The Wares Creek Boys keep gospel music alive at Palmetto Historical Park

PALMETTO -- The stage was set for Southern Gospel music at the Palmetto Historical Park on Saturday, and the Wares Creek Boys showed off their talent and their Christian faith to people who really like gospel music.

Jimmie Vann and Jeff Pilson sing Southern Gospel to local folks at Palmetto Historical Park.

Jimmie Vann leads the harmonic male quartet, and he is the music director for the First Baptist Church in downtown Bradenton, where the singing group is based.

Vann, Jeff Pilson, Craig Stanley and Steve Roland – the Wares Creek Boys – sang to an audience at the park, all who had come out to listen to some familiar gospel tunes.

”This is a great community event,“ Vann said. ”It’s also a great contribution to the community. People really like our music, but, then again, they have all come out here tonight to listen to gospel.“

This spirit singing group has been together for a really long time. Some of the ”boys“ met and began singing 25 years ago, prior to forming their group’s name. A name inspired by the church’s proximity to Wares Creek.

But with all the push of contemporary pop music, one might be surprised to see the amount of people who came out on Saturday to hear the gospel music. In fact, before the singers even stepped up to the porch to sing at the park, the seats were all filled.

”A lot of people really like Southern Gospel,“ Vann said. ”Gospel music appeals to the heart and to people’s trials in life. It’s music that reminds people to turn back to Jesus for the answers.“

John and Ruth Weber are on an old fashioned swing, resting and enjoying the music at the Palmetto Historical Park on Saturday.

John Weber and Ruth Weber attend the First Baptist Church downtown Bradenton and joined the community on Saturday to listen to Southern Gospel.

They are ”snow birds“ visiting the area from Michigan. She shares that they have been married for 59 years, and the way they sit next to each other on the swing ensures anyone watching they are still very much in love with each other and with gospel music.

”The Wares Creek Boys are from our church that we go to when we are here,“ John Weber said. He’s proud and excited to hear them live at the park.

They drive each year after the Christmas holidays from Michigan to Florida, and John Weber said they listen to gospel music the entire way down to stay awake on the long drive.

”We are Christians and this is the kind of music we listen to,“ he added. ”The Wares Creek Boys are an excellent, excellent group.“

Jeff Pilson is one of the gospel singing boys and he agreed that their music is inspirational. Just the kind of music people want to listen to during hard times.

”It’s great because we get to praise God through our music and also help to lead worship,“ Pilson said. ”It’s high energy and appeals to many different ages.“

For a style of music that was started in the 1940’s, Vann and Pilson said that gospel has come a long way over the years. For starters, the tech and sound board are modern and so are the listeners. Southern Gospel is sung by and listened to by youth and young adults, too.

Obviously the Wares Creek Boys have been around for a while, since their group is a 25 year evolution. But sure enough, looking around the group at the park, there were some young folks hanging out and enjoying the music.

Songs like ”Just a Little Talk with Jesus“ and ”Happy Rhythm“ got the attention of the people like they once did on the back porch in days gone by.

”We like to perform for people anywhere, whenever,“ Vann said, while adjusting their volume with Pilson at the sound board. ”It’s appealing to so many different generations now and gospel music’s improved in its quality since 40 years ago.“

Erica Newport is a daily reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers art, culture and community. If you have a story that might interest Erica, please e-mail her using erica.newport@thebradentontimes.com address.  She also takes your questions related to our weekly theme days and provides advice and opinions for our readers.

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