Sung From The Soul

ATHENS FAMILY BRINGS SOUTHERN MUSICAL TRADITION TO EAST TEXAS

With vision born in the farming days of old Texas, coupled with a lifetime of singing gospel music, an Athens couple has painstakingly built a music hall on their land. On August 26, 2006 Kenneth & Frances Fulton opened their Texas Gospel Music Hall with a bang, and hopefully will stay open for a long time.

Music has always been such a big part of my life since I was a little white-haired, cotton-headed kid, singing on the porch of our farmhouse in Mabank, Texas. Supervising the hanging of stage lights in the intimate, immaculate 6,500-square-foot building,  "We just want people to enjoy family time relax and receive a blessing when they come to the Texas Gospel Music Hall in Athens, Texas. Gospel music has been such a blessing in our lives."

GOOD TIMES

I recall the good times, back in the 1950s, when daddy, brother and neighbors congregated on the front porch, picking and strumming their guitars and playing the occasional fiddle.

"Momma had the upright piano in the house by a window that opened up on the porch and she played along. This was in the days before window-cooling of course, or air conditioning." Little Frances, about 8 years old, would sing. The music they came up with might be a "music special at church the next Sunday," I rembered.

Texas was a different place back then. Daddy was a farmer and when major chores was done he took plenty of time to spend with the family, and when he did, we played music. Lots of music."

When the family was not "in the fields, picking" I remembered the radio always being on. They listened to legendary country, folk and gospel radio powerhouse XERF, all the way from Ciudad Acuna, just across the border from Del Rio, TX. The sweet sounds of the Carter Family, the Happy Goodmans,or Florida Boys were among her childhood memories.

THE GREATS

"One of my dreams as a little girl was to just sit and look up into the face of Vestal Goodman while she was singing."  "She was one of the greats."

And it's the "greats" we are binging to the Texas Gospel Music Hall. The word has gotten out, requests to sing at the Music Hall in Athens are coming from around the country.

The "soothing, encouraging and inspirational music" was once all part of the rural Texas life, I remember. Her father & mothe made sure my brother and I had opportunities to sing.

"If there was a revival, a wedding, even a funeral, our family members would be there singing. And she still sings today with "Lifeway Trio," a family gospel group with her son Brad and daughter Sonja.

                                                            BELIEVE

"When you're talking about the greats, you have to mention accalimed Mark Trammell. "He is an excellent, professional artist. He's sung with the best - The Kingsmen, The Cathedrals, Greater Vision and Gold City - and is one of the best in the nation himself. He's won all kinds of awards. Mark Trammell Trio will be here every year in August on the third Saturday.

Trammell was once "just a singer," he confesses on his Web site. But "Gospel music evolved from just singing, to a ministry," he writes. "It's evolved from a dream to a life's call." "That's the kind of attitude we're looking for.

We will diversify the gospel line-up as much as that definition allows. Following the more Southern Gospel Sounds are " Bluegrass Gospel Bands we will have three times a year, beginning with the first Bluegrass afternoon February 7, 2009, August 1, 2009, &  November 7, 2009.

There is no "green room" at the hall. Artists and audience will mingle freely and get to know each other.

The events are ticketed, "because you can't get the quality in here that we want for free."

If the hall survives the realities of promoting live music, we will strive too retain that family atmosphere that made gospel music so meaningful to me.

"All our immediate family works together in some way to make these concerts enjoyable for everyone." Gospel singing is refreshment for our soul after a stressful day." Many people in our city are not physically able to drive a long distance to here these great Groups so we are pleased to bring the greats to Athens. We have folks drive over 200 miles every month to here these artist sing!

Southern Gospel Concerts are held on the third Saturday of each month at the Texas Gospel Music Hall located at 6513 HWY 19 South Athens, TX. 75751. The music hall is comfortable level walking, wheel chair accessible, cushioned chairs, H/A, snack bar, lots of parking space available, plenty of great music in a friendly family atmosphere. We book the best Nationally known recording artist with us each month, like Gold City, Talley Trio, The Kingsmen, Perry's, Palmetto State QT., Dixie Echoe's, The Greens The Pfiefers, The Perry's, Brian Free and Assurance and many other greats. 

We invite you to visit our web site for a schedule of monthly concerts

http://www.texas-gospelmusichall.com/

Information/Admissions call 903-677-2492 or 903-477-8084

e-mail us at: Lifewayconcerts@texas-gospelmusichall.com 

Keeping Southern Gospel Music Alive in East Texas, Music Sung From The Soul.

All because of Calvary,

Frances Fulton

P.O. BOX 1238

Athens, TX. 75751

903-677-2492