Bill & Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends - Journey To The Sky

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I don't know who Ivan Parker, on the opener, is (he looks too young to be a "Southern gospel legend") but his rich baritone is strictly in the SG tradition as he sings "My Journey To The Sky". More jaunty numbers by various Homecoming Friends aggregations follow but it's only half way through that this DVD moves much beyond images of middle aged people clapping along to songs about Heaven. Variation begins with black gospel's Alicia Williamson who sings a stirring "Come And Go With Me/What A Time", and then a big surprise, veteran saxman Boots Randolph (remember "Yakety Sax"?) performs a medley. Even better is troubadour Don Francisco who does his usual stirring job on the classic "He's Alive". More authentic Southern gospel fare is presented by the Happy Goodmans and near the close of the programme those now deceased Southern gospel patriarchs Jake Hess and Hovie Lister do their bit.