Gospel Singing Stars Honored In Hometown

Gospel Singing Stars Honored In Hometown

They've been celebrated all over the world for nearly half a century.

Now, for the first time in their stellar history, gospel singers, the Williams Brothers are honored in their hometown McComb, Mississippi .

As McComb mayor Zachary Patterson presented Melvin Williams the key to the city, friends and family reflect on a remarkable career that has spread the Williams Brothers' brand of gospel music from country churches to Carnegie hall.

Josie Marie Williams-Oaties is a sister.

"They've been singing since they were little children and 47 years have gone by and I thought it was time they were more than deserving to have this event and because I love them," says Oaties.

Fans and the music industry also love them.

The Williams Brothers have won numerous Stellar Awards, Dove Awards and they've been nominated for 6 Grammy Awards in their professional years of singing.

"When I write, I try to write about songs that I can relate to; things that I've been through; things that people are going through on a day to day basis," says Lead singer and guitarist Melvin Williams.

Doug Williams, also a lead singer, is President and C-E-O of Blackberry Records, the group's own label. They produce, promote and engineer for a host of other artists.

"So many doors now has been opened for gospel music that wasn't open in the past and I think a lot of it is do to the different genres; the different styles of gospel music, because I think gospel music is the most diverse music in the world," says Williams.

"You know we're still singing about the same God but the music just been upgraded but we singing about the same God," says Henry Green, who sings tenor.

And that's music to the ears of Williams Brothers fans throughout Mississippi and around the world.

The Williams Brothers are lifetime members of the Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church in McComb, which helped organize the event.

The master of ceremonies was Black Entertainment Television's Doctor Bobby Jones.

Source : www.wlbt.com