Dixie Echoes to sing at Equality Methodist Dec. 7
The Dixie Echoes quartet
By Christa Jennings
Senior staff writer
Equality Methodist Church welcomes the Dixie Echoes quartet, one of America’s pioneer gospel groups, for a special singing at the church from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, December 7.
The church invites everyone to join in celebrating the Christmas season and to kick off the holidays with a gospel, patriotic and Christmas-themed event for the whole family.
The Dixie Echoes have been “delivering the gospel message in song” across America for more than 50 years, having performed throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. In addition to performing at churches, fairs and on television, the group has performed at well-known venues such as Dollywood, Carnegie Hall, Silver Dollar City, the National Quartet Convention, and more.
The Dixie Echoes have also performed on such programs as TBN and INSP, and they are most notably remembered for their regular appearances on the nationally syndicated TV show “The Gospel Singing Jubilee,” which aired in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Known for their “spiritually uplifting music ministry” and recognized as one of the premiere groups in gospel music, the Dixie Echoes returned to their roots of singing around two microphones with just a piano.
Since forming in 1960, the group has released nearly 70 albums and have had many top 10 singles.
Over the years, Dixie Echoes has been honored with six members being inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, including J.G. Whitfield in 1997, Dale Shelnut in 2001, Jack Toney in 2005, Billy Todd in 2009, Tim Riley in 2013, and Randy Shelnut in 2017.
While members have changed over the years, the group’s current members are Randy Shelnut, who has been a member of the group for more than 50 years and whose father, Dale, is credited with bringing the group to national prominence; Randy Shelnut Jr., known as “Scoot” to gospel music fans and named among the best baritones in gospel music; tenor Buddy Bates; and baritone Shannon Yates.
The Dixie Echoes state that they “present the gospel message in song with a touch of class and excellence.” While each individual member presents his own musical styling, the members collectively share the common goal of “doing everything they can to expose the audience to the power of a meaningful song.”
For the last 50-plus years, the group has tried to tell everyone they can about God through their music, ensuring that audience members will not miss a single word by the manner in which they sing songs and that there are no distractions from hearing what the songwriter wanted to share, according to the group.
All are welcome at this special local performance of the Dixie Echoes. Equality Methodist is located at 281 Ala. Highway 259, Equality.
