Meet the Whiteland Aires...

                                               
By Pastor: Tom Elliott

    The Whiteland Aires have been singing gospel music for almost 38 years.  It started with Mom Ruby and son Gary.  Soon, Brother Rick and daughter Linda began singing.  Then a minister called Jim Harrison,  who belonged to the same church, said God spoke to him in a dream, and told him to start a singing group,  and they became the Whiteland Aires!  The only two original members of the group are Gary and Linda.

   I had the great privilege of traveling and working with them for several years.  When you are around someone every weekend, 24 hours a day, you see them in "up" times and "down" times, you learn very quickly what they are made of.  I can say without fear of contradiction, that no finer group of gospel singers is available today with such love and compassion as the Whiteland Aires.   Their unique talent for Southern Gospel Music will bless any church, large or small and quench it's thirst for music and song.  They are guaranteed to bring a quiet congregation to life, make a "Homecoming" a special event, enhance a revival or move a Sunday morning service into a celebration.

    They express a sincere Christian attitude with integrity and an honest heart.  God's love radiates from their voices and many times people have come to an alter of prayer in the midst of a song.  They are also willing to pray with anyone who asks.

   The Whiteland Aires minister in the confines of the liberty given them by the Pastor and the church.  They go far beyond being just a gospel group -they are a powerful musical ministry that will keep people talking for months.  They are as comfortable in a main line denominational church as they are in a Full Gospel or Pentecostal church.

   They have ministered at concerts as the lead group, Homecomings, radio, television and have appeared at secular events because of their wonderful talent and their personable attitudes.

   They have done concerts with groups such as The Crabb Family, The Cooks, The Freemans, The Perrys, The Inspirations, The Perry sisters, The Wilburns and many others.  The Whiteland Aires are without a doubt one of the finest gospel music groups you song multiples the special anointing they have been gifted with. When wanting a quality top-notched group but lack the hundreds or thousands of dollars most of them want to come to your church, consider The Whiteland Aires.  They are top quality and many times far exceed the talent and sincerity of the over-rated big name groups.
For a collection of anointed singing, music and ministry, don’t miss seeing and hearing, The Whiteland Aires!

A NOTE FROM LINDA HOPKINS--

THE WHITELAND AIRES HAVE HAD THE HONOR THRU THE YEARS TO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN OUR GROUP AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL OF THEM.. SOME HAVE GONE ON TO BE WITH JESUS.JIM HARRISON STARTED THE GROUP IN 1969, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY FOR ALL THE HELP THEY WERE TO THE WHITELAND AIRES. RUBY SMITH WAS MINE AND GARY'S MOTHER SHE HELPED JIM START THE GROUP, SHE WAS VERY TALENTED AND SPRIT FILLED, AND COULD SING THE BEST ALTO I THINK I HAVE EVER HEARD. SHE DECIDED AFTER 13 YEARS IT WAS TIME TO STOP TRAVELING. SO SHE BECAME A STAY AT HOME WIFE . AND IN 2003 SHE WENT HOME TO BE WITH JESUS.

WHEN SHE QUIT AFTER 13 YEARS. LITTLE JOE HOWARD HAD BEEN PLAYING LEAD FOR US AND HE STEPED RIGHT IN AND FILLED MOM'S SINGING SPOT.AND HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED YOUNG MEN I THINK I HAVE EVER MET. HE COULD PLAY ANYTHING AND SING ANYTHING. WE FELT VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM WITH US ,BUT AFTER A YEAR OR SO HE LEFT TO GO TO TRAVEL WITH THE FREEMANS. HE HAS GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD AT A YOUNG AGE. HE IS MISSED DAILY, I OFTEN THINK OF HIM AND HOW MUCH WE LOVED HIM AND ALWAYS WILL. HE WAS LIKE FAMILY TO US.. HE WAS BLESSED....

RICKY DEAN SMITH::WAS MINE AND GARY'S BROTHER HE PLAYED IN THE GROUP UNTIL HE WAS 16 OR SO. HE PLAYED LEAD AND BASS. HE COULD ALSO SING TENOR AND LEAD. HE COULD PLAY ABOUT ANYTHING YOU PUT IN HIS HAND. GOD TOOK RICKY RIGHT AFTER HE TURNED 48. THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS MY SPRITS UP IS THAT ONE DAY I WILL SEE ALL THESE WONDERFUL AND TALENTED PEOPLE AND LOVED ONE'S AGAIN IN HEAVEN..

Meet the Group

   Gary and Carol Brown:  Gary is one of the original Whiteland Aires.  In 1973 God blessed Gary by giving him a wonderful wife, Carol.  She helps the group by running the sound board, and also sometimes sings. They have two children, Bryan and Angie.  Gary plays the rhythm guitar and sings.  He also keeps the bus up and running and takes care of the musical equipment.  Gary and Carol both have sacrificed many years and a lot of energy for God's work.


   
   Linda Hopkins:    Linda is also an original; as a Whiteland Aire and in the anointing in her voice.  She is also responsible for the bookings for the group.  She has been blessed with a special person in her life, her husband Ron.  We love Linda for her dedication and love for the group. 


   Bryan Brown:  Bryan is Gary and Carol's son.  God has laid this ministry of music on his heart.  Bryan was playing  the drums, but now he is playing the bass guitar, getting better every weekend.  His love for God shines through his life and talents.  Bryan has been blessed with a wonderful wife Tonya, and two handsome boys, Bryton and Owen.  We thank God for their love and support.

 LISA CHRISTINE:   LISA is our newest member.  She will be singing Harmony and some Lead.  She is from  New Castle,In.  she has a lovely daughter, Candice Christine.  she is 15 yrs old, and she comes along and help's us out.  It's a blessing to watch her with her mother.  They both love the "Colts and the Pacers" . Lisa has a love for the lord, that you can't miss when you talk to her.  We want to Thank her  "Dad & Mom"  for the effort  and support they give Lisa and her daughter.  We feel very blessed and thankful, to have Lisa and her family serving the lord with us. 

 

 JEFF WEAVER:  Jeff is our lead guitar player.  He has a natural talent, and God has really blessed him.  It is a blessing to watch Jeff play. You can see his love for the Lord all over him.  Jeff has been blessed with a beautiful wife named Lorinda.  She comes along and helps Jeff and the rest of the group set up and she is a big help.  She is a wonderful help mate.  Jeff has two children, Sabrina and Kyle.  We found out that Kyle is a very good bass player and an excellent drummer.  So we feel very blessed that God has sent Jeff and his family our way!

KYLE WEAVER: KYLE IS JEFF'S SON. HE PLAYS DRUMS AND IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP US WIN SOULS AND KEEP THE WORK OF GOD GOING. HE ALSO CAN PLAY RYTHYM GUITAR AND HELPS GARY OUT ALOT. WE ARE AMAZED AT HOW HE CAN PLAY ABOUT ANY INSTURMENT HE WANTS, HE IS REALLY BLESSED. WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM WITH US..