Randy Byrd by Jantina Baksteen and Lorraine Walker

Randy Byrd

Making the message mandatory

By Jantina Baksteen and Lorraine Walker

Many Southern gospel fans know Randy Byrd as the rich, mellow bass singer of the Mark Trammell Quartet.

They may not know that he started singing at the age of five, though perhaps not as a bass.

“No, I wasn’t a bass at five,” shares Byrd. “(I) actually sang high until I was 14. Then, my voice changed. My dad was a pastor, and I sang at church growing up. Our school administrator taught me to sing bass.”

Interestingly, if that administrator had taught Byrd to play the links, this might have been a different story altogether. Byrd says that if he wasn’t in his current profession, he would like to be a professional golfer.

“I started a part-time regional group called Eastern Sky,” Byrd says. “(I) sang with them for about four years, from 1994-98. Then, I joined Majesty Quartet and sang with them 98-2004. I then started singing professionally full-time with the Blackwood Brothers from 2004-12.”

Even seasoned professionals can find it difficult to obtain full-time work in Southern gospel. ing Mark Trammell in 2014,” recalls Byrd.

Byrd says that he has learned much from Trammell, who is a pastor with years of experience singing with some of the most notable groups in Southern gospel music,.

“There are countless things I learn every day with Mark, but I think my (favorite) lesson is to work hard at my craft, be consistent, but most of all, be genuine,” says Byrd. “Know what and who you are singing about, and sing to the people, not at them. The message of the song is the single most important part of being on stage.”

Byrd followed Pat Barker in the fourth spot with the quartet. He has now made his own mark on the group, no doubt influencing many young singers in the audience with his musical prowess and authenticity. Byrd himself has been impacted by bass singers who have gone before.

“George Younce is my all-time hero and biggest influence, also Rex Nelon” Byrd says. “I loved them both, because they were growlers but just incredible singers with low voices.”

bass part.

“Singing in any range requires proper breathing first,” Byrd shares. “Depending on your range, you then work on placement. It’s about projecting it properly through your nasal cavities.

“The best advice I can give a young bass singer is to work hard on breathing from your diaphragm and proper placement, but always make the message your top priority. Don’t worry about growling low notes. Just be a good singer.”

Few may be aware that this gentleman and his wife have a sweet, and some might call it whirlwind, love “I actually met Tracy through Mike Lefevre,” explains Byrd. “He introduced us through Facebook. Tracy used to help work the LeFevres booth at NQC (the National Quartet Convention). When I first joined them, she announced on Facebook that she had landed a position with Hope’s Journey. When Mike saw the announcement, he immediately said I should meet her. So I checked out some of their videos. We met, and the rest is history. When I first messaged her, she didn’t give much response, so I figured she wasn’t interested. But we finally met and began to date. A little over a year later, we were married.”

Byrd has a wealth of experience and time-tested wisdom gleaned from his profession and his faith.

“The wisest thing I can tell anyone is to make sure you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” Byrd emphasizes “It will be the best decision you ever make.”

For more on Bryd and the Mark Trammell Quartet, visit www.marktrammellministries.com.

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