July 2005 ~ Featuring Adam Borden
This month, I would like to share a little biography on one of my favorite bass players in Southern Gospel Music, Adam Borden. Adam is the bass guitarist for the Gold City Quartet. He has been there over ten years now, and has become one of the best musicians in any genre of music. Adam was recently featured on several songs on the "Southern Gospel Players" recording, and yet again managed to wow everyone with his perfect bass playing!

Adam Borden was born on May 7, 1972, in Gadsden, Alabama. His parents are Lloyd and Debra Borden. He has one sister, Natasha Tidmore. His wife is Angel Reynolds Borden from Brandon, FL. Adam and Angel have a two-year-old daughter named Abigail Caroline. He says that Abigail looks just like his wife. The Borden Family lives in Boaz, AL. Adam was saved when he was six years old, during the summer revival at Noah Baptist Church in Centre, AL, in 1978. He and Angel attend Second Baptist Church in Boaz, where Brother Jimmy Harrison is the pastor.

As far as hobbies go, they mainly consist of activities with his little girl, like jigsaw puzzles, legos, baby dolls, blowing bubbles, and playing outside. He can also be found golfing, fishing, building a growing publishing company, playing on and producing recording projects for groups, working in his yard, teaching a youth class on Wednesday night, and doing constant improvement projects on their home. Adam says that he doesn't really collect things, but he does have several family heirlooms like his Grandmother Borden's China, some of her crystal, his Papa Borden's overalls, the green Blackwood Brothers glasses, a 100 year old armoire, his Paw Paw New's pocketknife and hand tools, his Maw Maw New's J. Vernon McGee "Through the Bible" volumes, and of course his bass guitar gear.

Some of Adams biggest influences were his parents and grandparents, his 10th grade history teacher, Mrs. Pat Thompson, his childhood Sunday school teacher, William Mitchell, and folks like that. As far as musical influences, his dad taught him the basics of bass and guitar, and his mom taught me how to follow musical leads from pianists. His Bass heroes started with James Freeze, Todd Nelon, Larry Stryzlecki, Terry Huchebba, Mark Fain, Ginger Lester, Rob Novelle, and then he discovered players in other styles of music like Gary Lunn, Leland Sklar, David Hungate, Edgar Meyer, Victor Wooten, John Pattitucci, Pino Palladino, Jimmie Johnson, and many more. Adam shares that he recently met two of his bass heroes from Muscle Shoals, AL. They were David Hood and Bob Wray, who have both played on countless million selling records, and are both classy personable men. Adam says that every person he meets, whether they are musical or not, he tries to find what he can learn from them.

As a child, Adam played with their family group. When he was sixteen, he started playing with a local group called, Amen. During his freshmen year of college, he began playing with the Singing Ambassadors until December 1994. The Singing Ambassadors promote a concert around Fayetteville, TN, and it was at one of those concerts that Adam met Doug Riley. They became friends at those singings and when Mark Fain left Gold City, Doug gave Adam a call. Adam says that he was the only one who showed up at the auditions, so they let him play. He started with Gold City on April 5, 1995, at the age of 22. On the road, his duties include playing bass, setting up sound equipment, and keeping ice and distilled water on the bus. Adam states, "There have been so many good things that have happened to me as a member of Gold City, that it is hard to think of stories without thinking more about he people they involved. The people I meet and have met along the way are what make life memorable. I tend to focus on the young people that I have had the honor of knowing. I remember the people who took the time to speak to me as a young person and I really remember those who did not. I have a responsibility as an adult to give kids the time and attention they need and want. No child is as important to me as my Abby and no woman is as important to me as Angel. The first institution God ordained was the family. No friend, acquaintance, job or thing is as important as my family. I have a responsibility to witness Christ in my life but if my family is ruined over anything I place before them, then I have failed not only as a man, but I have failed the responsibility that God has given me as a Husband and father. The most coveted title I strive for is being Gods' man. If I achieve that, then everything else in life will be in order."

For more information on Adam Borden and Gold City, visit their website at: www.goldcityqt.com. Gold City has once again re-grouped with another great line-up of singers. The Gold City Band consists of Adam Borden on bass, Channing Eleton on keyboard, and Doug Riley on drums. The newest members of Gold City include tenor vocalist Steve Ladd and bass vocalist Bill Lawrence. Lead singer, Jonathan Wilburn, has been with the group for several years and was recently named the Favorite Lead singer in Southern Gospel Music! Singing baritone for Gold City is Daniel Riley. Daniel is an awesome singer and does a great job as the emcee. If you haven't heard the New Gold City, I urge you to check their schedule and find when they will be near you. This group never seems to amaze me, how they can have member changes and always be on top of their game!