WLOK Stone Soul Picnic here to stay

Courtesy WLOK

Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's, winners of the 2010 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stellar Awards, will headline the 37th annual WLOK Stone Soul Picnic.

Nothing stops Shirley A. Johnson from finding a way to the WLOK Stone Soul Picnic every year.

"I love the gospel singing and the people I have met along the way," the North Memphis resident says. "The Stone Soul Picnic has some of the greatest gospel singers out there."

Saturday's 37th annual free celebration at Tom Lee Park will pack in both local and nationally known traditional gospel acts. Last year's crowd was estimated at about 15,000 said Art Gilliam, president of Gilliam Communications Inc., which owns WLOK-AM 1340.

One of those faithful attendees was Johnson. "I've been going about 25 years," she said, noting that it isn't always easy, but whether it's by bus or getting a ride with friends, she makes a point of going each year.

Photo by Mike Maple

The WLOK Stone Soul Picnic in Tom Lee Park attracts folks of all ages.

The acts have been memorable to Johnson. She remembers hearing Dorothy Norwood, Dottie Peoples and -- back when R&B was on the program -- Johnnie Taylor.

She's also a fan of Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's, particularly the song "I've Learned to Lean" -- "because that's what it's all about."

The group won the 2010 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stellar Awards, and that's just one of many honors they won over the years.

But the soft-spoken Williams doesn't dwell much on why his group is so popular: "I don't know, but I give all the credit to the Master up above," he says.

However, he knows what he likes and that turns out to be what his audiences like.

"They always ask for 'Running for My Life,'" Williams says. "And 'I Can't Give Up' is requested every time we hit the stage. That song really keeps me going; they just love it and as a matter of fact, I love it too. Every night we sing that song somebody always comes up afterward and says, 'I'm so glad you sang that song because it just helps me to keep going on.' It's a great reward to know you've helped someone."

The adoration from fans was earned over many years of performing.

"It goes way back," Williams says. "I was in school and my uncle had a group called the Gospel Stars. He made us (Lee and his three brothers) the Gospel Stars Junior, so that's how I got started. I had no choice: He said you're going to be the Gospel Stars Junior and that's what we were."

A few years later, his uncle left. "By this time we were in high school and wanted to sing ourselves and didn't have to have my uncle to make us sing," he says. "So out of high school, we became the Spiritual QC's (Qualified Christians). And we've been at it ever since."

There were personnel changes but they kept at it for 30 years, with Williams driving an 18-wheeler for a living, but going out with his group to sing when they could, distributing homemade cassettes and getting what money they could from love offerings.

Around 1998, things changed. Music from those cassettes began to be heard on Memphis airwaves and the demand for the QC's brand of African-American gospel music went nationwide. Williams quit his trucking job and the group began performing and touring full time.

For all the travel and recognition, Williams remains humble. "The Lord give me a blessing," he says. "The group is doing good and we are delighted to still be on the road and doing what we do."

Williams and the Spiritual QC's will perform just after 4 p.m. Saturday at the Stone Soul Picnic. Gilliam says putting the headliner part-way into the event rather than at the end helps ensure a steady stream of people coming into the park.

The other major acts include Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites, and Pastor Tim Rogers and the Fellas among the total of 18 musical attractions.

Besides the music, there will also be health and dental screenings, children's attractions, voter registration, a fire truck and gift bags from Fred's.

But, Gillliam says, the main thing is the music.

And longtime attendee Johnson agrees, saying, "I'll be going as long as God gives me breath in my body."

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37th annual WLOK Stone Soul Picnic

The picnic is 1-10 p.m. Saturday at Tom Lee Park. Admission is free. For more information, go to wlok.com.

1 p.m.: Opening prayer; Greater Hope Baptist Church Choir

1:20: Power Anointed

1:35: Hickory Hill Baptist Youth Choir

1:45: J. Lue & The Crew

1:55: Sonja Wright

2:15: Spiritual Excitement

2:35: Bell Singers

2:55: Kingdom Seekers

3:15: Supreme Harmonettes

3:35: Memphis Baptist Male Chorus

4:05: Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's

5: Mighty Men of Brown

5:20: Diamond Praise Dancer Co.

5:40: Darrell Petties

6 p.m.: Doc McKenzie

6:50: Brown Singers

7:25: Echoaires

8:20: Tim Rogers and the Fellas

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