Published: May 02, 2008 05:23 pm            

The Marksmen Quartet will bring mountain sounds to Ringgold

Bluegrass and country gospel legends The Marksmen Quartet will bring traditional mountain sounds to Ringgold

Dove nominees Marksmen Quartet will bring their unique style of gospel music to the Ringgold Depot at Depot Street and U.S. 41 Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. in a special concert for the Share America Foundation, Inc. Also appearing will be the Frettin’ on Faith Dulcimer Club of the First Baptist Church of Ringgold. An art exhibit by Catoosa County’s Chuck Frye will also be featured. Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” will emcee. Ticket donation is $5.

The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund. The Share America Foundation, Inc., a Georgia non-profit, presents scholarships to talented musicians who excel in the Appalachian musical arts.

“In the mountains of Northeast Georgia, our family has passed music from generation to generation,” said Earle Wheeler, quartet leader. “This is a unique opportunity for us to help some youth continue in that same tradition.

“We knew both Pearl and Floyd and many of the musicians they encouraged in their lives, among them were my son Mark and our bass singer Darrin Chambers,” he said. “This scholarship fund is a great tribute to both of them.”

The Marksmen are four-time Country Gospel Quartet of the Year winners from the Country Gospel Music Guild. They will perform many of their hits songs including “He Is I Am,” “Meet Me In Heaven,” “Potter’s Wheel,” “Preach the Cross” and “Grandpa Was a Farmer.”

Their recent Dove nomination for Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year put them in an exclusive group of performers sharing the honors with performers such as Ricky Skaggs and the Whites and Lizzy Long, Little Roy Lewis and Earl Scruggs.

“I am blessed to have a wonderful group of pickers and singers that work with me on stage to present the gospel in song in an energetic way,” he said. "We were deeply honored to be included among the top five performers in our genre."

After and more than 40 albums, winning four times as Gospel Bluegrass Band of the Year from SPBGMA, the group continues its legendary musical legacy with their latest CD project by Earle Wheeler, Mark Wheeler, Darrin Chambers and Davey Waller “God’s Masterpiece” from Rural Rhythm. Mountain Heart’s Barry Abernathy and Jim Van Cleve guest on the project.

The Marksmen Quartet’s chart topping single “Timber and Nails” has already climbed to the top of the country gospel charts and their latest single is “God’s Masterpiece."

Donations for tickets are adults: $5, Children 5 and under free with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at The Catoosa County News (706) 935-2621 in Ringgold and SonShine Christian Books (706) 861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe. For more information, Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.

        

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