Former Pensacola resident tops list of steel guitarists

Written by:  Troy Moon

If any of the bands in the "Rock of All Ages" story above ever needs a steel guitarist to round out the noise, they'll need to land Allen McCormick if they want the best.

McCormick, 59, is a Pensacola native who was recently chosen the Steel Guitar Player of the Year at the Gospel Post Convention in Bell, Fla.

The musician also has won Instrumentalist of the Year for three years running, while wife Brenda McCormick has won Guitarist of the Year for three consecutive years.

Allen McCormick grew up on Bobe Street, but left Pensacola in 1973 to pursue his music career. The family now lives in Lee, Fla.

But it's not just a husband and wife team. The McCormick Family Gospel Group has won the Mixed Group of the Year Award for three straight years. The group features youngest son Ridge on bass and drums.

McCormick still has family in the area - sister Wanda Knowles lives in Cantonment.

Let's just hope they come to visit and play sometime soon. We hear Allen plays a mean rendition of "I'll Fly Away," and, one of our favorites, "Great Speckled Bird."

Letters from You

THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORSHIPING THE LORD WITH YALL. THE DATE THAT YOU HAVE AVABILE IN AUGUST, I DON'T HAVE OPEN. SO, IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER DATE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YALL. IN AUGUST OF 2003, I GAVE MY LIFE TO THE LORD AND HAVE SOLD OUT TO HIM COMPLETELY. AND MY GRANDMOTHER HAD ONE OF YALL'S CASSETTES. THE SONG WHEN HIS HANDS WENT UP, TOUCHED ME DEEP IN MY SPIRIT, AT THAT TIME MY MOM WAS IN THE HOSPITAL

AND WHEN I WOULD GO TO VISIT HER ALL I KNEW OF THE SONG WAS THE CHORUS AND MY MOM SAID TO ME I LIKE THAT SONG WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN THE REST OF IT, AND SO I DID FOR MY MOM. AND EVEN AFTER MY MOM CAME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR THE LAST TIME, SHE WAS DYING OF A LUNG DIEASE. WHEN I WOULD GO TO SEE HER AT HER HOME, SHE WOULD SAY, HIT IT BELINDA, AND I WOULD SING HER SONG TO HER. SEE, ME AND MY MOTHER NEVER HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP I WAS AN ADDICT OF METH FOR 22 YEARS, BUT IN 2003 THE LORD DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HANDS OF THAT DEVIL, AND GOD BONDED MY MOM AND ME FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE TAKING HER HOME TO BE WITH HIM. THAT SONG WAS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP AND LIFE FOR ME AND MY MOM. AND I JUST WANTING TO SAY THANK YOU AND MAY YOU ALWAYS DO GOD'S WORK.

                                                                             BELINDA

 

OPEN LETTER FROM THE PARK’S FAMILY

 Dear McCormick Family/Lee Worship Center

 Thank you so very much for the letter. I’m glad to hear that my letter to you blessed you. It blessed me to hear that you published it so that hopefully it blesses others. Showers of blessings! I would love to get a copy of the gospel post that you printed it in out of Trenton, Florida.

 

May the Lord Jesus Christ use your music mightily for his glory. It should make you all happy to know that your church has affected the life of a little girl who is now all the way across the country in California and who will be taking the gospel out here and around the world.

I encourage you all to persevere and pray. He is faithful. Trust in him.

 

In Christ’s Love,

The Parks Family