As The Year Comes To A Close (#429)

As The Year Comes To A Close (#429)

Believe it or not, the year 2008 is packing up and making room for another set of 365 days - just when I've finally quit writing 2007 on my checks.

As so often is the case, the end of the a year brings about the opportunity to "rewind" and look at what has transpired during the preceding twelve months. Here are just some of the events that took place in the first four months of 2008.

January

Dan Keeton (formerly of the Dixie Melody Boys), announced the formation and the names of the members of the Dan Keeton Quartet.

The Greenes narrowly escaped serious injury - and a completely totaled bus - when a front tire on their bus failed and the bus went off an embankment.

Greg and Charlotte Ritchie announced their resignations from Jeff & Sheri Easter, effective March 3. Greg had been with the group since 1994, and Charlotte had sang soprano for the trio for 12 years.

Johnny Beacham joined the Providence Quartet.

Southeastern concert promoter Norman Bonds suffered a heart attack and underwent multiple-bypass surgery.

Joseph Cox returned to the Old Paths after a stint as the pianist for Mike & Kelly Bowling.

The Crist Family and the Harper Agency reached a scheduling agreement.

The State of Georgia honored Karen Peck & New River with a House Resolution, celebrating the group's musical success and Grammy Nomination.

Justin Johnson, the 28-year old son of SpringHill Record Company executive Phil Johnson, was killed in an auto accident January 1.

Leo Ruppe (62), husband of Brenda Ruppe, and father of Kim Ruppe Lord, Heather Ruppe Day and Valerie Ruppe Ellenburg, passed away January 8 following a battle with cancer.

Donald Watkins (66) of the bluegrass-gospel group, the Watkins Family, passed away January 26 following a heart attack he suffered while on tour in North Carolina.

Ernie Phillips (former Kingsmen tenor and father of Mark Trammell Trio tenor Eric Phillips) underwent successful surgery to remove a tumorous mass in Asheville, North Carolina. He is in good health today.

Wayne "Ole Nanner Puddin'" Lacey of the Lacey Family passed away January 30 in Sun City, Florida.

February

WCIS, the radio station owned by the Whisnants of Morganton, N.C., was destroyed by fire. Investigations determined that the fire was the work of an arsonist.

Abraham Productions, one of Southern Gospel music's prominent concert promotion organizations, announced that Jeff Whisnant (Whisnants) and Ivan Parker had joined Ray Flynn, Dean Hopper, Roger Talley and Tony Greene as board members of the entity.

Mike & Kelly Bowling and the Harper Agency came to terms for the group's booking schedule.

Canaan Records signed the LeFevre Quartet to a recording agreement.

Ray Bullard, former long-time owner of the Anchormen Quartet, passed away February 1 in Goldsboro, N.C., after many years of health difficulties.

Crabb Revival signed a recording agreement with Daywind Records.

Jason Crabb signed with the Spring Hill Music Group.

Canaan Records announced a solo recording agreement with Kim Hopper.

Former Singing News "Super Fan" award winner (1990), Donald "Doc" Duggar passed February 4 in Douglasville, Georgia.

Danny Koker, the original baritone vocalist (and sometimes pianist) for the Cathedral Quartet passed away in Las Vegas, Nev., following a lengthy illness.

Harold McVey, one of Gold City's original bass singers, passed away February 18 after battling cancer. Tim Riley succeeded McVey as bass vocalist in the early 1980s.

March

Aaron and Amanda Crabb signed with Daywind Records.

The Southern Gospel Music Association announced that the 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees would be Luther G. Presley, Fred E. Daniel, Herchel Lester, Polly Grimes, Squire Parsons and Ray Dean Reese.

One of gospel music's biggest concert events, the annual Westfall Gospel Sing in Williamsport, Ohio, was forced to reschedule after a severe winter storm blanketed the area with several FEET of snow. (The event was held in April.)

Eddie Crook joined the newly-reformed Prophets Quartet as pianist.

Tony Greene announced a new home for the Greenes' Annual Gospel Singing Jubilee - the Rally Park at the massive Tom Johnson Camping Center in Marion, North Carolina.

John and Jennifer Rulapaugh (Blackwoods) announced the arrival of their second daughter, Joscelyn, on March 29. The Rulapaugh's oldest daughter, Jaydon, was two years old at the time.

Jonathan Wilburn announced his resignation from Gold City after a run of 12 years as lead vocalist. He was replaced by Gadsden, Alabama, native Bruce Taliaferro.

Wesley Smith was named the new tenor for the Dixie Echoes.

Paul Lancaster joined the Greenes following the departure of Brad Hudson.

Jason Waldroup announced his resignation from Greater Vision to become music minister at a Texas church. Jason joined the trio in 1995.

April

Tenor Brent Hopper announced his resignation from the Soul'd Out Quartet after a five-year stay. Former Crystal River tenor Dusty Barrett filled the vacancy.

Jocelyn Ruth Greene made her debut April 2. Jocelyn is the second child for Tony and TaRanda Greene, joining her big sister Belle.

The 2003 Singing News "Super Fan" award winner, Mary Ann Price, passed away in Gardendale, Ala., on April 23.

Everyday Driven announced that the group's members were heading in different ministry directions.

The Dominion Agency and the Nelons reached a scheduling agreement.

Southern Gospel promoter Ed Fastnacht (Midlands Promotions, Council Bluffs, Iowa), passed away April 8 from complications of a stroke.