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“font-family: Verdana;”>“The church wanted to turn against him for a while because he was doing R&B,” Marilyn Peaston said of her husband David Peaston’s nationally acclaimed music career. “What he’s singing doesn’t dictate his relationship with Christ. He is just singing a love song, and God is love.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Peaston got his start on the legendary Apollo Theater Amateur Night stage with a soul-stirring rendition of the Billie Holiday classic “God Bless The Child” in the late 1980s. He was signed to MCA records where he enjoyed critical and commercial success, following his sister Fontella Bass’s marker in R&B music. But as the son of the legendary gospel group The Clara Ward Singers, he has always had his heart in faith music.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Saturday, he joins three revered men of music from multiple genres for the return of The Four Gents Concert featuring Pastor Ronald L. Bobo Sr., Leslie Johnson, Pastor Shadrach Robinson and Jermaine Smith.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“They are anointed singers,” Marilyn Peaston said. “I feel like David can grunt – or Leslie can give a look – and folks will get filled with the spirit.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>What was meant to be a one- time event, “Gents” returns for a third installment on Saturday evening at the Ethical Society.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The concert includes each man’s testimony of his experience in music as well as song selections in gospel, R&B and jazz.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It’s four friends who decided to come together because they do such an array of genres. Everybody has a different story, and it helps you see what goes on beyond the curtain,” Marilyn Peaston said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It goes beyond the glitz and glamour – it’s a conversation in song. This is a ministry. It’s been well received by people because they make the audience laugh and cry.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Beside the listening pleasure and the love is the learning that the Gent show offers audiences.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“All of them are teachers in their own right,” Marilyn said. “David spent several years as an educator in the St. Louis Public Schools, Leslie is an instructor and you know that one of the biggest jobs for pastors is to teach, so Pastors Bobo and Robinson will leave something on everyone’s spirit.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The message of the music and the entire experience is one that they hope will deposit in the spirits of guests.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“These men are grounded in God. I hope people leave knowing who they live for and what they live for and who protects their life,” Marilyn said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“When David was with MCA, we were offered a lot of things – from drugs to prostitutes. If you are not grounded, you can easily be lost without even knowing it. I hope that people that know that music – like God – is good.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Pea-Stain Productions’ presentation of “Distinguished Gents: Remember the Time” will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Ethical Society (9001 Clayton Rd.). Advance tickets are available at Transformation Bookstore (4071 Page). For more information, call 314-717-8999.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>COGIC’s St. Louis Experience
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“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>The International Music Department of the Church of God in Christ will release its long-anticipated music project, “The St. Louis Experience, Watch Me Praise Him,” recorded live at last year’s 103rd Holy Convocation in St. Louis, on Tuesday, November 1 during a press conference.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>COGIC’s Holy Convocation will convene on October 31 and conclude on November 9 at the America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. Prior to the music project’s release, the Convocation program will feature a pre-concert event, the “Hallelujah Explosion” service, featuring Grammy-nominated artist Tye Tribbett and Pastor Lynwood Dillard, International Youth President for the Church of God in Christ. This event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Halls 4 and 5 at the America’s Center.
