Paschal to make visit to Pikeville
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on June 22, 2016 1:46 PM
It's not too often that a Grammy Award-nominated artist visits Wayne County.
That's exactly what will happen July 16 when inspirational Christian and gospel singer Janet Paschal visits Pleasant Grove Original Free Will Baptist Church in Pikeville. She will be joined by Gaylon Pope and the Sweetwaters. The doors open at 6 p.m.
Mrs. Paschal is a North Carolina native who has performed with such notable acts as The Lefevres, Jimmy Swaggart and Bill Gaither. She has been nominated for several Grammy Awards for her solo work, and has won the Diamond Award for Best Female Vocalist four times.
Also performing is Gaylon Pope and the Sweetwaters, a North Carolina-based gospel and variety band which tours nationwide. Pope and Mrs. Paschal have been friends for years, and Pope said their friendship was what lead to Mrs. Paschal agreeing to come out to Pikeville.
"We do a Pope family reunion every year, and this year my father said 'I sure would like to see our friend Janet again.' So I called her up and she said 'Yes, I definitely want to be a part of that,'" he said.
Paying to bring such a well-known artist to a small town like Pikeville isn't always an easy thing to do, but Pope was able to get Bojangles and Deacon Jones to sponsor the show. Pope said that being able to put on a show here in Wayne County means a lot to him.
"I'm a Goldsboro boy myself, so to come home and do this is a big deal for me," he said.
The show itself figures to be a success. With Mrs. Paschal's critical acclaim and the Sweetwaters' own following, Pope expects a sizable turnout.
"We're really looking for an overflow crowd that night," he said. "With those two elements in place, I think it's going to be a standing room only thing."
The show will be entirely free, and room is first come, first served. A "love offering" will be accepted to help pay for event expenses such as promotional costs. In addition, concert-goers from out of town who are looking for a place to stay can contact Jennifer Wickes at the Marriott hotel at 214-597-8969 for special concert deals. For more information about the show or the musicians involved, contact Pope at 919-915-1422.