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Gold City
Gold City is an American southern gospel quartet based in Gadsden, Alabama. Formed in 1980, the group was one of the most successful quartets through the 1980s and 1990s, charting ten number one hits in Singing News magazine and being host to many icons in the Christian music industry, including Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Mark Trammell, Mike LeFevre, and Tim Riley.
The Alabama-based Christian group was renamed Gold City in Dahlonega, Georgia at midnight on New Year’s Day in 1980, composed of tenor Bob Oliver, lead Jerry Ritchie, baritone Ken Trussell, and bass Dallas Gilliland. Bass Tim Riley replaced Gilliland as the permanent bass singer in July of that same year. The group appeared on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention in October 1981. Pianist Garry Jones joined the group one month prior to the convention. In 1982, tenor Brian Free came on board and lead Ivan Parker joined in 1983. This group of men formed a consistent core that remained together until the end of 1993. Original owner Floyd Beck died in 1984, resulting in the group ownership being shared equally by Tim Riley, Ivan Parker, Garry Jones and Brian Free. During this transition, the group relocated to Gadsden, Alabama. Jeff Hullender joined the group in 1984 as bass guitar player. Mike LeFevre joined in 1985 to sing the baritone part, replacing Jerry Ritchie.
Steve Lacey took over for LeFevre in 1992. After the departure of Free and Parker in 1993, Lacey switched to lead while Mark Trammell became baritone and Jay Parrack was named the new tenor. Lacey left to join the Kingdom Heirs the following year. David Hill became lead singer for a while; his departure led to the next consistent lineup for the group, which included Jonathan Wilburn singing lead, Mark Trammell singing baritone, and Jay Parrack as tenor with Riley at bass from 1996 until 2002. Over this period, the group developed a style that relied on heavy brass arrangements for their more driving songs.
Trammell left the group in 2002 to form the Mark Trammell Trio. In 2004, the group saw the departure of Parrack at tenor in addition to the retirement of Tim Riley after 24 years. Former Brian Free & Assurance bass singer Bill Lawrence replaced him as bass, while Riley's sons, drummer Doug and baritone Daniel, took over management of the group until Doug Riley died in an automobile accident in early 2006. By this point, the full Gold City band had been retired and replaced with accompanying tracks.
In March 2006, bass singer Bill Lawrence left the group. Tim filled in for several months while the search for a replacement was underway. Aaron McCune, who was bass singer with the Palmetto State Quartet at the time, joined Gold City in May 2006.
In February 2007, it was announced that the group had returned to The Beckie Simmons Agency (from The Harper Agency). Beckie Simmons, while at Century II and her own agency, has handled the quartet's bookings for the majority of its existence.
In March 2008, lead singer Jonathan Wilburn left the group. Bruce Taliaferro, a Gadsden native who had filled in for Wilburn and Daniel Riley in the past, stepped in to fill the empty position. Gold City released their first recording with Taliaferro in July 2008. Also, August 2008 saw the Band of Gold return to the scene on a limited basis. The band consisted of pianist Josh Simpson, drummer Kevin Albertson, bass guitarist Taylor Barnes, and lead guitarist Daniel Addison.
On April 28, 2009, tenor, Steve Ladd, announced that he would be leaving Gold City. On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Chris Cooper would fill the tenor position. It was announced in July 2009 that Josh Simpson would be leaving Gold City in August to go to college. His temporary replacement was Curtis Broadway who played on Band of Gold dates. Gold City Bus driver Jim Korn filled in on keys after the Band of Gold quit traveling with the group. It was announced on August 11. 2009 that Aaron McCune had departed Gold City and a replacement was being sought.
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Gold City
Gold City is an American southern gospel quartet based in Gadsden, Alabama. Formed in 1980, the group was one of the most successful quartets through the 1980s and 1990s, charting ten number one hits in Singing News magazine and being host to many icons in the Christian music industry, including Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Mark Trammell, Mike LeFevre, and Tim Riley.
The Alabama-based Christian group was renamed Gold City in Dahlonega, Georgia at midnight on New Year’s Day in 1980, composed of tenor Bob Oliver, lead Jerry Ritchie, baritone Ken Trussell, and bass Dallas Gilliland. Bass Tim Riley replaced Gilliland as the permanent bass singer in July of that same year. The group appeared on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention in October 1981. Pianist Garry Jones joined the group one month prior to the convention. In 1982, tenor Brian Free came on board and lead Ivan Parker joined in 1983. This group of men formed a consistent core that remained together until the end of 1993. Original owner Floyd Beck died in 1984, resulting in the group ownership being shared equally by Tim Riley, Ivan Parker, Garry Jones and Brian Free. During this transition, the group relocated to Gadsden, Alabama. Jeff Hullender joined the group in 1984 as bass guitar player. Mike LeFevre joined in 1985 to sing the baritone part, replacing Jerry Ritchie.
Steve Lacey took over for LeFevre in 1992. After the departure of Free and Parker in 1993, Lacey switched to lead while Mark Trammell became baritone and Jay Parrack was named the new tenor. Lacey left to join the Kingdom Heirs the following year. David Hill became lead singer for a while; his departure led to the next consistent lineup for the group, which included Jonathan Wilburn singing lead, Mark Trammell singing baritone, and Jay Parrack as tenor with Riley at bass from 1996 until 2002. Over this period, the group developed a style that relied on heavy brass arrangements for their more driving songs.
Trammell left the group in 2002 to form the Mark Trammell Trio. In 2004, the group saw the departure of Parrack at tenor in addition to the retirement of Tim Riley after 24 years. Former Brian Free & Assurance bass singer Bill Lawrence replaced him as bass, while Riley's sons, drummer Doug and baritone Daniel, took over management of the group until Doug Riley died in an automobile accident in early 2006. By this point, the full Gold City band had been retired and replaced with accompanying tracks.
In March 2006, bass singer Bill Lawrence left the group. Tim filled in for several months while the search for a replacement was underway. Aaron McCune, who was bass singer with the Palmetto State Quartet at the time, joined Gold City in May 2006.
In February 2007, it was announced that the group had returned to The Beckie Simmons Agency (from The Harper Agency). Beckie Simmons, while at Century II and her own agency, has handled the quartet's bookings for the majority of its existence.
In March 2008, lead singer Jonathan Wilburn left the group. Bruce Taliaferro, a Gadsden native who had filled in for Wilburn and Daniel Riley in the past, stepped in to fill the empty position. Gold City released their first recording with Taliaferro in July 2008. Also, August 2008 saw the Band of Gold return to the scene on a limited basis. The band consisted of pianist Josh Simpson, drummer Kevin Albertson, bass guitarist Taylor Barnes, and lead guitarist Daniel Addison.
On April 28, 2009, tenor, Steve Ladd, announced that he would be leaving Gold City. On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Chris Cooper would fill the tenor position. It was announced in July 2009 that Josh Simpson would be leaving Gold City in August to go to college. His temporary replacement was Curtis Broadway who played on Band of Gold dates. Gold City Bus driver Jim Korn filled in on keys after the Band of Gold quit traveling with the group. It was announced on August 11. 2009 that Aaron McCune had departed Gold City and a replacement was being sought.