March 2005 ~ Featuring Matthew Holt
When I joined the Southern Gospel Music Industry, I was only seventeen years old. I was one of the 'young guys' in the industry, but now at twenty-four, I feel like an old man. There have been so many talented young folks that have started singing and playing with various Gospel groups, and they are loaded with talent. Andrew Ishee, Lauren Talley, Josh Garner, and Loren Harris, are some of the names that were entering the Gospel music world about the same time as me. Now we have guys like Bryan Elliott, Scott McDowell, and Matthew Holt coming into the picture. The last name on that list is one that I have known from his high school days. Matthew Holt is the newest member of the Perrys. To call him a great pianist would be a huge understatement. I can't remember watching another young pianist and asking myself 'how does he do that'?

Matthew Holt was born on December 20, 1984. He is the son of Jimmy and Vicky Holt. He has one younger sister, Mallory. Matthew is from McKenzie, Tennessee, and still commutes to meet the Perrys every week in Morristown, TN. He was saved on August 12, 1996 at Bird's Creek Baptist Church in Paris, From his senior year in high school, until he accepted the pianist position with the Perrys, Matthew served as minister of music at his home church, Long Heights Baptist Church, in McKenzie, TN.

Matthew is engaged to Lindsey Jones from McKenzie. They are currently planning a wedding date in May of 2006. Matthew has had several influences in his life, including his parents who have always carried him to Gospel concerts and allowed him to pursue his dreams. He credits Big Jim Hamill for his constant encouragement as he was growing up. Tracy and Libbi Stuffle have also played a major roll by giving Matthew the chance of a lifetime and allowing him to live out his dream. Matthew also says that Ms. Nancy Mathesen, who was his percussion instructor in college at UT Martin, always made him strive to be better. She said that he should always work hard to improve the talent that God gave him. Her words were, "To whom much is given, much is required." In his spare time, Matthew enjoys fishing and playing golf. He started playing the piano at the age of three. His first song to play was Sweet Hour Of Prayer.

At the age of ten, Matthew played on the Grand Ole Opry with opry member Mike Snider and his Bluegrass band. After visiting Opryland, and playing a solo on Mike Snider's show, Mike asked Matthew if he would like to play one night with him on the Opry, and of course Matthew accepted. Prior to joining the Perrys, Matthew played for a group near his hometown called 'Under Grace', while he was in high school and college. He was valedictorian of his graduating class in high school. One of Matthew's greatest achievements was winning Instrumentalist of the Year at the age of twelve at Talent America in New York City!

Back in 2002, Matthew filled in with the Kingsmen while their pianist, Nick Succi, went home to Canada for a visit. When the Perrys began looking for a pianist, one of the members of the Kingsmen gave Matthew's number to Tracy Stuffle. Matthew joined the Perrys in September 2004, at the young age of nineteen. On the road, his jobs include setting up and tearing down the sound equipment, playing the piano, and filling the water tank on the bus on a daily basis. Matthew would like to mention how much he appreciates the support of his fiancée Lindsey. Matthew wants to give the honor and glory to God, because he knows that all of his talents came from Him!

To find out more about Matthew, visit the Perrys online at: www.perrysministries.com. We sang with the Perrys recently, and I am always impressed with their performance. Libbi and Tracy Stuffle are some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet, and are great singers too. It was my first chance to hear their newest singer, Joseph Habedank, but he fits the group great and has a wonderful voice. What more could be said about Loren Harris, he is a singing machine! I would really love to see him nominated for Favorite Lead Vocalist this year. He is as good as it gets in my opinion. If you get the chance in the near future, go see America's Favorite Mixed Quartet!