Great Western Gospel Music
Fan Festival
Fresno, California ~ April 29-May 1,
2004
At the 2004 Great Western Southern Gospel Music Fan Festival
in Fresno, California, the fans voted by ballot for their favorite performers
to perform in an All-Star Group at the event. Stewart was selected as Favorite
Pianist and performed that night with the All-Star group consisting of Kim
Hopper, Josh Garner, Connie Hopper, and Ed O'Neal. (joined on bass
guitar by Scoot Shelnut and drums by Mike Hopper)
Here are the Dixie Echoes on stage with their new tenor singer David
Robinson.
Autumn Thompson (daughter of Kelly Nelon Clark) decided to give Stewart
a good luck kiss on the cheek before he went on stage.
The cast of the 2004 Pianorama at the Great Western Gospel Music Fan Festival
(From Left to Right): Nick Succi (Carolina Boys), Stewart Varnado, Eric Ollis
(Dixie Melody Boys), Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision), Josh Simpson (Hoppers),
Derrell Stewart (Florida Boys), and Roy Webb (Signature Sound)
After Stewart finished his solo, Gerald Wolfe comes on stage and instructs
Stewart to do another!
Gerald Wolfe looking on as Stewart plays.
Roy Webb (Pianist for the Signature Sound Quartet) and Stewart visiting before
Pianorama.
...and here are all of the pianists at work
Derrell Stewart decided to show up and join Gerald Wolfe at the center piano,
and Stewart Varnado took a break to smile for the camera!
On Thursday night, the Palmetto State Quartet was
scheduled to do the opening song. The dilema was that their bass and baritone
singer were still in flight to Fresno. So they got Gene McDonald to sing
the bass part, and Stewart to play the piano for them, and their pianist
(Andrew Ishee) sang the baritone part. This made for an interesting but fun
opening! |
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