The Heritage Singers are an American gospel group founded by the late Max Mace and his wife Lucy, with their two children Valerie Ann and Gregory James. Based near Placerville, California,[1] the group has traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 television programs, and recorded over 200 albums.[2]
Heritage Singers | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Placerville, California, United States |
| Genres | Gospel music, worship music, contemporary Christian |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | heritagesingers |
History edit
After four years of performing with the Rose City Singers, a patriotic/folk singing group sponsored by Portland-based United Medical Laboratories, the Maces decided to resign and form a Christian group in 1971.[3] Jerry Leiske named the group based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "heritage ... objects of His special care."[4]
The first year, they released two albums (Hymns We Remember and Come Along with the Heritage Singers), and performed their first public concert on June 4, 1971.[5] Early accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano and Pete McLeod and Jeff Wood on guitars.[6] In 1974 the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ron Huff, who arranged their first albums with full orchestration.[7]
Heritage Singers bought a touring bus (a former Greyhound PD-4501 Scenicruiser they named "Old Blue") from a lot in San Francisco, which remained in their service for 10 years.[1]
As their popularity grew (along with the television series "Heritage Singers Presents"), they formed a second group in September 1974, dubbed Heritage II,[8] (subsequently named New Creation)[9] to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;,[10] and a third group, Heritage Singers en Español, which tours South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs.[11] More than 250 people have performed as members of The Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. As for the religious affiliation of its members, Max Mace has stated that while a majority of them are Seventh-day Adventists, that's not in itself a requirement. "They have to be a born-again Christian and receptive to the Adventist message."[1]
In the mid-1980's, the group televised a program called "Keep on Singing" and was aired on Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was uploaded on YouTube some time later and was called "Heritage Singers Classics". Around the same time this program was aired, Heritage Singers began performing for Loma Linda University Church and have done so ever since. Until recently, since the COVID-19 Pandemic, they have not been invited back as a whole group, but individual members have been invited to sing at various services of theirs (mostly Tim Calhoun who currently lives in Loma Linda anyways). Max Mace's nephew, Doug Mace, is also Director of Middle School Ministries there. However, the whole group has made its return for the Max Mace memorial service and their 50th Anniversary concert and currently plan to continue the tradition.
In 1985, the group collaborated with Art Mapa, a sound producer, arranger, guitarist, and composer, and eventually married Val Mace (-Mapa). Soon after, Turning Point Studio was created, where Heritage Singers albums were recorded thereafter.
Reunions edit
Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral).[12] A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 30, 2016, with 126 singers on stage.[13][14]
Death of founder, Max Mace edit
Following a bout with cancer, Max Mace died at his home in Placerville, California on November 4, 2020, one day shy of his 83rd birthday.[15] At his memorial service held by the Loma Linda University Church, Max's daughter, Val Mace-Mapa, and her family have vowed to continue the forward-thinking path that Max and Lucy began.
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Hymns We Remember |
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| Come Along with the Heritage Singers |
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| The King Is Coming |
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| Happy Side of Life |
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| Thanks to Calvary |
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| Sing-A-Long |
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| Talking About the Love of God |
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| I Just Came to Talk with You Lord |
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| Faith to the People |
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| Revelation Generation |
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| Step into the Sunshine |
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| We've Come this Far by Faith |
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| Let's Just Praise the Lord |
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| Jesus Is the Lighthouse |
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| God's Wonderful People |
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| Heritage 5-Year Souvenir Album |
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| Christmas with the Heritage Singers |
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| What More Could He Do |
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| Thinking Back: 100 Year Old Gospel Favorites |
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| Something Special |
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| I Am Willing, Lord |
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| Heaven Is for Kids (Vol. I) |
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| Someone Is Praying for You |
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| Rise Again |
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| Heaven Is for Kids, Vol. II |
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| Best of 10 Years |
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| We're Just People |
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| A Touch of Country |
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| Just a Little More Time |
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| Spirit of Praise |
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| From the Heart |
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| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
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| 15 Year Anniversary |
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| Right Now |
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| Gospel Train |
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| No Compromise |
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| What Is This? |
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| Commissioned |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. I |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. II |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. III |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. IV |
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| Father of All |
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| Peacespeaker |
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| A Cappella |
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| You Are My Song |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 2 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 3 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 4 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 5 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 6 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 7 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 8 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 9 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 10 |
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| Reflections of Christmas |
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| He Is Our Peace |
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| Heritage Country |
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| You Are Holy |
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| He Still Speaks |
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| Someone Cares |
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| Because of Love |
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| Hymns of Gold |
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| Saved by Grace |
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| Renew Me |
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| Timeless Heirlooms |
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| A New Day |
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| A Quiet Place |
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| No Greater Love |
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| Timeless Heirlooms II |
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| Forgiven |
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| Be Free |
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| The People's Choice: 40th Anniversary Collection |
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| Restored |
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| Max & Lucy's Favorite Hymns Through the Years |
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| The People's Choice: Volume 2 |
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| Faithful |
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| Home for Christmas |
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Live albums edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| More Than Singing |
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| Reunion |
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| God Bless America Again |
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| Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
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Videos edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sydney Live Concert |
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| From Tahiti with Love |
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| Commissioned |
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| Tournee Brazil |
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| 30th Anniversary Live Concert |
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| Because of Love: The Session |
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| Simply Heritage: A Musical Journey |
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| Through the Years Vol. 1 |
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| An Evening at the Crystal Cathedral |
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| Through the Years Vol. 2 |
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| Heritage Live, In Concert From Prague |
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| Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
Recent members edit
Singers
Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability.
- Denar Almonte[16]
- Ted Atwood[16]
- Dave Bell[17]
- Rob Burkey[18]
- Tim Calhoun[17]
- Marcelo Constanzo[19]
- Melody Davis[20]
- Tim Davis[21]
- Kevin Dumitru[22]
- Garth Gabriel[23]
- Cindy Haffner[17]
- Lisa Jensen[24]
- Shani Judd Diehl[17]
- John Lomacang[25]
- Adriane Mace[21]
- Amber Mace[26]
- Max Mace[17]
- Val Mace Mapa[17]
- Chloe Mallory[27]
- Darrell Marshall[28]
- Jaclyn Pruehs[29]
- Shastin Rains[30]
- Scott Reed[31]
- Frank John Salas[32]
- Becki Trueblood Craig[33]
- Miguel Verazas[17]
Band
The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the band usually does not perform at concerts except for special occasions.
- Gary Hemenway - keyboards[34]
- Art Mapa – guitars[35]
- Austin Mapa – drums[35]
- Art Munar – keyboards
- Nino Ocampo – bass[35]
- Dani Stromback – keyboards[36]
- Joel Umali – keyboards
Technical
- Tim Davis – vocal arranger and producer
- Greg Mace – sound engineer
- Lucy Mace - tour manager, song arranger
- Art Mapa – music arranger, producer, programmer
Source:[37]
References edit
- ^ a b Heibutzki, Ralph (September 5, 2013). "Singers spread a 'joyful' message". The Herald-Palladium. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ September 2010 Heritage Singers Newsletter
- ^ Mace, Max and Lucy Mace with Joanne Velting Mullin (2010). Beyond Our Dreams: The Heritage Singers Story. Walla Walla, WA: Color Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-615-37223-5. Pp. 4-5.
- ^ "HS article by Linda O'Dell in Live It Loud Magazine, Nov/Dec 2015, p. 24". Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 6.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 20.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 24.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 30.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 48.
- ^ Mace et al., ibid., p. 23
- ^ Mace et al., ibid., p. 101
- ^ Mace et al., ibid., pp. 151, 155
- ^ Woods II, Wes (July 25, 2016). "ONTARIO: Heritage Singers stage a final reunion show". The Press-Enterprise.
- ^ Names of 126 singers are listed in the closing credits of the DVD published in November 2016 (catalog no. DVDHR2016).
- ^ "Max Mace, 82, Adventist Music Legend, Passes to His Rest | North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists". www.nadadventist.org. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ a b "Videos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. November 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. April 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. March 24, 2018.
- ^ "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. November 24, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. September 23, 2017.
- ^ "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. December 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Mobile Uploads - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. April 7, 2018.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. October 7, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. October 1, 2011.
- ^ "Mobile Uploads - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. March 14, 2015.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. October 14, 2017.
- ^ "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. August 25, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. July 4, 2012.
- ^ "Cover Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. September 29, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 11, 2012.
- ^ "Heritage Singers". Facebook.
