FREEDOM QUARTET SIGNED BY THE BECKIE SIMMONS AGENCY

Nashville, TN: It was announced today that Freedom Quartet has reached a booking agreement with BSA/Beckie Simmons Agency of Nashville, TN, effective immediately. Freedom Quartet consists of John Rulapaugh, tenor, Dale Shipley, lead, Preston Garner, baritone and Burman Porter, bass.

Concerning this new agreement, manager John Rulapaugh states, “From my earliest days on the road with the original Dove Brothers and later with Palmetto State Quartet, I have enjoyed a wonderful friendship and working relationship with Beckie and all the BSA family. With the transition of taking Freedom from a Trio to a Quartet, plus adding my dear friend Burman Porter, it makes this decision feel all the more like moving back home!” The new Freedom Quartet website is www.FreedomQuartet.com

Beckie Simmons adds, “BSA welcomes Freedom Quartet to our family of artists. Since John and Burman have already been part of our BSA family, it feels like they are indeed coming back home! These guys have many years of experience collectively, allowing them to produce a great experience of Quartet music. Our BSA staff looks forward to working with them and being a part of their bright future!”

For booking information contact BSA/Beckie Simmons Agency 615.595.7500 or visit www.bsaworld.com.

Introducing Freedom Quartet

Nashville, TN (September 5, 2013) – John Rulapaugh, founder of a group known for its dynamic energy and prowess, Freedom, raises the bar even higher, as he introduces Freedom Quartet.

The quartet's new line up is the "creme dela creme" of Gospel music.

The new lead singer has an array of accolades and accomlishments and is best known for his days with the group, Perfect Heart. He is Dale Shipley. Read more about him at daleshipley.com.

Filling the baritone position for the group is Preston Garner. Garner is not only a notable vocalist with a vast array of experience. He is also a music minister and worship pastor and has a very clear understanding of leading an audience to the throne of God.

Taking the bass position is one of the most talented bass singers to grace a Gospel music stage. He is none other than Burman Porter.

Along with the solid and seamless tenor singing of Rulapaugh, this combination is poised to be one of the most cutting edge and impacting Gospel music ministries of the decade.

"The departure of my friend Josh Garner from Freedom's lineup left a great void, one that could not easily be filled," shares Rulapaugh. He continues, "Since the inception of Freedom, it was always our desire to have a great quartet. There have been several opportunities to make that move, but the timing was never right. Over the past few weeks the Lord has really made His plans evident in our lives and we are thrilled with the new starting place He has set for us. I couldn't be more happy than with the addition of my old friend, Burman Porter, to the lineup of Freedom. Many will remember that Burman and I worked together on two previous occasions; First with The Dove Brothers Quartet and, then, with Palmetto State Quartet. There's so much to tell about how this decision and direction unfolded…and not nearly enough space here to tell it all. Over the coming days and weeks I will share the details of how this all came to be. If you're interested in the "back story," visit and join our website. You can sign up for free and receive all the latest news from the group."

The group is partnered with a premiere booking agency, Mountain Top Talent (one entity of the mutil-faceted Michael Davis & Associates). Mountain Top will be heading up their scheduling.

Michael Davis expresses, "John Rulapaugh has done it again by assembling one of the strongest personnel lineups to come along in quite sometime. The move from trio
to quartet will be well received by John's fan base. I am very excited about the future of the Freedom Quartet."

The quartet is looking forward to getting into the studio soon for their first full recording together.

To meet and follow the exciting happenings of this outstanding quartet, visit their brand new website, coming soon, at www.freedomquartet.com.

You can find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freedomquartet and follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/freedomquartet.

To learn more about all of the artists who call the Dominion Agency home, visit mountaintoptalent.com and michaeldavisandassociates.com. To schedule the Freedom Quartet and other wonderful artists with Michael Davis And Associates, call 828-454-5900 or email michael@michaeldavisandassociates.com.

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Pictured: Freedom Quartet (l to r) - Preston Garner (baritone),
John Rulapaugh (founder and tenor),
Burman Porter (bass), and Dale Shipley (lead)

Burman Porter Back On the Road with the Dove Brothers

David Hester Comes off the Road

BLADENBORO, N.C. – (August 16, 2011) –The Dove Brothers are excited to announce the return of Burman Porter to the mutli-award winning group. Porter, the original bass vocalist for the group, will rejoin the group at the first of September after the departure of long-time bass vocalist David Hester.

Hester is leaving the road to go home and be a full-time grandfather.

McCray Dove of the Dove Brothers said, “It’s really that simple. We have been nothing but happy with David in the group. He was just ready to start planning his retirement and watch his grandkids grow up. David has been an essential part of our team, and we will miss him greatly.”

McCray continued, “Burman is one of the best bass singers in this industry, and we are ecstatic that he is coming back on the road with us. We know that our friends and fans are going to enjoy seeing him back with us.”

McCray unofficially announced the return of Porter at last week’s Grand Ole Gospel Reunion where the original Dove Brothers (consisting of McCray Dove, Eric Dove, Burman Porter, and John Rulapaugh) performed a reunion set. That line-up of the group won Favorite Traditional Male Quartet in the prestigious Singing News Fan Awards in 2002.

The group has since been at the forefront of Gospel music with their cutting edge blend of traditional Southern Gospel and modern country sounds. The group’s brand new Sonlite Recordings album, simply titled Live, will release on September 20, 2011.

According to AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com), the Dove Brothers were named the most played artist of 2010 at Southern Gospel radio. Due to the group’s #1 hits “Hold On” and “If I Knew Then,” the Dove Brothers ranked #1 on the site’s Top 20 Most Played Artists of 2010 list. In addition, the Dove Brothers’ #1 hit, “Hold On” (which was penned by McCray Dove), was named the #1 Song of the Year according to the site’s Top 100 Songs of 2010 list. The quartet’s other #1 single, “If I Knew Then,” ranked at #10 on the list as well.

More information on the Dove Brothers can be found at http://dovebrothersquartet.com

About the Dove Brothers
Voted Favorite Male Quartet of The Year by the Southern Gospel Music Association and the Singing News Fan Awards, the Dove Brothers’ high energy presentation and progressive arrangements reflect a tangible link to the good old days of gospel music. Their peers regard them as a class act representing the industry with dignity and respect. Their latest recording for Sonlite Records is entitled Unshakeable and spawned off the #1 hits “If I Knew Then” and “I Recall.”