We decided to return to Pleasant Hill this evening and attend the annual Gospel show which is held at the picturesque pavillion on the city square. There were three distinctly different groups featured here tonight, but each with the same message of hope and inspiration. The weather couldn't have been any better and the music was wonderful. The first group consisted of three friends from the Independence/Blue Springs area, Shelly Peterson, Debby Stout and Kelly Spencer who called themselves "All The Above" and have been singing and performing together for the past 8 years. They sang traditional southern gospel and their harmonizing was awesome on numbers such as: "God's Good," "It Ain't Gonna Worry Me Long," "The Victory's In The Shout," "I'm Traveling Light," "On-Time God," "Jesus Loves Me" and "I'll Fly Away." Next up was "Gospel Echoes," a country gospel band with two husband/wife teams, Ruby & Tom Standiford and Leo & Sharon Smith with our pal Art Covey. There was definately some fine picking and singing on old-time gospel songs as well as newer ones such as: "I Learned About Jesus In Grandma's Rockin Chair," "Falling Leaves," "Let's Go Down To The River," Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord," 'I'll Meet You On The Other Side Of Jordan," "Royal Telephone," "It Wasn't Rainin When Noah Built The Ark," "Lay Down Your Heavy Load," "The God Of The Day Is The God Of The Night" and "One Day At A Time." The third and last group was composed of two sisters, Darla Zook & Ranae Almos and two brothers Calvin and Willard Yoder who call themselves "Jubilee Transfer" and hail from Garden City, MO. They did such an unbelievable job singing barbershop quartet-type gospel music that you just have to hear it to picture it. Among their selections were: "I'm Winging My Way Back Home," "My Sins Are Gone," "I'll Hold To The Hand Of My Lord," "I'll Arise," "Jubilee In Heaven," "Little Pine Log Cabin," "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "Bye Bye Blues," "Crowning" and "What A Morning That Will Be." It was a great show on a perfect evening and we left feeling blessed. (Below) Gospel Echoes performs.
