Panama City, Bay County, Florida
Monday, November 18, 2013
By: Kevin Earl Wood, Email: allunited@bellsouth.net
Contribution by Permission by the Sun Chronicle’s Story on the Kempters
Hold on to your socks because this holiday season we folk in Bay County are going to be treated to a double treat of wholesome family musical and comedy entertainment.
You old timers in Bay County will remember the Rader Family and the Ocean Opry on Panama City Beach. Who can forget the Rader Family who have been to see them at the Ocean Opry? Who can forget “Moonshine”, aka Dennis Rader? He made us laugh until our guts busted.
Well, the family is now reuniting to put on a free Christmas extravaganza concert on Saturday, December 14, at Arnold High School at 550 Alf Coleman Road, Panama City Beach, packed with wholesome family entertainment, comedy, and musical talents you can’t beat. Showtime is at 2 pm but the doors will open at 1 pm. Be there early to get a good seat. Remember Moonshine? He’ll be there.
BUT WAIT! This weekend on Saturday, November 23, 7 pm is the first part of the double treat. The Kempter Family Gospel Band (www.thekempters.com) will also be coming to Panama City, Bay County, to also appear in concert at the Bayou George Christian Church located, of course, in Bayou George, a few miles north of Panama City off Hwy 231, at the intersection of Hwy 2301 and Kiser Rd. The doors will open at 6 pm so again be early to get a good seat. Admission is free. If you don’t know where “Bayou George” is, ask a local. He or she will tell you how to get there.
Meet the Kempter family by clicking here to watch their video.
Wayne Rader, Patriarch of the Rader Family, and Wife Patsy
The patriarch of the Rader Family, Wayne Rader, has shared with Bay Community News, “I strongly urge that people take advantage of this opportunity to see the Kempter Family in person simply because I know their hearts are in the right place and that they will present a program fitting for wholesome family entertainment.”
Minister Hank Melton of the Bayou George Christian Church adds, “This is a family that travels. This is their ministry, whereby they are well qualified to spread the Word. They are endowed with superb vocal harmony and are extremely talented. They are a close family unit. They have musical and vocal talents that would undoubtedly provide us with a welcome concert and celebration. We welcome all who will join us in this celebration. The event will be admission free with a love offering received during the program.”
The Kempter Family travels from state to state providing wholesome gospel music and entertainment. While the Kempters may not be as well known as the Rader Family in Bay County, they are a performance that you cannot miss as you would not miss the Rader Family on December 14.
South Attleboro Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Dean Patterson stated, ”But I’ve seen them before and they are like a real-life traveling Partridge family.
They’re funny on stage and the talent they bring is unbelievable. It’s truly a family experience.”
The Kempters – father Chaz and children Nathan, 23; Sara, 21; Danielle, 19; JoAnna, 17; Chris, 16; and Charli Marie, 10 – have been singing and playing bluegrass-influenced gospel music since 2007.
They’ve recorded four CDs and their music is available on iTunes. Although the band regularly plays at churches and events in Alabama, Patterson did not have to travel to the Deep South to hear them. He just crossed the state line into Cumberland where they performed at a church a couple years ago.
The Kempter Family Band
In fact, their visit this weekend will be their third “tour” in New England.
The Kempters, however, make their home in a central Alabama town called Slapout. “If you go to the corner store and they don’t have what you’re looking for, they say, “We’re slap out of it,” Teresa said, with a laugh. “
Chaz had played guitar since he was a little fellow,” Teresa said, “and when Danielle was about 12, I said somebody else ought to play music in this house.” Danielle began piano lessons and Nathan was to play violin until an accident: He cut off his ring finger while working in the cabinet shop. “We were all like, ‘Why has this happened to my child?’” Teresa recalled.
In an effort to offer some comfort, an uncle decided the musical family should have their great-grandmother’s cello, and it was Sara who started playing the 150-year-old instrument.
JoAnna decided the mandolin “was kind of cute,” but the question remained: What to do with the violin? “We gave the violin to Chris and told Nathan he’d have to play something left-handed,” Teresa said. Despite being naturally right handed, Nathan learned to play left-handed bass.
For now, young Charli Marie is a drummer.
As for mom, “I work the sound board, trying to hide,” she said. “I don’t know how they do it (perform); it’s not in my personality,” she said, although she is happy to tell their story.
The family had mastered a couple songs when a friend heard them and asked if they’d play at her church. That first engagement led to one every couple months and then so many requests that the children had to choose between performing and other activities. “The kids chose to sing,” Teresa said.
Last year they performed 130 times throughout Alabama and on visits to New England and Colorado. Most of their work is in churches and events like the KofC fundraiser. “Most of what we play is gospel,” Teresa said, “but we keep it light and happy. We sing old hymns and take requests. We say we know every good song and the joke is that if we don’t know it (a request), it’s not a good song.”
The family regards their music as ministry and the repertoire includes “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” “Peace in the Valley,” “When I Get to Where I’m Going” (made famous by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton), and Ricky Skaggs’ “A Work of Love,” about Christ’s sacrifice. “You know ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia?’” Teresa asked, referring to the Charlie Daniels Band’s hit. “We do that, only instead of Georgia, we’ll sing ‘The Devil Went Down to Attleboro.’”
Humor aside, Teresa said, “We feel like we’re doing the right thing for us right now, that we’re where God wants us to be.