Gospel quartet brings great talents together

It’s amazing to see five men who love their work so much they hang around after it’s done to talk to people about it. “When your business is gospel music, it’s the message of the music that makes you want to share with others,” says Eric Bennett of Integrity. The group enjoys staying after a show to talk to people and even to pray with people if they request it. The gospel quartet, now appearing at Louise Mandrell’s Theater, features talent with a great deal of music business experience: Clayton Inman, Scott Inman, Eric Bennett, and David Sutton. Jeff Stice plays piano for the group. The group officially began working together this January, but not before recording three albums together last fall. Previously, the members were working with other groups before making the leap to their new adventure. “Clayton Inman was with One By One and his son Scott was with Phil Cross and Poet Voices,” Bennett said. Bennett also happens to be an ordained minister. Bennett and Sutton formerly performed at Dollywood with another gospel group, but they are looking forward to the future with Integrity. Bennett said the way it all came together was amazing, like “there was a real plan to all.” “We had been singing as individuals at Louise Mandrell’s Praise and Worship service, and when her group left, she asked if we knew anyone who could fill in,” Bennett said. “We first told her no, but then we started to really think about it.” It didn’t take long before the five members had put together an idea that just fell right into place. That plan included recording two albums in Knoxville at Southern Sound (“Four Guys and a Piano” Player/Smoky Mountain Hymns) and another (“Integrity”) in Nashville at Otis Forrest Studios. Integrity appears at Louise Mandrell’s Theater weekdays at 10 a.m. and Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call Louise Mandrell’s Theater ticket office at 453-6263.