Heritage Singers are an American gospel group founded by Max Mace and his wife Lucy, with their two children Valerie Ann and Gregory James. Based near
Placerville, California
Placerville (, ; formerly Old Dry Diggings, Dry Diggings, and Hangtown) is a city in and the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,747 as of the 2020 census, up from 10,389 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Sa ...
,
the group has traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 television programs, and recorded over 200 albums.
History
After four years of performing with the Rose City Singers, a patriotic/folk singing group sponsored by
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
-based United Medical Laboratories, the Maces decided to resign and form a Christian group in 1971. Jerry Leiske named the group based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "heritage ... objects of His special care."
The first year, they released two albums (''Hymns We Remember'' and ''Come Along with the Heritage Singers''), and performed their first public concert on June 4, 1971. Early accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano and Pete McLeod and Jeff Wood on guitars. In 1974 the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ron Huff, who arranged their first albums with full orchestration.
Heritage Singers bought a touring bus (a former Greyhound
PD-4501 Scenicruiser
The GMC PD-4501 Scenicruiser, manufactured by General Motors (GM) for Greyhound Lines, Inc., was a three-axle monocoque two-level coach that Greyhound used from July 1954 into the mid-1970s. 1001 were made between 1954 and 1956.
The Scenicruis ...
they named "Old Blue") from a lot in San Francisco, which remained in their service for 10 year
As their popularity grew (along with the television series "Heritage Singers Presents"), they formed a second group in September 1974, dubbed Heritage II, (subsequently named New Creation) to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;, and a third group, Heritage Singers en Español, which tours South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs. More than 250 people have performed as members of The Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. As for the religious affiliation of its members, Max Mace has stated that while a majority of them are
Seventh-day Adventist Church, Seventh-day Adventists, that's not in itself a requirement. "They have to be a
born-again
Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sep ...
Christian and receptive to the Adventist message."
In the mid-1980's, the group televised a program called "Keep on Singing" and was aired on
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is an international Christian-based broadcast television network and the world's largest religious television network. TBN was headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, until March 3, 2017, when it sold its ...
. It was uploaded on YouTube some time later and was called "Heritage Singers Classics". Around the same time this program was aired, Heritage Singers began performing for
Loma Linda University Church
Loma Linda University Church of Seventh-day Adventists is a Seventh-day Adventist church on the Loma Linda University campus in Loma Linda, California, United States. By membership, it is the largest Adventist church in the world, with about 6 ...
and have done so ever since. Until recently, since the COVID-19 Pandemic, they have not been invited back as a whole group, but individual members have been invited to sing at various services of theirs (mostly Tim Calhoun who currently lives in Loma Linda anyways). Max Mace's nephew, Doug Mace, is also Director of Middle School Ministries there. However, the whole group has made its return for the Max Mace memorial service and their 50th Anniversary concert and currently plan to continue the tradition.
In 1985, the group collaborated with Art Mapa, a sound producer, arranger, guitarist, and composer, and eventually married Val Mace (-Mapa). Soon after, Turning Point Studio was created, where Heritage Singers albums were recorded thereafter.
Reunions
Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (
Swing Auditorium), 1986 (
Anaheim Convention Center
The Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California and is the largest exhibition facility on the West Coast of the United States. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. The original comp ...
), 2001 (
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
Convention Center), and 2005 (
Crystal Cathedral
Christ Cathedral (Latin: ''Cathedralis Christi''; Spanish: ''Catedral de Cristo''; Vietnamese: ''Nhà Thờ Chính Tòa Chúa Kitô''), formerly and informally known as the Crystal Cathedral, is an American church building of the Diocese of Or ...
). A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the
Citizens Business Bank Arena
Toyota Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Ontario, California, United States. The arena hosts local sporting events and concerts and is suitable for indoor events, including basketball, ice hockey, ice shows, boxing, graduation ceremonies and con ...
on July 30, 2016, with 126 singers on stage.
[Names of 126 singers are listed in the closing credits of the DVD published in November 2016 (catalog no. DVDHR2016).]
Death of founder, Max Mace
Following a bout with cancer, Max Mace died at his home in Placerville, California on November 4, 2020, one day shy of his 83rd birthday.
At his memorial service held by the Loma Linda University Church, Max's daughter, Val Mace-Mapa, and her family have vowed to continue the forward-thinking path that Max and Lucy began.
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
Videos
Recent members
Singers
Typically 7 to 10 singers perform at each concert, and the line-up varies depending on the location and availability.
* Denar Almonte
* Ted Atwood
* Dave Bell
* Rob Burkey
* Tim Calhoun
* Marcelo Constanzo
* Melody Davis
* Tim Davis
* Kevin Dumitru
* Garth Gabriel
* Cindy Haffner
* Lisa Jensen
* Shani Judd Diehl
* John Lomacang
* Adriane Mace
* Amber Mace
* Max Mace
* Val Mace Mapa
* Chloe Mallory
* Darrell Marshall
* Jaclyn Pruehs
* Shastin Rains
* Scott Reed
* Frank John Salas
* Becki Trueblood Craig
* Miguel Verazas
Band
The recording musicians vary on each CD, and the band usually does not perform at concerts except for special occasions.
* Gary Hemenway - keyboards
* Art Mapa – guitars
* Austin Mapa – drums
* Art Munar – keyboards
* Nino Ocampo – bass
* Dani Stromback – keyboards
* Joel Umali – keyboards
Technical
* Tim Davis – vocal arranger and producer
* Greg Mace – sound engineer
* Lucy Mace - tour manager, song arranger
* Art Mapa – music arranger, producer, programmer
Source:
References
External links
*
Firsthand biography by Dan Shultz in 2009-2010Heritage Singers Classics programming schedule on LLBNHeritage Singers discography at AllMusic.comHeritage Singers discography at CrossRhythms.comHeritage Singers discography at Discogs.com
{{Authority control
Musical groups established in 1971
Performers of contemporary worship music
Chapel Records artists
American gospel musical groups
1971 establishments in Oregon
American Seventh-day Adventists