NATIONAL QUARTET CONVENTION CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Festivities To Begin Sunday With Bonus Concert-

Louisville, KY - The year was 1957. Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States. Milwaukee defeated the New York Yankees to win the World Series. The European Common Market was created. West Side Story debuted on Broadway. Leave It To Beaver premiered on CBS television and the National Quartet Convention was launched in Memphis, TN, by it’s founder, JD Sumner.

Co-produced by Gospel Music legend James Blackwood, that very first Convention, which has since grown to encompasses a variety of Southern Gospel recording artists, featured only quartets. Headlined by such names as The Statesmen, The Florida Boys, The Blackwood Brothers and The Stamps, this event marked a monumental occasion for Southern Gospel Music. That first National Quartet Convention proved to be quite successful; however, no one, not even JG Whitfield himself could have imagined what the event would become throughout the next four and a half decades.

In 1958 the NQC moved to Birmingham and the following year Atlanta; however, by 1960 the event returned to its inaugural city of Memphis and remained there for the next 12 years. During that time many transitions occurred in the Convention, as well as the entire Southern Gospel Music industry. Yet even amidst, or maybe as a result of the changes, the NQC experienced phenomenal growth.

In 1972 Music City, USA, Nashville, TN, opened its doors and welcomed Southern Gospel Music’s grandest event, becoming the host city for the NQC.Throughout the next two decades the National Quartet Convention remained in Nashville and continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Thousands of Southern Gospel Music fans planned their annual vacations each fall around the National Quartet Convention. Thus the weekend event soon grew to a full week and even for a brief period extended to 10 days.

By 1988, the NQC had experienced its first sold out event since moving to Nashville and the city’s historic Municipal Auditorium. Substantial growth continued in Nashville, as the event grew to include a variety of activities from Riverboat Cruises to Morning Chapel Services to Talent Competitions.

Believing that in order to continue to grow, a larger venue was necessary; therefore, in the fall of 1993, the NQC Board of Directors made the decision to move from its 22-year home of Nashville approximately 150 miles north up Interstate 65 to the city of Louisville, KY. This decision proved to be a prosperous one, as Louisville welcomed the National Quartet Convention with open arms. This support has proven to be essential to the success the NQC has experienced over the past eight years. In fact, during the very first year at Louisville’s Kentucky Fair & Expo Center in 1994, evening concert attendance doubled, and the exposition/exhibit area increased by four times.

Two years later, in 1996, the NQC enjoyed its first sold-out evening concert in Louisville’s Freedom Hall. The week-long event has become so much more than any typical Southern Gospel concert event. In fact, it’s been affectionately labeled as the “granddaddy of all Southern Gospel concerts.”

To say that the National Quartet Convention has experienced abounding growth and success would be a major understatement. However, throughout the years many challenges and growing pains have been experienced and endured. God has continued to pour His blessings upon an event that continually uplifts His name through His music.

The National Quartet Convention will officially celebrate its 50th Anniversary this year, as the 2007 event officially begins September 10 and continues through September 15. This half-century musical tradition continues with over 40,000 Southern Gospel Music fans, representing 40 states and at least a half dozen foreign countries converging on the city of Louisville. While the event officially kicks off on Monday, the NQC will host a Sunday Night Bonus Concert in the South Wing Conference Center at the KFEC on Sunday, September 10. This exciting concert will feature two popular groups, Legacy Five and The Booth Brothers.

In addition to these two talented recording artists, nearly 70 of the most popular names in Southern Gospel Music will be featured throughout the event, including artists like The Florida Boys, The Hoppers, The Kingdom Heirs, Gold City, Greater Vision, The McKameys, Legacy Five, The Pfeifers, The Dixie Melody Boys, The Dove Brothers Quartet and many, many others. There will also be afternoon musical extravaganzas and daily bible and chapel services. Another special highlight of the week is the Annual Singing News Fan Awards Ceremony, which takes place on Thursday evening.

The National Quartet Convention is a must for every Southern Gospel Music fan. Complete information about the 2007 National Quartet Convention may be obtained by calling 1-800-846-8499 or online at www.natqc.com.