LOWESVILLE––You can ring in the new year with gospel favorites the Harvesters on Dec. 31.

The Sanford-based singers will perform a New Year’s Eve concert at 5 p.m. at the Vineyard Church in Lowesville, according to concert co-ordinator Carroll Cooke. And as Cooke, himself a noted gospel singer, recently noted, although the concert is free, a free-will offering will be taken up.

In various incarnations, the Harvesters have been around for nearly 70 years. Organized in Charlotte in 1953, the original members were Pat Patterson, Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Hershel Wooten and David Reece. Over the years, the Harvesters have gone on to become one of the top gospel groups in America. They disbanded for a while and later were reorganized by Hefner, who sang with them until he ran and was elected to Congress, representing North Carolina District VIII.

These days, the group features tenor Tommy Young, lead singer Danny Parker (who also manages the group), his nephew, baritone Brendan Parker, and bass Mark Swinson.

The personnel may have changed over the years. But the group has always worked to maintain the sincerity and dedication handed down to them, never forgetting their responsibility to their God and their friends. 

The Vineyard Church is located at 1062 NC-16 South in Lowesville, just down the road from Hill’s Chapel United Methodist Church. The church features Southern, bluegrass and/or acoustic gospel concerts every Saturday evening.