There's no questioning the success of Gold City. The Mississippi-based Christianairs were renamed Gold City at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to begin the year 1980 with Dallas Gilliland singing bass, Bob Oliver at tenor, Jerry Ritchie on lead, and Ken Trussell filling the baritone slot. Floyd Beck, the original owner of the quartet, signs contract with Century II Promotions as the members of Gold City look on. Tim Riley would replace Gilliland as the permanent bass singer in July of 1980 after the group relocated to Georgia. Harold McVay would fill in for approximately three months until the transition from Gilliland to Riley was complete. Gold City was an instant success in the industry, appearing on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention in October 1981. Long-time pianist Garry Jones joined just one month before their first appearance at the Quartet Convention. Brian Free replaced Bob Oliver as tenor in the Spring of 1982. Ivan Parker joined in early 1983 singing lead (Jerry Ritchie switched to baritone). Group owner Floyd Beck passed away in 1984. Tim Riley took over control of the group in December 1985 and moved the group from Georgia to Alabama. With this move, Jerry Ritchie left the quartet and Mike LeFevre replaced him as baritone. Their recordings of upbeat tunes like "In My Robe Of White", “I Think I’ll Read It Again” and "John Saw" along with inspirational songs like “No Other Word For Grace But Amazing” and “Midnight Cry” catapulted the group to the upper ranks of Southern Gospel. The last recording by this popular lineup was the critically acclaimed Acapella Gold (1993). Each night for these performers is filled with the sight and sound of fans and well wishers clapping their hands and singing along with their favorite songs. From city to city, state-to-state, few other groups stay as busy as these guys do. From the time their bus rolls into town, the tremendous amount of support they receive across the country makes every stop for Gold City a true night to remember. But it's in the quiet stillness of the morning, when most people are getting ready for a busy day at the office, that the members of Gold City are busy with their own preparation. Spending time alone with God is an important part of Gold City's daily routine. Tim Riley, bass singer and owner of the group explains." Our job is to sing, to minister to that person sitting in the middle of the back row at a concert that may be his only chance to hear the gospel ever again," states Tim "How can we expect God to honor our efforts if we don't honor our own relationship with Him." While Riley, like the rest of the group, makes no claims of being perfect, he does see how God has worked through the years in his life and in the life of the quartet. And what he sees today is success that is a direct result of each member’s relationship with Christ. "We can't say that we never have bad days, or that we don't miss our families," admits Tim, "but that's what a relationship with Christ is for. There are times when we just feel too frustrated to act like a Christian, but that’s when God says, Look I know what you're feeling, and I'm here for you...to hear your prayers and to grant you the desires of your heart.” Each member of Gold City will tell you the single most important things in their lives is their relationship with God. All things come from this. Family, Ministry, and profession all stem from knowing that being a Christian requires making decisions every day that reflect the image of the God we serve. Gold City has had ten number one songs on the Singing News chart. These include “I Think I’ll Read It Again” (April-June, 1984), “John Saw” (April-July, 1985), “When I Get Carried Away” (June-September, 1987), “Midnight Cry” (January-June, 1988), “Gettin’ Ready To Leave This World” (February 1990), “One Scarred Hand” (November 1991), “I’m Not Giving Up” (February 1996), “In Time, On Time, Every Time” (February 1999), and “He Said” (March-April, 2000), Peter, James, & John (January 2012). |
