Navigating up the steep drive with our SUV, my thoughts were drawn back to spring when we motivated up a similar incline to the Mansion Theater…and the very first “Praisefest Branson.”  Only this time, instead of Branson, Missouri – we were in Sevierville, Tennessee.  Men in bright orange vests waved flashing red sticks, directing us away from the entrance of New Hope Church to a lot behind the building.  Now, we have been to Sevierville a number of times for different reasons, but this would be the first time that we came to attend The Great Smokies Praisefest!  We found a parking space and jumped out into the chilly October wind that threatened to bite through our jackets as a slight drizzle streamed down from the sky as we frisked across the parking lot.  A lady with a red scarf wrapped around her neck held one of the double glass doors open on the side entrance of the building – in spite of the cold weather, a friendly smile crossed her face as she welcomed us inside.

The atmosphere inside the building could warm a person to their toes.  Excited chattered filled the lobby, auditorium and every square inch a Southern Gospel Fan occupied!  With ticket in hand I walked down a slight slope and waited for a hostess to show me the way to my seat.  It was getting close to starting time!  Four different sections lined the front of the sanctuary and I found myself slipping into one on the left.  Luckily, my seat was third from the aisle, so I didn’t make too many people stand up!  LOL  Not long after I took my seat, the Dumplin Valley Trio, who were on stage singing when I walked in, finished up and Gerald walked out on stage, welcoming everyone to Praisefest.  “Michael Booth texted me a while ago and asked, ‘Can we make it?’” Gerald said, rehearsing his conversation with Michael over the weather.  Gerald said he texted him back and asked, “Where are you coming from?”  “He replied Nashville,” said Gerald with a laugh, “so I stepped outside and said, ‘The coast is clear.’”  LOL  He went on to explain that Praisefest was in its 22^nd year and for 2012 – it was SOLD OUT!  Then he said something else…to the ones that were there for the first time, he expressed, “We have become a big family.”  Over the three days that I watched, listened and experienced Praisefest in the Smokies – I found out just how true that statement was…

“I love these guys and you’re gonna’ love them tonight,” Gerald said by way of introduction, “Legacy Five!  Here they are!”  Legacy Five began their 11^th year at Praisefest with Wonderful Life.  God Cares For Me came back to back and as they went into their third song, I’m Still Amazed.  Scott Fowler waved to someone in the audience while he sang and rows of stage lights hung above, blinking in time to the fast beat of the song.  “Alright,” Scott said looking out into the audience, “how many of you are seeing us for the first time since we got the new man?”  Hands were raised up high and Fowler continued, “Glenn traveled with us for 12 years – you cannot travel with someone like that for that long and not love them and miss them.”  He went on to say how he loathes change, even though he knows it must come.  “But,” he encouraged, “if we are doing what He’s asked us to do, He’ll provide.”  Well, He definitely provided with their new bass singer!  Matt’s solo, I’ve Been Changed was next.  Once the chorus began, the crowd applauded, as if the act alone welcomed Matt into the family of fans.  Not only that, but everyone gave a standing ovation at the end!  “I think he’s a keeper, don’t you?” Scott interjected.  I’m Thankful For The Change Followed and a “whoo” went up after that song also.  “This guy here has been standing next to me for almost 13 years now,” said Fowler.  Howie bowed and then Fowler pretended to help him stand upright again.  “It’s a long time to stand,” Howie jested.  “You know Scott,” said Fowler, and then added in a grateful tone, “I could not imagine doing Legacy Five without Scott Howard.”  Howie stepped forward and the other three fanned out behind him as he sang Had It Not Been.  I love it when you can just watch someone sing a song and know without a shadow of a doubt that they believe every word – that’s what I saw with this ballad.  Howie did a great job.  When the ballad closed, another began as Trey played a simple walk up on the piano – There’s Just Something About That Name.  Fowler preached a few lines afterwards… “The Bible says that one day every knee is gonna’ bow, every tongue is gonna’ confess, and one day we’re all gonna’ see Him, just…as…He…is.”  We Shall See Jesus began and with a hand outstretched toward the crowd, Matt came and sang about the hillside.  As they went into the last chorus that’s so powerful, blue lights popped on, shooting up the walls and illuminating the stage, making it look like the ascension was happening right then!  The powerful song brought the crowd to their feet.  “That is the good news that the world must hear!” Scott exclaimed, “Jesus is right for what’s wrong in our lives and that’s not politically correct, but that’s okay, neither am I.”  Instead of following that rabbit trail, Scott walked over to the sleek grand piano and asked Trey, “Are you ready?”  After a pause in which Trey did not answer, Scott prompted, “We’re on a time frame.”  So Trey replied, “Yes,” and Scott casually mentioned to the audience that, “He’s the baby of the group.”  From the back of the room one lone person let out a very loud scream.  Howie added, “Sounds like someone just had a baby.”  LOL  Everyone giggled at that – singers and fans both.  They continued to tease Trey until he played a Classical piece that modulated into Leaning On The Everlasting Arms.  Of course, Howie had to tease him some more!  LOL  He mentioned that the Classical “thing” sounded like something that would come out of a Mike Speck arrangement.  Not two seconds passed when Mike himself came out on stage with his finger pointed at Howie.  Fowler jumped in between them as if to ward off a fight.   Howie looked at Mike and quickly added, “It sounded great!”  Mike laughed and walked back stage again.  I’m Almost There kicked off and when it came to the second verse that Trey sings – he walked right over to Howie, took his mic off of him and used it to sing with!  Everyone thought that was so funny and applauded Trey’s “braveness.”  I Found Grace Followed.  “Have you enjoyed Legacy Five tonight?” Fowler asked, “Brother Gerald, come on out here!”  Gerald appeared from the left side of the stage with palms up, “Are you not gonna’ tell them about your product?”  Scott grinned, “I thought you’d never ask!”  Gerald rolled his eyes and turned to walk away but Fowler grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a hug before he could go anywhere.”  Intermission followed the product pitch.

The Specks brought the crowd back into the auditorium by singing a medley of Leaning On The Everlasting Arms with Standing On The Promises.  Another medley followed, this one a mix of great songs that we all know: New Day Dawning, We’ll Soon Be Done and When I Get Carried Away.  Mike’s wife sang No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus.  Stan Whitmire was playing along with them and when it came to this one Mike stopped the track in the middle of the first verse and told Stan to “just play it.”  (What a complement!)  Mike explained that he majored in History and informed the crowd, “Fifty of the fifty-two signers (declaration of independence) were church goers, thirty-two had seminary degrees – don’t tell me we weren’t a Christian nation, don’t tell me we didn’t start out right!”  Their last song was one that fit right in with that statement, It’s Still The Cross.  Melody, their daughter, sang it and received a standing ovation.

“Greater Vision!” exclaimed Mike Speck as the trio walked on stage and kicked off with He’d Still Been God and You Were Faithful Yesterday.  The sound of strings and horns floated around us as GV began to sing My Earnest Prayer.  In the middle of this serious song, as Gerald sang the verse, the big screens flashed an announcement, “White VW Golf Hertz Rental – Lights are on.”  LOL  Even with a slight interruption, the crowd gave GV a standing ovation.  “How many have had a prayer answered within the last 12 months?” Gerald asked.  Hands were raised.  “How many are still praying?”  Hands went up still.  He explained that they didn’t plan on doing that song, but then he saw some fans on the front row that he knew had prayers answered this year.  He also mentioned a couple from Bakersville, CA – and someone on the left side called out.  Gerald looked in that direction and asked, “Are you from Bakersville too?”  They shouted back, “Yes, we are!”  Gerald asked, “Did you come with them?”  This time the reply was no.  He paused for a moment then asked, “Is that why you’re sitting over there and they’re sitting over here?”  LOL  Gerald mentioned that the three days they spend at Praisefest are his three favorite days of the year.  He even admitted to liking them better than Christmas.  “And that’s saying something!” Gerald exclaimed, “Cause I have 12 trees up in my house!”  Next, they sang the song that is 40 years old, yet, voted Song of the Year for 2012, I Know A Man Who Can.  Well, you can’t have a hit without a standing ovation, so the audience “voted” one of them for ‘em too!  🙂  This went right into My Name Is Lazarus.

“I wanted to put together a little Cathedral Reunion,” Gerald announced, “so I went out behind the building and scrounged around… look what I found behind the dumpster!”  He waved at someone backstage to come out, then added, “Let me help you.”   Gerald disappeared behind the curtain for a minute and came out with a hobbling Mark Trammell on his arm!  The crowd sighed an “Ahh” at the sight.  Then, Gerald pondered, “We need a bass singer,”   He walked behind the curtain mumbling, “I think I can find one around here somewhere.”  Lo and behold, he re-appeared with Pat Barker!  So with Rodney playing bass and Gerald on the piano, Pat, Mark, Scott and Chris sang Wedding Music.  After another standing ovation the music for Master Builder began, featuring Mark Trammell.  During the second verse, Pat added a low “Yeah” in ad lib – Mark was so surprised, he stopped singing and just looked at Pat.  Not missing a beat Pat said, “I liked that!”  Then, he did it again!  LOL  Once the fun was over, Gerald teased the fans, “Are you ready to quit?”  A loud NO came in reply!  So Gerald explained to the other guys that they were going to one more, and they were going to do one that he wanted to do.  To which Scott Fowler joked, “It’s you’re world…we’re just living in it.”  Gerald faked a look of surprised and insisted that they were wrong.  On to a different topic, Gerald shared the story of how the Cathedrals came to record Champion of Love.  It was a song that was on their Symphony of Praise album.  However, at first, George and Glen didn’t like it because they thought it was too contemporary for the Cathedrals.  Yet, their producer, Lari Goss, wouldn’t give up.  So he said, “Let the piano player sing it.”  Well, Gerald was the piano player at that time and he said, “I don’t like it either.”  At that time, Lari owned a Jaguar – he handed Gerald his car keys and a cassette tape with the song and told him to drive around in his car until he learned to like the song.  According to Gerald, it took him half a day to like that song!  LOL  So they sang Champion of Love – both the Cathedrals, and that night, Gerald and Scott shared the verses.  Another standing O!  “Have you enjoyed these guys tonight?” Gerald half asked – half shouted.  Bringing Matt out on stage, Gerald said, “He is one of the best bass singers out there right now.”  Quickly, Matt pulled out a bill from his pocket and slipped the money in Gerald’s hand.  LOL  What they ended up doing next was a real treat … a bass singing duel.  Gerald explained that his son, Avery, wanted to sing bass for Legacy Five when Glenn left.  (He kind of gave Scott a hard time for not hiring him too!  He, he, he!)  Anyway, Avery Wolfe came out and dueled Matt on Beautiful Home.  In Gerald’s words, it was a “bass-singer sing off!”  And it sure was!  If you’ve seen any video, you’ll be quick to recognize the sound issues that kept popping up during Praisefest – which had nothing to do with the vocalists or their ability.  With that in mind, I don’t mind telling you I’m still in awe of the tone that Avery has  – and to think he’s only 17 years old!  (There’s an up and coming bass that is going to make a mark in SGM)  More importantly, when he was singing, you could see from his smile that he was in his element, happy and enjoying himself!  Scott put his arm around Avery’s shoulder and exclaimed, “Legacy Six!”  LOL  A standing ovation was never more deserved!

“You know that every year on Monday night we like to end with some good laughter,” said Gerald, “welcome our buddy, Dennis Swanberg.”  I’ll tell you the joke that made me laugh the most…  Two old men stood together talking one day when one finally asked, “John, was it you, or your brother, that was killed in World War II?”  John said, “Oh!  That was my brother!”  His buddy replied, “That’s what I was thinking…”

Conclusion:  There is a first time for everything, and the Great Smokies Praisefest was a first for me this year!  Oddly enough, Sevierville, Tennessee was under a WINTER STORM warning the day we arrived!  What are the chances of that?  Well, we didn’t see any snow on Monday as we drove to New Hope Church, but we sure had a great time!  I could go on about all the little things that I noticed, and maybe I will another time, but the main thing I saw all night – whether it be in the fans or in the artists – was that everyone was happy to be there.  With an atmosphere like that, how could one not enjoy themselves?