The Pennsylvania State Singing Convention is celebrating its 35th year by bringing in well-known gospel singers.
The four-day concert, sponsored by the Vicksburg Quartet, will feature LaVerne Tripp, Lulu Roman (formerly of "Hee Haw") and the Dixie Echoes. It will take place from 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Aug. 15 at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park in Martinsburg.
About 150 singing acts from North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania are part of the event. Among the local favorites will be Simply Grace from Altoona and Tom Smith of Sproul, who will sing and speak at the worship service to be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 15.
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(Courtesy photo) LaVerne Tripp is among the artist singing at the convention.
"No gospel sing that I know of has as many different singers as we do," Aungst said.
"We have such a variety of singers that come on stage that I tell people if they don't like a particular song to go and get a hamburger then come back. They'll probably like the next song," he said.
"We have a lot of great regional groups," Aungst said. "We try to give everybody a chance."
Fact Box
If you go
The 35th annual Pennsylvania State Singing Convention will feature:
LaVerne Tripp: 7 p.m. Aug. 13
The Dixie Echoes: 7 p.m. Aug. 14
Lulu Roman: 2:30 p.m. Aug. 15
Admission: Free, offerings will be taken. Take lawn chairs.
A different nationally known singer will be featured the last thee days of the convention.
LaVerne Tripp will be on stage at 7 p.m. Aug. 13. Steve Aungst, organizer of the event, said LaVerne Tripp sang as a special guest at one of the early conventions. He said the Vicksburg Quartet of Duncansville often opened for the Blue Ridge Quartet of Spartanburg, S.C., when the group sang at high schools in central Pennsylvania.
Tripp of Gallatin, Tenn., was the lead singer for the Blue Ridge Quartet for seven years and wrote three No. 1 songs for the group.
In a telephone interview, Tripp said he is looking forward to returning to Pennsylvania. He said Aungst, who he knows from his Blue Ridge Quartet days, invited him to the sing and he is glad he did. Tripp mentioned that he also has worked with Cornerstone TV out of Pittsburgh that airs his programs, "The LaVerne Tripp Family TV Show" and "Born to be Free," a program about overcoming addictions.
Tripp said years ago he did drugs and drank himself as a way of escape and now he tries to help other people by sharing about his life.
"Only through an intimate relationship with the creator can we be fulfilled," he said.
Tripp said he is not sure what songs he will sing at Martinsburg.
"I will sing the songs God wants me to sing," he said. "
he Pennsylvania State Singing Convention is celebrating its 35th year by bringing in well-known gospel singers.
The four-day concert, sponsored by the Vicksburg Quartet, will feature LaVerne Tripp, Lulu Roman (formerly of "Hee Haw") and the Dixie Echoes. It will take place from 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Aug. 15 at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park in Martinsburg.
About 150 singing acts from North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania are part of the event. Among the local favorites will be Simply Grace from Altoona and Tom Smith of Sproul, who will sing and speak at the worship service to be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 15.
"No gospel sing that I know of has as many different singers as we do," Aungst said.
"We have such a variety of singers that come on stage that I tell people if they don't like a particular song to go and get a hamburger then come back. They'll probably like the next song," he said.
"We have a lot of great regional groups," Aungst said. "We try to give everybody a chance."
A different nationally known singer will be featured the last thee days of the convention.
LaVerne Tripp will be on stage at 7 p.m. Aug. 13. Steve Aungst, organizer of the event, said LaVerne Tripp sang as a special guest at one of the early conventions. He said the Vicksburg Quartet of Duncansville often opened for the Blue Ridge Quartet of Spartanburg, S.C., when the group sang at high schools in central Pennsylvania.
Tripp of Gallatin, Tenn., was the lead singer for the Blue Ridge Quartet for seven years and wrote three No. 1 songs for the group.
In a telephone interview, Tripp said he is looking forward to returning to Pennsylvania. He said Aungst, who he knows from his Blue Ridge Quartet days, invited him to the sing and he is glad he did. Tripp mentioned that he also has worked with Cornerstone TV out of Pittsburgh that airs his programs, "The LaVerne Tripp Family TV Show" and "Born to be Free," a program about overcoming addictions.
Tripp said years ago he did drugs and drank himself as a way of escape and now he tries to help other people by sharing about his life.
"Only through an intimate relationship with the creator can we be fulfilled," he said.
Tripp said he is not sure what songs he will sing at Martinsburg.
"I will sing the songs God wants me to sing," he said. "
