Gospel Music

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Eric Byrd is a devoutly religious man, but religion isn't a precursor to appreciating gospel music. "I'm hoping to break whatever misconceptions people may have about the music," said Byrd, who is the director of the McDaniel College Gospel Choir. Byrd will lead a gospel workshop Saturday at the Morgan Arts Council headquarters in Berkeley Springs. Participants from Saturday might perform at a free concert Sunday with Byrd and 30 members of the McDaniel College Gospel Choir at Berkeley Springs High School auditorium.

HANCOCK - In the third of a series of artistic and community programs at Hancock's new performing arts center, the Hancock Arts Council will host "An Afternoon of Gospel Music" Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Hancock Community Center Stage at 126 W. High St. According to Arts Council Chairman Sinclair Hamilton, the show will feature a number of local gospel musicians and groups including The Praise Band of Hancock United Methodist Church performing rocking...

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. - About 100 people enjoyed gospel music and roasted hog on Saturday afternoon during the annual Summer Gospel Fest and Hog Roast at Sam Michaels Park. The Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Commission sponsors the annual event, which is meant to bring families to the county's parks, said Jennifer Myers, assistant director of the commission. Years ago, the commission offered bluegrass, country concerts and gospel concerts. Gospel music proved to be the most popular, so the event now is all about gospel and roasted hog. The hog roast was an experiment one year and proved to be a huge hit, Myers said.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com GREENCASTLE, Pa. - In 1976, Elwood and Viola Wingert and their four children decided it was time to sell the family dairy farm and follow their destiny: To go out and sing the gospel. They bought an old bus and took to the road as the Wingert Family Singer, singing their brand of gospel music at churches, weddings, funerals, retirement centers, schools, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, prisons and eventually radio and television. They've recorded nearly a dozen albums on CDs and cassettes.

City Park , Hagerstown, Gloryland Ramblers Bluegrass will present gospel music at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8.

WOLFSVILLE - Since Linda Harbaugh and Juanita Barto began singing gospel music as the Spirit-Filled Messengers, they have performed in concerts, headlined benefit programs and recorded CDs with a Nashville, Tenn., label. They also have provided water for two villages in Africa, performed prison ministry at Maryland Correctional Institution, and helped pay for food, medicine and housing for those less fortunate. "It's fine to sing and talk," Harbaugh of Greencastle, Pa., said.

There will be a gospel music concert by the Back Creek Valley Boys on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mount Zion Church, 14336 Greencastle Pike, Cearfoss. Admission is free and a goodwill offering will be taken for the group.  A basket will be placed in the front of the church for contributions for the cemetery maintenance fund. Refreshments will be served following the concert. Women's Club news • The Women's Club, at 31 S. Prospect St., will sponsor a house and garden tour in Hagerstown on Saturday, June 1. Eight houses will be on tour, including some on Oak Hill Avenue and South Prospect Street.

A strong devotion to religion can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people.  To Charles Gower of Martinsburg, it means a life with purpose, but also a hobby - songwriting.  Gower recently took his talents to a bigger stage, having a song appear on the album, "Glory" by Hilltop Records. According to Gower, the company produces a compilation project each year, with this year's focusing on gospel music. Hilltop producers screen songs submitted by beginning or young songwriters and pick the best to add to the album.

They've been called “Angels in Harlem.” And it's a pretty appropriate tag. Using their heavenly, note-blending voices, members of the Harlem Gospel Choir lift the spirit, touch the soul and share the joy of their faith. And, hallelujah, they are helping to preserve a form of music that has spoken to audiences beyond sacred places - influencing jazz, blues, soul, country and rock. For more than two decades, the Harlem Gospel Choir has shared its high-energy, hand-clapping, inspirational performances with people all over the world.

Former Elvis tribute artist Kevin Booth of Martinsburg, W.Va., picked Valentine's Day to give his first performance as a gospel singer Thursday. Booth performed at the Valentine's Day event for members of the Senior Center at Girls, Inc. Thursday afternoon. “They called me to do an Elvis program a couple months ago, so I explained to them I was no longer doing Elvis but I was doing gospel, and (they) said to come down and do Gospel then,” Booth said. “I've been in the country music field, and I always felt this calling to do gospel music.” During the performance he shared his experiences that led him to becoming a gospel singer, including working in the country music industry for 15 years and recording his own music, marrying his wife BillieJo at Graceland in Memphis in August 2007, and his experience as an Elvis tribute artist.

Brittany Clopper stood in front of her childhood home in Smithsburg watching Santa parade by on an antique fire engine. The 24-year-old, who now lives in Cascade with her husband, Ben, held her daughter, Remie, 2, in her arms. “She wanted to see Santa,” Clopper said. Clopper remembers watching parades pass her house as a girl and said it was nice to share the tradition with her own child. “We still know a lot of people in the parade,” she said. “It's a small-town thing.” The parade featuring Old St. Nick was one part of the Smithsburg Hometown Christmas celebration Friday and Saturday at various locations throughout the town.

City Park , Hagerstown, By Faith Trio and soloist Harry Ryan will present gospel music at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29.