I have been singing all my life. As a child in Church. In college, with a Gospel Ensemble. As a young Adult in in the Church Choir and the Cantada Choir under the direction of CeCe McCune at Meadow Bridge United Methodist Church.
I was born in Hinton, WV and lived there until age six. I have lived most of my life in a rural Fayette County town or Meadow Bridge,WV.
My Home town was blessed with several much more musically talented people than I who have performed. I remember the "Weekends" at Michelle's Place in the Lane listening to Mabel and Michelle McCoin, Danny Hiser and Jackie Kincaid. Carmella Ramsey who has performed with Patty Loveless and Reba hails from there also. There are many talented Singers/performers and instrumentalists in Meadow Bridge,WV. Just go visit The Meadow Bridge Good News Outreach Mission on Tuesday nights at 6pm to find out! Local men and women such as: the now deceased-Leonard Williams, Joe Yancey, Jess Redden(now deceased), Daryl Pomeroy, Dorothy Lilly, my Uncle Everette playing his harmonicas and sometimes Billy Walkup sings a tune with others who join in just to name a few.
I attended Meadow Bridge High School where I was active in the High School Choir and Drama.( We won't tell when our graduation year was, didn't your mother teach you two things you never ask a woman, her age and weight) I attended Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi,WV where I was a member of The Gospel Emsemble lead by Leon Lewis.
Even though I always loved to sing, I never really had a solo experience until:
The first time I ever sang solo at Maudes Chapel United Methodist Church near Grassy Meadows,WV at their Homecoming in the early 1990's. I was scared to death as a stood there singing Silver and Gold a Dolly Parton Tune. After that I sang in different location for the Summers County Church Singing Conventions, church revivals And met some great singers like Joy in the Morning, Carol(Kincaid) Bragg and Lois Kincaid with Lawrence Crane trio, The Monks of Hinton, Rita Keaton, Janie from Hines, WV, My Cousin Midge Crookshanks of Rupert,WV and a young man, a tenor named Shannon From Hines also.
I am serving the Lord as a pastor for the United Methodist Church in West Ohio. I am loving it! Since being in Ohio I have used music along with my message I preach from the pulpit.
Psalm 100: Make a Joyful noise all ye lands serve the Lord with Gladness, come before His presense with Singing!!!!!!!!!!
That is what I do-Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord! When I do use music in worship I get nostalgic and think about Rev. Homer Elkins , my pastor in childhood- who sometimes sang music that he had written for us in his messages. I guess, I carry that type of light also.
