December 2002 ~ Featuring Gene McDonald
The Florida Boys have been one of the most prominent names in Gospel Music for over fifty years, and in that time they have had many great singers with the group. Most people remember the Florida Boys from the Gospel Singing Jubilee television show. In those days you might have seen them with legendary bass singers such as J.G. Whitfield, George Younce, Billy Todd, and Buddy Liles. Today their bass singer is considered to be one of the best bass singers ever to be involved in Southern Gospel Music. Gene has been with the Florida Boys about five years and has become a favorite around the country. This month I would like to feature one of my favorite singers and best friends, Gene McDonald.

Gene McDonald was born on May 3, 1965. His parents are Tommy and Doris McDonald. He has one older sister, Janeene Carter. Gene is originally from Bragg City, Missouri, and currently lives in Pensacola, Florida. He was saved in 1969 at Huey Mission in Peach Orchard, MO, at the age of four. His home church is Bragg City Baptist Church in Missouri. Since he moved to Pensacola, Gene attends Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.

His hobbies include fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles, scuba diving, and playing golf. He collects old records and miniature motorcycle replicas. Gene's biggest influences are his mom and pop. They taught him how to read music and harmonize with other singers. Other's that heavily influenced Gene include Ben Speer, Brock Speer, The Masters Five, Rex Nelon, and Bill Gaither. Gene is very proud of his family, he says that they have supported him through all of his hardships, all of the good and bad times in his life, and they love him no matter what. His father Tommy, who he refers to as "Pop", is retired but still has a radio program in Blytheville, Arkansas. His mom is a photographer for the Missouri Drivers License Bureau. He has two beautiful nieces, eight-year-old Megan, and four year old Kelsey. His sister Janeene is a choir director and music teacher in the Gosnell School system. She teaches junior high and high school choirs. He says that his sister is more talented than him and can sing circles around him. She is a great sister and has been a great influence on him. Gene says that his brother in law is the real Jimmy Carter, a master plumber. Jimmy has Carter and Son Plumbing in Blytheville, AR.

Gene began singing with his mom, dad, and sister at the age of three. The McDonald Family sang until 1980. He started out singing tenor, and then between his junior and senior years of high school his voice dropped to bass. Gene went to Arkansas State University and majored in music. His choir director Mr. Skoog was a great mentor to Gene while in college. Mr. Niederbrach was Gene's voice teacher and influenced his life by teaching Gene both ability and humility. From 1980 until 1982, Gene sang with Jack Campbell and the Ambassadors. Jack was a very talented songwriter, composing such Gospel favorites such as "Jesus Use Me", "I Know A Man Who Can" and many others. Gene went to the Stamps School in 1988 and 1989, and then he sang with the Plainsmen Quartet from 1989 until 1992. He started singing on the Gaither Videos in 1994 and to this day his voice can be heard on all of the videos and recordings put out by Bill Gaither.

When the Florida Boys began looking for a bass vocalist in 1998, Les Beasley called Rex Nelon to see if he knew any good singers. Rex told Les that he knew whom he should hire. Rex then called Gene and told him to contact Les Beasley. After Gene called Les, he moved to Florida and started singing with the group two weeks later. Gene started with the Florida Boys in February of 1998 at the age of thirty-three. On the road, Gene's jobs include driving the bus, setting up sound equipment, singing bass, and maintenance on the bus.

Gene says that Les Beasley, Glen Allred, and Derrell Stewart have all been great teachers and friends to him. They have taught him a lot about their past and have prepared him greatly for his future in Southern Gospel Music. Since Gene has been with the Florida Boys, he has been honored with many nominations by the fans. The Southern Gospel Music Association has nominated him twice as Favorite Male Vocalist. He has been nominated three times for Favorite Bass Singer in the Singing News Fan Awards. In just a few short years, Gene McDonald has became one of the biggest success stories in Gospel Music and I'm sure that we will be hearing much more out of him as the years pass.

If you have internet access, be sure to visit www.floridaboys.com to find out more about Gene and the rest of the Florida Boys Quartet. Under the leadership of Les Beasley, the Florida Boys have remained at the top of the Southern Gospel Industry. Baritone vocalist Glen Allred is still as good and consistent as the day he started. Derrell Stewart is the ultimate showman and is a great traditional pianist. Allen Cox handles the high end of this quartet and Josh Garner is proving to be one of Southern Gospels greatest lead singers. Gene is highly respected and considered to be one of the lowest bass singers of all time. A Florida Boys concert is always very entertaining and they are always crowd pleasers. If you like male quartet singing, you will hear it at its best with the Florida Boys.