31st ANNUAL GOSPEL SONGFEST
To Be Feature of Fall Festival
By Ina Gore, Hopkins County Fall Festival- Gospel Songfest
For 41 years Hopkins County Fall Festival has featured many Genres of music and we are only a few hours away from beginning the very first of several concerts at this year’s fair. Among the favorites is Christian entertainment at the Gospel SongFest, where we will be celebrating 31 years and will be featuring a brand new show again this year.
Saturday afternoon September 11th at 3:00 pm the 31st annual Gospel SongFest is among the many activities that kick off the 41st Hopkins County Fall Festival. The Gospel SongFest is an event that features many varieties of Christian music and includes soloist as well as groups. For 31 years there have been local and area groups who participate in the GSF. We are featuring groups and individuals who are in part time ministry and who have professionally recorded a project that has been released to radio or TV. A favorite last year, and appearing again this year will be “The Pleasant Mountain Boys” of Mt. Pleasant; A family Blue Grass Band “The Herrins” of Fort Worth and Psalm 100 & The Joyful Noise Band” of Sulphur Springs. There will be local and area soloist filling in the gaps while changing of the bands is taking place. Mr. “music man” Sam Speed who has enjoyed 76 years in gospel music, will be kicking off the GSF by leading the audience in some old favorites like “I’ll Fly Away,” “I’ve Got a Mansion Just over the Hilltop” and some maybe some others.
The Gospel SongFest made it’s debut to the Fall Festival in 1979 on a flat bed trailer situated in front of the Civic Center at about where the Coca Cola sound stage is now located. The Psalm 100 Band was the only performers that first year. The second year, we invited a couple of other groups to come out and enjoy the afternoon with us on the trailer/stage. The third year, there were a few more. It was so-o-o- incredibly “Texas” hot and there was precious little shade, but never the less, Christian music was alive and going on at the fair.
"The Pleasant Mountain Boys"
In 1982 the Gospel SongFest was moved into the Civic Center auditorium with air-conditioning, comfortable seats, a real stage and where it is still being held. I cannot remember the year that curtains came to the Civic Center, but what a blessing! Preparation time for the Gospel SongFest was reduced from 6 months to about a month!
Having been associated with gospel music all my life, I never cease to be amazed at what incredible talent God has given to some folks. Hopkins County is blessed with talent! It has been a great place for youngsters and older folks alike to get the feel of a stage in a large venue with a supportive audience to cheer them on.
The Gospel SongFest program begins at 3:00 PM on Saturday, September 11th and will last until around 6:00 – 6:30 PM. So, for a donation of $5.00 or $4.00 for senior citizens, you can enjoy several hours of great entertainment. The show is produced by Buddy and Ina Gore and The Psalm 100 Band which includes Jonathan Beck, Caleb Frazier and John Abston. We are members of ASCAP, BMI, Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas, International Country Gospel Music Association and Gospel Music Artists Association, 4 States GMA and the Branson Music Association and the Texas State Artist Association.
Go to the Parade, visit Trades Day on the grounds, Watch the 4-H Livestock Show events in the indoor area, play a few games of 42 in the exhibit hall and then at 3:00 PM join us in the Civic Center Auditorium for some great entertainment!
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