As The Year Comes To A Close - Part 2 (#430)

As The Year Comes To A Close - Part 2 (#430)

Today we continue a look back at some of the news events of 2008.

May

Dottie Rambo was killed in a bus accident on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11) near Mt. Vernon, Missouri. Several others aboard the bus, including Rambo's manager Larry Ferguson, suffered serious injuries.

Canaan Records' Dave Clark announced that the label had signed Mike & Kelly Bowling to an exclusive recording contract.

The Harper Agency inked a scheduling agreement with the LeFevre Quartet.

Jacob Kitson, formerly of the Tribute Quartet, was named the new tenor vocalist for Greater Vision.

Billy Flurry, founder of the legendary Joyful Noise Supper Club in Atlanta, Ga., passed away May 19 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The club had closed in 1994.

Scott Inman (Triumphant Quartet) and Kasey Embry were married May 10 in Kentucky.

Dixie Melody Boys tenor Jonathan Price and Vivian Watkins married May 17.

June

The Pfefiers signed a booking agreement with The Dominion Agency.

Gaither Television Productions received two "Communicator Awards of Excellence", the highest honor bestowed by the International Academy of the Visual Arts.

Maysel Parsons, the mother of singer/songwriter Squire Parsons, passed away June 4.

Adison Jo Hodges was welcomed into the world by her parents, Billy and Selena Hodges, June 6. Billy is the tenor vocalist for the Kingdom Heirs.

The Set Apart family grew when Aubry Anna Simmons arrived June 3. Her parents are Bryan (vocalist and mandolin player) and Bandy Simmons of Quebeck, Tennessee.

Dave Mann joined Eighth Day.

Legacy Five's Scott Howard underwent an emergency appendectomy while on the group's Hawaiian cruise.

Raymond Parker, the father of Angie Rice and father-in-law of Kingdom Heirs vocalist Arthur Rice, passed away June 12 from complications of a stroke. He was 80 years old.

Mike Pillow, president of Lamp Music, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident near Carrollton, Ga., on June 18. He has since recovered.

Jerry Ritchie, former long-time vocalist of Gold City (and father of Greg Ritchie, formerly of Jeff & Sheri Easter), died July 1 after a long battle with cancer.

July

For the first time ever, the Bonifay (Florida) All-Nite Sing was held indoors, Saturday, July 5.

Sheri Easter announced that she had been diagnosed as having breast cancer. After a mastectomy on July 9, she began her road to recovery.

Tony Greene underwent surgery to install a dialysis port to combat ongoing renal failure.

The remains of Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, nephew of the Inspirations' Matt Dibler, were identified in Irag. Fouty and another solider from the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division (Company D, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment) had been missing for more than a year.

The Skyline Boys signed a label agreement with Crossroads Entertainment.

The Perrys announced the departure of their pianist of four years, Matthew Holt, who left the group to become the Assistant Director of the Renaissance Music Program of Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee.

August

On August 1, the Perrys announced that Bryan Elliott, formerly of the Anchormen and the Palmetto State Quartet, had joined the group as pianist.

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound learned that their "Get Away Jordan" DVD had been certified "gold" by the RIAA.

Steven Hickinbotham joined the Melody Boys Quartet as lead vocalist.

Rev. Sim T. McGinnis, age 87, passed away August 27. "Mack" had served many years with Century II Promotions.

Leo Harding, father of New Haven Records' Ken Harding, died the first weekend of August.