June 2004 ~ Featuring Michael Booth
Soon after I joined the Dixie Echoes, one of the first groups that I had the privilege of working with was the Booth Brothers. I still remember the concert distinctly. It was in 1998 at a church in Florida. Before we went on stage, the pastor brought up this young group of guys from Tampa. I remember being blown away with their tight family harmonies and great songs. Other than the singing, there was one thing that caught my attention. They had this little tenor singer who would cut up on stage. He must have thought that he was funny. I laughed along, as to not hurt his feelings. Then I left the concert that night with some of their cds. If you have ever been to a Booth Brothers concert, you know that I am talking about Michael Booth. I have to pick on him a little, but he knows that I have the utmost respect for his talents, and enjoy working with them every chance we get. This month I would like to share some of the info and crazy answers that I got from my interview with Michael Booth.

Michael Booth was born on October 8, 1971. His parents are Ron and Priscilla Booth. He has one brother Ronnie and one sister Melissa Booth Sims. Michael is the baby of the family. Michael and his wife Vicki were married on April 17, 1993. They have two children, Christian Michael (age 8), and Jonathan David (age 4). Michael's hometown is Tampa, Florida. He and his family now live in Plant City, Florida.

His associate pastor's daughter led him to the Lord in 1978, when he was seven years old. Michael and his family attend Victory Baptist Church in Valrico, FL. Michael says that his pastor, Gene Sorensen, loves Southern Gospel Music, and has a fabulous voice. When Michael is home, he says that he loves to sing with Pastor Gene and his wife Gena.

Some of Michael's hobbies include playing the drums, and playing his playstation on the bus. He says, "I also enjoy cleaning the house, doing the dishes, washing cars and windows, and cooking dinner." Do you believe that? Every month I ask my friends about their collections, and I think Michael has one of the funniest answers that I have received yet. He says, "I collect many unsold Booth Brothers cds and cassettes. This collection has gotten way out of hand."

Michael says that his biggest influences are his father, Ron Booth Sr., Jim Murray (formerly with the Imperials), and Ronnie Tutt (drummer for Elvis). On the road, Michael jokes by saying that he is the commander and chief of the financial empire known as the Booth Brothers. He is also the emcee and runs the sound. Michael states, "My wife Vicki is a stay-at-home house executive. She home-schooled our eldest son, Christian, for a year and a half. He presently attends Bell Shoals Christian Academy. She is currently preparing our youngest son, Jonathan, for kindergarten. Vicki spends most of her time greatly anticipating my arrival home."

Michael grew up listening to his dad and his uncle Charles sing with the Rebels Quartet. His dad also sang with the Stamps, Toney Brothers, and Thrasher Brothers. No doubt, his dad's influence helped tremendously in Michaels breaking into the Southern Gospel Music industry. Michael started singing with the group at the age of 18, on Easter Sunday morning 1989, at Brandon Fellowship Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida.

When I asked if he had any stories that he would like to tell, Michael shares, "I have to tell you about my youngest son, Jonathan, who is eat up with singing. He has his own real microphone that he carries everywhere, and three toy buses that usually can be found in the bed while he's sleeping. Vicki called me on the road to tell me that he had taken his toys and made a sound system with three makeshift microphones (notice a trio!). He also took his Bob the Builder blanket and laid it over the piano bench and set up many cds for a product table. That's my boy!"

Be sure to stop by the Booth Brothers website at: www.boothbrothers.com. There you can find lots more information about the group, and unfortunately more photos of Michael. I forgot to mention, that at the recent Quartet Conventions in Kentucky, Canada, and California, Michael has played drums for the Dixie Echoes on our set. He is an accomplished drummer. I assure you that you will have a great time at a Booth Brothers concert. They are a class act and are putting out some great sounding Southern Gospel music!