SHELBY C. BERRY
HOME IS WHERE THE GOSPEL IS: THE FULLER FAMILY SINGERS
“We started singing and playing together in nursing homes when we noticed our 3 oldest daughters were able to harmonize with parts,” said Brain Fuller, father and bandleader for The Fuller Family Singers. “The three oldest girls had a desire for what we were doing in the church and the nursing homes,” Brian continued. “So, I told the girls that if they would practice every weekday for a month for 30 minutes
per day, then I would give them a dollar for every day. And if they missed, they paid me a dollar. We did this for about two months, then the vision took hold, and the rest is history.” 22
Brian’s only exposure to bluegrass music had been a single radio station that played bluegrass music on Saturday nights. Rachel was specifically influenced by bluegrass music due to her family roots and being raised in North Carolina. “Several of my family members played the banjo, and I grew up around it all of my life. My grandad owned a shop where
and bluegrass flair. Neither Brian nor Rachel played musical instruments until after they were married. However, the children started much earlier and continue learning new instruments while Rachel composes original music for their family band. Today, this family of 10 from Mount Pleasant Mills, Pennsylvania, perform and share the gospel at churches, festivals, and other events. Rachel plays guitar; 15-yearold Lauren plays acoustic guitar, piano, bass, and dobro; 14-year-old Charlotte plays piano, ukulele, and banjo; 11-year-old Brianna enjoys bass, piano, and fiddle; 10-year-old Micah plays ukulele, piano, and bass; and 8-year-old Isaac plays piano and ukulele. Joining in song are six-year-old Caleb and fouryear-old Sadie, alongside the family’s newest addition, 18-month-old Judson, but these youngsters will also learn to play instruments like their siblings.
The Fuller family lives on a small farm where they raise dairy beef, goats, and produce, and are adding a pick-your-own strawberry patch. They also own and they would host bluegrass jam operate a custom saw-milling business and a kettle corn sessions,” said Rachel. concession business. While The Fuller Family Singers primarily sing gospel “We live in a farming songs, they tend to lean community surrounded by towards music with a country horse and buggy Mennonites,”
