The Gospel music quartet Fairfield Four will bring acapella music to Ward Hall on tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of the George Shinn College of the Entertainment & Arts’ Artist Series.
The quartet was originally founded as a trio, organized at the Fairfield Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, in the early 1920’s. The Fairfield Four have stuck to their roots, performing traditional style gospel songs similar to groups such as the Bessemer Sunset Four, the Birmingham Jubilee Singers and the Famous Blue Jay Singers.
While the group’s members have changed over the years, the founders’ fundamental idea of using music to lift up the Lord has stayed the same.
“We are are a Bible based group,” Fairfield Four member Larrice Byrd Sr. said. “We believe in the Bible and God, and our performance’s main focal point is to lift up the name of Jesus.”
The Fairfield Four have received many honors since their inception, including three Grammy Awards and two Lifetime Achievement Awards. In 1999, the group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Readers may recognize them from their appearance on screen and in the soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou, with “Lonesome Valley.”
Byrd says the group is looking forward to their performance at Lipscomb, which will be their 15th performance this year.
“It’s a good feeling to be back, because most of the gigs we have are around the country in other places,” Byrd said. “When we get to perform in Nashville, it’s special to us.”
The group will perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and can be purchased through Lipscomb’s box office.