2nd
Annual Southern Gospel Music Cruise
Jan.
20th, 2013
Our Singers
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The Hosea Bilyeu Family has been called the Ozark’s first family of gospel music. With a strong heritage rooted ten generations deep in the Ozark mountains, Hosea Bilyeu is a self-professed hillbilly. A former math teacher, Hosea entered the ministry and has spent the last 28 years as pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri. Integral in the Bilyeu family ministry is their strong musical legacy. Debbie Bilyeu’s parents, Bill & Joyce Mabe, along with Bill’s brothers and their wives, founded the Branson entertainment industry, starting the Baldknobbers, Branson’s first show, in 1959. Hosea actually fell in love with “pretty Miss Debbie” while she was singing on that stage. From the outset Hosea and Debbie raised their children in the family tradition, and singing became a part of the culture and an active part of their ministry. Celebrating their Ozark roots with a passion for southern gospel, bluegrass and mountain music, the Bilyeu Family are regional favorites. The Bilyeu Family has opened for numerous national artists, including The Hoppers, the Crabb Family, Ernie Haas & Signature Sound, as well as bluegrass icon Rhonda Vincent. |
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Using their God-given talents, The Texans have been blessed with many awards throughout the years. As the Master's Four, they held the title "Texas Group of the Year" from 1975 through 1982. They were designated by the Ozark Music Awards as "Group of the Year" in 1985, ‘86, ‘87 and ‘88 until the awards were discontinued in 1989. In 1987 and 1988, they received the honor of being voted "Entertainers of the Year" In 1999, The Texans became a full-time traveling ministry performing over 300 concerts a year. They have shared the stage with many great speakers including Cecil Todd, Jamie Ragel, TD Jakes, Charles Stanley, Paul Vic, Jesse Duplantis, Jerry Falwell, Tim Lahaye, and Joe Wright, just to name a few. In 2006, the Lord opened the door for the group to settle down a bit. Then in 2009, with their same mission in mind, The Texans, opened the Top Of The Mountain Dinner Theater on the grounds of The Great Passion Play, which presents the “greatest story ever told” – the final week in the life of Jesus Christ -- May through October in Eureka Springs , Arkansas .
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White River, known as one of the pioneering bands of Christian Country Music formed in 1985 as Jubilation, singing mainly Southern Gospel Music. After three or four years the decision was made to sing and play with a commercial country sound. The name was changed to White River, boots and jeans became the stage uniform and Christian Country Music was born. Members of the band wrote most of the songs and everybody played an instrument. White River is known for songs such as, What Ya Gonna Do?, Rodeo Preacher, Going Away Party, I Like My Gospel Country, He Didn't Throw The Clay Away and more. The band retired in 1994. In 2012 founding members Gene Reasoner, Bruce Haynes, Benny Ray Wood, Bob Ashley and J R Bradford decided to do a reunion tour as White River Reunion. The tour took place February 10-12, 2012 and was a resounding success. White River's next Reunion was on the 2013 KWFC Southern Gospel Music cruise, and was a huge success. They are now booked to return for KWFC's 2014 Southern Gospel Cruise! |
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4 Calvary
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The group was founded in 2008 by Paul Baum and Tom Rantz in Christian County, Missouri. The two have been co-workers for several years and had stumbled upon the fact that they could sing and the idea of the group was born. After a year or so of trying to "figure it out", they joined forces with JD Kaps and Tom's stepson Brandon Plaster. It was at this point that things started to really take off for the group. Performing once a month became 3-4 times monthly which led to several recording sessions. In 2012 after feeling led to take things to the next step, 4Calvary took a giant leap of faith and started working on a new project with a trio of awesome songwriters to release some original songs. They collaborated with Eddy Bolton, Julie Renee' Ferguson and their own Brandon Plaster to arrange and record these 5 new songs. Sharing this new material has taken their intensity of giving Christ's message through fun, worship and music. There are big things in store for 2013 with the newest project, "Call His Name" taking off and many concert and worship service dates already on the calendar. 4Calvary cannot express the excitement we feel being part of KWFC's 2014 Gospel Cruise. We are truly blessed! |
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Lifesong |
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The members of Lifesong are all members of Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield, MO |
The
Cruiseman
4560 S. Campbell
Ave. Suite 140
Springfield, MO 65810
417-881-2789
/ 800-889-7683
