THE TRUE LIGHT QUARTET - UNCLE PAUL'S LEGACY (published 9-7-2022; article #355)

Introduction

I have a post-it note, which I dated 8/28/2003, a Thursday. I was talking with Dad by phone on that date. I'd asked Dad to please name the members of The True Light Quartet – other than Uncle Paul, who sang bass. He did, and he told me the parts that they sang. I wrote down, on the post-it note, what Dad had told me.

As a boy, I remember hearing The True Light Quartet sing. I don't recall where or how many times. Mom and Dad took us boys to hear them, at church gatherings. They sang a cappella. I remember very well the musical gospel messages that The True Light Quartet sang. A good sermon can be sung.

This article is for all the relatives of the Marion and Gertrude Ferrell line, and it honors Uncle Paul's legacy.

The Family

Papaw Marion Ferrell (4/13/1880 - 11/21/1970) and Mollie Gertrude “Gertie” Archer Ferrell (11/30/1892 - 6/11/1971) had eight children, who were born and lived beyond infancy – two daughters and six sons.

Their two daughters, my aunts, were Carrie E. Ferrell Davis (12/5/1909 - 1/28/2000) and Lula Mae Ferrell Absher (1/14/1912 - 10/9/1995). They were the oldest two children.

Granny and Papaw Ferrell's six sons were, in order of oldest to youngest, James William “Bill” Ferrell (8/20/1914 - 6/21/1999), Roy Palmer Ferrell (6/9/1917 - 9/13/1991), George Charles Ferrell (1/14/1920 - 12/1/1995), Paul Edward Ferrell (3/16/1922 - 12/4/1983), Robert Carson Ferrell (4/30/1925 - 12/1/1999), and my Dad, Earl H. Ferrell (9/17/1927 - 1/25/2008).

Memories of two aunts, five uncles, their spouses, and their children – my many cousins – abound with vivid and pleasant memories.

The True Light Quartet

On that 8/28/2003 post-it note, I wrote down, as Dad told me, the members of The True Light Quartet and the parts they sang. (I'm glad that I kept that post-it note.) Dad told me:

     Roy “Curly” Mauk - sang tenor.
     ???? Carter - sang tenor. (Dad couldn't recall
          his first name.)
     Roy Starnes - sang tenor “on the last,”
          as Dad told me.
     Paul Ferrell - sang bass.
     Nick Williams - sang soprano.

I don't know how many years that The True Light Quartet sang at churches and other religious gatherings – mostly in the upper-east Tennessee area, around Kingsport. I believe they started in the 1970's or before. Uncle Paul passed, on 12/4/1983, and I think that the quartet had stopped singing together before then.

The True Light Quartet composed and sang at least eight original songs. (They sang many commonly known spiritual songs.) The quartet recorded their eight songs on cassette tape.

Initially, I had two cassette tapes, with “True Light Quartet” written on them. (I still have those tapes, along with my 8/28/2003 post-it note, in the photograph below.) For the first tape, Dad had written “True Light Quartet” on the label. On the sleeve of that tape (not in the photograph below), I had written “copied Jan. '96.” On the second tape, I had written “True Light Quartet (Paul Ferrell).” That tape has no sleeve, and I didn't date it.

Eventually, the cassette tape original was copied to an original CD disk. (Dad knew who copied from cassette tape to CD disk, but I don't remember what Dad told me.) Dad had some of those CD copies. Dad may have given me a CD copy, but I may have lost it. My youngest brother had at least two CD copies. He gave me one of his CD copies, on 8/7/2008.

The True Light Quartet on CD

The photograph below is of the CD that my youngest brother gave me, on 8/7/2008.

On the back of the paper that lists the eight songs, I had written “8/7/08, Thu., Doug.” I didn't photograph the CD opened. The songs are:

     I Can See the Lights of Home
     I Am Going Home to Heaven
     Reach Out and Touch the Lord
     Sinner Man
     Tis' the Old Ship of Zion
     I'll Be No Stranger Up There
     Walking, Walking, Walking
     Hush, Someone's Calling My Name

Uncle Paul's distinct bass voice is heard on each song. Dad knew every member of The True Light Quartet.

I remember Uncle Paul, aunt Lorraine Franklin Ferrell (6/28/1926 - 2/17/1996), and their three daughters (two still living). Dad had taken me to visit Uncle Paul and aunt Lorraine, around Christmas, in 1992. I think that was the last time that I saw him. Three friends and I were going to Myrtle Beach, in June of 1993. We talked about that upcoming beach trip – and many other topics. Uncle Paul passed on 12/4/1983. His music, in The True Light Quartet, still ministers in song.

The True Light Quartet on YouTube Music

Today, 9/7/2022, I uploaded The True Light Quartet's eight songs from CD disk to my YouTube channel, Appalachian Irishman – Podcasts. The Playlist is titled The True Light Quartet. Please click the title link, and listen to the quartet's sermons in song! [5/7/2023 addendum: I updated and corrected the YouTube links. The specific link to the Playlist, The True Light Quartet, is correct now.]

I wrote the following description of that playlist:

Eight original songs, recorded, perhaps, in the 1970's or early 1980s. Paul Ferrell sang bass. He was my uncle. On 9/7/2022, I uploaded their album, from CD, to honor each member -- especially Uncle Paul. The quartet sang great sermons!

I can't figure out how to change the tracks from numbers to the song titles, which I have mentioned above. The “Popmart [Video/DVD]” came from the CD disk that I uploaded. I can't edit to correct it. Please contact me, by emailing, calling, or using my “Contact Form,” if you can't find the Playlist!

Conclusion

The members of The True Light Quartet, all having been sinner men, have, as far as I know, all walked to the Old Ship of Zion, touched the Lord, had their names called, seen the lights of Home, and have gone home to heaven, where they are not strangers.

By faith I see them singing as a heavenly quartet. There around them are many members of the Ferrell clan, who are listening to them. Their joy is everlasting. Won't it be wonderful, someday, to join them there?