The Marksmen Quartet, from left Earle Wheeler, Darrin Chambers, Aaron Johnson, and Mark Wheeler, will appear in Dalton on Feb. 28
The award winning Marksmen Quartet will bring their style of gospel music to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 1901 City View St. in Dalton on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. A love offering will be received.
The four-time Country Gospel Quartet of the Year winners from the Country Gospel Music Guild will perform many of their hits songs including “He Is I Am,” “Meet Me In Heaven,” “Potter’s Wheel,” “Preach the Cross” and “Grandpa Was a Farmer.”
Their latest CD “Generations” features Earle and his son Mark Wheeler along with 29-year Marksmen member Darrin Chambers and Tommy Dutton. Mr. Chambers is the son of former long-time tenor singer and mandolinist Marksmen Keith Chambers. Even grandson Aaron Chambers has traveled with the group.
The recording also features guest appearances by Mark Wheeler's children – Will and Sarah Grace singing and playing mandolin and fiddle, respectively.
“With Aaron, Will and Sarah Grace, it hit me that we reached our third generation of performers and audience,” Earle Wheeler said. “So the theme of the latest project came to us easily.”
The group features songs that highlight each member; it is Mark Wheeler’s traditional country lead stylings that through the years have become a pivotal part of the sound beside his father’s unique sound.
Mark Wheeler adds three more new songs to his songwriting catalog. He delivers a performance of “The Spirit Moved,” his song penned with Jim Green. He also features “No More Sin,” composed with Lance Carpenter.
Mark’s original written with former Marksmen David Waller, “The Folly of a Fool,” is sung by Darrin Chambers and is a commentary on believing in evolution.
Reaching back into some of the songs the group popularized early in their career with tenor Keith Chambers “I Have a New Life” and “Payday,” the group passes the torch now with his grandson carrying the prominent part in these audience favorites.
Les Butler makes a guest appearance singing baritone and playing mandolin on “The Old Cross Road.” Fiddler Lynn Shook adds his talents to “Payday.”
They will also share material from their Dove nominated CDs “God’s Masterpiece,” “Blue Ridge Mountain Memories,” and “This My Crowd.”
“We are honored to know that folks draw a blessing out of the talents God gave us to share,” said Earle Wheeler, quartet leader. “Each week we share God’s message in song and word wherever He allows us to go and that is what it is all about."
After and more than 40 albums, winning four times as Gospel Bluegrass Band of the Year from SPBGMA, the group continues its legendary musical legacy for its 48th year. The Marksmen Quartet is an inductee of the Lone Star State Country Music Association Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.
For more information about the group, visit www.marksmenquartet.com.