Bristol Family Brings Christian Singer to Town for Free Concert; Shuttle Service Available

BRISTOL, Tenn.—Superstar gospel singer CeCe Winans has fans all over the world. But just maybe her biggest fan lives right here in the Tri-Cities.
To wit, Joe Gregory.
“I bought her new CD [“Thy Kingdom Come”],” said Gregory, “and my wife and I loved it so much we thought, ‘Gee, why not bring her to Bristol?’ ”
And so the nine-time Grammy Award-winning gospel singer will appear at Viking Hall in Bristol, Tenn. on Dec. 20. Winans comes with two more Grammy nominations in hand, Christmas in her heart and in about half the songs she will sing.
“We’ll definitely come together and do everybody’s favorite Christmas songs,” Winans said by phone Tuesday afternoon from her home in Forest Hills, Tenn. “I celebrate Christmas all year ‘round.”
Now get this. Thanks to Gregory, Winans’ show is free of charge. Not cheap to bring her, but then consider the Gregory family and its past connections with Bristol-based King Pharmaceuticals, a Fortune 500 company.
“I’m one of the co-founders,” Gregory said recently by phone while en route to his office in downtown Bristol. “I was vice-chairman of King until my retirement in 2003. We have the Kingsway Charities, and we do a lot of good through Kingsway.”
And so this way comes Winans. She’s sold millions of albums, performed for several presidents and the Pope, and calls such famous folks as Whitney Houston and Oprah Winfrey friend.
“Wow,” Winans said of her career, “it’s mind-boggling.”
So, merry Christmas Bristol.
“First of all, we love living in this area,” Gregory said. “We think it’s a great community. We like to spread a little bit of Christmas cheer and Christmas spirit. We felt like people need a little extra cheer this year, so we are bringing CeCe to town.”
Listen to Winans’ music. Nary a negative word peeks into her nearly 25 years of recorded music.
“I’m honored to do what I do, bring messages of love and hope and peace,” Winans said. “Yes, I feel like Christian music is the best place you can find positive music, but there’s a lot of positive songs out there.”
Just look to her recent album, “Thy Kingdom Come.” Sure, it moved the Gregorys, but it’s also moved roughly a million others, too.
“It’s very powerful,” she said. “The songs remind us who we are. They remind us of the power of Jesus Christ. We have to understand who we are.”
While music for some may reside in the background, for others music has proven something akin to a lifeline. Winans said that beyond the gold and platinum albums on her walls, the fame and the fortune, the power of music coupled with her faith keeps all of that in check.
“I remember getting a letter years ago from a teenager,” Winans said. “She thanked me for my music. This kid had contemplated suicide. But my music gave her a reason to give life another try.”
Mercy.
“I realize how powerful music can be,” she said. “It has changed people’s lives. God is great. It keeps me in a place where without Him, it’s just another song. God gave us all.”
And so with all that in mind, the Gregory family is giving back.
“It’s going to be such a fantastic Christmas show,” Gregory said. “It’s worth the effort to come out and hear CeCe Winans, nine-time Grammy winner and her phenomenal band. It’s exciting.”

IF YOU GO
Who: CeCe Winans
When: Dec. 20, 7 p.m.
Where: Viking Hall, 1100 Edgemont Ave., Bristol, Tenn.
Admission: Free
Info: (423) 764-0188
Web: http://www.cecewinans.com
Audio: http://www.walmart.com/swap/loadalbumsonglist.do?itemld=9722481

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .

Shuttle service available for CeCe Winans concert
Due to weather concerns, a free shuttle service is available for patrons attending the CeCe Winans concert on Dec. 20 at Viking Hall. Shuttles will begin running at 5:30 p.m. from the Viking Hall satellite parking lots located on Edgemont and Southside avenues and deliver attendees to the front door of the venue.
Additional parking is being offered by the Central Christian Church, located one block away from the Viking Hall on Melrose Street, where shuttle service will also be provided. After the concert, the shuttle will continue operating until the last patron has been delivered to the appropriate parking area. 
Doors will open to the public for general seating at 6:30 p.m., and the show will begin at 7 p.m. Seating for the event is limited.