Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Archie Watkins brings his award winning tenor voice to Sacred Sounds Fridays at the Ringgold Depot at Depot Street and U.S. 41, Friday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Pianist Ryan Stinson will also perform and Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” will emcee. Ticket donation is $5.
Mr. Watkins is no stranger to the stage with 45 plus years under his belt singing tenor with the Inspirations of Bryson City, NC. and now he is on the road as a soloist.
“It’s been over whelming. I can’t believe what has happened,” he said from his home in Whittier, N.C. "It’s nothing I am doing. It is in the hands of the Lord. All that matters is I am doing it for the right purpose and the spirit of the Lord is in it.”
His wife Cindy joins him now as he travels around the Southeast sharing his ministry.
Some of his best-loved songs are “Two Shoes,” “I’ll Not Turn My Back on Him Now” and “Touring the City.”
Mr. Stinson, 22, of Ringgold, is a country and gospel pianist of 11 years. He began his training with five years of lessons from the pianist at his home church, First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe.
He won various awards in music festivals across the Chattanooga area. Mr. Stinson said he plays everything by ear.
“I specialize in the Nashville Sound ‘slip-note’ style of playing made popular by the late Floyd Cramer,” he said. “I learned to play the song ‘Last Date’ upon my family’s request. It is the first song I ever learned by ear, and I’ve been doing it that way ever since.”
He regularly entertains at nursing homes, his church, and various special events across Catoosa County. Mr. Stinson is also a fourth year college student of ministry in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion/Ministry at Luther Rice University and Seminary.
The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund. The Share America Foundation, Inc., a Georgia non-profit, presents scholarships to talented musicians who excel in the Appalachian musical arts.
Donations for tickets are adults: $5, Children 5 and under free with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at SonShine Christian Books 706 861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe.
For more information, visit www.shareamericafoundation.org or Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.