January 2002 ~ Featuring Tim Duncan
I guess that I should go ahead and admit that my favorite part of a Southern Gospel quartet is the bass singer. Since my first Southern Gospel concert, which featured the Cathedrals, I remember being amazed by the depth of a bass singers voice. I love every part of Southern Gospel music, and really enjoy a good tenor, lead, or baritone vocalist, but there's something about that big voice belting out extremely low notes that got my attention. In my short traveling career of a little over three years, I have had the honor of traveling with two of my favorite bass singers.

Currently, I travel with legendary bass singer Billy Todd, who is 72 years old and still traveling the country using his talents for the Lord. Prior to joining the Dixie Echoes, I traveled in a Laurel, Mississippi based group named "Master's Voice", and the bass position was occupied by Tim Duncan. Tim is now 30 years old and currently sings with Poet Voices, and I would like to share a little with you about this wonderful young bass singer. He has been with Poet Voices just over two years now, and has quickly become one of Southern Gospel Music's favorite bass singers.

Tim Duncan was born August, 2, 1971, in Iuka, MS, to Loey and Brenda Duncan. He has one younger sister named Cammie. His original hometown is Corinth, Mississippi, but he now lives in Geraldine, Alabama, not far from the group. Tim was saved at the young age of 14, during a camp meeting in Jackson, MS. He was raised in a Christian home and has been around Gospel Music most of his life. His home church is Burnsville Pentecostal Church.

At first, he wanted to sing tenor. He would listen to Ernie Phillips and Johnny Parrack, and want to sing like them. Tim says that he always knew that he wanted to be in a Southern Gospel quartet. After church one night, Tim and some of his friends at the church were playing around singing, and Tim was singing the lead part. One of his friends made mention that they needed a bass singer, so Tim said that he would do it. People started coming back into the church when they heard them singing, and Tim enjoyed singing bass. He didn't know that he had it in him.

Tim and his wife Melissa have been married for 10 years, and have two boys, Breck (8) and Brandon (7). Melissa is a nurse, and a full time mom, so when Tim is on the road, she has plenty to keep her busy. When Tim is not on the road, he enjoys fishing and collecting old Southern Gospel records. While on the road with Poet Voices, he shares that it is his job to keep the inside of the bus clean, set up the sound system, and buy groceries for the group. His favorite song is "The Only King", written by Phil Cross.

Tim's biggest influences are Tim Riley, London Paris, and Gene McDonald. Tim states that he was interested in vocal lessons, and Carlton Brady of the Singing Ambassadors told him that London Paris lived very close to where Tim lived. London Paris was one of the greatest bass singers of all time. Tim gave London a call to see if he would be interested in teaching him, and London asked him to sing over the phone for him. Tim sang the old hymn "Amazing Grace", then London told him to come over and he would help him.

In early 1998, Tim had the opportunity to join a group known as Master's Voice from Laurel, MS. I traveled with Tim for a while until I left to join the Dixie Echoes. Also in this group was Josh Garner, now with the Florida Boys. I was having a meal during the October 1999 Suwannee River Jubilee with Gene McDonald of the Florida Boys, and during our conversation, he asked if I knew of any bass singers. He was keeping his eyes open for a bass singer, because he knew that Poet Voices was looking for someone. So I gave him Tim Duncan's number and when I got home, I called Tim's wife Melissa and told her of the group. In return, Gene gave the number to Phil Cross, and the rest is history!

Poet Voices have always been a great quartet, and Phil has managed to keep a great line-up of talent with him, but I've got to say that this current group may easily be his best! The addition of Tim Duncan to any group can only be a wise move. To find out more about the group, you can visit them online at www.poetvoices.com. Tim has been featured on four recordings with Poet Voices, and the newest one is a live recording in which Tim gets to show off! He really hits some low stuff on this one. If you ever have the opportunity, go and see this great group, and hear this fabulous young bass singer. I am happy to be able to call Tim a great friend. I wish that we had the chance to work with them more often, but we try to stay in touch over the phone. I always enjoy visiting with his family at National Quartet Convention. He and his wife are some of the most down to earth and nicest people that you will ever meet.