September 2004 ~ A Year In Review
This month's issue will mark the third year that I have been writing this article in the US Gospel News. In the previous years, I have used the September issue to review my articles throughout the year and give everyone the latest information about my friends who I featured in the past year. Time has just passed by so quickly again this year, and it's time for the National Quartet Convention again! If any of you plan to attend NQC, please stop by the Dixie Echoes booth #820 and visit with me. I would also like to welcome any new readers who have recently subscribed to the US Gospel News. As a brief introduction, my name is Stewart Varnado, I have been playing the piano for the Dixie Echoes Quartet for the past six years, and I will have my 24th birthday on September 11.

In October of 2003, Roger Bennett was the subject of my article. Everyone remembers Roger for his long tenure with the legendary Cathedral Quartet. In January of 2000, after the retirement of the Cathedrals, Roger Bennett along with Scott Fowler launched Legacy Five. Most recently, Roger underwent a bone marrow transplant. He had to spend several months in Houston, Texas. He has been back on the road with Legacy Five for a short time now. To keep up with the latest information on his health, visit www.legacyfive.com or www.rogerbennettdirect.com.

Next, I featured Gary Toney. Gary is the baritone singer for the Toney Brothers. Back when I featured him, they were based out of Texas, but they recently relocated the group to Nashville, Tennessee. This move put them in a more central location so they wouldn't have to travel as much. Since many of the Southern Gospel concerts are in the southeast, they usually had to leave a day yearly just to get out of Texas.

In December, I didn't feature anyone individually. Actually, I shared what many of the musicians of Gospel music were doing during the Christmas holiday season. At the time, I had just started putting together the "Southern Gospel Players" recording, and several of us were recording our parts at studios across the country.

The first story of 2004 went to Ricky Free, the drummer for his dad's group Brian Free and Assurance. Ricky is one of Southern Gospel's greatest musicians, and he played a key role in helping with the players recording. He is now twenty-one years old, and is keeping himself busy doing studio work when he is not on the road playing for BF&A.

February 2004 brought us to Tracy Stuffle of the Perrys. This was an interesting article, as Tracy had some very unique and funny answers to my basic questions. Tracy is a character to be around, and I think we all need to take a minute and pray for his wife Libby. She has to put up with Tracy all year long.

In March, I featured a newcomer to Southern Gospel Music. At the time of that article, Dustin Sweatman was the newest member of the Dixie Melody Boys. Since then, Dustin has made a lot of fans across the country. This year he has been nominated in the Top Five in the Horizon Individual category in the Singing News Fan Awards. Dustin is a great baritone singer, and is also an excellent piano player. I'm glad he chooses to sing instead of play!

For the April issue, I featured a member of my group, the Dixie Echoes. I wrote about our bass singer Billy Todd. Billy will celebrate his seventy fifth birthday on September 26. I have been traveling with Billy since 1998, and have enjoyed getting to know this living legend!

Scott Howard, baritone singer for Legacy Five, was the May feature. Since Legacy Five started singing in 2000, I have been impressed with Scott's vocal abilities. I have known Scott for a while now, even before he joined Legacy Five. He has always been a nice down to earth guy and fun to be around. Plus he's a fellow Louisiana native, can't go wrong there!

The June article featured Michael Booth. Enough said right? This young tenor singer of the Booth Brothers was one of the first friends I made when I began traveling with the Dixie Echoes. Even though he is a little on the crazy side, I think folks agree that Michael is an amazing talent.

In July 2004, I told about the finished "Stewart Varnado presents…The Southern Gospel Players" recording. For more on that project, visit my website at: www.stewartvarnado.com. Then last month I featured Trecia Cisneros, soprano singer for the Lesters.

That sums up another year of my article. If you love Southern Gospel Music and want to get to know more about many of the artists individually, then subscribe today. If at NQC, stop by the US Gospel News booth. The Dixie Echoes also carry subscriptions, or you can subscribe online at www.usgospelnews.com.