Feature Articles

Crystal River

Crystal River is a brilliant new group who has recently taken over the name of a previously existing group.Tell us a little about your history prior to taking on the new name. Did you sing together before this effort?

Yes, we have been singing together for about eight years now. We started all the way back in high school in Chorus. After Chorus we started practicing together and singing at festivals and such under the name of Perfect 4U. After a couple of years we all started feeling a calling to sing Gospel Music. We had all been around church and Gospel Music our whole lives, but never sang in church together. One Sunday we got the invite to go with Randy's parent's group, whom he played drums with, to sing. We remember thinking of all the Gospel songs that we all knew from growing up and picked "Amazing Grace" to sing at the service. At the service is where we really got our call to sing this great music. The Holy Spirit touched us as we sang and we knew that Gospel Music was our calling. Soon after, we changed our group name to Chozen and went on singing and writing our own songs. Now we are blessed to be Crystal River.

How did you come together in the first place? Introduce yourselves to us individually.

We've been close friends thru grade school, middle school and high school--and we're still together! We grew up together! There was a time when Randy Gober, the baritone, wanted us to become the next Backstreet Boys and talked Ben Mooney, the tenor, and Tony Churchill, the lead, into it. However we all agree and are thankful that did not happen.

How did you come to meet Glen Bates and assume the name Crystal River?

Well, our business manager, Cecil Hodge, went to a Promoter's Banquet a few months back, where he found himself seated next to Glen Bates. Sometime during the evening, they got into a conversation about the young group that Cecil was helping. Cecil asked Glen, "what would be the possibility that BSA would consider taking on another artist?" Glen told him about the possible changes in the Crystal River Ministry. After some conversation between Glen and Cecil, we found ourselves with an invitation to go to Nashville and meet with Glen Bates and his wife, Beckie Simmons. A few days before going to Nashville, we performed with Michael Combs and after the concert, Michael's wife, Denise, got us all together backstage and called Glen and Beckie on their cell phone and had us sing acapella, Glen's song, "Our Souls Will Fly". That broke the ice and we felt like we knew each other when we got to Nashville. We really connected with the special messages in the songs that Crystal River had been doing. After a couple times in the studio with Glen producing us, it all just seemed to come together. Now, we are Crystal River.

I know that you are now singing a lot of Glen Bates' songs. While he is a terrific songwriter, does this change your style in any way? Speaking of your style.... describe it for us.

Well, the biggest change for us is that before becoming Crystal River we sang all acapella and now we have music. Other than that, the style of singing is the same. Great lyrics plus great harmony equals great songs. We love having Glen in our lives. He allows us to be ourselves with this music and he always says, "Boys, make it yours". The funny thing is that even when we make it our own, we are so similar to the former Crystal River that sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between us. The only difference is we allow Randy "B-Box" Gober to do his thing when he feels it. So, we would say our style is Southern Gospel with a lot of excitement and spirit.

Suddenly you have been dropped upon the Southern Gospel scene with a fairly well known name and a very respected booking agent. What has the transition been like?
Amazing! Just amazing! We never dreamed that we would be where we are today. God has blessed us tremendously and we are just holding on for the ride. Beckie is great! She's such an inspiration. Any questions we have about anything, she knows the answer. Beckie and Glen both have made this transition great for all of us.

I notice that you guys have the same unique style on some of your songs as the old Crystal River. Where does Randy "B-Box" Gober fit into the program? Do either of the other guys have any unique talents?

The B-Boxing always seems to capture the young kids. We have had so many parents come up to us after a singing and say " my kids won't usually sit still for anything, but when Randy does that "B-Box" thing, it just sucks them in. We want to thank you!". We have found out that the kids are not the only ones who love it; we have people of all ages come to us and tell how much they love it. As for Tony and Ben, well, Tony does a great bass guitar with his mouth and then Ben does a mean mouth trumpet. When you put it together, it makes a great live man-band.

You guys certainly have a Southern Gospel sound, but your dress is a little different than the average group out there. How is the newer fashion that you guys dress in going over with the SG crowds?

Well we haven't really thought about that. We dress like we always have. We hope we're not offensive to anyone. We don't mean to be. We do a lot of moving around when we sing. We're just young people being young people; loving the Lord with all of our hearts and following the road that He is paving for "us". Plus, with our unique song styles, the outfits kinda match.

You've just finished a big concert and you are headed down the road, who's the guy that you have to make sure made it back into the van or bus after the first snack stop? Who is the practical jokiest of the group? Who is the worst guy to clean up after when the trip is finished?

Definitely, Tony! He is the hardest to pull back on the bus after a snack stop. Tony always tries to get a whole meal out of a gas station! Skittles for the fruit group and beef jerky for the protein! We all do a great job of playing jokes on each other. I think we all get our fair share of pranks! The worst to clean up after would definitely be "B-Box"! He loves to make himself at home! Socks on the lap and dirty clothes on the floor. However, it works out okay because Ben is a neat freak, so he's always cleaning!

What can a Pastor or Promoter expect to see when Crystal River performs for them?

They will see three young guys who love for the Holy Spirit to work through them to deliver the words of our songs to the hearts that need to hear these special messages. We love singing for the Lord and so many people tell us that it shows every time we get up to sing. We are truly blessed.

How can a Pastor or Promoter book Crystal River?

Just contact Beckie Simmons Agency at 615-595-7500 or go to http://www.bsaworld.com . We would love to come and worship with you.

Visit Crystal River Online at
http://www.crystalriveronline.net