Blackwood Quartet Reaching Out in Song

A hand reached out to touch Ron Blackwood on the shoulder.
The gospel singer with a grand history turned to see the legendary Bob Dylan.
“Bob Dylan said, ‘I just want you to know how much the music of your family meant to me when my life was down,’” Blackwood said. “He said, ‘Your music has been such a comfort.’ ”
That was one week ago at Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid.
Now on Oct. 16, Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet hope to help change more folks lives’ when they entertain at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va. Proceeds from the event will benefit three local wings of Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, a non-profit organization.
“Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet will really entertain you,” said Danny Thompson, chaplain with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry who serves the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority in Abingdon, Va.
“You’ll get some good gospel music, patriotic music and some comedy,” Thompson said. “Plus, you’ll hear a little bit about what we do.”
Blackwood can relate somewhat to that which the Henrico County, Va.-based, international reaching Good News Jail and Prison Ministry works to accomplish.
“Sometimes people make mistakes,” Blackwood said by phone on Wednesday from Pigeon Forge, Tenn. “All of us go through a valley or two. We need to reach out and help out.”
That Blackwood performed recently on Nelson’s Farm Aid amounted to a meeting of pasts they each would like to forget. Nelson tangled with the Internal Revenue Service about 20 years ago to the tune of nearly $20 million. And Blackwood?
“I went through a thing for a while that all I can say is … pay your taxes!” Blackwood said. “I told Willie about that, and he said, ‘Shoot, they got me for $14 million.’ I’ve been through some fire.”
That in part explains Blackwood’s motto, “God is the God of another chance.”
“I had four throat surgeries and couldn’t talk for a while,” Blackwood said. “God has given me another chance and gave me my voice back.”
Then, there are those in jails and prisons. Philip Van Gorp, vice president of operations for Good News Jail and Prison Ministry in Henrico, Va., has seen many of them in his two decades with Good News.
“I can look at decisions that I have made in my life,” Van Gorp said, “and truly but by the grace of God I could have been in an orange jumpsuit, too.”
And so the Blackwoods will sing gospel music in support of Good News, and of course will entertain. In doing so, they carry on a remarkable tradition started by Ron Blackwood’s father R.W. Blackwood.
“He started the Blackwoods in 1934 with his two uncles and my grandfather,” Blackwood said. “This is the 75th year of the Blackwoods.”
Highlights abound throughout their mesmerizing history. However, no group can top their distinction as being Elvis Presley’s favorite gospel group.
Consider that. The Blackwood Quartet performed for 40,000 people at Farm Aid. They shared the stage with country legend Willie Nelson, rock’s John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan, certainly one of the 20th century’s leading musicians.
“As good as that was, it doesn’t compare with standing on stage with Elvis Presley,” Blackwood said, who befriended the late king of rock and roll during the 1950s. “I went to church with Elvis. The Blackwoods sang at his mama’s funeral and sang at his funeral.”
Ring that up as walking in high cotton.
And regard such service as giving back.
“Ron has a heart for what we’re doing,” Thompson said.
The Blackwoods have a history of giving, via an incredible catalog of gospel music, and by putting those words into action.
“We all need help at some point in our lives,” Blackwood said. “That’s why we’re doing this.”

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.

IF YOU GO
What: Benefit for Good News Jail and Prison Ministry
Who: Ron Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet
When: Oct. 16, 7 p.m.n Where: Virginia Intermont College’s Harrison-Jones Auditorium, Bristol, Va.
Admission: $10 (available night of show and at Matt Smith’s Music on Main Street in Abingdon; Blevins Tire and Recapping on Lee Highway in Bristol, Va.; and Toyota of Kingsport)
Info: (276) 676-2541, (276) 676-2192 or (276) 628-2321
Web and audio: www.goodnewsjail.org
And: www.blackwoodqt.com

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.

-- See story on Good News Jail & Prison Ministry .