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Eternal Vision
Eternal Vision will perform at Lincoln Theater on Jan. 19. Submitted photo | Buy photos
Contemporary gospel in Yountville
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CommentEternal Vision brings its energetic style of southern gospel and contemporary Christian music to Lincoln Theater Saturday.
The award-winning group, known for its superb musicianship, harmonious vocals and inspirational message, was founded in 1989 and based in Tennessee. It includes the husband-wife team of Mike and Gail Shelby, their son Shannon Shelby, and Stuart Stallings. For nearly 15 years, they have been traveling 50 weeks a year.
The award-winning group, known for its superb musicianship, harmonious vocals and inspirational message, was founded in 1989 and based in Tennessee. It includes the husband-wife team of Mike and Gail Shelby, their son Shannon Shelby, and Stuart Stallings. For nearly 15 years, they have been traveling 50 weeks a year.
“We are Christian music artists,” said Gail Shelby, “We go anywhere and everywhere that God opens the door. We’ve been traveling for 19 years.”
Is it a long, hard road?
Is it a long, hard road?
“It’s tough,” said bass singer Stuart Stallings, brother of Lincoln Theater’s acting general manager Deb Stallings. “It’s hard to explain to somebody who’s never had a calling put on your life. But you just know that’s what you’re supposed to do,”
In 2006 Eternal Vision was nominated for nine Southern Gospel Music Fanfair / US Gospel News Fan Favorite Awards — winning five categories (the most ever received by one group in the history of the awards). They just received word last week that they are again nominated for several 2007-08 Southern Gospel Music Fanfair Awards and are up for some East Coast Gospel Association Awards later this month.
In 2006 Eternal Vision was nominated for nine Southern Gospel Music Fanfair / US Gospel News Fan Favorite Awards — winning five categories (the most ever received by one group in the history of the awards). They just received word last week that they are again nominated for several 2007-08 Southern Gospel Music Fanfair Awards and are up for some East Coast Gospel Association Awards later this month.
Eternal Vision has released CDs titled “Worth the Wait,” “Old and New / Tried and True” and “Spreading the News.”
Describing Eternal Vision as the opposite of the stereotypical southern gospel music group, Gail Shelby said, “We are not your basic artists. There are a lot of different styles in our music such as contemporary Christian, southern gospel, country and rock. We appeal to people of all ages.”
“We are kind of the Rascal Flatts of southern gospel,” said Stallings, “Deeply rooted in southern gospel song, but we do it in a different way. Ours is a lot more progressive. We put a lot of other features into the concert. We don’t just stand up there and sing songs. There’s a lot of comedy and interaction with the audience.”
“Our audience is immensely broad, ranging from a 2-year-old standing up on his parent’s knees and jumping up and down to an 82-year-old woman coming up and wanting to take one and all of us home,” Gail Shelby said, adding that Eternal Vision’s high-energy entertainment never leaves out the reason they do what they do.
“Our focus is ministry,” Stallings said, “We’re not as much in ‘show business’ but I don’t want to imply that we don’t work very, very hard to be the best we can be.”
Veterans of Total Christian Television Network, they will be performing original music as well as standards like, “How Great Thou Art.”
Mike Shelby, founder and manager of Eternal Vision Ministries, was born the son of a Baptist minister in Knoxville, Tenn. As a teenager, he started singing southern gospel and played lead guitar in several groups before forming Eternal Vision in 1989. He plays guitar and piano as well as singing lead and baritone.
Gail Shelby has been with the group since its beginning. Originally the bass guitarist, she stepped up to take over the alto/tenor vocals for the group in 1998. The daughter of a Baptist minister, she also grew up in Knoxville.
Born into Eternal Vision, Shannon Shelby officially joined the group at the age of 14. Now a 20-something young man, he is an accomplished drummer, guitarist, bass guitarist and pianist, as well as a song writer, and the musical arranger and a producer for the group. He has been awarded Southern Gospel Music Awards’ “Best Musician” and “Young Excelling Individual” awards.
“Shannon is just a great kid,” said mom Gail Shelby. “He’s never ever given his dad or myself one bit of concern. And he doesn’t get full of himself for the talents God has given him, because he knows where it comes from.”
Stuart Stallings, raised in a family with five brothers and sisters, is the son of a minister of music who worked at churches in Knoxville. Stallings sang with Won Heart for six years before coming to Eternal Vision. Known as the “class clown,” he plays guitar and is a songwriter.
Stallings said that according to “The Singing News” there are currently more than 8,000 southern gospel groups touring the United States and Canada “but you’ve probably only heard of a handful,” he said. “There are a lot that don’t get a lot of exposure. But when you hear Eternal Vision sing a song, you know it’s Eternal Vision. We consider that a real compliment. We aren’t confused with anybody else.”
Tickets to see Eternal Vision range from $15 to $25 and are available at the Lincoln Theater Box Office, 100 California Drive, Yountville, by calling 944-1300 or by going to www.lincolnthe ater.org.
Describing Eternal Vision as the opposite of the stereotypical southern gospel music group, Gail Shelby said, “We are not your basic artists. There are a lot of different styles in our music such as contemporary Christian, southern gospel, country and rock. We appeal to people of all ages.”
“We are kind of the Rascal Flatts of southern gospel,” said Stallings, “Deeply rooted in southern gospel song, but we do it in a different way. Ours is a lot more progressive. We put a lot of other features into the concert. We don’t just stand up there and sing songs. There’s a lot of comedy and interaction with the audience.”
“Our audience is immensely broad, ranging from a 2-year-old standing up on his parent’s knees and jumping up and down to an 82-year-old woman coming up and wanting to take one and all of us home,” Gail Shelby said, adding that Eternal Vision’s high-energy entertainment never leaves out the reason they do what they do.
“Our focus is ministry,” Stallings said, “We’re not as much in ‘show business’ but I don’t want to imply that we don’t work very, very hard to be the best we can be.”
Veterans of Total Christian Television Network, they will be performing original music as well as standards like, “How Great Thou Art.”
Mike Shelby, founder and manager of Eternal Vision Ministries, was born the son of a Baptist minister in Knoxville, Tenn. As a teenager, he started singing southern gospel and played lead guitar in several groups before forming Eternal Vision in 1989. He plays guitar and piano as well as singing lead and baritone.
Gail Shelby has been with the group since its beginning. Originally the bass guitarist, she stepped up to take over the alto/tenor vocals for the group in 1998. The daughter of a Baptist minister, she also grew up in Knoxville.
Born into Eternal Vision, Shannon Shelby officially joined the group at the age of 14. Now a 20-something young man, he is an accomplished drummer, guitarist, bass guitarist and pianist, as well as a song writer, and the musical arranger and a producer for the group. He has been awarded Southern Gospel Music Awards’ “Best Musician” and “Young Excelling Individual” awards.
“Shannon is just a great kid,” said mom Gail Shelby. “He’s never ever given his dad or myself one bit of concern. And he doesn’t get full of himself for the talents God has given him, because he knows where it comes from.”
Stuart Stallings, raised in a family with five brothers and sisters, is the son of a minister of music who worked at churches in Knoxville. Stallings sang with Won Heart for six years before coming to Eternal Vision. Known as the “class clown,” he plays guitar and is a songwriter.
Stallings said that according to “The Singing News” there are currently more than 8,000 southern gospel groups touring the United States and Canada “but you’ve probably only heard of a handful,” he said. “There are a lot that don’t get a lot of exposure. But when you hear Eternal Vision sing a song, you know it’s Eternal Vision. We consider that a real compliment. We aren’t confused with anybody else.”
Tickets to see Eternal Vision range from $15 to $25 and are available at the Lincoln Theater Box Office, 100 California Drive, Yountville, by calling 944-1300 or by going to www.lincolnthe ater.org.
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linda1 wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:02 PM:
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