This is an old card, but most of the telephone numbers on the back still work!” guitar man Dennis Tucker jokes, reaching in his wallet to give me the band business card with an iconic bible verse on it: “Know then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as through God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ stead; be ye reconciled to God.” (II Cornithains 5:20)
Ambassadors for Christ has just closed out the first day of the Covered Bridge Festival, then stood with the rest of the festivalgoers as the 140th Civil War Union reenactment group retired the flag and marched off to their encampment in the field below the bridge.
Now it’s time to tear down, and talk about what it takes to make this praise band praiseworthy.
It all goes back to the early 1970s, to Amity Methodist Church, and a bunch of kids involved in the youth group band Hands of Friendship.
“There were about 12 of us.” While some went to college, and some moved away, Dennis, along with brothers Greg and Jeff Webster, regrouped in 1974 to become Ambassadors for Christ.
This band of buddies has been performing Southern Gospel with a touch of Rockabilly that gives you that Wheeling Feeling for 49 years and counting. Heard in full performance mode on an open stage, surrounded by pumpkins, cornstalks and an ocean of chrysanthemums, their playlist captures the down home vibes of an old time revival, from What a Happy Day through Jesus is Coming Soon to Turn Your Radio On to Old Glory.
And talk about harmonies – they have what it takes to make their enjoined voices sound like Amazing Grace.“Harmonizing, that’s the key for me,” Dennis admits.
In the beginning, Dennis sang and played lead guitar while Gary played rhythm. Little brother Jeff at age 14 was lead singer and John “Buck” Buchanan came onboard “when we played Dunbar Baptist Church. He heard us there and called and asked if we needed a bass player. We played lots of Baptist churches. I told Buck don’t tell them I’m a Methodist they’ll throw me in the river!”
It took awhile to get a drummer, Dennis recalls. “We made a record in 1982 and had a drummer sit in, so it was after that. We’ve had three drummers.” Dave Dague “found us when we sang at his church at the time – the Fairhill Manor Disciples of Christ Church on Thanksgiving for Notes of Thanks to take up collections for the needy. That was 2012 and Dave’s been with us ever since.”
In recent years, brother Gary has been sidelined from touring because of health issues but plays his guitar every day at home and hopes to make a comeback. Jeff adds, “His son Gary Jr. has played with us but his job keeps him pretty busy. When he’s with us, he plays bass and Buck works the sound system.” Thanks to his regular working hours in the Observer Reporter circulation department, Jeff is thankfully able to make the weekend gigs.
Today, Jason Wood from Core, WV whose band played earlier in the day, is working the sound. By happy coincidence, Dan Festog, sound engineer slash owner of Silent Wing Audio in Bobtown, has stopped by to visit and stayed to help out. The sound is crisp and balanced and the applause is enthusiastic after every song. I meet Bertha Tucker who admits with a grin she’s their head groupie and stands in with the band when the photo gets taken.
All joking aside, Ambassadors for Christ has always gone where the music is most appreciated, whether at Child Fest when Buck was working for the county as a Child Care Information coordinator and Dennis was a tack welder, to these good old days, entertaining the lunch crowd at Waynesburg Senior Center. In 1975 the Ambassadors began their secular career playing the old Curry Home and have kept the Good News music coming through the years, as operations were moved to Rolling Meadows, now known as We Care. Weekend gigs are on a rotating schedule that includes Waynesburg Rehab and Evergreen, and facilities in Washington, Morgantown and McMurray
Dennis notes “We do churches when we’re asked,” and adds the band is always ready to do benefits for others. “We don’t take money for ourselves – what’s offered is used for gas and guitar strings.”
If you want to book the Ambassadors, give Dennis Tucker a call: 724-710-1904.