This week’s feature group is Gold City.The group is made up of quite an array of talent. Some of its members have sung with some of the best groups in the business. Let’s take a look at the members of Gold City, but first let’s look at the founder who had retired from the road but is back with the group on a permantent basis, Tim Riley.
Tim’s music career began in 1966 with The Dixie Echoes. There he was taught by Dale Shelnut some valuable lessons in tone placement, diction and clean harmony. Tim’s music career was interrupted by a call to serve in the military. After that tenure he returned to The Dixie Echoes for a time, and in 1974 he along with Jack Toney, Jim Hefner and Larry Beck formed a group called The Southmen.
Then in 1980 Tim formed Gold City. Tim has a son who is part of the group. Daniel takes care of the sound and sings baritone replacing Mark Trammell. Two of the songs, which feature Daniel, are “It’s Still The Cross” and “God Will Provide.” Roy Webb who was with Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound is playing the panio. The tenor singer is Joshua Cobb formerly with Leagacy Five. The lead singer is Bruce Taliaferro. He for 16 years was a part of his family’s group The Wilburns. This makes up the current Gold City group.
Over the years there have been a number of folks to come and go. One of the most recognized is Ivan Parker who sang with Gold City for a number of years and for the last several years has had a very successful solo career. In fact Ivan began singing with Gold City when they were based in Dahlonega, Georgia, before moving to Gadsden. Ivan was with the group when they recorded the big hit song, “Midnight Cry,” which was the number 1 song in 1988 and over the years this song has become Ivan’s signature song.
Gold City broke into the Singing News Fan awards in 1987 with favorite gospel artist, and since that time the group has been no stranger to the awards list, not only as a group but also in the individual categories. In 1983 Gold City had the number 5 song on the Singing News Charts, “In My Robe Of White.” In 1985 they held the number one spot with “John Saw.” Some of their other top 20 songs are “When I Get Carried Away,” “Once Upon A Hill” and my favorite “Show Me The Cross” just to name a few of their top 20 songs over the years.
Gold City along with the Kingsmen will be in concert on January 30th at the Georgia Mountain Center, Gainesville, Georgia. For more information visit www.tntpromotions.com.
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I can be contacted at (864) 979-9626 or (864) 895-1287.
