|
|
Chad Ruger, tenor, began singing Southern Gospel music as a youngster with his three brothers. His major influence was the Cathedrals Quartet. My mom would wake us for school each morning by playing a Cathedrals record.
Chad joined the Heralders in October, 2005. It is a privilege to sing with a tremendous group of guys who are using their gifts to send a wonderful message.
Chad is an avid outdoorsman. His most memorable experience is proposing to his wife Angie on top of Mt. Whitney. They now live and teach in Middleville, Michigan. They are expecting their first child in December, 2005.
|
 |
|
|
 |
Ken Dykstra sings the lead part and is also an original member of the group. He sang tenor in the group for twenty-three years before taking a leave because of his extensive travel schedule with American Greetings for whom he worked for forty years.
In 1996, Ken helped start the Heritage Quartet and still travels with them today. He has spent most of his adult life traveling across the Midwest in a bus singing Gospel Music and is dedicated to lifting up the name of Jesus where ever he performs.
Ken and his wife Bonnie have five children, thirteen grandchildren, and live in Grandville, Michigan. |
|
|
|
Hank Vander Loon sings the baritone part and also is the promotional manager for the quartet. Hank has been singing Southern Gospel Quartet music most of his life and is an original member of the Heralders Quartet. He also started, managed, and sang bass for the Anchormen of Fair Haven for eleven years. Hank loves the Lord and is committed to sharing the Gospel through his gift of music.
Hank and his wife Jan are members of Fair Haven Ministries and reside in Hudsonville Michigan. |
 |
|
|
 |
Bill Sterk, bass, is the senior, original member of the Heralders. Bill got his start in the church choir at age fourteen. His quartet career began at South Christian High School, singing bass with a barbershop group. His exposure and inspiration to sing Southern Gospel came while still in high school, when he heard the Rebels Quartet from Florida singing in his home town of Byron Center, Michigan.
Bill states, "Their enthusiasm and joy in singing the Gospel message left an indelible impression on me. That evening I prayed, 'Lord, just once let me sing with a group such as the Rebels.' The Lord has answered my prayer in a wonderful way after singing with the Heralders for some forty years!"
Bill and his wife Marlene are blessed with four children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They live in Holland, Michigan and attend Central Wesleyan Church where Bill is a member of the choir.
|
|
|
|
As a youngster, Jim Everhart took piano lessons for many years and, later, majored in music education and performance at Western Michigan University. Ultimately he pursued a career in business but always maintained music as an avocation.
In high school, he performed with several rock and roll bands while secretly ignoring an interest in jazz and old sing-a-long favorites from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
In 1967, while pursuing a college education, Jim was hired to play piano and lead a sing-a¬long five nights a week for a new entertainment venue in the Grand Rapids area called The Village Inn Pizza Parlor.
This avocation endured for almost twenty five years while settling into a career of sales and management. Jim followed a career path in business while fostering several musical ensembles from traditional New Orleans Jazz to Swing and Riverboat Ragtime.
There is, however, a new interest in his musical world these days...the Heralders. Jim says, "The center of their message, JESUS, has been special to me for many years but only the intervention of a creative God could bring about the meshing of my genre with this legendary Gospel quartet. I am so thankful that my Father in heaven has introduced me to this extension of His gift of music and the love and skill that is demonstrated each and every time that the Heralders perform it." |
|
Click here to open the photo below in a new window. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
