Heritage Singers

Heritage Singers
Background information
Origin	Placerville, California, United States
Genres	Gospel music, worship music, contemporary Christian
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Chapel, Heritage, Starglo, Image VII, Heritage Singers
Website	www.heritagesingers.com
Members	Max Mace Lucy Mace Val Mace Mapa Scott Reed Melody Davis Shani Judd Diehl Tim Davis Becki Trueblood Craig Marcelo Constanzo Dave Bell Adriane Mace Tim Calhoun Cindy Haffner Miguel Verazas Kevin Dumitru Jaclyn Pruehs Shastin Rains Greg Mace Art Mapa Art Munar Dani Stromback Joel Umali Nino Ocampo Austin Mapa

Heritage Singers are an American Gospel group founded by Max Mace and his wife, Lucy with their two children, Val and Greg. Upon entering their fourth decade, they had traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 television programs, and recorded over 100 albums.^[1] In 2014 the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network began re-playing their 30-minute shows three times each week with the new title of Heritage Singers Classics.^[2]

History

After four years of performing with a patriotic/folk singing group to promote Portland-based United Medical Laboratories named Rose City Singers, the Maces decided to resign and form a Christian group in 1971.^[3] The first year they released two albums (Come Along With the Heritage Singers and Hymns We Remember) and performed their first public concert in June.^[4] Early accompanyists included Bob Silverman on piano and Pete McLeod and Jeff Wood on guitars.^[5] In 1974 the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ron Huff, who arranged their first albums with full orchestration.^[6] As their popularity grew (along with a television series, Heritage Singers Presents), they formed a second group in September 1974, dubbed Heritage II,^[7] (subsequently named New Creation)^[8] to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;^[9] and a third group, Heritage Singers en Espanol, which tours South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs.^[10]

More than 250 people (including Chris Willis)^[11] have performed as members of Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral).^[12]

Influence and awards

A concert review by the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventists revealed, "During the period of socialist Yugoslavia, bootlegged cassettes, bearing the signature sound of the Heritage Singers, were the only source of recorded Christian music in countless households. This sound ... became a blueprint for music groups, bands and praise teams across the region."^[13]

Prior to performing at Pacific Union College in 2002, they had received more Angel Awards from “Religion in Media” than any other gospel group, including:^[14]

• Album of the Year
• Best Children's Album
• Vocal Group of the Year
• Best Christian Television Variety Show
• Best Music Video

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Videos

Recent members

Singers

Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability.

• Dave Bell^[15]
• Tim Calhoun^[15]
• Marcelo Constanzo^[16]
• Melody Davis^[17]
• Tim Davis^[17]
• Kevin Dumitru^[18]
• Garth Gabriel^[19]
• Cindy Haffner^[15]
• Lisa Jensen^[20]
• Shani Judd Diehl^[15]
• Adriane Mace^[21]
• Max Mace^[15]
• Val Mace Mapa^[15]
• Jaclyn Pruehs^[22]
• Shastin Rains^[23]
• Scott Reed^[24]
• Frank John Salas^[20]
• Becki Trueblood Craig^[24]
• Miguel Verazas^[15]

Band

The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the band usually does not perform at concerts except for special occasions.

• Gary Hemenway - keyboards^[19]
• Art Mapa – guitars^[19]
• Austin Mapa – drums^[19]
• Art Munar – keyboards
• Nino Ocampo – bass^[19]
• Dani Stromback – keyboards^[25]
• Joel Umali – keyboards

Technical

• Tim Davis – vocal arranger and producer
• Greg Mace – sound engineer
• Lucy Mace - tour manager
• Max Mace – director
• Art Mapa – arranger, producer, programmer

Source:^[26]

References

External links

• Official website
• Firsthand biography by Dan Shultz in 2009-2010
• Heritage Singers Classics programming schedule on LLBN
• Heritage Singers discography at AllMusic.com
• Heritage Singers discography at CrossRhythms.com
• Heritage Singers discography at Discogs.com