Gold City is an American southern gospel quartet based in Gadsden, Alabama. Formed in 1980, the group was one of the most successful quartets through the 1980s and 1990s, charting ten number one hits in Singing News magazine and being host to many icons in the Christian music industry, including Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Mark Trammell, Mike LeFevre, and Tim Riley.
History
1980s Gold City was originally known as The Christianairs, based in Mississippi. The Alabama-based Christian group was renamed Gold City in Dahlonega, Georgia at midnight on New Year’s Day in 1980, composed of tenor Bob Oliver, lead Jerry Ritchie, baritone Ken Trussell, and bass Dallas Gilliland. Bass Tim Riley replaced Gilliland as the permanent bass singer in July of that same year. The group appeared on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention in October 1981. Pianist Garry Jones joined the group one month prior to the convention. In 1982, tenor Brian Free came on board and lead Ivan Parker joined in 1983. This group of men formed a consistent core that remained together until the end of 1993. Original owner Floyd Beck died in 1984, resulting in the group ownership being shared equally by Tim Riley, Ivan Parker, Garry Jones and Brian Free. During this transition, the group relocated to Gadsden, Alabama. Jeff Hullender joined the group in 1984 as bass guitar player. Mike LeFevre joined in 1985 to sing the baritone part, replacing Jerry Ritchie.
1990s Steve Lacey took over for LeFevre in 1992. After the departure of Free and Parker in 1993, Lacey switched to lead while Mark Trammell became baritone and Jay Parrack was named the new tenor. Lacey left to join the Kingdom Heirs the following year. David Hill became lead singer for a while; his departure led to the next consistent lineup for the group, which included Jonathan Wilburn singing lead, Mark Trammell singing baritone, and Jay Parrack as tenor with Riley at bass from 1996 until 2002. Over this period, the group developed a style that relied on heavy brass arrangements for their more driving songs.
2000s Trammell left the group in 2002 to form the Mark Trammell Trio. In 2004, the group saw the departure of Parrack at tenor in addition to the retirement of Tim Riley after 24 years. Former Brian Free & Assurance bass singer Bill Lawrence replaced him as bass, while Riley's sons, drummer Doug and baritone Daniel, took over management of the group until Doug Riley died in an automobile accident in early 2006. By this point, the full Gold City band had been retired and replaced with accompanying tracks.
In March 2006, bass singer Bill Lawrence left the group. Tim filled in for several months while the search for a replacement was underway. Aaron McCune, who was bass singer with the Palmetto State Quartet at the time, joined Gold City in May 2006.
In February 2007, it was announced that the group had returned to The Beckie Simmons Agency (from The Harper Agency). Beckie Simmons, while at Century II and her own agency, has handled the quartet's bookings for the majority of its existence.
In March 2008, lead singer Jonathan Wilburn left the group. Bruce Taliaferro, a Gadsden native who had filled in for Wilburn and Daniel Riley in the past, stepped in to fill the empty position. Gold City released their first recording with Taliaferro in July 2008. Also, August 2008 saw the Band of Gold return to the scene on a limited basis. The band consisted of pianist Josh Simpson, drummer Kevin Albertson, bass guitarist Taylor Barnes, and lead guitarist Daniel Addison.
On April 28, 2009, tenor, Steve Ladd, announced that he would be leaving Gold City. On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Chris Cooper would fill the tenor position. It was announced in July 2009 that Josh Simpson would be leaving Gold City in August to go to college. His temporary replacement was Curtis Broadway who played on Band of Gold dates. Gold City Bus driver Jim Korn filled in on keys after the Band of Gold quit traveling with the group. It was announced on August 11. 2009 that Aaron McCune had departed Gold City and a replacement was being sought.
Later in December, it was announced that Chris Cooper had left Gold City. A replacement was found by the end of Christmas break. Over the Christmas break, it was announced that former Legacy Five tenor Josh Cobb would join the group, and former Ernie Haase & Signature Sound pianist Roy Webb would join as the pianist. It was also announced that Tim Riley officially returned to Gold City.
2010s to present Later in 2010, Roy Webb opted to leave the group to fully pursue a solo career. Josh Simpson filled in on the piano while a new pianist was found. After the National Quartet Convention, it was announced that Perry's pianist, Bryan Elliott, would fill the piano bench. Months later, tenor singer, Josh Cobb was released from the group for logistical reasons. On October 29, Brent Mitchell was announced as tenor, to start officially on November 11, 2010. Bruce Taliaferro announced his resignation the next month on December 18, 2010. Tim Riley stepped down as bass again in 2016 when the quartet found Chris West.
On January 28, 2020, Bruce Taliaferro announced his return to the group, after the resignation of lead singer Scott Brand. Taliaferro began singing with the group on February 21. On January 11, 2022, Taliaferro announced his second resignation from the group, effective immediately until his replacement by Gadsden native Cole Watson. Watson and seven year tenor Thomas Nalley were released by the quartet nine months later. In the fall of 2022, Gold City announced the third return of Bruce Taliaferro. On the same night he was re-introduced, they also announced Former Kingsmen Quartet tenor Chris Jenkins as their new tenor singer. Chris West departed the group in January 2023 and Jeff Chapman of the Kingdom Heirs was announced to be their full-time bass singer starting on April 20 after filling in at multiple shows.
On August 15, 2023, Josh Feemster replaced Taliaferro as the lead singer for Gold City after he departed the group earlier that month. On April 27, 2025 former pianist Garry Jones died aged 62 after a brief battle with metastatic cancer.
Members (past and present)
Line-ups January 1980 (Under the Name "Gold City Quartet") May 1980 July 1980–1981Bob Oliver – tenor Jerry Ritchie – lead Ken Trussell – baritone Dallas Gilliland – bass Larry Goodard – piano Cary Kirk – bass guitar Wayne Hussey – drumsBob Oliver – tenor Jerry Ritchie – lead Ken Trussell – baritone Harold McVey – bass John Reinhardt Jr. – piano Larry Goodard – bass guitar Wayne Hussey – drumsBob Oliver – tenor Jerry Ritchie – lead Ken Trussell – baritone Tim Riley – bass John Reinhardt Jr. – piano Larry Goodard – bass guitar David Holloway – guitars Wayne Hussey – drums 1981–1982 1982–1983 1983Bob Oliver – tenor Jerry Ritchie – lead Ken Trussell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Jeff Easter – bass guitar David Holloway, Jerry Lloyd – guitars John Noski – drumsBrian Free – tenor Jerry Ritchie – lead Ken Trussell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Ken Burnett – bass guitar Jerry Lloyd – guitars Olan Witt – drumsBrian Free – tenor Bill Crittenton – lead Jerry Ritchie – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Ken Bennett – bass guitar Jerry Lloyd – guitars John Noski – drums 1983 1983–1984 1984Brian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Jerry Ritchie – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Ken Bennett – bass guitar Jerry Lloyd – guitars John Noski – drumsBenny Blackburn – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Jerry Ritchie – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Ken Bennett – bass guitar Jerry Lloyd – guitars John Noski – drumsBrian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Jerry Ritchie – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Ken Bennett – bass guitar Daryll LaCroy, Kelly Black – guitars Corbett Harper – drums 1984-1985 1985-1987 (Now simply known as "Gold City") 1987–1988Brian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Jerry Ritchie – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano, producer Jeff Hullender – bass guitar Daryll LaCroy – guitars John Noski –drumsBrian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Mike Leferve – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano, producer Jeff Hullender – bass guitar Daryll LaCroy, Jerry Lloyd – guitars John Noski – drumsBrian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Mike LeFerve – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano, producer Jeff Hullender – bass guitar Daryll LaCroy – guitars 1989 1989–1992 1992–1994Brian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Mike LeFerve – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano, producer Barry Scott – bass guitar Daryll LaCroy – guitarsBrian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Mike LeFerve – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano, producer Mark Fain – bass guitar Daryll LaCroy – guitars Doug Riley – drumsBrian Free – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Steve Lacey – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano, producer Mark Fain – bass guitar David Creech – guitars Doug Riley – drums 1994 1994–1995 1995–1996Jay Parrack – tenor Steve Lacey – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Garry Jones – piano Mark Fain – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsJay Parrack – tenor David Hill – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass David Brooks – piano Mark Fain – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsJay Parrack – tenor David Hill – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Shane Jenkins – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drums 1996–1997 1997 1997–1999Jay Parrack – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Randy Matthews – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsJay Parrack – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Byron Stewart – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsJay Parrack – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Tim Parton – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drums 2000–2002 2002-2004 2004Jay Parrack – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Mark Trammell – baritone Tim Riley – bass Channing Eleton – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsJay Parrack – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Channing Eleton – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsSteve Ladd – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Channing Eleton – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drums 2004–2005 2005-2006 2006Steve Ladd – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Bill Laurence – bass Channing Eleton – piano Adam Borden – bass guitar Doug Riley – drumsSteve Ladd – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Bill Laurence – bass Josh Simpson – pianoSteve Ladd – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Josh Simpson – piano 2006–2008 2008-2009 2009Steve Ladd – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Aaron McCune – bass Josh Simpson – pianoSteve Ladd – tenor Bruce Taliaferro – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Aaron McCune – bass Josh Simpson – piano Taylor Barnes – bass guitar Daniel Addison – guitars Kevin Albertson – drumsChris Cooper – tenor Bruce Taliaferro – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Aaron McCune – bass Curtis Broadway – piano 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011Josh Cobb – tenor Jonathan Wilburn – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Roy Webb – pianoBrent Mitchell – tenor Bruce Taliaferro – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Bryan Elliott – pianoBrent Mitchell – tenor Craig West – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Bryan Elliott – piano 2011–2013 2013-2014 2014–2015Dan Keeton – tenor Craig West – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Bryan Elliott – pianoRobert Fulton – tenor Chip Pullen – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Tim Riley – bass Bryan Elliott – pianoRobert Fulton – tenor Chip Pullen – lead Daniel Riley – baritone Chris West – bass Bryan Elliott – piano 2015–2016 2016-2018 2018-2020Thomas Nalley – tenor