The singers of the Southern Gospel music group Harbour Lights, who have two members that live here in Adair County, are excited to once again bring their well-loved sound and message of hope to Greenfield.
Harbour Lights will sing 5 p.m. Sunday, March 3 as the March installment of the “Good News Series.” At 4:30 p.m. there will be a Lenten/Easter hymn sing that will lead up to the concert.
Members of Harbour Lights are Glen Jones and Gary Freeland of Greenfield, Ladonna Smith of rural Winterset and Ben Turner of Lorimor.
Freeland began the concert series here after one had a similar following where he previously lived, in Panora. Harbour Lights previously sang as part of this series.
“The series was originally a part of the wishes of the Presbyterian church people [who made The Gathering Place possible after their church closed], who wished that there still be some religious activity,” Freeland said. “They talked to me, and I started a series. Of the regulars attending, there’s a base who are very active every month. We’ve got some coming from Audubon, a couple who comes a lot of months from Nebraska. It’s almost steadily 75 people, and it made a jump to about 120 when we had a local talent night.”
Harbour Lights began in 1980 as the Smith Family Singers. It first started as a duet between LaDonna’s husband Terry and his brother, but then it moved to the next generation.
“When the kids were all graduated, we decided to change the name to Harbour Lights,” Smith said. That’s when others began joining the group. It has looked differently throughout the years, but it is currently a quartet comprised of three males and a female.
“Ladonna is the only Smith in the original Smith Family Singers. It’s been very rewarding to fulfill some of all of our dreams to sing Southern Gospel and sing with a group,” said Turner. “I feel we’re honoring the past and those who formed this group. We hope we continue to do so as long as the Lord permits us to and our health holds to be able to do so.”
During stretches where there are performances, Harbour Lights gathers to diligently practice their music. It helps that the members of the group also have deep friendships with each other.
“I’ve always said our purpose as a group is to lift up Christ and to show that He is the answer to all the problems that occur in the world. Secondary to that, we want to get more support for a specific genre of music that is Southern Gospel music, that is popular in the south and is increasing in popularity in the north as well,” Turner said. “Our basic purpose is to help people see that they can find the answer to their needs in Jesus.”
After Ladonna’s husband Terry’s eyesight began to worsen, Jones took over the responsibility of running the group’s sound system, in addition to singing. He jokes that the equipment was heavy, and at the time, he was the youngest member of the group.
“My background is not in electronics, it’s just a matter of doing what needs to be done,” Jones said. “It’s a job where I have to show up a couple hours ahead of time before the others show up.”
Members of the group say they’re always listening to prospective songs, and all four members will suggest songs from time to time. All songs the group sings must be chosen unanimously by the group’s members, and they must fit the sound and truthful message the group aims to uphold.
“We know our voices and our group’s sound. We want a song with a message. We don’t pick a song because it has a pretty melody or it’s cute, we really look for a message we all believe and support. I don’t think we can sing a song unless we believe it,” Turner commented. “It has to have a message, has to be true and Biblical.”
Harbour Lights has recorded CDs in the past, and on their latest work, they hired a backing band to create their backing tracks so they could own the copyright to them.
“We always joke that the music is simple and easy, but in order to really know it and sing it, it does take practice,” Freeland said.
In addition to this month’s concert, the Good News Concert Series has a couple of other special events that are upcoming.
From 4-7 p.m. Sunday, April 7, will be an extended program featuring Heaven Bound, a Gospel bluegrass band; Triology, a piano, cello and vocal trio performing traditional Christian music; and Higher Power Gospel Quartet, a southern and contemporary Gospel quartet. Food will be available with a free will offering going to The Gathering Place.
One month later, on Sunday, May 5, there will be a 5 p.m. Local Youth Talent Night.
Harbour Lights hopes people will come hear their music following the hymn sing on Sunday.
“They can come sing for a half hour and then just really be in tune with God [during the whole night],” Freeland said.