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The ministry of Christ,
the risen Savior, has been spread for over 2000 years
and is still being spread today through the message of
song. It should be the goal of every Christian to spread
the name of Jesus to a lost and dying world. This job is
costly and takes a lot of dedication. Only when we reach
heaven will we know the full impact of our efforts.
Occasionally, in our travels down here, we get to reap
the benefits of our labors as we see souls come forward
to accept Christ as their own personal Savior. The
mission statement of the Skyline Boys Quartet, a
sincere, dedicated, ministry-based group from Northern,
VA is as follows:
1. Deliver the message
of the gospel according to our calling.
2. Give the audience the opportunity to respond to the
message of the gospel.
3. Do the best we can in our presentation of the gospel
and our singing.
If we can say yes to this mission statement then the
program was a success.
An overnight success? That has been the statement most
heard when describing these men. Although they have seen
tremendous achievements over the last few years, their
ministry is steeped in years of hard work and dedication
to the calling of God. The Skyline Boys were unleashed
in 1995 at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, at
the beginning of the famous Skyline Drive. Dennis
Powers, felt a calling to organize a group that would
present the message of God's love through Southern
Gospel Music.
Over the years, the Skyline Boys have appeared all over
the country and have made a name on television and
radio. Though the members have changed the message has
stayed the same. The priority has always been to bring
the plan of salvation to the lost and to uplift fellow
Christians. They count the many who have given their
lives to Christ through their ministry as the greatest
blessing of all.
Dennis Powers of Purcellville, VA, the owner and manager
of the group, sings bass. As the son of a pastor he was
introduced to Gospel Music at a young age by a Blackwood
Brothers album his dad brought home in the mid 50's.
Inspired by the Couriers, the great Cathedrals and other
groups of the 60's he started his first group in Oct.
1964 in his dad's church in Hagerstown, MD. He has sung
with many groups over the last 43 years.
Bob Nitz of Clifton, VA. , the baritone vocalist, sang
with his family group the Nitz Family for many years
accomplishing many goals such as singing at the NQC in
Memphis, TN. Going on to become the minister of music in
several large churches in the Washington, D.C. area, his
talents and abilities show in concerts.
Lead singer Rob Nykamp of Harrisonburg, VA. , a Chicago
native, helps give the group a unique sound. Rob sang
with his family group and then on to a trio with his
brother Dave. Rob sang several years with Naomi and the
Segos and is no stranger to the crowds and is often
recognized for his humor as well as his big voice.
Rounding out the group with an extraordinary high range
and smooth sound is one of the most loved and recognized
tenors in Southern Gospel Music. Jodi Hosterman of
Harrisburg, PA. is no stranger to the crowds. His
touring with several major groups has made him very
recognizable to the fans and is loved by all. He is most
recognized by his 2 1/2 year tenure with the Kingdom
Heirs, the resident quartet at Dollywood Theme Park in
Pigeon Forge, TN.
The last 2 years have been very exciting, as the group
was nominated by the Singing News fans for Horizon Group
of the Year in 2005 and again in 2006. In the spring of
2005 Dennis made the decision to sign with Journey
Records. Both Journey Records and the Skyline Boys are
excited about their partnership. Their newest project
"How I Picture Me," a follow up project to their very
successful "Worth The Trip" project, is receiving great
response across the nation. Their "Worth The Trip"
project, which produced a great song from the pen of Ray
Holiday "When I Walk Into Heaven," stayed in the Singing
News Top 80 charts for many months and finally garnered
the #18 spot for 2 months in a row. Zane King, the
producer of both projects, which we believe is one of
the best producers in Southern Gospel, is very excited
about the success of this group. The National Quartet
Convention gave this group the highest honor they could
receive by voting to place them on main stage for the
2007, 50th anniversary convention in Louisville Ky.
The hardest part of any group is finding four guys who
fit together and can work as a team. As anyone who has
seen them in concert will tell you, these men all have
completely different personalities but come together
like the great quartets of old. Many are surprised to
see that those coming out to their concerts are of every
age. Like the Statesmen Quartet in the fifties, the
Skyline Boys are forming their own identity with their
energetic stage presence and unique sound. If you spend
any time with these men off stage or on the bus you will
find that laugher is as much a part of them as their
music. Their concerts are filled with laughter as the
guys prepare the crowd for the message of Christ's love.
The Skyline Boys are blessed to have four guys who fit
together in their own way and are all focused on the
calling God has placed on their lives. Hope to see you
at one of our concerts in the future.
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