November 2001 ~ Featuring Randy Shelnut Jr.
This month's focus is going to shine the spotlight on one of my best friends. Actually, I have the privilege of traveling with him over 220 days each year, so I get to see him a lot of the time! He is, in my opinion, one of the smoothest baritone singers in Southern Gospel Music today, as well as an exceptionally talented musician. Although he is a very shy and quiet person, his talents speak very loudly for him. I am talking about Randy Shelnut Jr., or "Scoot", as he is known by his many friends and Gospel Music fans.

Scoot was born on November 3, 1978, in Pensacola, Florida, and is an only child. His parents are Randy Shelnut, Sr. and Paula Shelnut. Raised around Gospel Music his entire life, at the young age of five he knew that he wanted Christ in his life and accepted Him one evening at home. Those of you who may not be familiar with Scoot personally, are no doubt aware of his family's musical heritage. Scoot's grandfather, the late Dale Shelnut, helped make The Dixie Echoes a household name during the days when the Gospel Singing Jubilee television program was seen in practically every major market in the country. Dale's son Randy, Scoot's father, traveled with the group in those days and took over the group when his dad passed away in 1983.

Scoot joined the Dixie Echoes at the young age of eleven, playing bass guitar. When he first joined the group, his other grandfather, known to all as "Daddy" Paul Vinson, was singing baritone. So as you can already see, Gospel Music just runs in the family, and Scoot just got a double dose. When he was 15 years old, he experienced the devastating news of being diagnosed with cancer. After major surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy treatments, thanks to the goodness of God and to the prayers of many friends and fans, he is now cancer-free!

When "Daddy" Paul Vinson, retired from the Dixie Echoes in December of 1995, it seemed to fit into place that Scoot step in and fill his shoes. At the age of 17, he became the third generation of Shelnuts singing in the group. When his grandfather Dale was alive, Randy Sr. sang baritone, then moved to lead. I keep telling Scoot that one day he is going to have to step up to the mike and sing lead. He usually follows that with a "NO WAY"! Either way, Scoot is leading the pack of youth in Southern Gospel Music. Since joining the group in 1990, I don't think you will find anybody else in Gospel Music that can say that they hit the road full time right out of the sixth grade!

While Scoot is at home, he spends a lot of his time in the groups recording studio, Echo Sound. In the studio, he plays bass guitar, drums, and sings backup vocals on several sessions. He also plays keyboards, piano, guitar, and harmonica. When he's not in the studio, you can usually find him on the golf course, the beach, or hanging out with his friends in Pensacola. He is a big sports fan, and collects all kinds of sports memorabilia, mainly football. His favorite teams are the New Orleans Saints and Florida State Seminoles.

I first met Scoot at a local Dixie Echoes concert in Louisiana. They sang close by my hometown of Franklinton, and I went to see them. Actually, I saw them two nights in a row, but never said a word to him. You've got to know Scoot or myself to know that we are shy and hardly speak unless spoken to. Randy Sr., first called me when I was sixteen years old and inquired about playing with the group, but my parents insisted that I finish high school. However, when I graduated it didn't take long before I was riding the Dixie Echoes bus! I first rode with the group to Nashville, TN, to a concert event, then rode with them to the National Quartet Convention in 1998. I remember very well that I didn't was so shy that I didn't talk much on either trip.

As the time passed, I guess it was sort of expected that the two youngest members of the group would probably become friends, just because of being so close to each others age. The next person near our age was almost twice our age. There is a little under two years in our age difference. I don't think that I could have asked for a better bunch of guys to travel with. I really think this group is like a family, we all get along very well. I often joke to people that we are all brothers, and our bass singer, Billy Todd, is our great-grandpa. He really loves that!

Scoot was honored this year with a nomination for Favorite Young Artist in the Singing News Fan Awards, and I think that he really deserves it. He just has a personality that everyone has to like. I am glad to be able to call Scoot my best friend. It still amazes me that at one time I looked to all of these guys in Gospel Music, and was star struck. However, the truth is that we are all God's children, and these guys are just like you and I. I have found that the people involved in Southern Gospel Music are some of the greatest people to be around. We all have trials and problems, but we all serve the same God and are in this ministry together, working until Jesus returns, and rejoicing when just one more soul is saved!

I do want to make mention that Scoot's birthday is this month, on November 3. He will turn 23 years old. So if you see him, be sure to wish him a Happy Birthday, and I'm sure he would like for me to mention that he loves sports related gifts! Ha!