Cross4Crowns, New Ground, LeFevre Quartet (Birmingham, AL)
Last weekend, I went over to the great state of Alabama for another gospel concert! It was the Peggye Basden Memorial Concert. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since promoter Norm Basden’s wife was killed in a fire but it was wonderful to celebrate in her honor with the music she loved. The concert was held at the Forestdale Free Will Baptist Church and featured Cross4Crowns, New Ground, and the LeFevre Quartet.
Cross4Crowns took the stage after a short inspirational message by the church’s pastor, Mike Cox. The members of the group are tenor Marcus Faulknor, lead Davis McCammon, baritone Allen Leath, and bass Justin Terry. I’m always amused when the big guy of the group is the lead singer and the smallest one is the bass with a great big voice! Most of the songs they sang were from their newest CD, It Just Started for Me. This group has a really good sound together and I enjoyed seeing and hearing them.
Here’s one of the highlights from their set, Celebrating Resurrection Morning:
Here’s their song list:
- What a Wonderful Time – Great opening number!
- First and Last – folks will remember this from Greater Vision and writer Rodney Griffin.
- Celebrating Resurrection Morning – This song was on the charts for a while and I really enjoyed it.
- Now I’m On My Way to Heaven – Great energy on this song – and I love how each voice has a part of the chorus.
- It Just Started for Me – Nice change of pace here with a song featuring baritone Allen Leath and then lead Davis McCammon.
- Little Is Much – I’ve heard this so much from groups lately but it was very nicely done.
- Good News from the Graveyard – bass Justin Terry did a very good job on this one.
- Keep Living for Jesus – interesting, fun orchestration on this one!
- The Blood Remains – this was a special request from Norm.
- He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels – This was a different version than I am familiar with and I thought they did a very good job on it.
Next was New Ground! This is the first time I’ve seen them with band members Mickey Bell and Taylor Guffey and I appreciated the difference that their performances made. New Ground has a country style that is comfortable to listen to and enjoy. Keyboardist Mickey Bell is the senior pastor of the Union Hill Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama, and he also hosts a radio program called This Week in Gospel Music that you can hear online.
Here’s my favorite of the evening from New Ground and their latest release “That Heavenly Home:”
New Ground sang several time-honored songs from their newest CD “Pages” (designated with an asterisk) that were special to a lot of people there, judging by the response they received! I won’t elaborate much on them – I’ll just give you the links to several videos!! Here’s what they sang:
- One Way Flight
- *Where Could I Go
- *One Day I Will – This was the first time I’ve heard them sing this song and Robbie was wonderful on it.
- *I Won’t Have to Worry Any More
- *That Heavenly Home – This was certainly an audience favorite!
- I Have Fought a Good Fight
- The Spelling Song – Dale is such a hoot on this song but it’s got a serious message, too!
- *I Know
- *I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before
The LeFevre Quartet (formerly Priority, formerly Mike LeFevre Quartet) now has a full team now with the addition of new tenor Jeremy Easley. It was only his second performance with the quartet and he was amazing. And I really enjoyed seeing not-quite-as-new bass Keith Inman – and yes, he is Clayton Inman’s brother! Other group members are the original lead David Staton and, of course, baritone Mike LeFevre. This is a wonderful lineup and I’m looking forward to seeing them again.
Here are a couple of videos featuring the “new guys!”"
Without Him
The Last One Worthy:
Their song list:
- Without Him – This has been the opening number during each of the LeFevre Quartet concerts I’ve been to.
- Let Me Tell You About Jesus – Great upbeat song!
- The Cloud That He’s Coming Back On – This was a very smooth version of the song.
- First Day in Heaven – Great energy on this old Imperials song.
- The Last One Worthy – This was a wonderful song that featured bass Keith Inman
- It’s Time to Sing – This song had such a great message for me.
- Goodbye, World, Goodbye – Trey Ivey, 20-year-old pianist for the group, played this solo. Seems to be a favorite piano solo, doesn’t it?!?!?
- When I Get Carried Away – This song is a must when you see Mike LeFevre!
- I Bless Your Name – Jeremy did a wonderful job on this song!
- I Love Him So – They have such a good time on this LeFevre song with Jordan taking the microphone away from his dad for part of the song. Jordan has a really nice voice, which shouldn’t be a big surprise to anyone!
- Big Mighty God – I love this one!
- Jesus Saves – Great ending to their set!
The final portion of the program was short and had everyone on the stage: Cross4Crowns sang Under Control with Mike LeFevre on the baritone part and There’s Only One Well; New Ground sang Hands Scarred by the Nails and Not In a Million Years; and the LeFevre Quartet sang I’ve Got My Reservation and Days of Elijah with everyone joining in on the chorus.
This was a very special evening!


!! These singers are like, super-human when it comes to singing while they’re sick! I’ve heard Ronnie Booth sing with bronchitis; I’ve also heard Lauren and Debra Talley sing with a cold… and I wouldn’t have known ANY of it if I hadn’t been told after the fact!


