Heritage Singers are a Seventh-Day Adventist American gospel group founded by Max Mace and his wife Lucy, with their two children, Val and Greg. As the group's fourth decade dawned, they had traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 television programs, and recorded over 100 albums. In 2014 the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network began re-playing their 30-minute shows three times each week with the new title of Heritage Singers Classics.
Video Heritage Singers
History
After four years of performing with a patriotic/folk singing group to promote Portland-based United Medical Laboratories named Rose City Singers, the Maces decided to resign and form a Christian group in 1971. Jerry Leiske named the group based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "Heritage ... objects of His special care."
The first year, they released two albums (Come Along with the Heritage Singers and Hymns We Remember), and performed their first public concert in June. Early accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano and Pete McLeod and Jeff Wood on guitars. In 1974 the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ron Huff, who arranged their first albums with full orchestration.
As their popularity grew (along with a television series, Heritage Singers Presents), they formed a second group in September 1974, dubbed Heritage II, (subsequently named New Creation) to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States; and a third group, Heritage Singers en Espanol, which tours South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs. More than 250 people (including Chris Willis) have performed as members of Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. The group bases its operation out of an expansive property near Placerville, California that includes a lodge and a professional recording studio.
Maps Heritage Singers
Reunions
Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral). A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 30, 2016 with 126 singers on stage.
Influence and awards
A concert review by the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventists revealed, "During the period of socialist Yugoslavia, bootlegged cassettes, bearing the signature sound of the Heritage Singers, were the only source of recorded Christian music in countless households. This sound ... became a blueprint for music groups, bands and praise teams across the region."
Prior to performing at Pacific Union College in 2002, they had received more Angel Awards from "Religion in Media" than any other gospel group, including:
- Album of the Year
- Best Children's Album
- Vocal Group of the Year
- Best Christian Television Variety Show
- Best Music Video
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
Videos
Recent members
- Singers
Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability.
- Ted Atwood
- Dave Bell
- Rob Burkey
- Tim Calhoun
- Marcelo Constanzo
- Melody Davis
- Tim Davis
- Kevin Dumitru
- Garth Gabriel
- Cindy Haffner
- Lisa Jensen
- Shani Judd Diehl
- Adriane Mace
- Amber Mace
- Max Mace
- Val Mace Mapa
- Darrell Marshall
- Jaclyn Pruehs
- Shastin Rains
- Scott Reed
- Frank John Salas
- Becki Trueblood Craig
- Miguel Verazas
- Band
The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the band usually does not perform at concerts except for special occasions.
- Gary Hemenway - keyboards
- Art Mapa - guitars
- Austin Mapa - drums
- Art Munar - keyboards
- Nino Ocampo - bass
- Dani Stromback - keyboards
- Joel Umali - keyboards
- Technical
- Tim Davis - vocal arranger and producer
- Greg Mace - sound engineer
- Lucy Mace - tour manager
- Max Mace - director
- Art Mapa - arranger, producer, programmer
Source:
References
External links
- Official website
- Firsthand biography by Dan Shultz in 2009-2010
- Heritage Singers Classics programming schedule on LLBN
- Heritage Singers discography at AllMusic.com
- Heritage Singers discography at CrossRhythms.com
- Heritage Singers discography at Discogs.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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