Golden Triangle Chapter

Gospel Music Workshop of America, Incorporated

About Us

On January 16, 1981, Brother John Wright called together Ministers, Musicians, Directors, Disc Jockeys and Choir members of area churches to get their feelings of organizing a mass Choir in our area. Thanks to Rev. A. K. Haynes who opened his doors to us for such a meeting. Thus making the Fellowship Baptist Church our Birth Place. From this meeting came a lot of positive input and on February 21, 1981, the Golden Triangle Mass Choir was formed. The Choir enrolled about 75 members from some six churches, in the area. Our first Officers elected to serve were:

  • President, Algertha Scroggins (Fellowship)
  • 1st Vice president, Patricia Bordelon (Borden Chapel)
  • 2nd Vice president, Walter Shilo (Starlight)
  • Secretary, Nettie Williams (Borden Chapel)
  • Assistant Secretary, Dorothy Ball (Fellowship)
  • Finance Chairperson, Deborah Redd (Fellowship)
  • Assistant Finance, Georgia Jones (Fellowship)
  • Contact Chairperson, Deborah Nichols (Borden Chapel)
  • Public Relations, Michelle Kibbles (Borden Chapel)
  • Program Persons, Jo Ann August (Borden Chapel)
  • Floyd Briscoe (Fellowship)
  • Musicians, Ruthie Williams (Borden Chapel)
  • Linda Smith (Antioch)
  • Brenda Waters (Rock Island)
  • Freddie Titus (Solid Rock)
  • Reginald Taylor (1st Sixth Street)
  • David Davis (Rock Island)
  • Charles Cyprion (Eastern Star)

In May 12, 1981, the choir made its debut at the Fellowship Baptist Church. During this service, we made our first Album on the Sun Rise Label. We were installed as a Chapter in the Gospel Music workshop of America, Inc.; Rev. James Cleveland Founder and president. Upon being installed in the workshop, Sister Ruthie Williams was appointed as Chapter Representative of our area by the National Board in August of 1981. Several members of the mass Choir attended the Workshop in Los Angeles, California. In 1982, our choir grew in Triangle representation to nine churches. Our first Revival and Musical was held at Borden Chapel Baptist Church with members of our Evangelistic Board filling our hearts with the word of God. Our theme was "He Has Done Great Things For us". These services were held nightly at 7:30 p. m. Rev. A. R. Obey spoke to us on "There was a Revival on Mount Calvary". (St. Luke 23:39-46) Thursday night February 25, 1982, Rev. A. K. Haynes spoke on "Two ingredients for Revival". (Romans 10:9-10) Friday night February 26, 1982, Rev. Perry Busby, Jr., Host Pastor spoke on "Ashamed of My Past, But He Has Done Great Things for Me". (I Samuel 26:21, II Timothy 4:7) On Saturday night February 27, 1982, the Golden Triangle Mass Choir climaxed the week with a message in songs. The year 1982 saw more members attend the August Gospel Music Workshop of America in Houston, Texas. In 1983, we expanded our choir to thirteen area churches. Again our Revival and Musical was held in February at the West Tabernacle Baptist Church where Rev. E. J. Rhodes was Pastor, with our Board Members preaching the word of God. That year saw the Golden Triangle Mass Choir send a Greyhound Bus and more members to the Gospel Music Workshop in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Lord has blessed us to represent our area with pride at the Gospel Music Workshop each year in the following cities:

  • 1981 Los Angeles, California
  • 1982 Houston, Texas
  • 1983 Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 1984 Atlanta, Georgia
  • 1985 New York, New York
  • 1986 Miami, Florida
  • 1987 Detroit, Michigan
  • 1988 St. Louis, Missouri
  • 1989 New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 1990 Washington D. C.
  • 1991 Salt Lake, Utah
  • 1992 Chicago, Illinois
  • 1993 Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 1994 Atlanta Georgia
  • 1995 Los Angeles, California
  • 1996 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 1997 Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 1998 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1999 New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 2000 New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 2001 Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • 2002 Detroit, Michigan
  • 2003 Tampa, Florida
  • 2004 Kansas City, Missouri
  • 2005 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 2006 Dallas, Texas
  • 2007 Orlando, Florida
  • 2008 Nashville, Tennessee
  • 2009 Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 2010 Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 2011 Tampa, Florida
  • 2012 Nashville, Tennessee
  • 2013 Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 2014 Atlanta, Georgia
  • 2015 New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 2016 Birmingham, Alabama
  • 2017 Atlanta, Georgia
  • 2018 Atlanta, Georgia
  • 2019 Washington, D.C.
  • 2020 - Cancelled
  • 2021 - Virtual Convention
  • 2022 - Atlanta, GA

In 1983, all the Chapter Representatives and Assistant rep of Texas met at the president's Club. It decided to form a Texas Mass Choir. U. L. Rivers was selected as the first President. Golden Triangle was one of the components in the original Texas Mass Choir. We currently have four members that are officers in the Texas Mass Choir as well as numerous Texas Mass Board Members. Over the years we have had many workshops and revivals. Workshop clinicians included Mr. Andrae Woods, Mr. V. Michael McKay, Mr. Doug Toles, Mr. Darrell Rushing, Ms. Theola Booker, Mr. Major Goldman, Dr. Margaret Douroux, Mr. Chester Baldwin, Ms. Brenda Waters, Mr. John Hardin, and many more. In 1999, Mrs. Ruthie M. Williams decided to retire as Chapter Representative, and Mrs. Algertha Scroggins was appointed as our Chapter Representative. God has truly blessed us these 35 years. We thank the many musicians, choir members, ministers, and others who have work with us over the years to contribute to our success. Above all, we thank God for his continued mercy, and for the many blessings he has given us.