McVEYTOWN - The name Larry Strickland may not be familiar to many, but the leader of the Palmetto State Quartet has connections to two top American musicians - Elvis Presley and Naomi Judd.
Strickland and the quartet will bring their vast musical experiences to the Juniata Valley during a concert at 7 p.m. today at the Pine Glen Alliance Church, near McVeytown. The church is located on state Route 103, 11 miles from Lewistown.
Strickland, who sings bass and owns the southern gospel quartet, began his music career in the 1970s where he performed as a background vocalist with Elvis Presley until Presley's death in 1977, according to press information from the quartet's website www.psqworld.com.
Later in life, Strickland attached himself to another well-known - Naomi Judd. The artists married, and Strickland took charge of managing his wife's musical career.
In 2008, he jumped back in to his own musical interests and joined the Palmetto State Quartet.
The southern gospel group formed long before Strickland joined it. Since the 1940s, the quartet has performed concerts across the U.S.
Throughout its decades of experience, the members made a name for the group as on of the top Christian recording artists in the genre.
Today's group includes Paul Lancaster, lead vocals, who has been associated with the quartet for many years. He also sang for other Christian groups like The Martins, The Mullins Family and The Greenes.
Robert Fulton, tenor vocals, and David Darst, baritone vocals, also have years of experience with music and church ministry.
For more information about the quartet, visit the website www.psqworld.com.
