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Wonderful Christian Music and Humor in God's Glory

V. A. Peek | Summerville, SC | 12/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My favorite song on here is He Touched Me, for God has touched me so many times and in so many ways. I feel like my heart will just burst when I hear Mark and the Gaither Vocal Band sing it on this album. I heard it the first time many years ago by Elvis. It became my favorite then. And later on I heard it by Mark and the Gaither Vocal Band. He was a member back then of the band. Now I think that no one will ever be able to improve on their rendition. Well, Bill Gaither is the founder of all things Gaither including the Vocal Band and he and his wife, Gloria, wrote the song. God has blessed them in so many ways also. Together they have served Him very well writing such beautiful music to Him, and bringing His messages to us all through their music.

An added wonderful moment for me in the album is on the song "The Old Landmark", I distinctly heard Jake Hess's sweet voice in among the Homecoming Friends. It can't be mistaken. He was a hero to Elvis and was Elvis's very favorite Gospel singer and maybe of all singers. Elvis met Jake in Memphis when Elvis was just a little boy hanging around the church where he and his parents attended and where the popular traveling gospel singers would be rehearsing for the all-night singings that were very popular back then. I've been to many of them at my own church in NC. Jake would let Elvis sing with his group every now and then when they were rehearsing. He'd say "Come on up here son and sing with us". Elvis would be just thrilled and never forgot Jake for it. One day Jake and the group were rehearsing for a program they were putting on that night in one of the auditoriums there in Memphis. Elvis sneaked in the back door and took his usual seat where he watched them and listened to them and Jake saw him. He said "you coming to the program tonight son?" Elvis said "No sir". Jake asked why. Elvis said "Because I don't have the money sir." Jake told him to be there and Jake would see that Elvis got a seat right up front. I got this information from the book about Elvis by Peter Guralnick (I hope the spelling is correct). Jake was still singing with the Gaither Homecoming Group until he passed away a few years ago. Maybe 5 years ago. Now maybe he's up there singing with Elvis again.

Isn't it interesting how lives can be intertwined. I started out writing a review of this wonderful CD and I end up talking about Elvis. Well, by way of The Gaithers, The Vocal Band and Jake Hess, who were all on this CD, so I guess it's appropriate enough.

I have seen Mark many times on the Homecoming Friends videos with the Gaithers and he is just precious. He's like an impish little boy. But so funny and so cute.

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