Dove Brothers

Carrying the tradition of old-time gospel groups such as the Thrasher Brothers, the Dove Brothers brought a young face to a genre that had been geared towards an older audience. The Dove Brothers began when lead singer McCray Dove broke away from his North Carolina home at the age of 17 to tour with the Dixie Melody Boys. He stayed on the road for 11 years, building his experience and learning from his fellow gospel singers until he felt that it was time to break out on his own. He formed the Dove Brothers in the late '90s with his real-life brother Eric Dove, as well as bass singer Burman Porter and tenor John Rulapaugh. Pianist Richard Simmons became an unofficial fifth member (they are billed as a quartet), and the five musicians signed to Homeland Records almost immediately after they formed. Their output was very successful, winning them many awards in the genre. As of 2001, they were still reaping the benefits of their newfound success as well as building a fan base out of a newer generation of gospel fans.