Biography

W. Eric Stephens           

Although Eric was raised attending gospel concerts, his love and affection for gospel music didn’t occur until 1992 when he attended a Perfect Heart concert in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Eric describes the concert as a life changing experience, and the ministry fire began to burn within his soul.  Eric is a fifth generation gospel singer and his family has a rich heritage in gospel music. His father, Gary Stephens, grew up singing with groups such as Jerry and the Singing Goffs, The Regents and the Frost Brothers.  Eric’s grandfather Bud Stephens, traveled   over the mid-south for well over 60 years singing gospel music.  Eric states his intentions for the Tennesseans Quartet is quite simply to establish a  rock solid sound within the gospel music genre while utilizing time-honored music.

Allen Thompkins

Born in Mullins, a small town near the coast of South Carolina. He credits his dad as being his earliest musical influence, who was an accomplished country singer/musician. Allen began his musical journey performing solo and singing backup on a country variety show in North Carolina. After making the move to Tennessee, he has the opportunity to travel with various groups such as The Chuck Wagon Gang and Calvary Construction Company. Allen enjoys meeting all the folks and making new friends with everyone that come out to see the Tennesseans. He says, "this journey is about loving God and making friends".

Gene Miller

Gene Miller is a native of Magnolia Springs, a small town near the southernmost tip of the great state of Alabama. His family is well known and respected along the Gulf Coast for their singing abilities. Gene is certainly no exception having been named as one of Southern Gospel Music's "Finest" by Roy Pauley, in the Singing News Magazine. A dynamic singer, Gene has the unique ability to paint a verbal picture and touch the heart with song in a manner many have said is unparalleled. An anointed singer, Gene has served as a Commissioned Song Evangelist for the Church of The Nazarene throughout the Eastern United States for many years. Gene has sung professionally over the years with The Plainsmen, Spirit Bound and The Statesmen Quartet with Hovie Lister.

Mike Coy

Mike Coy, a native of Anderson Indiana, first experienced southern gospel music at the tender age of 14 when he attended a concert that featured the legendary Cathedral Quartet. From that night forward Mike’s love for gospel music blossomed into a desire to perform and learn all about southern gospel music. Such artists as the Downings and of course the Cathedrals influenced Mike and he began to pursue a dream of singing. Since 1970, Mike has been involved with several local groups including the Frost Brothers from Hendersonville Tennessee. Mike and his wife make their home in Columbia Tennessee where he works as a volunteer for a local southern gospel radio station. In the spring of 2007 Mike’s dream of singing with a professional quartet became a reality when he was hired by The Tennesseans to fill the bass position.