The East Chippewa Vocal Band began in 2004 after Bob & Leslie Lake and Rick & Karen Horst had attended a live performance of the Gaither Vocal Band earlier that year. At the end of their concert, Bob looked at Rick and said, “We could do that Rick” and Rick agreed so on the way home that night Bob and Leslie talked about the possiblity of starting a southern gospel quartet.
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“It was Bob’s dream to do the orginal music that the Gaither’s were doing, not other music so we made a deal with each other,” explained Leslie Lake. “I told him if he would get the guys I would contact the Gaithers and get permission to do the music. It took a few months to get all in place but the reality was the beginning of the East Chippewa Vocal Band.”
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“Therefore, we have been singing together for seven years and it has been a joy! We started with six members, Jim King, bass, Rick Horst, baritone, David Sollenberger and Bob Lake lead tenor, and Harry Horst and Bob Hutson on high tenor. We lost our beloved Harry in 2006 and decided we were not going to replace him.”
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“Our mission from the very beginning until the present day is to tell the love of Jesus in song and through our witness to as many as will allow us into their lives! We all really love the Lord and feel that using our gifts and talents for His honor and to help others may hopefully touch even one heart and lead them to Christ!”
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The East Chippewa Vocal Band have only made one CD and have a few of them available. They recorded that CD early in their existence so their desire is to go into the studio soon to make yet another one. Both our sound and huge catalog now of Gaither songs needs to be made available for many more people than just those that can attend our concerts or our woship services that they lead.
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“Because we do almost exclusively Gaither music, our style is Southern Gospel although we are presently branching out into a little of Ernie Hass’s music because it is so similar in style and close harmonies,” continued Leslie. “The secret to our success is our ability to have such rich, close harmonies. These gentlemen are a joy to work with and never tier of being ‘pushed a little’ by myself or my husband to improve in either style or blending.”
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“I particularly am impressed with each one of their own spriitual growths through these years that we have been together. I can see that this music has really been key in leading them to be faithful to their God, their church family, their own families, and to the idea of witnessing to others. That makes the many hours of practicing to play for them all worth while!”
In Memory of Harry L. Horst
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