Southern Accent, a regionally-known and well-loved bluegrass gospel group from Watauga and Avery counties of Western North Carolina, strives to take traditional and contemporary gospel songs and hymns and add a smooth bluegrass flavor to praise and honor the Lord, Jesus Christ. Their mission is to sing and play their instruments as a ministry to send out the message of the Good News of the Gospel.
After having their beginnings in the mid-90s, Southern Accent has continued to tastefully present their music in the High Country and surrounding regions in churches and family-oriented atmospheres for over a decade-and-a-half. They have appeared at the annual MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove (formerly Doc Watson Appreciation Days) in Sugar Grove, NC, since its beginning (1997-current); festivals in the Todd Community of NC; the Grayson Highlands Festival in VA; the Paramount Theater in Bristol, TN; the Wayne Henderson Festival in VA; the High Country Bluegrass Festival in Boone, NC; the historic Rex Theater in Galax, VA; Concerts on the Lawn at the Jones House in Boone, NC; etc. Southern Accent has had frequent performances at the Hometown Opry in Wilkesboro, NC and also the popular Gospel Melodies program on the Mountain Television Network out of Boone, NC. They opened for Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver in 2003 at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson, NC, and felt privileged to have been invited to share the stage with one of the most influential individuals in bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music.
Another great honor was the personal invitation from Doc Watson to perform at his huge 80th birthday celehration at the Walker Center in Wilkesboro, NC, in the spring of 2003. Joining the Nashville Bluegrass Band, T. Michael Coleman, Richard Watson, David Holt, Jerry Douglas, Charles Welch, and Doc Watson on stage for "Happy Birthday" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" was a blessing. In 2004, Merlefest invited the group to perform for their Sunday gospel concerts. Even since then, Southern Accent has performed at inumerable venues and churches.
Southern Accent has 3 recordings available: Songs of Faith, Love & Life ; On A Journey ; Steppin' Out On Faith ; and Listen to the Word. Their popular recordings The Hills of Glory,The Road Less Traveled, and Savior, Lord, and Guide are no longer available. You can find out more about our recordings on the link above titled "CDs."
Also, Southern Accent hosts the well-attended Annual Fellowship Celebration on the Saturday after Mother's Day in May. Click on link titled, "Celebration," above for more information on the 10th Annual Fellowship Celebration in 2011.
Although this group is a little under two decades old, the members have made music a part of their lives from early ages. Drawing on the rich heritage of music in the area, the legacy of past and present bluegrass artists, their own musical interpretations, and love for the Lord and music, Southern Accent has developed their own unique and easily-recognizable sound. Southern Accent's mutual respect for each other is reflected in the tightness of their music and the valued relationships they hold with one another as close friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. The members include: Dennis Isaacs, Paulette Isaacs, Gary Trivette, Connie Norris, and Blake Vance - each contribute greatly to the group with their talent, their time, and the uncompromising commitment to uphold the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Dennis Isaacs
Dennis Isaacs adds his strong lead and rhythm guitar playing on his Gallagher, Larrivee D-09 or Larrrivee D-03 to Southern Accent to continue to define their well-loved, recognizable sound. Doc Watson, as is apparent in Isaacs' playing, was and still is the greatest influence on Dennis. Since teaching himself to play guitar at the age of 8, Dennis has become a well-respected fingerpicking and flat picking guitarist from self-discipline, daily practice, and love for bluegrass. Contributing to Southern Accent's songs by singing harmony, he adds a smoothness to the group and lends his ideas to the arrangements of their songs and instrumentals. Dennis is employed as a trim crew leader by Enterline and Russell Builders in Blowing Rock, NC. He also gives guitar lessons weekly. Dennis has 2 daughters who live in Virginia. He and his wife, Paulette, enjoy spending time with their sons who accompany them when they travel to perform. The Isaacs' are members of Willow Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Vilas, NC. Dennis believes Southern Accent's music is a ministry and feels each member is blessed by the Lord to have been called to work and live for Him.
To find out more about Larrivee guitars, click here: http://www.larrivee.com
To find out more about Gallagher guitars, click here: http://gallagherguitar.com
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High...
Psalms 92:1 KJV
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Paulette Isaacs
Learning to play music from her husband, Dennis, shortly after they were married, Paulette Isaacs has continued to develop her love for bluegrass gospel. She began singing in the church choir at the age of 8 and enjoys taking the old hymns and singing them bluegrass style. Paulette plays the acoustic upright bass, a 1959 Kay (owned by Gary Trivette), for Southern Accent and sings lead and harmony vocals. Paulette's influences include The Whites, Claire Lynch, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Blue Highway, Doc Watson, Ron Block, and Barry Bales. Residing in Avery County, she and Dennis have two sons. The Isaacs' are members of Willow Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Vilas, NC. Paulette is a registered nurse, who had the privilege of working as a perioperative nurse for five years, in addition to working as a home health nurse and long-term care nurse, but now proudly stays at home to raise their sons. She is thankful for the opportunity to tell of the saving grace of Jesus Christ through music and considers it an honor and a privilege to work and live for the Lord in this ministry.
To find out more about Kay basses, click here: http://www.kaybass.com
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...
Romans 1:16 KJV
I would like to dedicate my section to my father, the late John Malcolm Johnson (WWII veteran and former coalminer), and to my maternal grandmother, the late Grace Harris Presnell. Also, to our wonderful church family at Willow Valley Missionary Baptist Church - we love you all very much and appreciate the support you give us as we go and sing praises unto Jesus, our Lord.
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Gary Trivette
A great bluegrass group would be incomplete without a great 5-string banjo player, and Southern Accent is blessed to have Gary Trivette as theirs. Gary, Connie Norris' brother, developed his ability to play music while growing up under the influence of his father, the late Auborn Trivette, a well-respected musician of Western NC. Listening to his dad play into the late hours of the night with other pickers and falling asleep to those sounds would later define Gary as a great musician and singer. Gary lends strong lead and harmony vocals to Southern Accent and is involved in the arrangements of songs and tunes. His banjo playing, whether on his Osborne Chief or Gibson RB-100, is equally as strong as his vocals and provides one of the driving forces in the instrumentation of the group's material. Gary's other influences include The Country Gentlemen, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and The Seldom Scene. Gary lives in western Watauga County with his wife, Tina, and they are members of Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Vilas, NC. Gary is the owner of Gary Trivette Electric out of Boone, NC. Along with the other members of Southern Accent, Trivette focuses on the strong commitment he has made to play music and live for the Lord, Jesus Christ.
To find out more about Osborne Chief banjos, click here: www.sonnyosborne.com
and
here to find out more about the Huber tone ring: http://www.huberbanjos.com
Gary was privileged to have sang on "Hymns Sung By the Acapella Quartet Volume One" and "Hymns Sung By the Acapella Quartet Volume Three." Please click on Music page link for more information.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...
John 1:1 KJV
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Connie Norris
Connie Norris, Gary Trivette's sister, was also greatly influenced and encouraged by her father, Auborn Trivette, and his lifetime of musicianship. Other influences include Ricky Skaggs, Patsy Cline, and Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. She plays rhythm guitar, a Larrivee D-03, for Southern Accent, as well as writing some of their songs. Some of the best loved are: Time is Ticking, The Road Less Traveled, The Eye of the Storm, Lord, Open My Eyes, Step Out on Faith, On a Journey, Greater Love Hath No Man, and It Was Love - all of which Connie feels are from the inspiration of the Lord. Her strong, clear vocals compliment the group's sound along with the beautiful "family harmony" singing that she and her brother, Gary Trivette, bring to songs. Connie and her husband, Gary Norris, have one son, and they reside in Avery County. The Norris' are members of Beech Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Sugar Grove, NC. She is a registered nurse who works at the Watauga County Health Department. Like the other members of Southern Accent, Connie feels a strong commitment to deliver through their songs the message of salvation only through Jesus Christ.
To find out more about Larrivee guitars, click here: www.larrivee.com
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also...
Matthew 6:21 KJV
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Blake Vance
Blake Vance immensely contributes to Southern Accent on mandolin (The Norris #4 or the Isaacs' Gibson Flatiron) with his great timing and tasteful playing style. Blake has performed as a mandolin player for 5-6 years and fits very well with and is helping to further Southern Accent's sound. He became interested in pursuing bluegrass when he "inherited" the bluegrass show at WECR a few years back. He decided that he wanted to learn to play bluegrass, so he started playing guitar but soon noticed that there were many guitar players but few mandolin players, and thus bought a mandolin and focused on it. His major musical influences include Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out. Blake states that Doyle Lawson is his hero on the mandolin. Blake lives in Crossnore, NC, and is a licensed auctioneer. He is a very dedicated Christian and feels that his gift of music should be used to honor Jesus Christ. Blake fits well with Southern Accent's mission of bringing God's Word to others through song and music and will play an intregal part in the group's arrangements, song selection, and delivery of songs.
To find out more about Gibson mandolins, click here: www.gibson.com
To find out more about The Norris mandolins, click here: www.handmademandolins.com
But God commendth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...
Romans 5 : 8 KJV
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Southern Accent
286 Phillip Road
Elk Park,NC 28622
828-898-6828
dpisaacs@skybest.com |
