MUSIC

Lone Star favorite the Gospel Stars makes their debut performance at The Grand 1894 Opera House, Sunday, January 4, 2009 for a special Centennial Sunday concert at 3 pm.

Sponsored in part by Texas Commission on the Arts, they’ve recently been praised in Texas Monthly Magazine as one of the hottest upcoming gospel groups and in 2000 the Gospel Stars received “The Best Male Quartet of the Decade in Texas” award.

They’re regulars at Stubb’s “Gospel Brunch” in downtown Austin, the House of Blues Gospel Brunch throughout the United States, and the annual Austin City Limits Festival.

The Gospel Stars, comprised of brothers James, Johnny and Bryan Lott, were raised in a musically gifted family. Their mother and father were talented singers and instrumental in introducing music to the brothers. Bryan began playing with his father’s group, “The Joy Bell Singers,” at the age of nine. The other brothers later began teaching themselves to play the guitar and to this day James plays the guitar upside-down.

In 1985, the brothers formed The Gospel Stars with the leadership and support of their uncle, the Rev. James Guyton. They became members of the St. John’s College Heights Missionary Baptist Church in Austin where they rehearsed every Friday night and they worked side by side with their sister’s group, “The Voices of Faith.”

A long list of local, state, and national singing engagements are a part of the group’s history. Performing coast to coast, The Gospel Stars have appeared with the Canton Spirituals, the Williams Brothers, and Shirley Caesar - just a few of the names that make up their onstage resume. Be sure not to miss what is certain to be a soul-felt performance by this Lone Star treasure at The Grand!

For more information please visit www.gospelstars.org