The Bell Singers: News

The Bell Singers' Annual Banquet
Presented By The Bell Singers' Booster Club!!

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 6:00 p.m.

Hollywood Community Center
1560 N. Hollywood St.
Memphis, TN 38108

Prices: Ages 12 to Adults - $15.00 or 2 tickets for $25.00
Ages 8 to 11 - $5.00

Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Davis/Kingdom Seekers International Ministry of West Memphis, AR (Pastor Davis is a powerful man of God. Great Singer and Husband of Jessica Selvy Davis of the Selvy Singers - if you miss this Banquet you will miss a treat!!)

Menu: Baked Chicken, Meat Loaf, Green Beans, Cabbage, Spaghetti, Macaroni & Cheese, Corn Bread, Rolls, Desserts, Tea & Bottled Water

Musical Guests: The Bell Singers of Memphis, TN, Kingdom Seekers of Grand Junction, TN and New Shelby Singers of Collierville, TN

Theme: All of My Help Comes from the Lord!
Psalms 121:1-2

Colors: Green & Yellow

For More Information Call: Peggy Lawson, President at 901-210-4529 or 901-744-6217
www.bellsingers.com * www.freewebs.com/themmwc

You can see any of the Booster Club Members or The Bell Singers for tickets!!!

Hope to see you there!!
_________________

Pat Artison had the opportunity to do an interview with Mr. Jerry Silvers of CI Gospel Gold on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. We talked about what's going on with the Bell Singers and the newly formed organization the MMWC (The Memphis Music Warriors Coalition), which is a newly formed organization right here in the city of Memphis organized to support Quartet Music. Go to the website at www.freewebs.com/themmwc to learn more about it and to see how you can send in your contributions or donations to help us reach our goal of acquiring a 24 hour gospel radio station for Traditional Quartet Music! I had a great time doing the interview with Mr. Silvers, he is a very friendly and knowledgeable young man. Keep up the good work Jerry and thanks for your support! We love you! From the Bell Singers and the MMWC!!!

For the month of June we had a total of 91, 935 to view our website! Thanks a bunch!

Great News! We had 101,614 people to view our website for the month of April 2008! Thanks so for much for stopping by, please come back and visit us again!!

The interview with Christie Taylor that was done LIVE on April 12th at 95.7 was a hugh success and a lot of fun!! Christie is a great person to be around, she made us feel right at home. The interview was aired twice on April 12th and April 26th. If you missed it you can go to 95.7 website at Hallelujahfm.com - Go to PERSONALITIES (left hand corner) Click on CHRISTIE TAYLOR - Go to Christie Taylor's Interviews section (on the right) Click on: Click for Previous ND Radio Gospel Podcast - Click on ND Radio Bell Singers and you will hear the entire interview. Thanks again Christie Taylor for thinking of the Bell Singers, we had a ball being interviewed by you!!

BELL SINGERS SET TO DO A "LIVE" INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIE TAYLOR AT 95.7 HALLELUJAH FM ON SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 12TH AT 9:00 AM. TUNE IN ON YOUR RADIO DIAL OR ON THE INTERNET AT www.hallelujahfm.com - CLICK ON LISTEN LIVE - THEN CLICK ON LISTEN NOW WHAL-HALLELUJAH FM AT 95.7 FM (HD1)

THE BELL SINGERS WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO REV. REGINALD MARSHALL AT 24 HOUR GOSPEL NETWORK FOR LISTING
BELL SINGERS IN THE TOP 20 PLAYLIST ON 24HOURGOSPELNTETWORK, OUT OF CROCKETT, TX. FEATURING THE SONG "GOD IS WONDERFUL" GO TO: www.24hourgospelnetwork.org AND SEE THIS GREAT WEBSITE AND LISTEN TO ALL THE GREAT GOSPEL MUSIC. THANKS REV. MARSHALL!!!

BELL SINGERS WERE FEATURED THE WEEK OF APRIL 7TH - 11TH ON CI GOSPEL GOLD IN CLARKSVILLE, TN. FEATURING THE SONG "THANK YOU" LEAD BY PATRICIA ARTISON. THANKS CI GOSPEL GOLD!!! GO TO: www.freewebs.com/cigospel AND LISTEN TO GREAT GOSPEL MUSIC DAILY!!! THANKS ELDER IKE RICHARSON AND MR. JERRY R. SILVERS.

THANKS MUSBO (MR. KENNETH ROBINSON II) FOR FEATURING ONE OF THE BELL SINGERS SONGS "GOD IS WONDERFUL" DURING YOUR LIVE BROADCAST VIA LIVE INTERNET ON SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008, OUT OF HOUSTON, TX. THANKS! GO TO WWW.MUSBO.ORG TO LISTEN TO GREAT GOSPEL MUSIC!

Great News! We had 93,724 people to view our website for the month of March 2008! Thanks so for much for stopping by, please come back and visit us again!!

BELL SINGERS WERE FEATURED THE WEEK OF MARCH 1 - APRIL 4TH ON CI GOSPEL GOLD IN CLARKSVILLE, TN. FEATURING THE SONG "HE'LL WORK IT OUT" LEAD BY TOIANN LEACH. THANKS CI GOSPEL GOLD!!! GO TO: www.freewebs.com/cigospel AND LISTEN TO GREAT GOSPEL MUSIC DAILY!!! THANKS ELDER IKE RICHARDSON AND MR. JERRY R. SILVERS.

Directions: To Drummonds TN for the Friday Night Special Mother’s May Day Gospel Musical - May 9, 2008 –6:45 P.M. (Depending on where you are coming from – Less than 45 Miles out of Memphis)

Coming from West Memphis AR area
Take Broadway –make LEFT on Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Take I-40 E via the ramp toward MEMPHIS
Stay to the LEFT until you come upon EXIT 2A toward US-51/MILLINGTON
(Go about 13 miles) down US-51 N
Turn LEFT onto WILKINSVILLE RD (Near Walmart in Millington) – Drive 7 miles
Turn LEFT onto DRUMMONDS RD
End at 5068 Drummonds Rd (DRUMMONDS ELEM SCHOOL GYMNASIUM)

Coming from Rossville/Collierville TN area
Go West on Hwy 57 (Poplar)
Turn LEFT onto S Byhalia Rd/TN-175
Merge onto BILL MORRIS PKWY/TN-385 W
Merge onto I-240 E toward NASHVILLE
I-240 E becomes I-40 W (Go towards Little Rock)
Stay to the RIGHT – Merge onto US-51 N/TN-3 N toward MILLINGTON
(Go about 13 miles) down US-51 N
Turn LEFT onto WILKINSVILLE RD (Near Walmart in Millington) – Drive 7 miles
Turn LEFT onto DRUMMONDS RD
End at 5068 Drummonds Rd (DRUMMONDS ELEM SCHOOL GYMNASIUM)

Coming from Holly Springs MS area (Hwy 78W)
To I-55 N toward DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS
Keep RIGHT to take I-240 N ** I-240 N becomes I-40 E
Stay to the LEFT via EXIT 2A toward US-51/MILLINGTON
(Go about 13 miles) down US-51 N
Turn LEFT onto WILKINSVILLE RD (Near Walmart in Millington) – Drive 7 miles
Turn LEFT onto DRUMMONDS RD
End at 5068 Drummonds Rd (DRUMMONDS ELEM SCHOOL GYMNASIUM)

Coming from Greenwood MS area Hwy 7
Merge onto I-55 N ** Keep RIGHT to take I-240 N
I-240 N becomes I-40 E
Stay to the LEFT via EXIT 2A toward US-51/MILLINGTON
(Go about 13 miles) down US-51 N
Turn LEFT onto WILKINSVILLE RD (Near Walmart in Millington) – Drive 7 miles
Turn LEFT onto DRUMMONDS RD
End at 5068 Drummonds Rd (DRUMMONDS ELEM SCHOOL GYMNASIUM)

Coming from Nashville area – I-40 W
Merge onto TN-384 N via EXIT 24 toward MILLINGTON
Merge onto US-51 N (Go about 2.5 Miles)
Turn LEFT onto WILKINSVILLE RD (Near Walmart in Millington) - Drive 7 miles
Turn LEFT onto DRUMMONDS RD
End at 5068 Drummonds Rd (DRUMMONDS ELEM SCHOOL GYMNASIUM)

Bell Singers are featured in Musbo's Internet Playlist at www.musbo.org for the month of Febuary 2008. Featuring the song "On Calvary", lead by Toiann Leach.

Great News! For the Month of January 2008 we had a total of 97,509 people to view our website! Thanks a Bunch!

The Bell Singers of Memphis, Tennessee Received the Female Gospel Group Artist Award on Sunday, January 28, 2008 at The 28th Anniversary of The Gospel Express and the 3rd World Series of Gospel Awards Show, Presented by Bishop Bobby King at the Evangelist Temple COGIC, located at 3415 Millbranch in Memphis, Tennessee.

Thank you Bishop Bobby King and to All Who Made This Possible. We are most appreciative and deeply humbled. God Bless you all From All The Bell Singers of Memphis, Tennessee!!!

Well, where do I begin, we arrived at the AGQC on Wednesday morning, January 23rd and the first face we saw was Minister George Stewart who greeted us with a warm welcome and a smile and then on into the registration room where we saw Dr. Jacqueline Stewart and other staff who also greeted us with a warm welcome and a smile. We immediately felt right at home. On Wednesday Night, the Bell Singers had the pleasure of singing on the Nightly Concert, we were the ones in the Wine Colored Suits, and later during the service we openly received a prophetic word from Minister George Stewart himself. If you have ever been in the presence of this man, you will truly know that he has been sent by God!

On Thursday morning, the group attended different workshop classes, me and the Bell Singers’ Booster Club President, Peggy Lawson, and Marcus Newson (of the Newson Singers, who played Lead Guitar for us) attended Dr. Ella Mahmoud’s and Sharon Ross’ Class entitled “Get Your Business Straight from the Beginning”. This class was power packed with information and people! We had a great time role playing about IRS and Audits and having your paperwork in order as a group. We left that class with something to really think about along with a booklet with all the information you need to know and we were also given a Spectra 34k Memory DataBank Organizer to help keep our business matters organized! WOW! We all had a little trouble programming it even “Wonderboy Johnson”! Ha! But we have instructions and we all are going to get it, Dr. Ella! I promise I am!

On Thursday, Joetta and Toiann attended “Talent Search: What Is The Record Company looking for in an artist?” Presented by Larry Blackwell of EMI Records; Manuel Attended: “Music Arrangement” Presented by Eric Sharper; Linda and Stella attended “What Everyone Should know before going into the Studio” Presented by Don McKenzie of MC Mix Recording. Then we all headed to the sanctuary for the Round Table Discussion of all the Presenters. So if you weren’t in one of the other classes, it was laid out by the presenters at the Round Table Discussion. After that we attended the AGQC Announcer & Promoter Luncheon (MALACO) where we had GREAT FOOD and GREAT SINGING by Luther Barnes, the Selvys, Jewel & Converted, Wonderboy Johnson and others. These groups along with others also sung on the Thursday Night Concert.

Friday Morning back to the workshops where we attended the following classes: Toiann & Joetta attended “Production” Presented by Luther Barnes; Stella attended “Medical Implications with regards to Throat Stress” Presented by Dr. Ross Gardner; Linda & Peggy attended “Legal: Court Cases and issues involving Entertainment Law and Contract Negotiations” Presented by Attorneys Etta Kay Hearn & Peggy Brown. Marcus Newson attended “Promotions” Presented by Bobby Hurd and Pat attended “Strategies for Group Success/Management/Booking" presented by Minister George Stewart. He let us know that we definitely need to know our PURPOSE! 1) The Enemy doesn’t want you to know what your purpose is! 2) Enemy doesn’t want you to OPERATE in your purpose and 3) If you operate in it he wants you to PERVERT it. I tell you it is so much you as a group can get out of these classes at the AGQC and it is something different each year, the classes are always very informative. After that we attended the AGQC Hall of Fame & Awards Luncheon where the Bell Singers had the honor of singing along with Pastor Rose Cameron, Endurance and The Gospel Four. After that we all went back to the sanctuary and witness the Willacoochee Peach Music Records Showcase (Brother and Sisters with Elder Troy Jackson). Then the Bell Singers had the pleasure of singing on the Friday Night (we were the ones who had on the Red Suits) along with Bo Peep & Revive, Brown Singers, Gospel Four, Lighthouse Singers, Luther Barnes and many others. AGQC Cornerstone Awards was inducted into this service as well - Paul Beasley was the Recipient of the Dorothy Love Coates "Living Legend Award" and Rev. Morgan Babb was the Recipient of the Joe Ligon "Lifetime Achievement Award".

I thank the Lord for allowing us to be at the convention another year and are looking forward to attending again next year if the Lord says the same. It was great seeing a lot of my Gloryland message board family such as the Jones family of TX, Mr. & Mrs. Steve Bowen (Clarksville Soulstirrers), Jackie Hairston, Dr. Ella Mahmoud & Sharon Ross, Bridget Shelly, Elder Troy Jackson, Pat Boga and others such as: Sarah Hall, James Chambers, Felicia (Melodic Truths), Ronnie (Memphis Harmonizers), Bo Peep of Revive; Earl of the Cork Singers, "MAMA" Curtis; Queen “QT” Patterson (WAGL 1560AM-Lancaster, SC), Mr. Henry Jones of J&B Productions-Lancaster, SC), J.B. & Focus of Lancaster, SC, Attorney Peggy L. Brown/Lawrenceville, GA; Attorney Etta Kay Hearn of Baton Rouge, LA; Rev. Paul Lawson & The Dedicated Voices of Mesquite, TX, Evangelist Mary Tillman of FOXY 95.5 WFUN/St. Louis, MO; Annie Jackson/Gospel Promoter of Brunswick, GA; Barbara McLaughlin of Levittown, PA; Bishop B.G. Shearrill of Montgomery, AL; Apostle J. Teemer of Albany, GA; Pamela Swinney of S.W.A.M.P Magazine; Bishop Jesse Harris, CEO of the Gospel News (National Newspaper), The Voices of Clouds of Rochester and so many many others!

To the AGQC Staff: Minister George & Dr. Jacqueline Stewart, Ken, Robert, Pastor Hilton, (I can't leave out the very nice man who monitors the sanctuary door for everyone coming in-please forgive me- if anyone knows his name please let me know) and soooo many others on staff, we salute you! We appreciate you and your smiles through it all and your professionalism - you all are like family to us and we can't wait to see you all again next year if not before. God Bless you all until we meet again. And to all who did not attend this year, start now MAKING YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR - IT WILL BE WELL WORTH YOUR WHILE!!!

Pictures from the AGQC will be posted in the photo section real soon!

Following is a review of what some of the other Bell Singers Got out of going to the AGQC:

Linda Ellis/Bell Singer

The American Gospel Quartet Convention was a smashing success. Every year that I attend, there is always more information to bring back to better yourself and your group. I commend Dr. Jacqueline & Bishop George W. Stewart for a spiritual and magnificent job well done. Every year I wait for a word from God through Bishop Stewart. If you don’t know them, now is a good time to start planning to get to know them, so that you can have that spiritual link. The classes were off the chain. I look forward to learning all that I can absorb in the short time we are there. And let me tell you, it won’t go lacking, because God’s word was manifested in every class. We were able to feast on it like never before. God truly blessed us with so many contacts during our networking. I challenge every Quartet Group and every Gospel Singer to attend the convention on next year. Make yourself a promise and keep it. God wants us to be a saved group. It is very dangerous to travel up and down the highways and flying in the air if you are not living the life that you are singing about. Think about it God is not playing with us. Again, I thank The Stewarts for reaching out to try and save the Quartet Singers. You all have really revived me.

Toiann Leach/Bell Singer

The quartet convention was more than an average convention for me. It was a total learning experience! I carried a clause in my mind the entire time we were there, and that clause was “to get what you ain’t never had, you gotta do what you ain’t never done”. Yes, I meant it just like that. I learned different ways to write lyrics to a song, when and where to put them in your mind, then on paper. When in song writing, it is ideal to purchase at least two (2) compact recorders to have handy. Be prepared to record the lyrics or the tune when it comes to you. For example, if I am awakened from my sleep with lyrics or with a tune, I need to record it quickly because I may lose it when I wake up the next morning. That’s the essence of possessing a gift for writing songs. On the business end, I also learned that in order to produce/come up with a good project, extreme measures, and big changes have to take place. You have to do what you gotta do to put out a good project. All musicians are not studio musicians; by the same token, all vocalists are not studio vocalists. To produce a quality sound, changes will have to be made from time to time. When the group performs live, you can use your regular musicians and vocalists. Don’t do a “milli-vanilli” thing, but you gotta do what you ain’t never done, to get what you ain’t never had; with no love or respect lost. Get the picture? Good! Vocalists and musicians have to learn to be versatile, and not get stuck in the “okee-doke” or better yet, the “same-ole, same-ole. Overall, this was a great learning for me. The instructors I had, Rev. Luther Barnes (Talent Search) and Mr. Eric Sharper (Music Arrangement), had with them tons of information; not only that, they were prepared to teach!!! Job well done!!!

Joetta Watkins/Bell Singer

I attended Musical Arrangements on Thursday. This class was fun. Luther Barnes was part of this class also. When a person writes a song it is usually about different experiences in life. When a song comes to you, write it down, even if you are in the bed, get up and write the song down. If at all possible record it. Invest in a small recorder. This will be a big help especially when you are arranging the music to a song. Also, when writing a song make sure the lyrics in the song make sense. Try to take classes and learn to read music. This would be very beneficial to a person.

I attended Luther Barnes class about “Talent Search – What people are looking for”. Luther said to keep your music fresh. It’s okay to be traditional, but be versatile also. People are looking for good quality productions, stage presence, your appearance and good attitudes. Luther said to have a product that’s of good quality, you may have to go outside your group and let someone else produce it. That goes for the music, voices or whatever the case may be. If you want the Radio Announcers to play your music, it must be of good quality and sound. When you are standing before the people praising God through song, it’s okay to move around. Don’t stand there and expect the people to magnify God with you and you’re like a zombie. It won’t work. If God has been good to you, don’t be ashamed to let the world know!!!

Stella Alexander/Bell Singer

I am always inspired when I go to the Convention. You gain a lot of valuable information. Above all, there is one phrase that was repeated over and over at the convention that really stayed with me and that was “Lord Teach Me How To Receive and Lord Teach Me How To Give It Back.

Peggy Lawson/Booster Club President

I encourage everyone to attend the AGQC because the classes they have are great. They have lawyers and promoters and a lot more people with real good informatioin that can help you in different areas of your life. If you are in a group you can get good materials to help you and your or just help in other areas. If you have never been to the convention, I encourage you to attend, it is very spiritual as well as educational. Everything is so well put together and all of the different quartet groups are great and they come from all parts of the United States. I am really looking forward to going back next year.

Great News! For the Month of December 2007 we had a total of 84,101 people to view our website! Thanks a Bunch!

Pat Artison had the pleasure of doing a "LIVE" interview with Rev. Reginald Marshall of 24 Hour Gospel Network - KNES 99.1 FM on Monday, December 24, 2007 - Christmas Eve Night. If you missed it, You can go to the Press/Review Section and click on the LINK to hear the entire interview. Thanks Rev. Marshall for such a great opportunity!!!

The Bell Singers are proud to announce that we are part of The Artist Affiliation with 24 Hour Gospel Network!! Rev. Reginald D. Marshall, CEO - Crockett, Texas. Go to the Bell Singers' LINKS page and CLICK on 24 Hour Gospel Network and read about the great works Rev. Marshall is doing to try to help others in our singing ministry and see where the Bell Singers are listed as an Artist Affiliation!!! If you are a group reading this and wants more exposure for your group you may want to look into this. Go to the website through our Links page and Contact Rev. Reginald Marshall for more information.

Great News! For the Month of November 2007 we had a total of 81,645 people to view our website! Thanks a Bunch!