Biography
The Quartet
For over 35 years a foundation has been laid by prior group members, with special notations given to the contributions and values instilled in the Quartet by it’s founding members; the late James Allen, his brother David, the late Larry Eastridge, Novy Newkirk, Curt Byrd, and, of course, Wes Smith have personified what the Sonshiners Quartet have been empowered and commissioned to do; Lift up high the name of Jesus, thus the name Sonshiners Quartet was given.
The traditional rich style of the all male quartet known as the Sonshiners Quartet drastically changed on the third Sunday of August in 2003. August 17, 2003 will forever remain in our memory bank as the day the Sonshiners Quartet changed forever. The last remaining founding member, Wes Smith, retired.
With the baritone position open the Sonshiners Quartet started a search for someone with the quality and dedication that Wes had given to the Quartet since 1973. They didn’t have to look long or hard. A former lead singer/piano player with the Sonshiners Quartet, Brian Alvey, accepted the opportunity to fill the baritone position. Also, in 2003, we experienced national radio play recognition for our single release “All Aboard” from our “Tried and True” album. In February 2004, the quartet charted at #91 with “All Aboard” in the Singing News.
Due to family commitments and outside job constraints Brian was forced to give up his position of baritone. Filling Bryan’s position was Rick Mowery. Rick had been singing in his home church, but felt that God was directing him to take his ministry outside the walls of his church.
September 2005 Rick was once again struggling with what God wanted him to do with his music ministry. Rick announced to the quartet during the week of National Quartet Convention that he would be resigning to work in his church once again. He agreed that he would stay on board until a replacement was found for the baritone position.
This Quartet has experienced many personnel changes over the years and it is our belief that most all, if not all have been at the hand of the Lord God Himself. This change was no different, the previous New Year’s Eve we shared the stage with a mixed trio, The McCaslins. Well, it just so happened that the McCaslins announced that they were going to retire and this was the last concert for them. God was working on all of us that night. Ron McCaslin had always wanted to sing in a male quartet, if fact he sang with us that very New Year’s Eve. We made one phone call that night at Convention in September to Ron and his wife Marilyn. We told him of the resignation of Rick and offered him the baritone position. They prayed for guidance and well, Ron joined the quartet two weeks later. He drove four hours from Mishawaka, Ind. each way to sing with us until he could get moved to Bedford, Ind. in June 2006.
In September 2006 the Sonshiners Quartet charted # 69 with single release “One of These Days” from our “Safe Harbor” project. In 2007, we hit the national market with two radio releases “I Get Happy” and “I Am With You Always” from the “Get Happy” project and then January of 2008 “Turn It Up” was released from our most recent project “Just Stand”.
March 2008 brought the latest personnel change to the Sonshiners Quartet. Long time bass singer, Doug Harrington, resigned. After many hours of prayer we feel that God has sent us the Godly man to carry out our mission in the bass position, Terry Tichenor. With the addition of Terry the complete quartet as it stands today is, Tim Chastain, tenor, 14 years, Mike Atchison, lead, 8 years, and Ron McCaslin, baritone, 3 years.
With personnel changes come style changes, personality changes, but our mission has remained strong and our focal point of sharing the love of Jesus Christ through song has never changed.
Many individuals have had a hand in orchestrating the progress of the career of the Sonshiners Quartet. Daniel Johnson from Johnson Management and Media has been a great friend and advisor to the group. We are fortunate enough to be founding members of USAGEM. This is a wonderful organization from Nashville promoting the Gospel Music industry. In 2008 the Sonshiners Quartet were Crown Jewel finalists in the Southern Gospel genre of the USAGEM annual awards.
Many other individuals have helped shape the sound of the Sonshiners Quartet. For many years nearly all of the recording projects were self produced at various studios. Starting in 2002, Danny Funderburk and the great folks at Son Sound Studios produced and recorded two albums. In 2004, The Sonshiners were fortunate enough to have help from the Amazing “O”; Otis Forrest produced, arranged, and recorded the “Safe Harbor” project. In 2007, a home run was hit when the legendary Nick Bruno was brought on board. He produced and arranged all the songs of “Just Stand” and is currently working on the 2008 project yet to be named. Nick’s insight and experience of the Southern Gospel business has yielded many dividends
The Sonshiners Quartet is based in southern Indiana. That, however, does not stop us from traveling to Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. God has continued to open doors and provide for this quartet and as long as He continues to provide for us to minister, we will go. We sing and worship in over 140 services each year, including services at many county fairs and festivals.
Well, through the year 2008 and beyond, we may not know what is in store for the Sonshiners Quartet, but one thing that we can bank upon; Jesus Christ is still in control and the Sonshiners Quartet will not ever forget their heritage or their goal, which is to demonstrate and live the excitement that only Jesus Christ can put in your heart.
