Randall Southerland
Member since August 2014.
Born the youngest of six brothers, early on in life, Randall’s singing choices were literally made for him. The oldest three were all bass singers, following in their Father’s footsteps, but it was determined that the younger three would not be and so began his singing life – tenor for the three brother’s trio, The Revelations. Times change and so do voices, Randall found himself with no option but to turn bass singer or, at very best, a low baritone.
Randall joined the Eddy Independent Missionary Baptist Church as a young teenager where his Mother was a charter member. He still attends the same church today with his wife, Bonnie, and their three youngest children. Those four are his biggest supporters. If you come out to see this group in concert, you will more than likely find all four of them in the audience. It is just what they do.
His musical career consists of the early trio, playing the bass guitar for The Galileans from Arab, AL and The Followers Quartet from Sardis, AL for a few years and other short-term singing gigs. Coincidentally, both named quartets, at one time or another, had a bass singer named Southerland; one Fred, the other Joe. Randall, Fred, Arthur – another of the brothers, and Kellie, a niece sang together for a couple of years until distance and health conditions would not allow them to continue. Randall remains active in the music programs at Eddy Church but before this commitment, had been “off the road” for a couple of years.
Randall is retired from the U. S. Army after serving more than 36 years. A few of his main goals in life include: 1) Being a better Soldier for God’s army than he was a Soldier for the United States Army; 2) Being the best Father he can possibly be for his children, and 3) Being such a man of God that he would never bring reproach to anyone in his circle of influence.
Randall and his family are looking forward to this new journey in their service to God and invite one and all to come and worship with us at any opportunity you may have.
- Birthday and Birthplace
- May 30 in Arab, AL
- Favorite Singer(s)
- Overall: Rusty Goodman, Glen Payne
- Favorite Group(s)
- The Booth Brothers (best harmony); The Cathedrals
- Favorite Musician(s)
- This has changed over the years but right now it has to be Trevor Conkle. Yeah, I’m a little prejudiced, he lives within a half mile of me.
- Favorite Song To Sing
- Do I have to pick just one? “I Call It Home” and one I’ve never tried but have always wanted to: “He Pilots My Ship”.
- Favorite Scripture
- Even before the COVID-19 of 2020, 2nd Chronicles, 7 – 13, 14
- Favorite Book of the Bible
- Ruth. What an example for us all, not just the ladies. If only we could all be such willing, humble servants!
- Favorite Person In The Bible
- Jesus, of course, but then again, he is more than just a person. For a true, “just a person”, it would have to be Elisha, and his desire for a double portion of what Elijah had.
- Favorite Restaurant
- One that serves food.
- Favorite Food
- “See” food, I haven’t found many that I don’t eat and it is beginning to show.
- Favorite Snack
- Ice Cream, that’s beginning to show, too!
- Favorite Movie
- Being a retired military guy, I must say that “Behind Enemy Lines” is probably my all-time favorite.
- Favorite TV Show
- Telling on myself now, probably Bonanza, all-time favorite; NCIS Series (all of them) is the current favorite.
- Favorite Vacation Spot
- If I had to choose, I’d probably say the Great Smoky Mountains, but I don’t really get away on enough vacations to have a true favorite.
- Favorite Sport(s)
- Pro baseball; college football
- Favorite Sports Team(s)
- Atlanta Braves and University of Alabama (just something about that scripted “A”)
- Favorite Animal
- My black lab mix rescue dog, Lucky
- Favorite Color
- Blue
- Favorite Store
- Academy Sports
- Favorite Season
- Spring, the signs of new life are everywhere and I am so looking forward to that “New Life” we’ll have when He takes us home to live with Him.
- Pet Peeves
- Don’t get me started…
- Interest/Hobbies
- Southern Gospel Music and trying to keep my children’s interest spiked in that kind of music.
- Most Embarrassing Moment In The Ministry
- Circa late 1960s – as a very young, almost teenager, I was the tenor singer with two brothers – “The Revelations”, we were on our way to a concert but stopped by to help an elderly neighbor with a lawnmower that he couldn’t get to run. Being the tinkerer of the bunch and not thinking about being dressed to sing, I leaned over the lawnmower and drug my white tie through a mound of grease…. Yep, you guessed it, I was the tieless tenor that night!
- Most Memorable Southern Gospel Moment
- Circa 1970 – At the Inspirations “Singing in the Smokies” event in Bryson City, NC, I was walking back to my seat from the concession stand and met Kathy and Shirley Watson of the Watson Family from Gardendale, AL. It was such an awesome experience for a 16-year old to meet some personal friends from so far away in a setting like that.
- Person You Admire The Most
- Human: The late, retired, SFC James (Jim) Ray Beacham. He was the most complete Soldier / Leader I had the honor of serving with throughout my military career. There were many others that I loved and appreciated, but none touched my heart, my life, my career as did Jim Beacham. There is so much more to this story, ask me about it sometime, I’d love to share it with you.
