The Rocky Mountain Quartet Convention - A Brief
History
The RMQC began in the spring of 1995 in Westminster, Colorado. A few local quartets came together after a singing
at the First Spanish Assembly of God Church (now Living Waters Fellowship) in late 1994. There was agreement that we
should have another such concert, this time it would be held in Westminster at Trinity Christian Center. The church was meeting
at a "converted" theater building at 74th & Irving. There were 350 fixed seats to which were added 150
folding chairs for a total of 500 seats. Every seat was filled leaving standing room only; in fact some people had to
leave for lack of room. Needless to say, it was so inspiring and successful that plans were immediately made for a 1996
"Convention" and so the RMQC was born.
It was evident from the beginning that "Southern Gospel Music" had a strong following in Colorado, and
not just from our first convention. Gospel groups had criss-crossed our nation since the forties, with Denver being a crossing
point. But unlike the southeastern part of the US, where full-time Gospel groups abound, Colorado was a place on
the route of groups headed to the west coast, not a destination, but a "crossing point". We were lucky to
get the Blackwood Brothers or the Statesmen on a Tuesday night at the Phipps Auditorium, for example. Then they were off to
Long Beach or San Diego. Little has changed in 50 years, except that the "strong following" mentioned earlier is
as strong as ever.
The next year, 1996, would see the RMQC at the renowned Calvary Temple on Alameda Avenue. 1997 through 1999
was at Mission Hills Church at University & Orchard Road. 2000 through 2005 was at Aurora First Assembly of God on East
Alameda, and 2006 through 2008 at Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada. So, North, South, East and West - in that order - and now
back North to Westminster, the convention celebrated 16 years in 2010. The next installment will tell about the artists
who have appeared over the 16 year history.
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