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Name: Keith Clark
Group: The Churchmen
Date: Friday February 6th, 2009
Time: 1:00pm EST
Website: www.thechurchmen.com
Interviewer: Gracie Muldoon
Description:
KEITH CLARK, was born in Martinsville, Virginia and was raised in Fieldale. His father taught him how to play guitar. "I can still picture how I used to sit on his knee and strum while he made the chords." Keith started playing the bass at age twelve and played the drums during high school, and he still enjoys playing. After working in some family bands, Keith gave his heart to the Lord when he was 17. Keith played with The Mill Creek Trio before being able to get back to his real love, bluegrass music, when they started their present band. "It's a real blessing to be able to adapt the kind of music that you love to share the gospel. I love how bluegrass can be so different. I love hard driving songs with a lot of banjo, and I love slow ballads with a lot of fiddle and Dobro. Bluegrass is so simple in some ways, but it can be played with so much complexity. I love acoustic music because it's so down to earth, and it's the way that music should be."
Keith now resides in Collinsville, VA
FREDDY RAKES, was born in Martinsville, Virginia and raised in rural Henry County, near Bassett, Virginia. He was also first exposed to gospel and bluegrass as a child. His father, mother and three sisters all sang and played. They traveled as a family band from 1968 to 1988, and Freddy then worked with the Easter Brothers in the mid 80s, playing pedal steel guitar, bass or banjo. Freddy has also done a fair amount of session work with southern gospel groups. "Bluegrass music is honest music," says Rakes, "I mean it's about everyday experiences, the ups and downs of life. It's all-acoustic, so it's clean music, also energetic. I play a Gibson Mastertone banjo, and I guess I like it so well because its sole purpose in life is to enhance the sound of bluegrass music." Freddy met his wife, Donna, while performing at her church, and Freddy says that she is a faithful supporter of their music.
GERALD HARBOUR was born in Stuart and raised in Woolwine, Virginia. He began showing interest in music at an early age and made his first public performance at age 5. He often would perform with his Dad throughout his childhood. In later years he would make guest appearances with his life long friends The Lewis Family. Gerald credits his parents and Little Roy Lewis for being his inspiration to pursue his musical interests. Gerald joined the Churchmen in 1989 just a few months after the formation of the group. Gerald said, "I was looking for some guys who would take the music seriously and try to constantly take it to another level". Gerald found that in Freddy and Keith and several who have passed through the band in it's existence. "It's been fun to experience the ways that the Lord has blessed us and the doors that have been opened for us along the way". Gerald currently resides with his wife Lisa and their five children in Martinsville, VA.
TIM SMITH Tim Smith lived in Essex, MD until age 13. During those years he learned to love and play the fiddle from his Grandfather, Kilby Reeves, and two uncles, Tom and Bert Reeves. Tim played classical music and was a first chair violinist during his school years. In the late '60's Tim moved with his family back to his Mother and Father's hometown of Sparta, NC. Tim soon began performing at local functions and became a well known fiddler in the local community.
In 1977 Tim won 1st place fiddle prize at the well known "Galax Fiddlers Convention" in Galax, VA, and in 1978 he won the world championship fiddle prize at the famed "Union Grove Fiddlers Convention" at Union Grove, NC. Tim then worked with the legendary Bluegrass Cardinals and performed as a Bluegrass Boy with Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys. Tim has performed or recorded with a virtual "who's who" of bluegrass music including Lester Flatt and The Nashville Grass, Jim and Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Jim Eanes, Roy Acuff, Mac Wiseman, Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen, The Johnson Mountain Boys, Del McCoury, Vassar Clements, Chubby Wise, Jerry Douglas, Bill Emerson, Bobby Hicks, Kenny Baker, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, The Shenandoah Cut-ups, Tony Rice, The Blue River Boys, John Starling, The Lost and Found, Craig Smith, George and John Shuffler, Blue Ridge, Lou Reid, Larry Stephenson, Ronnie Simpkins, Ricky Simpkins, Terry Baucum, Wayne Benson, Clay Jones, Wes Golding, Hershel Sizemore and numerous others.
Tim married his beautiful wife, Anita in 1982. They have two wonderful children, Melissa 22 and Andrew 15, and reside in Kernersville, NC. He was employed by a major airline for 23 years and recently accepted early retirement. He has his own record label, "TRS Records, Inc.", and a publishing company "Big Baby Boy Music-BMI". He has recorded and released his most recent CD's "Plain and Simple" and "The Lonesome Blueridge" on his label. Tim devotes his time to playing and teaching music, church, and his family. Tim is very passionate about all of this and says "I thank God for giving me the opportunity to do something I enjoy. I am a family man, I love spending time with my family and the love and support I receive from them is simply wonderful"
DAVID GUTHRIE is the new guy on the block and rounds out the band singing lead and harmony vocals along with handling the guitar duties. David has learned The Churchmen material quickly, and his high lead and great tenor voice, along with his hard driving rock solid guitar is another great addition to The Churchmen sound. David has the rare ability to sing with great feeling along with having amazing vocal range. God continues to bless our group with great talent along with great people. David is a great guy, and certainly is no exception.
David amazingly has been playing music only about five years, but he is no stranger to Bluegrass fans across the country. Three of these years were spent with Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road. He has also garnered 2 SPBGMA "Male Vocalist of the Year" nominations. His musical influences are The Louvin Brothers. (mainly Ira Louvin), and Bill Monroe. He lives in Parkton N.C. with his lovely wife Angela, and daughters Briana and Alayna. They are also expecting a baby boy this May. David says "I feel led to this band at this exact point in my life. How the Lord has opened up doors, I know it isn't without a real purpose. I am really excited to become a Churchmen member".
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