Comments on: Gold City’s Golden age, remembered

By: GC11

GC11 — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:19:50 +0000

I kinda liked Bob Oliver..btw, Ivan wasn’t on one of my favorite recordings…”Gold City Live!” In My Robe Of White was great!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:17:24 +0000

Sorry Clude, you are wrong on the Billy, Jerry number! The first real group to do anything was with Ivan and didn’t start popping till after Jerry was gone. As for “White City”, I don’t remember a “white” gospel group that could ever be nothing but that, white. I guess the Statesmen were the closet to that because of Chief, he was a “Black” man and not an Indian as was told. Doy was the Indian chief in the group.

By: clyde

clyde — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:10:58 +0000

GC 1.0 - That would be Billy Crittendon, Greg Ritchie’s dad and others, right? Upgrades come in numerical order. Often folks don’t like the new version as much as they did the previous one, and “upgrade” is sometimes the wrong term. As for the “Brian/Ivan/Mike/Tim” version, they should have changed the name to White City. That was the most caucasian music I ever heard!

By: dad

dad — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:21:25 +0000

I always get confused “Gold City”
“Crimson Gold”
now there’s a name you probably haven’t heard in a while

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:11:55 +0000

Kyle, you hit the nail on the head with the 1.0 GC. They had singers, stardom and a musical genius in Garry Jones. The only problem the 1.0 GC had was the MC work of Tim. It was just not good at all. The 1.5 GC was a good group and had good singers, they just weren’t as polished as the 1.0 GC group. Just kind of no direction musically although, they had several good songs. It is a shame that Tim couldn’t or wouldn’t keep either group together. I don’t believe that the 2.0 GC is as good vocally or will ever compete with the likes of a GVB! There are no comparisons with the vocals or stage presence.
Oh, btw! You are correct on the GC and GVB comparrison doing a reunion concert as well! You would just sort of look silly calling it that. An “Evening of Golden Moments” really fills the bill here.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:18:32 +0000

I agree with you, Chris. Mike never bothered me as a baritone, but when he was given lead lines I longed to hear him sing harmony instead. That’s the same reaction I have to Scott Fowler — somewhat shaky-sounding baritone surrounded by three capable vocalists. Both versions of GC had a better blend than most other quartets of their day, but Steve was definitely the stronger link in the Gold chain.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:00:52 +0000

In my opinion, there were three eras for Gold City. There was the original powerhouse of Brian, Ivan, Mike, and Tim (Gold City 1.0); there was the “reinvention” with Jay, Jonathan, Mark, and Tim (Gold City 1.5); then there’s “Gold City 2.0,” with Steve, Jonathan, Danny, and Aaron.

1.0 is what made Gold City. There wouldn’t be a GC today if it weren’t for this lineup.

1.5 is what happened when two obviously more country-sounding members (Mark and Jay) take over. Mark Trammell remains one of my favorite singers, but their overall sound seemed to become less progressive and more traditional (albeit overdone with heavy brass!).

2.0, to me, is GC with noticably-younger talent trying to fit into the current marketplace. They have a new record deal, new producers, and a more modern sound compared to their previous efforts. Rather than competing with groups like the Kingsmen or Dove Brothers (who rely heavily on the more traditional sound and older crowd), Gold City seems to be poised to compete directly with the likes of Signature Sound and the GVB (and easily beats SSQ, in my opinion!).

Okay, now that THAT is out, I would think that using Gold City’s name would either imply that Gold City had a hand in arranging the date, or that it is an officially-sanctioned “reunion.” It would be similar to Mark Lowry and Michael English teaming with Terry Franklin or Jim Murray to promote a “Gaither Vocal Band Reunion” (even when Mark and Michael joined with Bill on Mark’s “Hollywood” DVD, minus a GVB tenor, they still were not considered a “reunion”).

Politics….

By: wound_loose

wound_loose — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:37:32 +0000

Chris,

The valor comment may have been ever so slightly “mean spirited”, but very funny anyway. Keep it up and don’t let the overly uptight bother you.

By the way, I think it’s Benny Blackburn who is working as a greeter at the Wilkesboro Wal-Mart.

By: chuck stevens

chuck stevens — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:11:27 +0000

Although i enjoy the current Gold City. They were bigger than life in the 80’s and early 90’s. They had a star power they don’t have now. Vocaly, they can still stand up to most anybody.

By: Lottie Squires

Lottie Squires — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 16:34:13 +0000

Chris…What has Valor got to do with this topic? You’re entitled to your opinions, of course, but that was pointless and mean-spirited.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 16:16:17 +0000

Hey Chris, not to be rude…but in case you haven’t figured it out, music is very subjective to opinion. What impresses YOU musically may not impress someone else. As far as Mike Lefevre is concerned; his awards were “FAN AWARDS.” Not to take anything away from Mike as a singer(he was good), the people voted him “favorite baritone” because he had a winning personality and the fans really liked him. If this wasn’t true, how do you explain singers in any genre who have had successful careers but were not great singers?

Ivan Parker in your opinion may not be the singer he once was but there again, it really doesn’t matter does it? He has been very successful and has TONS of FANS! I could go on and on about his success and Brian and Garry’s too. Oh, by the way…there will probably be many people at the “Golden Moments Concert” who feel the same way.They’re called…FANS!

By: Chris Henry

Chris Henry — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 06:57:19 +0000

Steve Lacey? Isn’t he now working at the WalMart in Wilkesboro? I don’t know, really, but that was a great line up with Steve. Mike was always a very weak voice, and I often wondered how he was voted favorite baritone all those years.

As far as Brian, Ivan, and Garry getting together, my thoughts are these: Brian still has it, Ivan lost it years ago, and Garry’s strength has always been at the keyboard. My excitement level isn’t too high. A lot of glitz with average substance. Kind of like a Valor concert.

By: Angie M

Angie M — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:00:33 +0000

#9, I agree. Whatever happened to Steve Lacey?+

By: clyde

clyde — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:34:38 +0000

Been watching this thread . . . first of all, Teddy Huffam had the ultimate cut on I’m Rich. . . second . . . EVERY Gold City conglomeration combined cannot stand up to the Quartets of the 50s 60s and 70s. Now I am no Roy Pauley, but ever since the word Southern was applied to this music, there has been a vast void in the quartet world. The last real fun was the early to mid seventies Oaks and Downings. Take out your hymnals and join me in singing Precious Memories . . . .

By: Chuck Peters

Chuck Peters — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:06:08 +0000

I’M RICH is a great radio song.. It may not be the best tune on the project.. but singles.. and mass appeal songs that work on radio,.. aren’t always the “best”.. (I know it doesn’t make sense.. but that’s the way it is)

I thought TRUTH IS MARCHING ON was the first single from “Revival”???