SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL HELWIG

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS

AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL HELWIG OF THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS

Michael Helwig has sung lead, baritone and even tenor, but he now has returned to the lead part as a member of the legendary Blackwood Brothers Quartet. Helwig, originally from Canada, has become a fan favorite vocalist in Southern Gospel Music over the years. He has sung with the Wilburns, The Stamps, The Williamsons, and the Dixie Echoes among others before joining the Blackwood Brothers. I greatly appreciate Mr. Helwig for taking time out if his busy schedule to do this interview. I interviewed Butch Owens a month or two ago and afterward via Facebook chat, Michael jokingly asked when his interview would be posted. I sent him questions almost immediately and thus resulted in the following interview! Enjoy!!

J. Gilmore: Hello Mr. Helwig! So, how did you get your start in Southern Gospel music?

M. Helwig: Jackie Wilburns gave me my first full-time singing position in gospel music. My wife Leslie and I had three young children at the time and I was working at a carpet store. We sold our house and most everything we owned and moved from Cambridge Ontario to Carthage TN. I'm still not sure if we we're courageously living by faith or just young and foolish. Regardless, God has blessed us greatly. J. Gilmore: Wow!! That's a big step that I think has paid off! Who are your musical influences?

M. Helwig: I would say my mother is my greatest musical influence. My earliest memory is being rocked in my mother's arms while she was singing to me. I even remember the little made up song that she would sing. When I was a teenager she heard me singing this song to myself and couldn't believe that I remembered it, apparently I was only a baby less than a year old. J. Gilmore: Great! What an awesome memory! Who is your favorite singer in Gospel or secular music?

M. Helwig: I think my all time favorite singer would be Nat King Cole. J. Gilmore: Cool! Who are your favorite groups? Past or present

M. Helwig: The Cathedral Quartet would be at the top of my list of favorite groups followed closely by The Statesmen and JD Sumner and the Stamps. J. Gilmore: The Cathedrals were incredible!! One of my all time favorites!! Speaking of amazing groups, how did you come in contact with the Blackwood Brothers?

M. Helwig: Butch Owens apparently told Billy and Wayne that I would be a good fit for the group. Billy called me and we met at Cracker Barrel in Lebanon. He hired me without me singing a note. The first time they heard me sing live was on stage with them at Jimmy’s farewell concert.

J. Gilmore: That's incredible! What has been the best part of traveling with the Blackwoods?

M. Helwig: I would say that the best part of singing with the Blackwood Brothers Quartet is the personalities of these guys. We all just get along really well.

J. Gilmore: That's good to hear! What is your favorite song to sing?

M. Helwig: Right now it would be one off of our new album Forever called “I Know In Whom I Have Believed.” J. Gilmore: Love that song!! What is your favorite Scripture verse?

M. Helwig: Well... this changes year to year, sometimes month to month but one that I have loved ever since I married Leslie is ECC. 3:14 I'll let your readers look it up just in case some of them have dust on their Bible's (said jokingly).

J. Gilmore: So you’ve sang several parts in your career including tenor and lead. Which do you prefer?

M. Helwig: I sang lead with the Wilburns, baritone with the Stamps and tenor with the Dixie Echoes. I now sing lead for the Blackwood Brothers Quartet and I think I like the lead part best. J. Gilmore: Great!! What is something that people might not know about you?

M. Helwig: I love to invent or re-engineer things. Building something from a blue print in my head is very satisfying or taking a current invention and making it better. J. Gilmore: That's cool! What is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your years of singing Gospel music?

M. Helwig: That would be a tour to Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. When I was singing with the Stamps quartet Elvis Presley Enterprises hired us to travel as part of the Elvis The Concert tour. It was really fun to see the other side of the world, it gives you a better perspective on things. I guess you could say it aids your world view. J. Gilmore: Awesome! Any advice for aspiring Gospel artists?

M. Helwig: All good things arrive to them that wait and don't die in the mean time. -Mark Twain

J. Gilmore: Haha That's great! What can fans expect from the group this year?

M. Helwig: That’s a strange question, Justin. Expectations are very subjective and if I could predict futures accurately I would be very wealthy. So let’s just say we are praying and expecting God to richly bless this quartet and the fans that come to see us.

J. Gilmore: That's true! I hope to see you all soon out here in CA!! Thanks for your time!

For more information on Michael and the rest of the Blackwood Brothers visit their website: http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/index.html