Heritage Singers
Heritage Singers | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Placerville, California, United States |
Genres | Gospel music, worship music, contemporary Christian |
Years active | 1971–present |
Labels | Chapel, Heritage, Starglo, Image VII, Heritage Singers |
Website |
heritagesingers |
Members |
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Heritage Singers are a Seventh-day Adventist American Gospel group founded by Max Mace and his wife, Lucy with their two children, Val and Greg. Upon entering their fourth decade, they had traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 television programs, and recorded over 100 albums.[1] In 2014 the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network began re-playing their 30-minute shows three times each week with the new title of Heritage Singers Classics.[2]
History
After four years of performing with a patriotic/folk singing group to promote Portland-based United Medical Laboratories named Rose City Singers, the Maces decided to resign and form a Christian group in 1971.[3] Jerry Leiske named the group based on scripture equating saints with God's "Heritage ... objects of His special care."[4]
The first year they released two albums (Come Along With the Heritage Singers and Hymns We Remember) and performed their first public concert in June.[5] Early accompanyists included Bob Silverman on piano and Pete McLeod and Jeff Wood on guitars.[6] In 1974 the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ron Huff, who arranged their first albums with full orchestration.[7]
As their popularity grew (along with a television series, Heritage Singers Presents), they formed a second group in September 1974, dubbed Heritage II,[8] (subsequently named New Creation)[9] to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;[10] and a third group, Heritage Singers en Espanol, which tours South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs.[11] More than 250 people (including Chris Willis)[12] have performed as members of Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. The group bases its operation out of an expansive property near Placerville, California that includes a lodge and a professional recording studio.
Reunions
Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral).[13] A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 30, 2016 with over 125 singers on stage.[14]
Influence and awards
A concert review by the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventists revealed, "During the period of socialist Yugoslavia, bootlegged cassettes, bearing the signature sound of the Heritage Singers, were the only source of recorded Christian music in countless households. This sound ... became a blueprint for music groups, bands and praise teams across the region."[15]
Prior to performing at Pacific Union College in 2002, they had received more Angel Awards from "Religion in Media" than any other gospel group, including:[16]
- Album of the Year
- Best Children's Album
- Vocal Group of the Year
- Best Christian Television Variety Show
- Best Music Video
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details |
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Hymns We Remember |
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Come Along with the Heritage Singers |
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The King Is Coming |
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Happy Side of Life |
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Thanks to Calvary |
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Sing-A-Long |
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Talking About the Love of God |
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I Just Came to Talk with You Lord |
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Faith to the People |
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Step into the Sunshine |
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We've Come this Far by Faith |
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Let's Just Praise the Lord |
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Jesus Is the Lighthouse |
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God's Wonderful People |
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Heritage 5-Year Souvenir Album |
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Christmas with the Heritage Singers |
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What More Could He Do |
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Thinking Back: 100 Year Old Gospel Favorites |
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Something Special |
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I Am Willing, Lord |
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Heaven Is for Kids (Vol. I) |
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Someone Is Praying for You |
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Rise Again |
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Heaven Is for Kids, Vol. II |
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Best of 10 Years |
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We're Just People |
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A Touch of Country |
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Just a Little More Time |
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Spirit of Praise |
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From the Heart |
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We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
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15 Year Anniversary |
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Right Now |
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Gospel Train |
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No Compromise |
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What Is This? |
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Commissioned |
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Songs You Remember Vol. I |
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Songs You Remember Vol. II |
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Songs You Remember Vol. III |
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Songs You Remember Vol. IV |
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Father of All |
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Peacespeaker |
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A Cappella |
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You Are My Song |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 2 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 3 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 4 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 5 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 6 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 7 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 8 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 9 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 10 |
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Reflections of Christmas |
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He Is Our Peace |
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Heritage Country |
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You Are Holy |
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He Still Speaks |
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Someone Cares |
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Because of Love |
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Hymns of Gold |
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Saved by Grace |
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Renew Me |
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Timeless Heirlooms |
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A New Day |
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A Quiet Place |
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No Greater Love |
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Timeless Heirlooms II |
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Forgiven |
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Be Free |
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The People's Choice: 40th Anniversary Collection |
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Restored |
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Max & Lucy's Favorite Hymns Through the Years |
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The People's Choice: Volume 2 |
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Live albums
Title | Details |
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More Than Singing |
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Reunion |
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God Bless America Again |
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Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
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Videos
Title | Details |
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From Tahiti with Love |
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30th Anniversary Live Concert |
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Because of Love: The Session |
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Simply Heritage: A Musical Journey |
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Through the Years Vol. 1 |
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An Evening at the Crystal Cathedral |
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Through the Years Vol. 2 |
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Heritage Live, In Concert From Prague |
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Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
Recent members
- Singers
Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability.
- Ted Atwood[17]
- Dave Bell[18]
- Tim Calhoun[18]
- Marcelo Constanzo[19]
- Melody Davis[18]
- Tim Davis[20]
- Kevin Dumitru[21]
- Garth Gabriel[22]
- Cindy Haffner[18]
- Lisa Jensen[23]
- Shani Judd Diehl[18]
- Adriane Mace[21]
- Amber Mace[24]
- Max Mace[18]
- Val Mace Mapa[18]
- Jaclyn Pruehs[25]
- Shastin Rains[26]
- Scott Reed[22]
- Frank John Salas[23]
- Becki Trueblood Craig[27]
- Miguel Verazas[18]
- Band
The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the band usually does not perform at concerts except for special occasions.
- Gary Hemenway - keyboards[28]
- Art Mapa – guitars[28]
- Austin Mapa – drums[28]
- Art Munar – keyboards
- Nino Ocampo – bass[28]
- Dani Stromback – keyboards[29]
- Joel Umali – keyboards
- Technical
- Tim Davis – vocal arranger and producer
- Greg Mace – sound engineer
- Lucy Mace - tour manager
- Max Mace – director
- Art Mapa – arranger, producer, programmer
Source:[30]
References
- ↑ September 2010 Heritage Singers Newsletter
- ↑ A treasure of music just in time for the holidays! (press release by LLBN News, November 30, 2014)
- ↑ Mace, Max and Lucy Mace with Joanne Velting Mullin (2010). Beyond Our Dreams: The Heritage Singers Story. Walla Walla, WA: Color Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-615-37223-5. Pp. 4-5.
- ↑ HS article by Linda O'Dell in Live It Loud Magazine, Nov/Dec 2015, p. 24
- ↑ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 6.
- ↑ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 20.
- ↑ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 24.
- ↑ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 30.
- ↑ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 48.
- ↑ Mace et al., ibid., p. 23
- ↑ Mace et al., ibid., p. 101
- ↑ Undated (post-2004) interview with Chris Willis on Chicago's GoPride.com
- ↑ Mace et al., ibid., pp. 151, 155
- ↑ Woods II, Wes (July 25, 2016). "ONTARIO: Heritage Singers stage a final reunion show". The Press-Enterprise.
- ↑ Heritage Singers in Belgrade (concert review by Pavle Trajkovski for tedNEWS, August 20, 2014)
- ↑ Heritage Singers Come to PUC Pacific Union College 2002 newsletter archive
- ↑ "Videos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 23, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. November 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. November 10, 2012.
- ↑ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. July 17, 2016.
- 1 2 "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. September 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. November 5, 2016.
- 1 2 "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Mobile Uploads - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. December 5, 2015.
- ↑ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. October 1, 2011.
- ↑ "Mobile Uploads - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. March 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. July 4, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Cover Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 25, 2014.
- ↑ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Heritage Singers". Facebook.
External links
- Official website
- Firsthand biography by Dan Shultz in 2009-2010
- Heritage Singers Classics programming schedule on LLBN
- Heritage Singers discography at AllMusic.com
- Heritage Singers discography at CrossRhythms.com
- Heritage Singers discography at Discogs.com