If you’re in the mood for some good old fashioned southern gospel music, then you will be pleased to find out that Fayetteville First United Methodist Church is the place to be this weekend. Sunday evening, Nov. 13, the church will play host to two Georgia-based gospel groups.
The concert, which will take place in the main sanctuary of the church beginning at 6 p.m., will feature Peachland Quartet as well as The Diplomats.
Hailing from Carrollton, Ga., The Diplomats is made up of five individuals of varying ages and backgrounds. The group has seen several incarnations over the years but one thing remains the same: each member has a love for southern gospel music.
The Diplomats have released five albums to date with plans for a sixth in the works. Their most recent album, “Down to the River” has given them their first “Top 80” song according to the November 2005 issue of “Singing News” magazine. The title track has been ranked #61 by the Southern Gospel Music magazine.
Jimmy Pearson acts as the group’s emcee and songwriter. Jimmy started singing full-time when he was 17 years old, and has performed with The Americans and the original Diplomats and now heads the new Diplomats. Jimmy’s wife, Rita, represents the only female voice in the group. Rita started singing when she and Jimmy were married. Corey Pearson, who began playing music at the age of 8, acts as the group’s band leader. Corey began playing drums for his parents when he was just 12 years old. Lamar Newton, the pianist for The Diplomats, has been playing gospel music almost his entire life. He grew up playing piano and organ in church and started playing for groups when he was 14 years old. He played for several regional groups and for three years played professionally for The Nelons. He and his wife Vicki have worked together as Ministers of Music in different churches as they both play and direct music. After many years of traveling with the Diplomats, Kevin Cooke has now joined the group singing bass. Kevin grew up loving southern gospel music. He graduated from the University of Georgia, and now resides in Carrollton. More information about The Diplomats can be found at their website, www.diplomatsqt.com.
Also performing at Sunday night’s concert is Atlanta’s own Peachland Quartet. The quartet recently released their latest album, “Songs We Wish We’d Written.”
Peachland is a part-time professional southern gospel male quartet based in Atlanta. They have sung in hundreds of churches since the group’s inception 20 years ago. They “strive to attain the highest quality and professionalism in (their) music, concerts and ministry of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,” their website reads.
Barry Lancaster has been singing since he was 13 and sang with a youth quartet called The New Home Singers. He won the southeastern regional male vocal championship for the Regency talent search, which is a preliminary tournament for Star Search, and moved to Georgia in 1984. Barry has sung tenor for Peachland since 1992. Lead vocalist, Ken Durand’s family formed a southern gospel group that traveled extensively around the southeast as the Lordsmen Singers; recording on the Lefevre Sound label in Atlanta. He spent his college years traveling and singing extensively, and was named the featured baritone soloist for the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra in 1987. Matt Tyler, a native Atlantan, is the baritone singer for the quartet. Matt attended Mt. Carmel Christian Church for over 25 years, leading various singing trios and ensembles, and now attends Blackshear Place Baptist Church. He has been singing with Peachland since 1993. Matt Waymack developed an interest in music in the sixth grade when he began playing trumpet in band. While continuing his trumpet playing in the Redcoat Band at UGA he developed an interest in singing as well. During college he also sang bass for two groups at the Baptist Student Union. Matt has sung bass with Peachland since 1999, and is the webmaster for the Peachland web site.
The Peachland Quartet currently has 3 albums out. To learn more about the Peachland Quartet visit their website at www.peachlandquartet.com.
“These are excellent groups with many recordings, and we are looking forward to having them in Fayetteville,” a church spokesperson said. “It will be a night of inspirational music you will not want to miss.”
The concert will last approximately two hours and proceeds will support the retirement of Fayetteville First UMC’s Family Life Center mortgage.
Advanced tickets are on sale for $10 each and may be obtained from the church office at 175 East Lanier Ave., Fayetteville, or by calling 770-461-4313.