Grammy nominated Canton Spirituals to perform at gospel event

A legendary gospel music group is joining several local and regional acts in El Dorado next weekend to sing and praise with a purpose during the sixth annual Michael Hayes Foundation Scholarship Fundraiser.

The Canton Spirituals: An Evening With Friends is slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Victory Bible Church, 903 Strong Highway.

Also performing will be El Dorado group Rory Green and Kingdom Cry, Redeemed, the Heirs of Salvation praise dance team, The Unlimited Brothers, and more.

The Michael Hayes Foundation pays tribute to the late Michael Hayes, who graduated from El Dorado High School in 1997 and died five years later in an automobile accident on Iron Mountain Road.

Hayes was actively involved with the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado, and in 2010, his family, including younger brother Jeremy Owens, decided to continue Hayes’ love of helping youngsters by launching a scholarship fund in his name.

The MHF awards college scholarships to area high school seniors, and this year, proceeds will also benefit the Better Us Foundation, which is based in Bernice, La.

Owens explained that friend Neekus Jones, is president of BUF, which assists African American boys and young men in finding jobs and with an after-school program.

“You know, we’re doing the same thing as far as something to benefit the youth. He came to one of our events before and he helps us with (Showtime Roller Rink),” Hayes said of the partnership.

Hayes is co-owner of Showtime.

Booking the Canton Spirituals this year was “kind of a no-brainer,” Owens said, adding that the multi-platinum selling group is a longtime family favorite.

Owens said he and his family, who are deeply rooted in the local church community and gospel music scene, traveled to Monroe, La., in January to see the group in concert. “My brother-in-law is a guitar player for a local gospel quartet group in Monroe, and they opened for the Canton Spirituals,” he said.

“They knew we were looking for a group for the show, and we talked to their manager. One thing led to another, and we were able to book them,” Owens continued.

The Canton Spirituals are considered pioneers of the traditional gospel music sound. Founded in 1943 in Canton, Miss., the group is known for such soul-stirring songs as “Fix It Jesus,” “I’m Coming Lord,” and “Mississippi Poor Boy.”

The group has been nominated for a Grammy and Soul Train Music Award. In 1997, the Canton Spirituals took home two Stellar Awards for Best Group/Duo of the Year and Traditional Group of the Year.

The following year, the group won two trophies from the The American Quartet Awards for Quartet of the Year and Artist of the Year.

Though membership has rotated several times since the original Canton Spirituals got together more than 70 years ago — Harvey Watkins Jr., son of founder the late Harvey Watkins Sr., is now the front man of the group — the group has maintained the signature sound that audiences have come to know and expect.

Owens said this year’s gospel musical has drawn interest from the Mid-South and beyond, telling the News-Times that since the show was announced and fliers printed, two more groups from Pine Bluff and Huntsville, Ala., have reached out and asked to participate.

“They’ll be bringing their families and musicians. They’re making donations just to perform. They wanted to help out with the cause, so it’s going to be a bigger event than we expected,” he said.

Organizers had sought out the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, but after they learned that the venue had already been booked up with recitals, Owens said Rory Green offered the use of his church, Victory Bible.

The first recipient of the MHS, EHS graduate Radiance Peterson, just completed her first year of teaching in the Strong-Huttig School District, Owens said.

The 2015 scholarship will be awarded to Owens’ niece, Jashunti Morris, who recently graduated from Carroll High School in Monroe, La.

Owens said the amount of the scholarship varies each year, as does the number of scholarships that are awarded.

“It depends on how much money is raised,” he said.

Organizers have even bigger plans for the 2016 fundraiser by bringing back the Battle of the Borders Step Show and combining it with a gospel music festival for a weekend of events.

The step show was the first event to serve as a fundraiser for the scholarship program in 2010, and two more have been held since then, the last in 2013.

The Battle of the Borders show features sorority and fraternity step teams from colleges across the region, having drawn teams from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

“I usually try to do the step show every other year. It depends on the colleges and universities that I deal with. There was not enough involvement with the teams this year, so we decided to go with the gospel music show,” Owens said.

He said he hopes to host the 2016 events at the municipal auditorium, which will be undergoing a $5.6 million renovation starting in June. The work is expected to take about a year to complete.

Tickets for show on Saturday are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Front row seats are $35.

Tickets are available at Mr. Mike’s Music and Artwork in El Dorado, Magnolia Customs in Magnolia, Level 8 Beauty and Barber Salon in Camden and Martha’s Boutique in Ruston, La.

For more information, call (870) 814-8484 or (870) 866-7000.

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