Lebanon, Missouri is becoming quite the hub for Southern Gospel and Gospel Music. As well as being home of the Brumley Gospel Sing, there are many others in this area that bring in notable artist on a regular basis. One such person is Wayne Truelove and his very own, Truelove Quartet. The previous concert I attended presented by Wayne Truelove was with Brian Free and Assurance, and what an evening it was! The featured artist this time around is no stranger to Gospel Music either, the outstanding Larnelle Harris!

The concert was located at the Boswell Auditorium (Lebanon High School) and this would be my very first time seeing Larnelle Harris perform. When we walked in, we noticed the considerable heat in the gym – there was no A/C on! (When we got out of the car, the thermometer said it was 95 degrees outside!) While I waited for the concert to start at seven o’clock, my Jamaican friends that accompanied me that night, excitingly told me about Larnelle Harris and how they would always see him singing on TV “back home” (in Jamaica).  Soon, the stage lights popped on and Truelove Quartet kicked off the night!

Truelove Quartet opened their set with the popular Crist Family song, I Love Lovin’ Jesus. And I have to tell you! – when Jesse Carter sang the verses, it almost sounded like the Crist Family!  Next, was a medium tempo quartet song called I’m On The Battlefield For My Lord, featuring Darrell Pollock. The quartet’s baritone singer, Chris Judy, claimed his solo on the ballad, Keeper Of The Lost And Found. “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!” Darrell said, stepping forward, “Our prayer tonight is that you would know your position in Jesus Christ.” He went on to tell a little about their ministry, then proceeded to introduce the group, beginning with Jesse Carter. “We’re so glad she sings with us, because she makes us look a WHOLE lot better!” She shared a feature with Darrell on the following song, My Soul Is Firmly Anchored. Then, Darrell introduced the rest of the group. When he came to Chris, he announced that Chris began a friendship with a young lady, and promised that they wouldn’t tease him or say anything more about it. So he went on to introduce Wayne, and told of over 600 souls who’ve come to know the Lord through their ministry. Wayne introduced Darrell, Lebanon Missouri’s state representative, and the next song was underway.  Jesse and Wayne sang a few lines together on this one, I Want My Stage To Be An Altar. When the last few notes ended, Darrell offered up a prayer, that we too, would have that same point of view for our lives.  Truelove ended their set with a very timely song, Midnight Cry, featuring Darrell.

Larnelle Harris opened his set with two up beat praise and worship style songs, My Hope Is In The Lord and There Is No Equal To You, Oh God. “How do you like our orchastra tonight?” asked Larnelle gesturing towards the grand piano on the floor and it’s player. Everyone clapped. Following, was a dramatic ballad, The Greatest Of These Is Love, which was 1 Corinthians 13 set to music. Then Larnelle introduced his piano player, Simeon Amburgey. He told about his family, wife of 40 years (this December) son, daughter, and grandchildren.

Telling about his grandkids, he mentioned one time when they had them over at their house and his little grandson got stuck between the couch and the end table. (With a very expensive lamp on it). He couldn’t go forward and he couldn’t go back…so he just overturned the endtable! “If that would have been one of mine,” Larnelle chuckled, “we would have been looking at some serious quiet time…maybe a couple of years! You see, it was a grandchild, and the only thing I could think of to say was, ‘look how strong that kid is!’” (Then to the audience he said), “Look at how strong our Lord is!” This introduced the song Were It Not For Grace, a lovely ballad about salvation.

As the last few notes of the music faded, he invited the audience to sing Grace That Is Greater Than All My Sin with him. “We’re not oing to get many more chances to sing that, we’re not going to get many more chances to tell of that, to get excited about that!” said Larnelle getting the crowd to realize how quickly Christ is coming. Next, he sang a medley of old hymns like: This Is My Fathers World, How Great Thou Art and another. This very powerful arrangement received a standing ovation. He asked everyone to remain standing and clap on the next song, O Happy Day. Referring to the heat in the building, Larnelle joked that if you keep clapping the air would move around the auditorium quicker! Well, when the beat of the next song started playing and another upbeat song met our ears – everyone just stayed standing! All In Favor Say I was the honored song. Simeon played a lengthy piano solo afterward, a medley of Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Victory In Jesus and He Lives. “Listening to him play makes you wish you practiced a little more when you were little, eh?” Larnelle teased. After talking a little bit about growing up singing in churches, he told of how his mother prayed his dad into the Kingdom of God. A unique song You Would Not Bring Me This Far To Leave Me Now followed. It was about growing up in church, attending youth group, then finally getting married and having children and how through all of these things the heart’s true desire is to only follow the Lord and be where He is. The next song was really the finale for me! Larnelle called Jesse Carter up on stage and shared a duet singing I’ve Just Seen Jesus. All I can say is WOW! They harmonized beautifully together and the audience practically jumped up from their seats in ovation at the end. It was really a special moment! Another medley, these being all Gaither songs, came next: He Touched Me, Something Beautiful and Because He Lives. When Larnelle came to the chorus of Because He Lives, he said, “Here’s something to take home with you tonight…because He lives I can face tomorrow…” Another standing ovation was awarded to this arrangement also. Just as everyone sat down, the familiar number “Amen” finished out his set…and everyone was back on their feet!

Conclusion: The very first thing that I notcied about Larnelle Harris was how he made his singing look so easy! As a vocalist, he’s incredible. He made every note look effortless, and he’s definitely a showman.  Though, to be honest, I didn’t feel like he was there for his fans.  During the concert he said to come back to the product table and say hi, he’ll sign your Cd, stuff like that.  However, when the concert ended, he didn’t stay at the table very long before he decided that he needed to be going.  When I asked to get my picture taken with him, he said, “I really need to leave now.” – and something about taking the picture quickly.  Larnelle has a awesome voice and is great on stage, but I think he lacks the personal contact with his fans that other SGM groups and artists are known for.  I know he’s not really considered SGM, but for being in a smaller venue, I thought he could have done more than what he did.