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While these are four grown men, the ages of this successful group's personnel almost fits the category of their name, Down East Boys. Consisting of very young men, this fine quartet has a great future lying ahead of them. As a group, the Down East Boys have been around for a fairly long time, but time has made a change in this group. Formed almost twenty years ago, the group had a major change for them when a radio hit in 1989, "Beautiful Valley", brought them to national recognition. From that point it has been an upward climb, but the climb has been progressive, bringing them to be one of the top groups in Southern Gospel Music today.

After Ricky took over the group in 1994, they wanted to continue as a quartet, but only when they could find the right Bass singer, so until 2001 they were traveling for a time as a trio. They have come full circle and now sing as a quartet again.

The group currently consists of owner, manager, lead singer Ricky Cardin, baritone singer John Stilley, tenor singer Jason Runnels, and newest addition bass singer Stuart Cary. This current lineup of Down East Boys is as solid as any group performing today.

Adding to their stability is the songwriting of baritone John Stilley. John has had several of the songs he has written for the group to be hits on the Southern Gospel charts. John has one of the finest Baritone voices in the business today, yet has the ability to blend in harmonies extraordinaire.

Ricky Cardin has a very strong lead voice. With the ability to interpret songs, as is needed for a lead singer to be effective, Ricky can draw you into a song and make you feel you are a part of it.

Jason Runnels can sing those high tenor notes when he needs to, but also can sing those sweet soft tones that make a really good tenor so effective.

Stuart adds a solid foundation to the groups with his rich bass tones, singing those super low notes without growling, yet singing in his upper register with mellow rounded sounds.

The Down East Boys are very ministry minded, performing with several well known Evangelists and Ministers including Kelly Green, Rick Stanley, and Jay Strack. Their sole goal is to present the Gospel of Christ, and uplift the Church, bringing Glory and Honor to Christ.

The Down East Boys would be described as a traditional sounding quartet with a very smooth blend and harmonies that are exquisite. Each group member could be a soloist in his own right, but each one has the capability to be a team member giving the group a very tight sound.

In the next five years the Down East Boys want to keep working toward growth in both the concert setting and in the church setting. Ricky says that they always want to keep working churches at the center of their ministry.

When asked where the one place they have not sung at yet but would like to, they replied, "The Meramac Caverns in Staunton, MO. It's the biggest singing in the Midwest, put on by the Lesters every year." Hint, hint Lesters, they'd really like to sing there.

When asked what the role of SGM should be in the nation today with all the terrorism, Ricky said, "terrorism is just a sign of the moral decay of our nation. People used to want the clean programs such as Andy Griffin Show for entertainment, and the family was a tighter unit at home. Southern Gospel Music was a featured form of entertainment. Now we have become a nation of selfish people where drugs and alcohol run rampant." Ricky feels that Gospel music; whether it is Southern Gospel, CCM, or Gospel Rap has the message that will change our nation, and the Down East boys intend to keep singing that message, the strong message of what Christ can do for you and our nation.

Their latest CD, "Remember The Time" is just another reminder that these guys are making giant steps forward in the Southern Gospel Music industry.

Visit Down East online at [url=http://www.downeastboys.com]http://www.downeastboys.com[/url]

Reader Comments

:thumbsup: The Down East Boys from their very beginnings, were nothing short of a "First Class Quartet"!. The "New" Down East Boys are continueing that "First Class Sound", I am very proud of them!.

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