Celebrate with songs of joy at a community gospel concert at the Tryon Fine Arts Center on Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m.

If you enjoy listening to old fashioned gospel music spend a Sunday afternoon rejoicing with local and regional choral groups, duos and soloists. Raising their voices will be Green River Boys, the St. Lukes CME Church All Male Chorus under the direction of Dr. Joseph Fox, the husband and wife duo Servants Call, the Polk Baptist Association Choir under the direction of Krista Haynes and Warren Landrum of Atlanta, Ga.

The Green River Boys hail from Saluda and have spread their gospel and bluegrass sound all over the Southeast, sharing the stage with many nationally known groups such as the Primitive Quartet, the Jody Brown Indian Family and Standing tall. This six member band has recorded four CDs which have been played on radios in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Missouri, Virginia and Georgia.

Also appearing will be the St. Luke CME all male chorus celebrating its 24th year of Christian ministry under the direction of Dr. Joseph Fox. In 1986 Mrs. Barbara Fox made a request that an all male chorus be formed for a 100 Men in Black program. Rev. Miller agreed with Fox on the need for the chorus, and Mr. Joseph Fox was asked to become the director, and Ruth Porter the pianist.

Servants Call, the husband and wife team of Jeff and Kim Walker of Rutherfordton will share with TFAC audiences their call to share Christ through their gospel music. Jeff is no stranger to gospel music. In years past he enjoyed a successful solo ministry and sang with several groups. Jeff has also served as a music director for several churches in North and South Carolina. His wife Kim has been active in ministry as an assistant youth director, youth drama team director and Sunday School teacher. She and Jeff have been led to a new field of ministry at Rock Falls Church in Boiling Springs where they have founded a senior adults ministry.

The Polk Baptist Association Choir was formed around 1970 under the direction of Ramona B. Rhodes. After various directors and multiple members over the years it continues today under the direction of Krista Haynes.

The choir is a blend of 22 churches and two missions which covers a variety of worship styles and church sizes. The choir was formed just to sing at their annual association revivals but began branching out by holding annual association singings.

The Polk Baptist Association choir continues to sing at various events across the county and has afforded these church members the opportunity to come together as one voice to make a joyful noise of praise.

Joining these groups from Western North Carolina will be The Reverend Warren B. Landrum, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia. Landrum has performed for the British Broadcasting Network and at Mount Paran North Church of God where he sang the National Anthem for former President George H.W. Bush. He is currently working on a production of the life of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Landrum has been the featured vocalist at Gospel sings held at FENCE in previous years.

The Community Gospel Sing, sponsored by the Tryon Fine Arts Center, is free to the public. Donations will be accepted. For more information, call TFAC at 828-859-8322.