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Heritage Singers | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Placerville, California, United States |
Genres | Gospel music, worship music, contemporary Christian |
Years active | 1971–present |
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Members |
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Website | heritagesingers |
The Heritage Singers are an American gospel group founded by the late Max Mace and his wife Lucy, with their two children Valerie Ann and Gregory James. Based near Placerville, California, [1] the group has traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 episodes for television programs, and recorded over 200 albums. [2]
After four years of performing with the Rose City Singers, a patriotic/folk singing group sponsored by Portland-based United Medical Laboratories, the Maces decided to resign from their hospital duties and form a Christian group in 1971. [3] Founding member Jerry Leiske named the group Heritage Singers, based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "heritage ... objects of His special care." [4]
Jerry and Rita Leiske left a short time thereafter and returned to their home in Alberta, Canada to form their own singing group along the same model, although their daughter Jackie would return to the Heritage Singers a couple of times before she and fellow Heritage member Chris Willis left for good in 1992; they eventually married in 2014.[ citation needed ]
The first year, they released two albums (Hymns We Remember and Come Along with the Heritage Singers), and performed their first public concert on June 4, 1971. [5] Original accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano and Gerald Allen on bass guitar. After a few months, Jeff Wood would replace Allen and Pete McLeod would join on guitar. [6] Even later on, the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ronn Huff, who arranged many of their early albums with full orchestration. [7] One of Max's nephews, Terry Mace, ran the sound system for the group for one year in 1972 until Max's son Greg took over at the age of 13 in 1973; he has been the group's sound tech since.[ citation needed ]
Heritage Singers bought a touring bus (a former Greyhound PD-4501 Scenicruiser they named "Old Blue") from a lot in San Francisco, which remained in their service for 10 years.[ citation needed ]
As their popularity grew (along with the television series "Heritage Singers Presents"), they formed a second group in September 1973, dubbed Heritage II, [8] (subsequently named New Creation) [9] to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;, [10] and a third group in 1995, dubbed Heritage Español, which toured South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs. [11] Almost 300 people have performed as members of The Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. As for the religious affiliation of its members, Max Mace has stated that while a majority of them are Seventh-day Adventists, that's not in itself a requirement. "They have to be a born-again Christian and receptive to the Adventist message." [1]
Throughout the 1980s, the group televised a program called "Keep on Singing" and was aired on Trinity Broadcasting Network. The programs are currently available on YouTube under the name "Heritage Singers Classics". Around the same time this program was aired, Heritage Singers began performing for Loma Linda University Church and have done so ever since. Individual members have also been invited to sing at various services of theirs.[ citation needed ]
Starting in 1985, the group collaborated with Art Mapa, a Philippine-born sound producer, arranger, guitarist, and composer. Mapa would later marry the Maces' daughter Val. Soon after, Turning Point Studio was built on the Maces' expansive property near Placerville, CA that serves as the home base for the Heritage Singers. Their albums have been recorded there since.
Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral). [12] A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 30, 2016, with 126 singers on stage. [13] [14]
Following a battle with cancer, Max Mace died at his home in Placerville, California on November 4, 2020, one day before his 83rd birthday. [15]
Title | Details |
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Hymns We Remember |
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Come Along with the Heritage Singers |
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The King Is Coming |
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Happy Side of Life |
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Thanks to Calvary |
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Sing-A-Long |
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Talking About the Love of God |
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I Just Came to Talk with You Lord |
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Faith to the People |
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Revelation Generation |
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Step into the Sunshine |
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We've Come this Far by Faith |
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Let's Just Praise the Lord |
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Jesus Is the Lighthouse |
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God's Wonderful People |
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Heritage 5-Year Souvenir Album |
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Christmas with the Heritage Singers |
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What More Could He Do |
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Thinking Back: 100 Year Old Gospel Favorites |
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Something Special |
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I Am Willing, Lord |
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Heaven Is for Kids (Vol. I) |
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Someone Is Praying for You |
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Rise Again |
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Heaven Is for Kids, Vol. II |
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Best of 10 Years |
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We're Just People |
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A Touch of Country |
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Just a Little More Time |
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Spirit of Praise |
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From the Heart |
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We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
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15 Year Anniversary |
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Right Now |
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Gospel Train |
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No Compromise |
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What Is This? |
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Commissioned |
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Songs You Remember Vol. I |
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Songs You Remember Vol. II |
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Songs You Remember Vol. III |
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Songs You Remember Vol. IV |
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Father of All |
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Peacespeaker |
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A Cappella |
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You Are My Song |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 2 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 3 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 4 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 5 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 6 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 7 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 8 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 9 |
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Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 10 |
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Reflections of Christmas |
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He Is Our Peace |
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Heritage Country |
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You Are Holy |
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He Still Speaks |
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Someone Cares |
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Because of Love |
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Hymns of Gold |
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Saved by Grace |
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Renew Me |
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Timeless Heirlooms |
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A New Day |
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A Quiet Place |
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No Greater Love |
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Timeless Heirlooms II |
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Forgiven |
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Be Free |
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The People's Choice: 40th Anniversary Collection |
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Restored |
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Max & Lucy's Favorite Hymns Through the Years |
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The People's Choice: Volume 2 |
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Faithful |
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Home for Christmas |
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A Heritage Singers Tribute to Max Mace |
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Testify |
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Title | Details |
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More Than Singing |
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Reunion |
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God Bless America Again |
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Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
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Title | Details |
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Sydney Live Concert |
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From Tahiti with Love |
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Commissioned |
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Tournee Brazil |
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30th Anniversary Live Concert |
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Because of Love: The Session |
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Simply Heritage: A Musical Journey |
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Through the Years Vol. 1 |
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An Evening at the Crystal Cathedral |
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Through the Years Vol. 2 |
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Heritage Live, In Concert From Prague |
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Heritage Reunion Live: Celebrating 45 Years! |
Singers
Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability. Currently serving members consist of:
º denotes members of Faith First, a contemporary Christian singing group commonly associated with the Heritage Singers and the Voice of Prophecy.
Band
The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the live band does not perform at all of the concerts. Currently, the live band consists of:
Technical