Gene McDonald
Encyclopedia
Gene McDonald was the bass vocalist with the Florida Boys
southern gospel
quartet from 1998-2007.
began when he traveled throughout the Midwest as a child singing with his family. At that time, Gene sang the high tenor
part. He sang with his mom, dad and sister from 1968 to 1980, recording three albums together. His sister Janeene went to college and the family group stopped touring.
In 1980, McDonald joined Jack Campbell and the Ambassadors where he also sang tenor. He was with the group from 1980 to 1982 and recorded one album with them.
In 1982, Gene's voice started changing and he became a bass singer. He went to college in 1983 at Arkansas State University
and was taught by Al Skoog, one of the leading choral directors in the country. He was also taught voice by Mr. Niederbrach and Ms. Lansford and did opera under their teaching.
After ASU, he attended the Ben Speer School of Music, where Ben took special interest in Gene, and later invited him to a Gaither Homecoming
video taping in 1994, and he then became a regular member of the Homecoming "bass" section.
McDonald joined The Plainsmen Quartet in 1989 and sang with them until 1992. They recorded one album. He joined the Florida Boys Quartet in 1998 and sang bass with the quartet until 2007. The quartet recorded over ten projects with Gene as the bass singer.
McDonald is still recording and singing with the Gaither Homecoming group and has done so since 1994. He has been on all with the exception of a few videos.
In 2010, he released his second solo CD I Have Returned.
Florida Boys
The Florida Boys Quartet is a Southern Gospel vocal quartet founded in about 1946 by J. G. Whitfield. Originally named The Gospel Melody Quartet, the group was re-named in 1954.- History :...
southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
quartet from 1998-2007.
Early years
McDonald's roots in gospel musicGospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
began when he traveled throughout the Midwest as a child singing with his family. At that time, Gene sang the high tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
part. He sang with his mom, dad and sister from 1968 to 1980, recording three albums together. His sister Janeene went to college and the family group stopped touring.
In 1980, McDonald joined Jack Campbell and the Ambassadors where he also sang tenor. He was with the group from 1980 to 1982 and recorded one album with them.
In 1982, Gene's voice started changing and he became a bass singer. He went to college in 1983 at Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
and was taught by Al Skoog, one of the leading choral directors in the country. He was also taught voice by Mr. Niederbrach and Ms. Lansford and did opera under their teaching.
After ASU, he attended the Ben Speer School of Music, where Ben took special interest in Gene, and later invited him to a Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither...
video taping in 1994, and he then became a regular member of the Homecoming "bass" section.
McDonald joined The Plainsmen Quartet in 1989 and sang with them until 1992. They recorded one album. He joined the Florida Boys Quartet in 1998 and sang bass with the quartet until 2007. The quartet recorded over ten projects with Gene as the bass singer.
McDonald is still recording and singing with the Gaither Homecoming group and has done so since 1994. He has been on all with the exception of a few videos.
Recording career
In 2006, Gene released his first solo CD entitled In Times Like These.In 2010, he released his second solo CD I Have Returned.