Gospel musicians Webb, Anderson join in Sept. 13 concert
A local gospel quartet that has been performing around Ohio and in several other states for nearly a quarter century is prepping for one of its favorite homecoming traditions this month, joining together with two top names in the gospel music industry.
Majesty Quartet presents their “Faith and Friends” concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Bellefontaine First Church of God, 1000 E. Brown Ave. Quartet members Tim Walls, Ward McBrien, Rob Kilgore and Jerry Zellers will be joined by Dove Award winner Doug Anderson and Southern gospel pianist Roy Webb. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at the door. No presale tickets will be offered.
About 13 years ago, the musical group, formerly Unto Him, started hosting this larger style homecoming concert once a year, performing on stage with Webb and Anderson at area churches and other sites in Logan County.
“It’s always a fun night that we look forward to each year,” said Walls, who sings baritone and lead. “‘Faith and Friends’ describes our show pretty well. We’re performing the show for so many of our local friends and we’re getting to share our faith through music.”
“Throughout the years, Roy and Doug have become our good friends as well, in addition to the close friendships that we have with each other,” said Kilgore, who sings tenor and lead.
Webb is a well-known southern gospel music pianist who gained recognition during his time with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, along with previously serving as a pianist for Gold City and producing solo albums.
Years ago, Kilgore said he took a chance by reaching out to Cincinnati resident Webb via Facebook, sending the pianist a friend request. Ever since then, Majesty Quartet and its members have developed a close friendship with him.
“I just sent Roy a message and asked him if he’d ever performed in Logan County before and told him about our group. I was excited when he wrote back, saying that he loves quartets and would like to perform with us,” Kilgore explained.
In addition to appearing on stage with Majesty Quartet, Webb has lended his expertise and support to the group, providing guidance during their CD recordings and other projects. Webb also introduced the group to Anderson, who hails from Lapel, Ind., and is a longtime member of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.
Long-time friendships flow throughout Majesty Quartet as well, with Walls noting that he and Logansville resident McBrien, who sings bass, have been singing together for about 20 years, also performing in the Lighthouse Gospel Quartet.
In addition, DeGraff residents Walls and Kilgore have been singing in musical groups together for the past 18 years.
Former quartet member Jerry Noble last performed with the group at their 2019 concert with Webb and Anderson, and he is greatly missed after he passed away following a battle with leukemia, members said.
About three years ago, the newest member, Zellers, learned about Majesty’s need for a fourth member to complete the quartet, and the Bellefontaine resident approached Walls one day at a local golf club. Now Zellers sings baritone, tenor and lead for the group.
Concert-goers can expect to hear a number of tunes from the group’s last two albums, including their newest CD released last year, “What A Difference,” produced by Webb.
“It features Ernie’s Haase’s original song, ‘What a Difference a Day Makes,’ which he had not recorded with a quartet yet. Roy thought it suited us well,” said Walls, a retired Riverside Schools teacher and administrator.
Other favorites that will likely be on the set list for the show include “Going There,” the up-tempo number “Feeling Mighty Fine,” “Amazing God,” “Scars in the Hands of Jesus” and many others.
Walls and Kilgore said Majesty Quartet has played to small crowds and to audiences of about 500 people, but related that the size of the crowd isn’t what’s important.
“We’ve sung to 15 and we’ve sung to 500. We’re not called to count sheep; we’re called to feed them. We’re there to proclaim Jesus,” Kilgore said.
“We hope that the music touches them,” said Walls. “We know that there’s a lot of hurt in people’s lives. We give about 1- 1 ½ hours of our time for the concert, and if we can get them feeling better than when they first arrived by presenting them with Jesus, that’s what it’s all about.”
Kilgore, who serves as a pastor of Monroe Community Church in Pickrelltown, said he believes that God can stir people’s spirits through the gift of music and lyrics. Among the sponsorships for “A Night of Faith and Friends,” the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation is an event sponsor, and will offer resources at a booth at the concert. Buckeye State Bank is a sponsor as well.
“Anyone can suffer from suicidal thoughts; it can affect people from all walks of life. Satan is trying to attack and anyone can be affected by self-doubt,” Kilgore said prior to last year’s show. “We want to reach out with resources to help anyone who might be struggling. We need to remove the stigma.”
For the national suicide and crisis hotline, dial or text 988. The 24/7 crisis hotline is (800) 224-0422, or text “4HOPE” to 741 741.
Following the Sept. 13 concert and other shows coming up later this year, Majesty Quartet is also excited for another new opportunity in the spring of 2026 — serving as the opening act for Ernie Haas & Signature Sound at the Holland Theatre, for a concert that’s set for March 22.
“It’s good for us to have goals and to stretch ourselves with opportunities like this. It makes us work harder in practice and to be the best that we can be,” Kilgore said.
For more information about upcoming shows, visit their Facebook page by searching “Majesty Quartet” or send the group a request through Facebook Messenger.
