SPOTLIGHT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MARK TRAMMELL QUARTET

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MARK TRAMMELL QUARTET

This popular quartet was founded by whom many consider one of the greatest quartet men to ever come along. Mark Trammell is a legendary figure in this field and has one of the most recognizable baritone voices with a clear and smooth tone. Trammell in his carreer has sung with many great groups including: The Senators, The Kingsmen, The Cathedrals, Greater Vision, Gold City, and now his own group: Mark Trammell Quartet. This quartet man has graced the Southern Gospel stage for forty years as of 2014 and shows no sign of slowing down!! After leaving Gold City in 2002, Trammell decided to form his own group: The Mark Trammell Trio. The original lineup consisted of Trammell at baritone, Joseph Smith singing lead and playing piano, and Eric Phillips, son of the great Kingsmen tenor Ernie Phillips, on tenor. This trio was hugely successful and recorded several great CDs. In 2005, Joseph Smith left the group due to health issues and Dustin Sweatman joined the next year as the new lead/pianist. Sweatman blended well with group and brought an energetic lead voice as well as piano style. This lineup continued to churn out quality recordings including hits songs such as "Loving The Lamb". Audiences flocked to to see this incredible trio perform. The group experienced another change in 2009 when original tenor Eric Phillips departed and was replaced by Joel Wood. Wood brought a clear and sweet sounding tenor voice to the trio. In 2010, however, the group went through a bigger transformation: bass singer Pat Barker, formerly of the Dixie Echoes joined the group making the trio a quartet!! Mark Trammell had felt God lead him back to the quartet format as he always loved the sound! Barker made a memorable impression on fans and listeners and has since risen to prominence as one of Southern Gospel's favorite bass singers in recent years. The new quartet was a hit!! Their quartet debut CD was well received and included songs that became signatures for the group such as "I Want To Know", and "It's Almost Over". Eric Phillips rejoined the group in 2012 as Joel Wood had left. He would stay for only a year however and be replaced by current tenor Dustin Black. Black is a relative newcomer to the field and has a clear and resonant tenor voice. Lead Singer Dustin Sweatman also departed in 2012 and was replaced by Mark's son Nick Trammell (only sings lead, does not play piano) who remains with the group today. In January 2014, Trammell also ventured into the business side of the industry and formed his own record label Crimson Road Productions. The first release on this new label was Your Walk Talks by the Mark Trammell Quartet. In 2014, bass singer Pat Barker left the group and Randy Byrd, formerly of the Blackwood Brothers, The LeFevre Quartet, and The Anchormen, joined as the new bass singer. Byrd brings a deep and rich bass to the quartet as well as his sense of humor. This quartet under Mark's direction has become a fan favorite and truly takes their ministry seriously! These four men are dedicated to the spreading of the Gospel all over the world and truly love the Lord!!

For more info, visit their website: http://marktrammellministries.com/