The Heritage Singers are an American gospel group founded by the late Max Mace and his wife Lucy, with their two children Valerie and Gregory. Based near Placerville, California, the group has traveled to over 65 countries, performed over 7,000 concerts, produced 200 episodes for television programs, and recorded over 200 albums.September 2010 Heritage Singers Newsletter
History
After four years of performing with the Rose City Singers, a patriotic/folk singing group sponsored by Portland-based United Medical Laboratories, the Maces decided to resign from their hospital duties and form a Christian group in 1971. Pp. 4-5. Founding member Jerry Leiske named the group Heritage Singers, based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "heritage ... objects of His special care."
Jerry and Rita Leiske left a short time thereafter and returned to their home in Alberta, Canada, to form their own singing group.
The first year, the Heritage Singers released two albums (Hymns We Remember and Come Along with the Heritage Singers), and performed their first public concert in Yakima, Washington on June 4, 1971. Original accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano and Gerald Allen on bass guitar, and Pete McLeod on guitar; Jeff Wood would later replace Allen. Later on, the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ronn Huff, who arranged many of their early albums with full orchestration. One of Max's nephews, Terry Mace, ran the sound system for the group for one year in 1972 until Max's son Greg took over at the age of 13 in 1973; he has been the group's sound tech since.
Heritage Singers bought a touring bus (a former Greyhound PD-4501 Scenicruiser they named "Old Blue") from a lot in San Francisco, which remained in their service for 10 years.
As their popularity grew, they formed a second group in September 1973, dubbed Heritage II, (subsequently named New Creation) to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;,Mace et al., ibid., p. 23 and a third group in 1995, dubbed Heritage Español, which toured South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs.Mace et al., ibid., p. 101 Almost 300 people have performed as members of The Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. As for the religious affiliation of its members, Max Mace has stated that while a majority of them are Seventh-day Adventists, that's not in itself a requirement. "They have to be a born-again Christian and receptive to the Adventist message."
Throughout the 1980s, the group televised a program called "Keep on Singing" and was aired on Trinity Broadcasting Network. Many of the programs are currently available on YouTube under the name "Heritage Singers Classics". Around the same time this program was aired, Heritage Singers began performing for Loma Linda University Church and have done so ever since. Individual members have also been invited to sing at various services there.
Starting in 1985, the group collaborated with Art Mapa, a Philippine-born sound producer, arranger, guitarist, and composer. Mapa would later marry the Maces' daughter Val. Soon after, Turning Point Studio was built on the Maces' expansive property near Placerville, CA that serves as the home base for the Heritage Singers. Their albums have been recorded there since. Not long after, Tim Davis came along and has been arranging and coaching vocals since 1992, joining them on stage a few concerts at a time.
Reunions
Celebratory reunion concerts have been held in 1979 (Swing Auditorium), 1986 (Anaheim Convention Center), 2001 (Ontario Convention Center), and 2005 (Crystal Cathedral).Mace et al., ibid., pp. 151, 155 A final 45th anniversary reunion was held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on July 30, 2016, with 126 singers on stage.Names of 126 singers are listed in the closing credits of the DVD published in November 2016 (catalog no. DVDHR2016).
Death of founder
Following a battle with cancer, Max Mace died at the Heritage Ranch in Placerville on November 4, 2020, one day short of his 83rd birthday. At his funeral, his daughter Val announced that the group planned to continue with her as the director.
Discography
Studio albums + List of albums with release dates and with record catalog numbers Title Details Hymns We Remember Released: 1971 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5188 Come Along with the Heritage Singers Released: 1971 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5189 The King Is Coming Released: 1972 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5193 Happy Side of Life Released: 1972 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5205 Thanks to Calvary Released: 1972 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5209 Sing-A-Long Released: 1972 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5212 Talking About the Love of God Released: 1972 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5219 I Just Came to Talk with You Lord Released: 1973 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5222 Faith to the People Released: 1973 Chapel Records Catalog No. CPS732 Souvenir album for sponsors of Faith For Today Includes nine songs from five previous LPs (Happy, Thanks, Sing, Talking, I) Includes one song from pianist Bob Silverman's solo LP, He's Everything to Me Revelation Generation Released: 1973 Chapel Records Catalog No. CPS738 Souvenir album (same content as "Faith to the People" but different cover art) Includes nine songs from five previous LPs (Happy, Thanks, Sing, Talking, I) Includes one song from pianist Bob Silverman's solo LP, He's Everything to Me Step into the Sunshine Released: 1973 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5228 Accompanied by The Sunshine Singers (kids) We've Come this Far by Faith Released: 1973 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5236 Let's Just Praise the Lord Released: 1973 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5241 Jesus Is the Lighthouse Released: 1974 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5254 God's Wonderful People Released: 1975 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5270 Heritage 5-Year Souvenir Album Released: 1975 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5272 Christmas with the Heritage Singers Released: 1975 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5273 (also S1021) What More Could He Do Released: 1976 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5300 Thinking Back: 100 Year Old Gospel Favorites Released: 1976 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5302 Something Special Released: 1976 Heritage Records Catalog No. HS1027 With songs from albums by The Mace Brothers, Judy Morton-Meckstroth, Jim McDonald, Heritage Singers II I Am Willing, Lord Released: 1977 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5325 Companion songbook of choral arrangements published in 1983 Heaven Is for Kids (Vol. I) Released: 1978 Heritage Records Catalog No. HS1035 Someone Is Praying for You Released: 1979 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5372 Rise Again Released: 1979 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5373 Heaven Is for Kids, Vol. II Released: 1980 Chapel Records Catalog No. S7015 Best of 10 Years Released: 1981 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5425 We're Just People Released: 1981 Starglo Catalog No. S1044 A Touch of Country Released: 1982 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2310 Just a Little More Time Released: 1982 Chapel Records Catalog No. S5442 Spirit of Praise Released: 1983 Chapel Records Catalog No. S2314 Companion songbook of choral arrangements published in 1984 From the Heart Released: 1984 Chapel Records Catalog No. S2318 We Wish You a Merry Christmas Released: 1985 Chapel Records Catalog No. S2324 15 Year Anniversary Released: 1986 Heritage Records Catalog No. 240 Right Now Released: 1986 Image VII Catalog No. VII7810 Gospel Train Released: 1988 Heritage Records Catalog No. C7035 Accompanied by Heritage Kids No Compromise Released: 1988 Heritage Records Catalog No. CD2347 What Is This? Released: 1989 Heritage Records Catalog No. CD1004 Commissioned Released: 1990 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5541 Songs You Remember Vol. I Released: 1991 Heritage Records Catalog No. CD1006 Songs You Remember Vol. II Released: 1991 Heritage Records Catalog No. CD1007 Songs You Remember Vol. III Released: 1991 Heritage Records Catalog No. CD1008 Songs You Remember Vol. IV Released: 1991 Heritage Records Catalog No. CD1009 Father of All Released: 1992 Peacespeaker Released: 1994 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5662 A Cappella Released: 1994 You Are My Song Released: 1995 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5671 Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9601 Digitally remastered versions of Hymns We Remember and Come Along with the Heritage Singers Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 2 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9602 Digitally remastered versions of The King Is Coming and I Just Came to Talk to You Lord Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 3 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9603 Digitally remastered versions of Happy Side of Life and Thanks to Calvary Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 4 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9604 Digitally remastered versions of Sing-A-Long and Talking About the Love of God Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 5 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9605 Digitally remastered versions of We've Come This Far by Faith and Let's Just Praise the Lord Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 6 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9606 Digitally remastered versions of Jesus Is the Lighthouse and God's Wonderful People Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 7 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9607 Digitally remastered versions of What More Could He Do and Thinking Back Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 8 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9608 Digitally remastered versions of Someone Is Praying for You and I Am Willing, Lord Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 9 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9609 Digitally remastered versions of We're Just People and Just a Little More Time Silver Anniversary Collection Vol. 10 Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD9610 Digitally remastered versions of From the Heart and Right Now Reflections of Christmas Released: 1996 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDC5721 He Is Our Peace Released: 1997 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5727 Heritage Country Released: 1998 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5772 You Are Holy Released: 1999 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5810 He Still Speaks Released: 2000 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD5811 Someone Cares Released: 2001 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2001 Because of Love Released: 2002 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2002 Hymns of Gold Released: 2002 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDG2002 Saved by Grace Released: 2004 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2004 Renew Me Released: 2005 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2005 Timeless Heirlooms Released: 2006 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDC2006 A New Day Released: 2006 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2006 A Quiet Place Released: 2007 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDI2007 Instrumental version of A New Day except for some background vocals No Greater Love Released: 2007 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2007 Timeless Heirlooms II Released: 2008 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDC2008 Forgiven Released: 2008 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2008 Band name of Heritage Country Be Free Released: 2009 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2009 The People's Choice: 40th Anniversary Collection Released: 2010 Triple CD Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2010 Restored Released: 2012 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2012 Max & Lucy's Favorite Hymns Through the Years Released: 2015 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDML2015 Includes one song from Max Mace's solo LP, Country Memories The People's Choice: Volume 2 Released: 2015 Triple CD Heritage Singers Catalog No. CDPC2015Faithful Released: 2019 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2020Home for Christmas Released: 2020 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2021A Heritage Singers Tribute to Max Mace Released: 2022 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2022Testify Released: 2024 Heritage Singers Catalog No. CD2024
Live albums