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The Heritage Singers are an American gospel group founded by the late Max Mace and his wife Lucy, with their two children Valerie Ann and Gregory James. Based near Placerville, California,[1] the group has traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 television programs, and recorded over 200 albums.[2]
Heritage Singers | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Placerville, California, United States |
| Genres | Gospel music, worship music, contemporary Christian |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Website | heritagesingers |
History
editAfter four years of performing with the Rose City Singers, a patriotic/folk singing group sponsored by Portland-based United Medical Laboratories, the Maces decided to resign from their hospital duties and form a Christian group in 1971.[3] Jerry Leiske named the group Heritage Singers, based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "heritage ... objects of His special care."[4] Jerry and Rita Leiske left a short time thereafter and returned to their home in Alberta, Canada to form their own singing group along the same model, although their daughter Jackie would return to the Heritage Singers a couple of times before she and fellow Heritage member Chris Willis left for good in 1992 and married sometime afterwards.
The first year, they released two albums (Hymns We Remember and Come Along with the Heritage Singers), and performed their first public concert on June 4, 1971.[5] Early accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano, Pete McLeod and Jeff Wood on guitar and bass.[6] In the 1970s the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ron Huff, who arranged many of their early albums with full orchestration.[7] During the early years of the group, one of Max's nephews, Terry Mace, ran the sound system for the group for one year in 1972 until Max's son Greg took over at the age of 13 in 1973; Greg Mace continues the run the sound system for the group to this day.
Heritage Singers bought a touring bus (a former Greyhound PD-4501 Scenicruiser they named "Old Blue") from a lot in San Francisco, which remained in their service for 10 years.[1]
As their popularity grew (along with the television series "Heritage Singers Presents"), they formed a second group in September 1973, dubbed Heritage II,[8] (subsequently named New Creation)[9] to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;,[10] and a third group in 1995, dubbed Heritage Español, which toured South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs.[11] More than 250 people have performed as members of The Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. As for the religious affiliation of its members, Max Mace has stated that while a majority of them are Seventh-day Adventists, that's not in itself a requirement. "They have to be a born-again Christian and receptive to the Adventist message."[1]
Throughout the 1980s, the group televised a program called "Keep on Singing" and was aired on Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was uploaded on YouTube some time later and was called "Heritage Singers Classics". Around the same time this program was aired, Heritage Singers began performing for Loma Linda University Church and have done so ever since. Individual members have also been invited to sing at various services of theirs (mostly Tim Calhoun who currently lives in Loma Linda anyways).
Starting in 1985, the group collaborated with Art Mapa, a Philippine-born sound producer, arranger, guitarist, and composer, and eventually married Val Mace (-Mapa). Soon after, Turning Point Studio was created, where Heritage Singers albums have been recorded since.
Reunions
editCelebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral).[12] A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 30, 2016, with 126 singers on stage.[13][14]
Death of founder, Max Mace
editFollowing a bout with cancer, Max Mace died at his home in Placerville, California on November 4, 2020, one day shy of his 83rd birthday.[15] At his memorial service held by the Loma Linda University Church, Max's daughter, Val Mace-Mapa, and her family have vowed to continue the forward-thinking path that Max and Lucy began, with Val becoming the new director of the Heritage Singers.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Hymns We Remember |
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| Come Along with the Heritage Singers |
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| The King Is Coming |
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| Happy Side of Life |
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| Thanks to Calvary |
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| Sing-A-Long |
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| Talking About the Love of God |
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| I Just Came to Talk with You Lord |
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| Faith to the People |
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| Revelation Generation |
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| Step into the Sunshine |
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| We've Come this Far by Faith |
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| Let's Just Praise the Lord |
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| Jesus Is the Lighthouse |
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| God's Wonderful People |
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| Heritage 5-Year Souvenir Album |
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| Christmas with the Heritage Singers |
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| What More Could He Do |
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| Thinking Back: 100 Year Old Gospel Favorites |
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| Something Special |
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| I Am Willing, Lord |
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| Heaven Is for Kids (Vol. I) |
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| Someone Is Praying for You |
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| Rise Again |
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| Heaven Is for Kids, Vol. II |
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| Best of 10 Years |
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| We're Just People |
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| A Touch of Country |
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| Just a Little More Time |
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| Spirit of Praise |
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| From the Heart |
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| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
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| 15 Year Anniversary |
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| Right Now |
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| Gospel Train |
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| No Compromise |
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| What Is This? |
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| Commissioned |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. I |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. II |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. III |
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| Songs You Remember Vol. IV |
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| Father of All |
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| Peacespeaker |
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| A Cappella |
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| You Are My Song |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 2 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 3 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 4 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 5 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 6 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 7 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 8 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 9 |
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| Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 10 |
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| Reflections of Christmas |
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| He Is Our Peace |
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| Heritage Country |
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| You Are Holy |
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| He Still Speaks |
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| Someone Cares |
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| Because of Love |
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| Hymns of Gold |
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| Saved by Grace |
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| Renew Me |
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| Timeless Heirlooms |
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| A New Day |
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| A Quiet Place |
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| No Greater Love |
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| Timeless Heirlooms II |
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| Forgiven |
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| Be Free |
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| The People's Choice: 40th Anniversary Collection |
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| Restored |
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| Max & Lucy's Favorite Hymns Through the Years |
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| The People's Choice: Volume 2 |
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| Faithful |
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| Home for Christmas |
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| A Heritage Singers Tribute to Max Mace |
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| Testify |
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Live albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| More Than Singing |
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| Reunion |
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| God Bless America Again |
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| Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
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Videos
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sydney Live Concert |
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| From Tahiti with Love |
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| Commissioned |
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| Tournee Brazil |
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| 30th Anniversary Live Concert |
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| Because of Love: The Session |
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| Simply Heritage: A Musical Journey |
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| Through the Years Vol. 1 |
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| An Evening at the Crystal Cathedral |
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| Through the Years Vol. 2 |
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| Heritage Live, In Concert From Prague |
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| Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
Recent members
editSingers
Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability. Currently serving members consist of:
- Dave Bell[16] (since 1982)
- Rob Burkey[17] (since 1989)
- Tim Calhoun[16] (since 1999)
- Marcelo Constanzo[18] (since 2000 in the main group; member of Heritage Español from 1995 to 2016)
- Melody Davis[19] (since early 1994)
- Tim Davis[20] (1989, since 1992; non-touring member since 2016)
- Garth Gabriel[21] (since 1982 in the main group; member of Heritage Singers II from 1973 to 1978)
- Cindy Haffner[16] (since late 1978)
- Frank John Sallis (since 1978 in the main group; member of Heritage Singers II from 1973 to 1978)
- Andrea Judd (since late 1997; non-touring member) º
- Marc Judd (since late 1997; non-touring member) º
- Shani Judd-Diehl[16] (since 1995) º
- Adriane Mace (since 1995; non-touring member since 2016)
- Val Mace-Mapa[16] (founding member)
- Chloe Mallory-Mapa[22] (since 2018)
- Scott Reed[23] (since late 1994) º
- Becki Trueblood-Craig[24] (since 1983)
- Miguel Verazas[16] (since 2012)
º denotes members of Faith First, a contemporary Christian singing group commonly associated with the Heritage Singers and the Voice of Prophecy.
Band
The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the live band does not perform at all of the concerts. Currently, the live band consists of:
- Art Mapa – guitars[25] (since 1985)
- Austin Mapa – drums/percussion[25] (since 2013)
- Nino Ocampo – bass[25] (since 2004)
- Joel Umali – keyboards[25] (since 1989)
Technical
References
edit- ^ a b Heibutzki, Ralph (September 5, 2013). "Singers spread a 'joyful' message". The Herald-Palladium. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ September 2010 Heritage Singers Newsletter
- ^ Mace, Max and Lucy Mace with Joanne Velting Mullin (2010). Beyond Our Dreams: The Heritage Singers Story. Walla Walla, WA: Color Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-615-37223-5. Pp. 4-5.
- ^ "HS article by Linda O'Dell in Live It Loud Magazine, Nov/Dec 2015, p. 24". Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 6.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 20.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 24.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 30.
- ^ The Heritage Singers Songbook - Favorites by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Alexandria, Indiana: Alexandria House. 1977. p. 48.
- ^ Mace et al., ibid., p. 23
- ^ Mace et al., ibid., p. 101
- ^ Mace et al., ibid., pp. 151, 155
- ^ Woods II, Wes (July 25, 2016). "ONTARIO: Heritage Singers stage a final reunion show". The Press-Enterprise.
- ^ Names of 126 singers are listed in the closing credits of the DVD published in November 2016 (catalog no. DVDHR2016).
- ^ "Max Mace, 82, Adventist Music Legend, Passes to His Rest | North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists". www.nadadventist.org. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. April 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. March 24, 2018.
- ^ "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. November 24, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. September 23, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. April 7, 2018.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. October 14, 2017.
- ^ "Timeline Photos - Heritage Singers - Facebook". facebook.com. July 4, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Heritage Singers on Instagram". instagram.com. September 29, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
