For over 50 years, the men who now comprise
the "Love Tones" have been singing and churching, traveling and
crossing paths. Their music has always been from their heart and
soul with an initial focus on R&B, then gospel. Through their
devotion to their worship life, they have evolved into a men's quartet
- the Love Tones - that not only sings but ministers to their audiences
through their music and their words of healing and encouragement.
Pilgrim Trinity Congregational Church was blessed on Sunday, December
23, 2012 with a visit from the Love Tones. They added a
distinctly graceful note to the Christmas season with an hour long
concert of traditional gospel and spiritual music.
Rev. John Odams has the opportunity, he said, to see the Love Tones
perform at least once a year. He likes how they are relaxed and easy
going when they come to the Pilgrim Church (last was about eight years
ago). And this contrasts with other settings which demand a more
polished performance.
Rev. John was please with the turnout - close to 50 people, many from
the community who were not members of the church. Their concert
was a continuing celebration of the church's 150th anniversary
celebration.
While the Pilgrim Church belongs to the United Church of Christ,
members and their many friends at the concert come from a Baptist
background so the Love Tones were "singing to the choir."
And, of course, the singers encouraged clapping, tambourine, anything to get the spirit moving.
http://www.lovetones.net
Members of the LoveTones
- Stephen Cooper sings – lead, tenor and baritone – and his favorite gospel group is the Canton Spirituals
- Walter Cooper sings – lead and baritone – his favorite gospel group is the Wynans
- Richard Evans sings – lead, baritone and bass – his favorite group is the Golden Gate Singers
- William Lessenberry sings – lead and tenor – and his favorite gospel group is the Williams Brothers.
They have produced two CD's: Jubilee (JB) and Standing on the Rock (SR).
The Concert of Grace Notes
The mello Love Tones quartet opened with two well-known
favorites: "Old Ship of Zion" and "We've come this far by Faith"
both of which are on their Standing on the Rock CD.
Steal
Away to Jesus was introduced with a few comments on the importance of
spirituals to the early American black folk, most of whom were
slaves. Spirituals were sung by American slaves and served as a
way to communicate. Yes, they had a theological
meaning but they also had a hidden meaning to let people know how to
access the underground railroad.
Spanning both of their immortal worlds, the spirituals reflected their belief that a better time is coming.
Words & Music: African-American spiritual: Steal Away to
Jesus (JB)
Refrain
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
Steal away, steal away home,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the thunder;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
Refrain
Green trees are bending,
Poor sinners stand a-trembling;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
Refrain
My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the lightning;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.
A Little Ministry Thrown In
Being good to their word, the hour was filled with music and a little ministry thrown in.
We know we will always have trouble but God said: "I will be with
you through it all. I will be the God that will hold you, that
will comfort you that will give you what you need in that circumstance
to help overcome. We walk by faith not by sight. It doesn't
make sense how things look. What counts for reality is what
God says. Don't worry. Be of good cheer. We have a
great God. He is worthy to be praised."
Heaven Is Looking Down On Me
Verse #1
Heaven is looking down on me
Heaven is looking down on me
When my friends do me wrong
I shake it off, and go on
Heaven is looking down on me
Verse #2
Heaven is looking down on me
Heaven is looking down on me
When I lay awake and can't sleep
I see an Angel at my feet
Heaven is looking down on me
Verse #3
Heaven is looking down on me
Heaven is looking down on me
When I'm lonely and confused
I know the Lord will see me though
Heaven is looking down on me
The Love Tones sang Born again (SR) and followed that with
everyone joining in singing Christmas carols: Joy to the World, Hark
the Herald and Go tell it on the Mountain.
More Music to close out the concert:
All in his hands (SR)
Hold on (JB )
Working on the Building
Down by the Riverside
Break bread together
Walk with me (JB)
Father, hold my hand while I run this race.
Too close to heaven
I don't care what the world may do.
Their rendition of the African-American spiritual, Let us Break Bread
Together, alone was worth the concert. Creatively arranged, it
gave new life to an oft-sung standard that has significant meaning but
is oversung, always in the same "old" way.
Photos
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