|
||||
In the fall of 1997, several Fairmont United Methodist Church musicians began to dream and scheme about putting together an ensemble to perform Christian music in a rhythm and blues-influenced style. They came from various musical backgrounds - classical, jazz, rock, folk, etc. The band began to assemble a collection of spirituals, hymns, rock , jazz, contemporary, and gospel music. Most of the band's songs are familiar, while the arrangements are our very own, with Walter arranging the horn parts, Greg the keys, and Durham, Bif, and Bruce putting our own unique style to the rhythm section.Virginia and Billie Jean often adapt the original song lyrics to better fit our message of Christian love and acceptance. The result has been a unique blend of musical styles with songs from such divergent artists as Aaron Neville, Curtis Mayfield, Al Greene, Jackie Wilson, and Patti LaBelle to Alison Krause, Annie Lennox, Van Morrison and Tower of Power. So why the name "Revue?" A "revue" is ³a theatrical production consisting of brief often satirical sketches and songs," which indicates the variety of music that we perform, and the upbeat nature of what we're about. Original members still with the band in alphabetical order include: Greg Bottomley (keyboards),Walter Brock (trumpet and flugelhorn), and Pastor Steve Hickle (trumpet), and Durham Potter (guitar and vocals). Current additional members in alphabetical order include Arch Altman (saxes), Bif Bream (bass), Bruce Sauls (drums and percussion), Billie Jean Snuggs (vocals), and Virginia Ward (vocals). The first rehearsal of the Fairmont Gospel Revue was in November of 1997, and the first performance was in January, 1998. Since that time, the band has performed widely, including: Fairmont UMC Sunday Night LIVE! (regularly) We are grateful for the contributions of these others who have been members: Elizabeth and Roger Cordes, Gerald Staten, Julia Lowrimore, Bill and Amanda Baker, Lynne Brock, Robbie Brock, Jesse Hickle, Erik Sheahan, Clayton Brock, Claudia Brockington, Randy Shepard, Bob Ladich, Liza Potter, Dan Dixon, Cameron Ward, Pat Ward, John Kennedy and Mike Beazlie. Now when the priests came out of the holy place... all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with one hundred twenty priests who were trumpeters. It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, "For he is good, Praise him with trumpet sound, |