Gospel Bluegrass Group Featured

SHENANDOAH FARMS - Is bluegrass music amazingly simple or harmoniously complicated?

You'll get different answers if you query the members of All4Hym, a gospel bluegrass group which will be featured at 7 p.m. today in concert at John Shipe Jr. Park, on Howellsville Road in Shenandoah Farms.

Construction volunteer Roger Virts of Shenandoah Farms worked on the stage being refurbished while All4Hym practiced last week for its concert tonight at the John T. Shipe Jr. Park in Shenandoah Farms.
(Photo by Jeff Taylor)

But all six agree, it's the only type of music they want to perform.

Today's concert keeps the original partners in All4Hym close to home.

Chester and Terri Kreitzer live in Shenandoah Farms, just down the road from the recently rehabilitated park where they will perform.

"We played on it a couple of years ago," said Terri Kreitzer, noting that their recent rehearsal there showed the redesigned stage has much better acoustics.

All4Hym has entertained at a variety of venues in Clarke County, including such charitable events as the Relay for Life.

But its trips farther afield have netted some interesting prizes.

The group placed first in the fourth annual Bluegrass Returns to its Roots Festival in Owensboro, Ky., in March.

That win means members will soon record a new CD, produced by nationally known musician J.D. Crowe.

Terri, as the group's songwriter, has penned six new songs that may become part of that CD. Concert-goers may hear several of them at the concert this evening.

While All4Hym may be best known locally for its gospel music, the concert will feature plenty of old standards too, said Chester Kreitzer.

"Aaron (Murphy) and Dan (Murphy) have done a lot of arranging," said Chester, the rhythm guitar player who sings lead and harmony. "I do most of the forgetting of the words."

The Murphy brothers began their musical careers at age 6.

"Our father was very talented. He could play any instrument he picked up," Dan Murphy explained.

He and his brother played in several bands together. But, Dan added, he got tired of the club scene.

"This type of music is more conducive to family life," he said. "It's far more enjoyable."

Aaron Murphy agrees.

"After I got saved, I realized I didn't like where I was playing," Aaron said.

His brother introduced him to the Kreitzers. "They're like family, these folks," he said.

Bluegrass is a type of music he has always liked, Aaron added. "It's simple enough to appeal to a broad range of people."

Banjo player Troy Stangle was introduced to music by his grandfather. When chores on the farm near Boonesboro, Md., were done, Howard Stangle would teach his grandson a few chords on the guitar.

Stangle, too, decided to make music his life.

"I started with country music," he said. But, like Aaron Murphy, he found that the places he played weren't quite suitable for his family. Then, at a campground, he heard bluegrass.

"I fell in love with the music," he said, and also determined he wanted to learn to play the banjo. "It's more interesting and challenging to play," said Stangle, who traded a car to get his first instrument.

"It's not bluegrass without a banjo," Stangle added.

Cory Kreitzer, 20, the group's mandolin player, might be considered the heir apparent to the group founders. But he had to be bribed to become part of the band.

"My dad said if I learned to play the mandolin, he'd buy me a four wheeler," Cory explained. He put a picture of the four-wheeler he wanted on his computer screen and sat and practiced on the mandolin.

After a successful debut with All4Hym, "When I told Dad I wanted my four-wheeler, he bought me a new mandolin and called it ?four wheeler,'" Cory added.

The four-wheeler would have been cheaper, Chester Kreitzer said.

The Kreitzers credit neighbor Frank Jurney with starting them on their path with bluegrass gospel music. Terri and Chester had been harmonizing in a church choir when Jurney met Chester outside the Shenandoah Farms Baptist Church one Sunday. Jurney was listening to bluegrass gospel music on his vehicle's radio and called Chester over.

"The rhythm and complexity of the music" caught Chester's attention.

"Let me try that," he recalls telling Jurney.

Jurney, who has worked with and booked some of the best bluegrass musicians, says of the group, "They are so talented." Terri Kreitzer, Jurney added, has a voice "like angels singing."

All4Hym has already recorded three CDs of gospel songs.

As the group plays more festivals, it will include more standards and traditional bluegrass songs.

"It's difficult to get people to come out to listen to all gospel," Terri pointed out. But, Chester said, those venues do allow the group to reach a wider variety of people.

"We enjoy it all," he said. "Bluegrass," he said, "is about people. The people you play with and the people you play for. Some people play music and some people are music. It takes up every second of our lives."

In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Shenandoah Farms Recreation Hall. Advance tickets are available at Jim's Country Store and Deli in Shenandoah Farms, the Pine Grove Restaurant, and the Neon Lunchbox in Strasburg, or from Jurney by calling 837-2187. At the gate, tickets will be $12. Children under 13 free.