into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and a recipient of the 2006 Living Legend Award at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion. Rev. Mull passed away September 5, 2006 after suffering from a stroke while living in Shannondale Nursing Home. He was 91. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beulow and Artie Mull; brothers, Dwight, WB and Romulus, who died in service of his county; sister, Modell Ball. Survived by his devoted and loving wife, Elizabeth Brown Mull; daughter, Charlotte Mull Hutchinson; devoted grandson, Douglas J.M. Hutchison and beloved wife, Julia Hutchison, all of Knoxville; sister, Jenny Maye Eller; brothers, Robert Lee Mull of Gastonia, N.C., and Keith Mull of Mobile, Ala.

(Much of the biography above, was adapted from cached pages of the history of Praise 96.3 WJBZ radio station. Also from various sources on the web and from personal recollection. I posted the information here as a tribute to preacher Mull.)

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J. Bazzel Mull's Obituary from the Farragut Press (scroll down page, 3rd one listed)

J. Bazzel Mull's Wiki entry

Preacher Mull Dead at 91 from WBIR

Reverend Mull Supports the Panama Canal Treaty Video from WBIR

Remembering Mull's Singing Convention from Chattanoogan.com

Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame entry

Preacher Mull story from the Metro Pulse

Preacher Mull's Obituary On-Line Guest Book

Speech from Congressman John J. Duncan Jr. concerning preacher Mull

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Mike Clark said...
Byron, Thank you for the tribute to a great man.I was priveleged to get to know Preacher Mull and Mrs. Mull when I came to work at Praise 96.3 nine years ago. I was a little nervous when I actually met the man, but he was gracious as could be, making me feel welcome.As long as gospel music is played on the radio, or sung in concerts, Preacher Mull's legacy will live on. Ain't that right? Mike Clark (Mike in the Morning)
8/31/07 10:21 AM

Byron Chesney said...
That's right Mike, thanks for the comment. Keep up the good work over at jbz.
8/31/07 3:53 PM

Missyb64 said...
I think all Sundays should start with R.T. Faulkner reading the local news on the AM station in Jeff. City and Rev. Mull & Lady Mull playing gospel on Channel 10... that and fried chicken is what makes it Sunday in Jefferson County! Thanks for noting the life of a wonderful man... would that we could just hear that gravelly voice saying "have we got some sangin' Miz Mull?" one more time. Hope you enjoy my ramblings too, yours are great!
9/23/07 6:57 PM

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Meeting My Bass Singing Hero Ray Dean Reese

I recently posted about my childhood hero Big John Tate, and in that article I mentioned that another one of my hero’s was Ray Dean Reese from the Kingsmen Quartet. This got me to thinking, hmmm, what could I post about Ray Reese that is related to Knoxville? Well duh, one of my most memorable moments is the night I met Ray Reese in the lobby of the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville and had my picture taken with him!

Go back in time to 1998. I was only 31 years old then and about 40 lbs lighter! It was a Mulls Praise 96.3 concert event at the Tennessee Theatre. That was before the major restoration of course, but the Tennessee has always been a grand place to me. I was so excited to be attending the Kingsmen Quartet concert. On the line-up with the Kingsmen were Phil Cross & the Poet Voices, Greater Vision, Tony Gore & Majesty, and the Whisnants. Wow, what a concert event!

I arrived at the Tennessee early enough to see many of the performers as they unpacked their CD’s and merchandise to set up on tables just inside the front lobby. I browsed through the goods and talked briefly with some of the folks, when all of a sudden I saw my Southern Gospel music idol, Ray Reese! Man, was I excited. I had been listening to Ray Reese sing bass ever since I can remember. My favorite record in the whole wide world was the Kingsmen’s 1973 album “Big and Live.” I would play it over and over and over, singing every note with ol’ Ray. One of my favorites was “So High” “Well, I went down to the valley, but I didn’t go there to stay, but when my soul got happy in the valley boys, well I stayed down there all day. Don’t you know that it’s high, so high, you can’t get over it, wide, so wide you can’t get around it, low, so low, you can’t get under it, you gotta come in at the door.”

I nervously walked up to Ray and said, “Hi Ray, I’m Byron Chesney, and I’m so glad to meet you.” My face felt like it was on fire and I felt like a silly little kid or something, geesh. Anyways, Ray gave me a huge smile, stuck out his hand and nearly shook my arm off. I asked him if he would mind to have his picture taken with me and he grinned and wrapped his arm around me putting me in a headlock. I thought I had died and gone to Southern Gospel Heaven.

So my wife snapped a picture of me and Ray Reese standing in the lobby of the Tennessee Theatre. That was one of the happiest moments of my life. Yeah, go ahead and laugh, I’m a big guy and I can take it.

Oh yea, the concert was phenomenal, I laughed, sang, shouted, and cried that night. I also took a few pictures. I was sitting pretty far back and there was a 7 foot giant sitting in front of me but I managed to get a few shots in.

Btw… The Kingsmen Quartet will be having their 50^thAnniversary reunion concert this coming Monday, March 5, 2007, at the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga,TN at 7:00 pm. If you want to see a great concert, you need to be there! Go here for details.

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Reverend Mull Passes Away

Reverend Mull Passes Away

I heard the sad news this morning. Reverend J. Bazzel Mull, age 91, had passed away at 4:30 am. My mind went back to my early childhood days when our family would sit around the old black and white television and watch Mr. and Mrs. Mull introduce our favorite Southern Gospel groups. The loving banter between the Mulls was always funny to watch. He would joke around and she would pinch his leg under the table letting him know it was time to move on with the program. I would often try to imitate preacher Mull. I would look over at my sisters and in a raspy voice would say, "Aint that right lady Mull?" They would snicker. There wasn't a Sunday that went by that we didn't tune in to the Mulls Singing Convention on t.v.

The Mulls were a fixture in this part of East, TN. The Mull name was known far and wide throughout the South East. My first singing concert was a Mull's Singing Convention. We would go to the Civic Coliseum and see the Mighty Kingsmen Quartet, the Inspirations, McKameys, and other big name groups. As times went on, the concert attendance got smaller and the events were held at smaller venues such as the Tennessee Theater and the governors Palace in Pigeon Forge. Mull's radio station, Praise 96.3, WJBZ was a Godsend to us, as we could listen to Southern Gospel music 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Rev. Jacob Bazzel Mull was a true Christian business man and follower of Christ. His name will forever be synonymous with Southern Gospel music. I will truly miss him.

Read his biography here.

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