In the world of Southern gospel music, where the male quartet has always dominated the scene, it has been unheard of for a trio to be named the fans’ favorite group. Until now.
At last year’s National Quartet Convention, the Booth Brothers were chosen as group of the year in the annual Singing News balloting. “It’s the first time a trio was chosen group of the year,” said Michael Booth when we caught up with him recently at the Gaither Family Fest in Gatlinburg, Tenn. “It was a surprise. Being a trio we certainly didn’t expect this. There used to be separate categories for trios and quartets, but now it’s combined.”
The group has been nominated in nine categories for this year’s Singing News Fan Awards. And this spring Ronnie Booth was named male vocalist of the year in the Southern Gospel News Music Awards.
The Booth Brothers aren’t new to gospel music. Raised in a singing family (father Ron Booth Sr. sang many years with the Rebels, Toney Brothers and Stamps), Michael and Ronnie Booth, along with their father, founded the group two decades ago.
Ron Sr. sang with the Booth Brothers for 10 years before deciding to leave the road. Michael and Ronnie tried a couple of different combinations on the third part before settling on Jim Brady to round out the trio.
“He’s been a shot in the arm for us,” Michael said. “He fits in so well and gives us the combination we want.”
The Booth Brothers’ meteoric rise to the top has been the result of a combination of things, Michael said, Brady being one factor. “God has blessed us, obviously,” he observed. “And getting on the Gaither tour has blessed us as well. It’s given us a lot of exposure.”
It has also helped having an inside connection with one of the premier songwriters in the field. Michael is married to the daughter of Mosie Lister, an original member of the Statesmen Quartet when they were organized in the 1940s. It was one of his songs, the spirited “Still Feeling Fine,” that caught the attention of Bill Gaither a few years ago.
“He called us,” Michael recalled, “and five days later we were recording on one of the videos.”
The legendary Jake Hess, who sang with Lister in the early Statesmen days, also worked with the Booth Brothers to help perfect their performance, Michael noted.
The Booth Brothers turned on the Gatlinburg audience with “Still Feeling Fine,” even drawing an ear-to-ear grin from poker-faced Gaither sound technician Rory Rigdon. They reprised the number that took the industry by storm a couple of years ago, “Ask the Blind Man, He Saw It All.” And the Group is equally at home with slower numbers such as their classic “Look for Me at Jesus’ Feet.”
Brady also has been doing some writing for the group. Michael noted that nine of the 11 songs on their newest recording are his.
Michael Booth, blessed with a keen sense of humor, provides the group’s comedy relief. “I do the jokes, and I get picked on,” he related. “I learned a lot of that from Bill Gaither.”
In the whirlwind of life on the road, Michael admits he’d like to slow down a little in the future. “We’ve been busy recording and touring,” he explained. “We’d like to bring our boys on the road and let them help carry the equipment.”
For now, the Booth Brothers will continue to enjoy the popularity they have among gospel music fans as they present their high-energy presentation on stages across the country.
Jim Bailey’s column appears on Sunday. He can be reached by e-mail at jameshenrybailey@earthlink.net.
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JIM BAILEY: Family tradition for Booth Brothers
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