Blue Ridge Memories: November 2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Norman Almand

Norman Almand, age 86, passed away Friday, November 18, 2016.

Since his graduation from Hillsborough High School, Norman made a name for himself in the Southern Gospel music industry as a bass singer for several quartets, The Rebels in the early 1950s as well as The Blue Ridge Quartet during that same decade

Norman, with Elmo Fagg, Kenny Gates, and Ed Sprouse -1956

PFC Almand served his country in the U.S. Army from October 1954 – July 1956. For the past 13 years he sang with the Gulf Ridge Quartet. He is survived by his wife Sue and four children: sons Barry, Kenneth, Landis, and daughter, Lauri. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Kenny Gates provided this picture and said :

"Our first engagement with our new bass singer, Norman Almand. It was at the annual "Singing On The Mountain" at Grand Father Mountain, North Carolina. We had two bass singers that day, Cecil Gohlston, who was filling in with us until Norman was discharged from service. So sorry to hear of Norman's passing. Truly a great singer and wonderful friend.

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CD #44 Burl's Best To You
CD #43 Front Row Live
CD #42 Live Concerts from Blairstown NJ Oct. 1974, Gouglersville PA Jan. 1980
CD #41 Through The Years With The Blue Ridge Quartet
CD #40 Gospel Singing Caravan Volume 3 & 4
CD #39 Gospel Singing Caravan Volume 1 & 2
CD #38 Hide Me, Rock Of Ages, Peace Like A River
CD #37 My Home, Sunset Is Coming
CD #36 Our Best To You, A Session With
CD #35 Sing Out The Good News, Green Green Grass Of Home
CD #34 Sings The Old-Time Gospel Volume 1 & 2, Autograph Album
CD #33 He's Life, Wings Of A Dove
CD #32 The World Of LaVerne Tripp, Born To Write And Sing
CD #31 Lead Me Back To Calvary, He Cares For You
CD #30 Here They Come, The Battle For My Daddy's Soul
CD #29 Echoes From The Forties, The Blue Ridge Quartet
CD #28 Passing Thru, Rose Covered Lane
CD #27 Church In The Wildwood, Thank You Mister DJ
CD #26 Somethin' Within, Satisfied
CD #25 America's Twelve Favorite Hymns, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
CD #24 Why Me Lord, It Takes A Happy Man, Let's All Go Down To The River
CD #23 Mark IV Sings, Burl Bill Laverne Donnie and the Mark IV
CD #22 Kenny Gates of The Blue Ridge Quartet, Kenny Gates Piano Artistry
CD #21 Blue Ridge Now, Hymns Of The Hour (Little Jimmy Dickens)
CD #20 Live On Stage, Live At Wheeling
CD #19 Energy, Puts It Together
CD #18 Country Road, Everlasting Joy, A Thing Called Love
CD #17 Those Cotton Pickin Blue Ridge, Rodney Hoots - You Needed Me
CD #16 Cool Calm And Country, Blue Ridge Country
CD #15 Somebody Touched Me, He Came Back, Best Yet
CD #14 Bill Crowe - That Little Girl Of Mine, LaVerne Tripp Sings Country Soul, Our Favorite Hymns
CD #13 Side By Side (Shorty & Dolly Long), Sweeter Than The Flowers (Shorty & Dolly Long), Together (The Sheltons)
CD #12 Burl Strevel Sings Low And Easy, Fred Daniel - Happy Side Of Living
CD #11 Songs We Can't Stop Singing, The Best Of The Blue Ridge, The Old Time Religion
CD #10 Christmas With The Blue Ridge Quartet, Another Christmas, Christmas with LaVerne Tripp and Family
CD #09 The Blue Ridge Quartet featuring Donnie Seabolt, The Blue Ridge Quartet presents Donnie
CD #08 Solid Gold, Hits Forever, Reflections
CD #07 And That's Enough, On The Move, Turn Your Radio On
CD #06 The Love Of God, Who Am I
CD #05 In The Spirit, For God And Country, Close To The Master
CD #04 He Bought My Soul, By His Hand
CD #03 Heavenly Parade, Thanks For Loving Me, The Prettiest Flowers
CD #02 Ride That Glory Train, Rise And Shine, There's A Great Day Coming
CD #01 Happy, Keep On Singing, You Can't Be A Beacon