Well guys…got some difficult news to share. This past week Darrell Collier stepped down as baritone for the Called Out Quartet and cited a desire to come off the road and spend time at home with his family. Here is a statement submitted by Darrell to be shared with everyone…

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jess, Scott, and Von for 5 wonderful years as an original member of Called Out Quartet. It has come to a point in my life that I need to step aside as a member of CO4 and stay home to be with my wife, Tammie, and daughter, Makenzie. As much as I love these guys, my true love is my family and I look forward to the time I will have with them. The last 5 years has allowed me to meet some of the most loyal, loving and genuine people I’ve ever had the opportunity to know. God has truly blessed me in many ways and I will always remember each of you very fondly. Please pray for my brothers and friends, CO4, as they continue to travel this great land proclaiming Jesus Christ through testimony and song. I know them very well and know exactly where their heart is and why they do what they do.

Still blessed,
Darrell Collier

We’re going to miss Darrell on the road, but fortunately it won’t be “good-bye” for us. We all started in this group as friends before, and will remain friends now that he is gone from the group. My daughter Savannah and his daughter Makenzie are the best of friends and can often be found on weekends and all during the summer together and that won’t change a bit. What will change is the time we spend on the road….and that’s going to be the hard part. It was hard when Marty Harris had to leave earlier this year after just over 4 years as a member of the group…but we learned then that when the Lord closes one chapter, He starts a new one. We thoroughly enjoy having Scott Russell as our tenor now and are once again anxious to see who the Lord brings into the group as Darrell’s replacement. Won’t ever be the same, but we have found it can be good even if it is different.

For now, we will be traveling with our good friend Scott Godsey taking Darrell’s place, but he has already let us know that he cannot take the spot on a permanent basis. What this allows us to do is to spend time in prayer and careful consideration for the open spot. We deeply appreciate his willingness to step up to the plate and fill the gap for now, and we will thoroughly enjoy spending this time, irregardless how brief or long it ends up being, getting to know Scott even better than we’ve known him up until now. If you want to share a little in a piece of Called Out Quartet history…make plans to come out over the next few weeks and catch Scott Godsey doing his thing. He’s certainly no stranger to Southern Gospel having spent years and years traveling with his dad and all the guys with The Northmen, and most recently he took helm of The Eddie Crook Company here in Nashville.

For those of you wishing to pass along your thoughts and prayers to Darrell, please do not hesitate to shoot us an email at calledout@calledoutquartet.com  and we will be sure and pass it along to him. It’s a tough task each week to launch out away from home and family and do what we do, and it certainly takes it’s toll in many areas. I know D will miss some aspects of the road, but he likely won’t miss the fact that it takes several days to recoup from the driving and riding for hours and hours week in and week out. One thing it has done though…makes driving a couple hours down the road seem like running to the corner market at home. Guess Darrell can thank us later for that blessing when he has to travel to see Kenz in all the regional cheer competitions she and her squad will be going to and dominating over the next few weeks, months, and years.

Like to take a quick moment and thank Darrell for his 5 years of commitment to the group and for all he has taught to me personally and I’m sure to the other guys in the group. I was “green” when it came to Southern Gospel and needed someone with years of experience like Darrell to teach me the ropes. It’s one thing to sing but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to travel and do it like he did for 12 years with the Rayon City Quartet then immediately follow it up with 5 more with Called Out Quartet. He had the wisdom and experience the group needed to accomplish all the things the Lord expected of us. Would also like to thank his family for sharing him with us during that time…I know it was a sacrifice. The fruits of D’s labor will not likely be seen here nearly as much as it will be seen one day in Glory, and you guys too will share in those blessings for your personal sacrifices as well. Also want to thank our families…it’s times like this that I am made keenly aware of just what a sacrifice it is for you to “give us up” each weekend. Sometimes I think the actual blessings and rewards will be bigger for them with all they have to endure with our absences. Thanks so much for keeping the home fires burnin’ so we can focus on the duty at hand while traveling; I know it isn’t always easy…but you all have done a tremendous job. The good Lord is still pouring the coals to the fire for us and as long as He leads, Called Out Quartet will collectively follow. I think it is safe to say that we have also discovered this year that the purpose is bigger than the parts. We’ll add Darrell now to the list that includes Marty, Ron, and Brandon as former members…and we will anxiously now await who will join Jess, Scott, and myself as the future of the group.

Hope you guys have a great week and we’ll be getting back to you next week….

Von and all the guys at CO4

Hoping after this update that we will be 100% caught up on the comings and goings of the quartet. Got lots of emails asking about how things went in New England and lots of emails from folks who met us up there. As you all have read here, the trip was spectacular and we appreciate all the kind words from everyone we met. Been talking to some of the church people up there and hope to put together another trip up your way in 2009. Stay tuned for more details as they come together.

I believe at last I left you, we were rolling into the church last weekend, but I was still one weekend shy of having things totally up to date. I’ll take us back now to Sunday October the 5th when we got the opportunity to get a VERY up close look at the evil Wolf Creek Dam near Jamestown, KY. Why do I refer to it as “evil”? For years and years we have heard stories of Wolf Creek being in danger of giving way and sending a huge amount of flooding waters down the Cumberland River and ending up at Darrell’s front door in Nashville. The church we went to that Sunday told us that as long as everyone there has been alive practically they have talked of seepage all the way up to the dam bursting. Looked good to me…saw no signs of kids holding their fingers in holes or anyone trying to cram bubble gum into cracks…I think we’re safe for now. The church was down in a beautiful valley just below the dam…been there for years and years and had all the beautiful wood architecture to show for it. The name of the church was Manntown Methodist and they had pictures on the wall of that showed them going strong many, many years ago in that very same location…and very same building. Cool thing happened there…I met someone for the first time in my 43 years whose name was…Von. How odd is that? Spelled the same and everything…even had about as much hair as I do. Super great place and had a wonderful time.

Sunday night was interesting. I’ve heard over and over that we should write a book…the more that happens, the more I think maybe we should when it’s all said and done. This was a new first…got to a church that had no idea we were coming. Seems that the pastor who booked us back in May had recently left the church and forgot to tell the church we were coming it seems. When we got there some of the church folks were there and were wonderful, very warm and very accommodating…soon though we had more folks and it got a little confusing. They told us to stay and we started to set up…even took in speakers and gear, but it became quickly apparent that the “surprise” was just too much for some of the folks and we were going to be best served by loading back up heading back to the barn. Felt kind of odd…don’t know how to explain it other than I just don’t think we were welcome. It’s all good…God had a plan and one day after a while we will see what the reasoning was behind it all. Sad part was some folks drove a good distance to surprise us and were treated with the same cool welcome. Don’t mind it for us, but I do regret that they had to be subjected to a similar welcome. Like I said…the good Lord knows all about it and it ended up that our friends were blessed with a great night at a local restaurant and then stayed the night and spent a nice, sunny day at a local state park before heading home. Might have to devote a chapter to fun deals like this one in that book one day…

Sunday October the 12th found us on our way to the Indianapolis area to be with the good folks at Whiteland Missionary Baptist Church. I think this was our second time to Whiteland…but it was the first time we got to hear preaching before we sang at the Homecoming that afternoon. Preaching was about as good as I have heard in years…and the preacher was a VERY close friend to the quartet…probably about as close as you could get. None other than our own Jess brought us the message and did a terrific job. Lots of folks from the Indy area showed up and were surprised to see who was in the pulpit…but all were pleased. The afternoon brought on a sweet spirit to the singing and the day ended up about as good as it started with Jess breaking the bread. Enjoy all kinds of services, but the ones where the Spirit is so strong you can cut it with a knife are about as good as they get.

I think this brings us right up to yesterday, Sunday October 19th and another trip to Indianapolis. This time we had Bethel Missionary Baptist for the morning and early afternoon, then we headed over to Shelbyville Nazarene for Sunday night. First time to Bethel though we knew lots of folks who go there. Scott has been there to sing on a few occasions and even has an uncle, aunt, and cousins who attend there. The pastor, Doug Skinner, is a good friend along with Jeff Moran the song leader (an awesome songwriter and piano player I might add…hoping to get a song or two from Jeff soon…hint, hint). Was surprised to see Mike and Karaley Calhoun from Bolivar, MO where he is the pastor of Calvary…not exactly around the corner to Indy. Got to see our pals from Southside as well…too many to mention, but I will note that we almost had the old Patterson Family group together with us. Enjoyed a great meal and wonderful singing that afternoon. Lots of folks from that church and other area churches sang some songs at the break. Encouraging to see folks stepping outside of their “box” and doing God’s will. Easy to sit there and just look for blessings to come your way, but even more of a blessing when you allow yourself to be used of God to bless other folks.

Sunday night found us about 45 minutes from Indy in Shelbyville, IN at Shelbyville Nazarene. Got there in time to cut up with the pastor and his wife while we set up. Fun crowd and neat service. Found out when it was all over that we had a few old quartet guys in the crowd…might have been more nervous had I known they were there. Seems we had the bass and tenor from a group called The Hoosier Four Quartet. They’ve long since retired from the road, but I think they said they spent well over 20 years driving the highways and singing God’s word in the 60’s and 70’s….awesome stuff. I would have liked to recognize them to the folks there and thanked them for cutting that trail so that groups like us could step in and keep it going.

Wow….I’ve really got us up to date! Feels pretty dog gone good if I do say so myself. Several more things I need to address, but I think I’ll leave it here for now. Expect another update before the end of the week with some more stuff.

Looking forward to Victory Missionary Baptist this weekend right here in our back yards in Hendersonville. Back when the quartet started some 5 or 6 years ago, we all attended Victory and did our first year of singing there periodically from Sunday to Sunday. Got lots of very fond memories of our time there not to mention the years and years I attended and (as Darrell as often said) sat on the back row and did nothing. Got lots of friends and family, not the least of which is one of the original quartet members in Marty Harris. While I’m on the subject, every now and then folks ask how ol’ Marty is doing. Things are good there…just a couple weeks back Marty accepted the position of Sunday School teacher for the 5th through 8th grade class (basically, middle school) and is also sharing responsibilities with a good friend, Sherry Hoy, as Youth Director. You can also find him these days up to his eyeballs in the Christmas program as the director for his first time. Looks like when the Lord took him off the road with us he loaded up his wagon with other “stuff”.

Getting geared up for Gatlinburg. Sent out confirmations a few weeks back (I said that like I did it…actually Jess did all the work the week of the quartet convention). If you’ve paid your deposit and haven’t gotten a confirmation, please call us at 615/332-5500 and let us know. One or two came back with a wrong address…taking care of those now. If you are thinking about going….whatcha waiting for?? Send us an email or give us a call and let us know. We’ve got a few rooms left and would love to have you spend the weekend with us.

If you’re thinking about having us come to your church in 2009, now would be a great time to start making plans. We’ve got several dates booked or pending and would love to accommodate as many needs as we possibly can. We plan to have the schedule up on the website sometime in November (thanks to Scott and his hard work). As most of you know…we have joined up with a great Christian lady named Barbara Roach at Jubilee Music Artists. How about a little history on Babs 9as I love to call her). She’s the wife of an evangelist and has traveled and sang all of her life. They have a beautiful daughter named Becca (at least that’s what we call her…probably really names Rebecca) who helps them here and there with the company. When Barbara isn’t on the road (like she is now in Louisiana), she can be found teaching piano lessons and helping area choirs to learn new songs. Hardly the typical business type…she just wants to help folks like Called Out Quartet to keep on going and to share our songs with as many folks as possible. Booking agencies sometimes get a bad rap…folks say they are all about the money. You all have no idea how hard it is for her to talk about the money side…but she knows (from years of traveling) that if you don’t take care of the money, the lack of it will pull groups off the road. We support her 100% and appreciate all her efforts on our behalf, so if you are wondering if we are free or what it might take to get us over in your direction…give her a call at 731/584-8198 or email her at barbara@jubileemusicartists.org . Know though that she loves to talk and meet new people, so when you are done talking you guys will no longer be strangers…I promise.

Have a great week and we will talk soon…

Von and all the guys at CO4