Report from the 2023 National Quartet Convention (NQC)

By Tom Morrissey

      What an event! September 23-30, more than 9,000 gospel quartet music fans daily (estimated over 40,000 total attendance) were blessed with musical praise and the Christian message daily from morning to late into the evening for over a week.

      The National Quartet Convention (NQC) was founded in 1957 by gospel music legend J.D. Sumner (former backup vocalist for Elvis Presley) and co-produced with James Blackwood, a founding member of the legendary Southern gospel quartet theBlackwood Brothers. The event, I am happy to report, is still alive and well. NQC has been held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. since 2014 every September and is sponsored by the late Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries.

      The event, which features live concerts by pretty much every quartet style Christian group you can think of, also features daily sermons and gospel messages from many of the nation’s leading spiritual leaders and speakers including Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and host of Pathway to Victory, an internationally broadcast radio ministry; Pastor Anthony George (First Baptist in Atlanta) and others. Dr. David Jeremiah (Turning Point Ministries) was also scheduled to speak but was not able to attend at the last minute due to health issues. His son, David Michael, however, came in his stead.

      Many groups invite special guests to perform with them throughout the day, with spontaneous “reunion” performances by several well-known gospel quartet groups. One such event that will stand out in my mind for years to come was the reunion performances by The Inspirations. Inspirational for all in attendance… guaranteed! What a great experience as previous and current members of the group (formed in 1964) praised the Lord in musical vocal harmonies.

      I even got my photo taken with the Down East Boys, several members of the Chuckwagon Gang and Gerald Wolfe of the Cathedral Quartet. All long-time, personal favorites of mine.

      In addition to the daily main stage performances were the ongoing side performances in the food court area of emerging groups vying for a spot on the big stage. Include a great “trade show” area in which all of the groups were available for conversation, autographs and photos, and no time was left unfilled by those of us in attendance.

      But the focus of this report is this to support gospel quartet music. If we don’t, who will? The good news is that there is no shortage of youthful attendees. The bad news is they, for the most part, are among the performers. Those in the audience were, overwhelmingly, senior citizen candidates from what I could tell. There is much we can do to support this genre of American Christian music tradition and spreading the gospel message to others by hosting these quartets in our local church communities and inviting our neighbors to attend.

      There is an economical way to accomplish this, too. Contact agents who represent these groups. Find out when they are between bookings, maybe even driving right through your community between engagements, on the way to another venue. Many groups will come for a love offering (as they are going to pretty much already be in the area), gas money and a good meal. Your church can also group together with a couple other churches and share in the expense of an engagement. Most assuredly, we cannot let it be said that, among the many other bad things we are witnessing in the world today, our generation allowed gospel music to fade away on top of it all.

      Two such agents (present at the convention) are the Harper Agency, based in Goodlettsville, Tenn. and the Dominion Agency, out of Waynesville, NC. Either or both would be a good place to start. You can also read Singing News Magazine (singingnews.com) for some more ideas or email me (tomintxk@gmail.com) and I’ll be glad to help.