August 2005 ~ Featuring Billy Hodges
One of the first concerts that I ever attended was a Florida Boys and Dixie Echoes concert in 1996. Billy Hodges was singing tenor for the Florida Boys. I would have never guessed at the time that I would someday soon be playing for the Dixie Echoes, and our tenor would be Billy Hodges from the Florida Boys. I spent nearly two and a half years traveling on a bus with Billy, before he took a job at a church in Pensacola. We stayed in touch typically by having lunch every few weeks at Cracker Barrel! He stayed in touch with Southern Gospel also, always borrowing cds from me of the different quartets. One of those cds was the "Forever Changed" cd by the Kingdom Heirs. Not long after that, the Kingdom Heirs began looking for a new tenor vocalist. All it took was an audition by Billy to fill the opening. This month, I'd like to share a little more with everyone on the Kingdom Heirs new tenor, Billy Hodges.

Billy Hodges was born on November 26, 1970. He is the only child of Gwen and William T. Hodges Sr. Billy and his wife Selena were married on June 7, 2003. He is originally from Martin, Tennessee, and Selena lived nearby in west Tennessee. They now live in Sevierville, TN. Billy was saved in June of 2000 at a friend's crusade in Clinton, KY.

When Billy is not singing, he enjoys fishing, hunting, collecting old coins, and restoring his 1971 Chevy truck. Some of his biggest influences are Garry Sheppard, Arthur Rice, and Steve French. In fact, Garry Sheppard sang at Billy and Selena's wedding. Billy first sang professionally with the Florida Boys Quartet. He was with them from November of 1995 to March of 1997. Since the Florida Boys and Dixie Echoes are from the same city and work so much together in concert, Billy soon became close friends with Scoot Shelnut. Often when the two groups were home, you could find Billy and Scoot on the golf course. So when the Dixie Echoes started looking for a tenor vocalist a few years later, Scoot called Billy to fill the position. Billy traveled with the Dixie Echoes from July of 2001 to November of 2003. In the winter of 2003, Billy accepted a full time position as recreation director at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola.

Billy's first concert with the Kingdom Heirs was on February 11, 2005, at the age of 34. Billy says that his job is basically to show up at Dollywood, sing on pitch, and help out wherever he is needed. For a few months each year, when the theme park is closed, the Kingdom Heirs hit the road and do a winter tour. While on the road, Billy helps with the product table. Billy says that the Kingdom Heirs are the greatest bunch of guys to work with. Billy states, "They are true professionals and wonderful friends. It seems that all of my good stories are of things that have happened outside of the park and not on stage. Like the time Selena and myself, and Arthur Rice and his family went to the lake. We rode jet skis and went tubing. On one trip, the tube went a little too close to the shore and lets just say we had to help get the guy out of the tree. It was pretty funny afterward. Then there was the time that Dennis, our drummer, and I decided that we would go rafting in these little rafts that we bought at Wal-Mart. We came upon a waterfall that was pretty high for around here. So, I paddle over next to Dennis to talk about how to get around it. What does he do? He pushes me over it! What a friend!"

The Kingdom Heirs perform nine months a year at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Since they only travel from January to March, they get to spend lots of time at home with their families. This unique setup could be considered a dream job for any family man! It gives them a chance to live out their dream of singing Southern Gospel Music full time, then get to go home and sleep in their own bed instead of a small bunk on a 45 foot bus, riding down a bumpy interstate 200 plus days a year.

For more information on Billy Hodges or the rest of the group, visit their website at: www.kingdomheirs.com. The Dixie Echoes have had the privilege of performing at Dollywood during their Fall Harvest Celebration for the past few years. Dollywood is a great place to spend a family vacation or even stop in for a day of great Southern Gospel Music! While at the park, you can visit the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and attend a few performances by the Kingdom Heirs. They have two brand new cd's that are available now from their website or at your local Christian bookstore. Billy is sounding better than ever, Arthur Rice is just simply "The Man!" He is my absolute favorite lead singer. Steve French has one of the smoothest baritone voices around and has kept the Kingdom Heirs at the top of the Southern Gospel industry for many years. The group began in 1981, and for the past 20 years they have been performing at Dollywood. Singing bass for the Kingdom Heirs is Jeff Chapman. I first met Jeff when he was singing for the Anchormen. Jeff is one of the best bass singers performing today. If you are as big of a fan of bass singing as I am, I know that Jeff will impress you as well. The Kingdom Heirs band consists of Dennis Murphy on drums, Kreis French on bass guitar, and Adam Harmon on keyboards. This past year, they were awarded Favorite Band in the Singing News Fan Awards. With three excellent musicians, you would expect them to be good. But add their talent with performing together 2-3 shows a day, 5-6 days a week, and you have a band that is simply the best. I'm not sure how many times I could use the word 'great' to describe the Kingdom Heirs, but with one listen, any Southern Gospel fan would surely agree that they are one of the best groups that they have ever heard!