The Showalter Brothers are a new face in the realm of gospel music, but it won’t be long before we see them gaining momentum and fulfilling their dream of singing gospel music. They already are making an impact with their passion for Jesus and a desire to keep gospel music alive.
Ranging in ages from 14-18, this quartet is one of the youngest there are, but that certainly does not mean that they lack musical abilities. It is obvious that God has great plans for them. The four brothers, Laverne, Jason, Merlyn, and Simeon, just recorded their first album, “Going on With a Song,” and their musical gifts are quite evident! In this interview, I chat with the oldest brother, Laverne, who tells more about himself and his brothers’ passion, goals, and newest project.
Stacy Compagner: When did you and your brothers first start singing as a group? Tell us how you guys got started.
Laverne Showalter: We’ve been singing together ever since we can remember. We all loved to sing, even at very young ages. But it’s just more recently that our skills have developed to the place where we feel God is calling us to reach the world with music, and when God opens doors, we want to follow.
SC: That is so cool that you guys have a built-in quartet! Growing up, was singing gospel music something that you always wanted to do?
LS: Growing up, we were always singing together. It’s something we always dreamed of doing. And we absolutely enjoy it!
SC: What are some musical groups that have influenced you over the years?
LS: Probably the groups that have influenced us the most would be The Ball Brothers, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, and The Collingsworth Family.
SC: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
LS: Singing is what we do in our freetime! We all work during the day, so whenever we get freetime, we are probably working on new songs or something along that line.
SC: You blend and harmonize so well together. Have you guys had any musical training?
LS: We have not had any official music training. The only thing we’ve done is listen to groups we love and learn from them.
SC: Do you have any other siblings besides your three brothers?
LS: Yes I do! I have four brothers and three sisters. So it is eight children total.
SC: What is something unique about yourself that not many people know.
LS: I don’t know if this is unique, but I love coffee!
SC: Aside from the necessities, what are three things you could never live without?
LS: Jesus, music, and friends
SC: Do you guys travel and do concerts, or what is your channel for ministering in music?
LS: We do not travel yet. We are still in the beginning stages, but that is our dream.
SC: What is the most memorable experience you have had so far in your musical journey?
LS: What I enjoyed most so far is that we had the privilege of recording our first album with Phillip Collingsworth from Solid Sound Studios.
SC: What is something that you are truly passionate about?
LS: Jesus came to this earth to give us life and joy and peace in Him. And my passion is that I want everyone whom I come into contact with to know that God loves them, and he wants them to have a life of peace and joy in Him alone!
SC: Tell us about your new album that just released, “Going on With the Song.” Do you have a favorite song off the new album?
LS: We titled our album “Going on With the Song” because it is our vision to see gospel music stay alive in the world today. And we want to be a part of helping that be a reality. So my favorite song on the album is Going on With the Song, which is our theme song. When we are facing hard times and life looks hopeless, we won’t let that stop us. We will stand right back up and keep going! We also wrote two songs on this album. I wrote Oh What His Love Did For Me. My brother wrote lyrics for Keep on Smiling, and I wrote the music.
SC: Looking back on your life, what is one piece of advice that you have for the next generation?
LS: When you have dreams and goals that you think may never happen, just hang in there and keep on going and pressing toward your goal. A lot of times it’s closer than you think.
To find out more about The Showalter Brothers, visit their website, www.showalterbrothers.com, or check out their Facebook and Instagram at The Showalter Brothers. Also, you can contact them at (682) 244-3804 or showalterbrothers@gmail.com.
