A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN

Last night I experienced another "first" in my life.  I was privelged to attend a Bill Gaither Homecoming Concert at the Key Arena in Seattle.  I went on a chartered bus from here in town on the busy I-5 highway to Seattle's Key Arena (just blocks from the Space Needle).  I'd never even been in the "Key" before so that was an experience, in it's self.

For those of you not familiar with Bill Gaither, he and his wife Gloria have written literally hunderds of great gospel songs and choruses over the last 30 years. One that almost everyone has heard of is "He Touched Me."   A lot of them have a southern gospel sound that sets your toes a tapping and your hands a clapping. 

Among those present and singing at the concert last night were of course, the Gaithers, the Gaither Vocal Band members, the great Jesse Dixon,  Russ Taff (formerly of the Imperials), Jeff & Sheri Easter with Charlotte Ritchie, a newer gospel quartet of young men..Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and last but not least...Ben Speer, at age 76, the last of the original Speer Family gospel singers.  There was a beautiful tribute to some of the southern gospel singers that have passed on and also a loving & moving tribute to their former piano player Anthony Burger, who at age 44 had a fatal heart attack while playing at one of their concerts last fall.

This was their first concert stop for the fall  (they had just returned from an Alaskan cruise Friday morning....Kathy can you imagine being on that ship?)  So they were fresh and crazy and full of fun.  They played and sang for 4 hours...yup from 7pm until a little after 11pm.  It was truly wonderful.  I have their fall concert schedule so if anyone is interested I can let you know if they are coming to your area between now and the end of December.

Uncil next time.............Linda