VALDOSTA —
The Georgians’ annual homecoming concert is a little later this year than in the past, but the popular Christian singing group arrives with a new honor.
The Georgians have been named the Southeastern Southern Gospel Music Conference’s Male Quartet of the Year. The Valdosta-based group won this top honor from gospel groups from eight Southern states, including Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Louisiana.
Georgians member Calvin McGuyrt describes the distinction of the group being named Male Quartet of the Year as being the greatest achievement of his 50-plus-year professional singing career.
The Georgians’ beginnings are pinned to McGuyrt’s life. Raised in a family of gospel music, McGuyrt was raised on the shape-note singing of his father who taught the musical style in several schools. His father was also the leader of the Stamps Melody Quartet, according to the Georgians’ history. Upon his father’s retirement from the group, Calvin McGuyrt became its leader.
In 1955, McGuyrt changed the name of the group to the Georgians. For several years through the late ’50s and ’60s, McGuyrt and the Georgians traveled throughout the nation performing their brand of barbershop-quartet harmonies applied to gospel music. In 1962, the Georgians signed with Songs of Faith in Nashville, Tenn., joining gospel names such as The Segos, Wendy Bagwell & The Sunlighters and The Florida Boys. The Georgians recorded albums and toured.
Yet, the life of a musician on the road is difficult, and McGuyrt left full-time touring. He became a minister of music, led a 70-member church choir, became involved in several endeavors, but he never forgot the Georgians and his days of touring and singing.
In 2002, McGuyrt felt compelled to revive the Georgians.
In the decade since, the group has recorded about one CD per year, embracing various musical genres for their songs of faith.
With this weekend’s Georgians Homecoming, the group has its latest CD, “Mountain Moving Songs,” with the tag line “Some are Old, Some are New — All are Gold, All are True.” This album features the latest ensemble of the Georgians and, even though it won the award for best quartet, the current line-up features five members. They are Todd Johnson, tenor; Jeremy Adkins, lead vocals; Mark Heffelfinger, second tenor; Kevin Parten, bass; and McGuyrt, baritone.
Yet, this year, McGuyrt has a solo recording, a single featuring his voice accompanied by a big band sound. The song is “Don’t Wait for the Storm to Pass, Learn to Dance in the Rain.”
“There are a lot of songs with the message, Lord, just don’t leave me during the storm,” McGuyrt says. “I love those songs, but I was trying to take it one step further. Not that it’s easy, but we can seek to be happy during those difficult times, whether it’s the death of a loved one or a spouse, we can attempt to dance in the rain.”
The Georgians Homecoming features the Georgians, The Diamonds, and VictorySong, 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, New Covenant Church, 3531 Bemiss Road. No admission charge. A love offering taken.
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Valdosta group named gospel’s Male Quartet of the Year
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