Gold Harbor is taking the sound of
Southern, mixing it with the vertical theme of worship
music and creating what they call “Southern Praise
and Worship”, the title of their soon-to-be-completed
CD.
“Southern Praise and Worship is Praise Music bent
over to Southern Gospel by arrangement, to bridge
standard ‘southern’ and contemporary praise and
worship,” says Jimmy ‘JR’ Richards of Gold Harbor.
“[This creates] a genre that both types of gospel music
fans will worship with and enjoy.”
Southern artists have been performing Praise and
Worship music for quite some time and find that it
is effective in introducing audiences to a Southern
flavor while still keeping them in their worship comfort
zone. Canada’s Torchmen Quartet recorded a
full CD entitled ‘Southern Gospel Praise and Worship’
in 2008, taking
current praise
songs and coloring
them with the
Torchmen’s southern-
country style.
Southern Gospel
is not as generally
well-received
in Canada as it is
in some areas of
the United States,
so artists of this
genre have been
singing songs from
other styles such
as Contemporary
Christian and Alternative
Worship for many years, in order to reach a
broader audience.
Such is the case for some areas of the United States
as well, even in the traditional ‘Bible-belt’ areas.
Richards says, “In the south-east, I have been to so
many churches who don’t care for Southern Gospel
or Contemporary Praise and Worship. I know this
differs in some churches and parts of the country.
But you know what? God gave the old and the new
songs. So it’s my calling and my passion to bridge
the two together for all Christians to worship, sing
and pray with. Southern Praise and Worship
Praise HIM,
Southern Style
JR Richards &
Gold Harbor
are ready to
By Lorraine Walker D
18
(SPW) is new only in name. I have heard so many
groups taking a chance to record this type of song
and praying that the powers that be will play it. The
thing they haven’t realized is that they are a big part
in helping start this new genre.”
Whether this is a completely new genre or just
another of the many facets of Southern Gospel, it
can be said that Southern Gospel songwriters have
been praising God from the beginning, whether it is
praise directed to Him or
to others about Him. As
Christians we are called to
“proclaim the praises of
Him who called [us] out
of a darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9,
New King James Version, Holy Bible). We were created
to worship Him. J.R. Richards explains his definition
of Praise and Worship.
“It’s that communication with God, whether it be
through a song or in that private closet of prayer,
where we find our soul crying out for blessing,
strength or direction,” says Richards. “Praise and
Worship in numbers, when we sing, seems to explode
His spirit to unending heights in our bodies and
our lives.” To Richards, then, Praise and Worship is a
vertical conversation from man to God. Gold Harbor,
however, does not limit itself to this type of music.
“You will find that Gold Harbor is a group of many
styles from several genres of music,” says Richards.
“Worship has been and will always be first and foremost
with anyone who sings in this group.”
“Concerning the praise music we do, most of the
songs southern gospel groups or audiences have
never heard and not every song we do fits this new
genre of music. Holy Rain and Children of God were
written by David M Edwards or Regi Stone. Holy Rain
for example was the 2006 Choral song of the year. I
have gone through several hundred songs to pick out
material that fits what we are doing.” Richards’ goal
is “to produce something new and something spiritual
that has excellence in quality.” Children of God is
the current Gold Harbor single, sung by Christy Tullus
and Noel Walters.
Richards has had many vocalists join Gold Harbor
since 2008. Jim Peretic, Scotty Aldridge, Noel Walters
and Darlene Chapman are alumni of the group. Richards
continues listing the roster of singers.
“In 2010, Michelle Knight and David Folenius came
to Gold Harbor for a live digital video recording at the
Opryland Hotel, ten days before the great flood of
Nashville,” says Richards. “Why are so many personnel
changes happening? Well, it seems that God
wanted me to know that with each change of music
style, singers would probably change to keep in or
stay out of their comfort
zone… Gold Harbor is not
your traditional group that
you see the same people
over and over from year to
year.” Gold Harbor also does not travel as many miles
and play as many venues as most Southern Gospel
artists.
“At this point in my life, I just want us to do specific
dates rather that being gone 200 days a year. I
already did that!” says Richards, who has been singing
since 1966. “I go to Christ Church in Nashville
and when I’m at home I sing with the Christ Church
Choir. There is a rich talent pool for me to pick from
for Gold Harbor.”
A Christian gifted in leading public worship should
also be a private worshipper of the Almighty God.
Richards says, “My favorite way to worship is to find
a private place and read His Word. I exchange my
spirit to Him and for Him to recharge mine every
day. I like to be in the bus sometimes alone or when
everyone is asleep and just thank Him for letting me
do what I do.”
“Without His blessing I would surely wilt in spirit and
be lost forever. It is not so important what I have or
have not done but [what is important is] what Jesus
has blessed me to do through the years.”
Whether JR Richards and Gold Harbor are truly
introducing a completely new genre of music may be
up for debate, but what is certain is that Gold Harbor
is continuing the tradition of Southern Gospel by proclaiming
the Lord’s praises. In an era where churches
become divided over music styles, Richards is using
his talents and giftings to bridge the gap and invite
all listeners to the Throne of the Almighty. In the
presence of God, all any of us can do is Praise Him!
‘God gave the old and the new songs. So it’s my
calling and my passion to bridge the two together
for all Christians to worship, sing and pray with.’
Apple iTunes
Gold Harbor is so humbled to have been chosen as one of the Top 5 Staff Picked Albums of 2009 from 
