Album Notes

Our History
The Gospel Keys

The Gospel Keys got together with God's gentle push in their direction in 1999. Each member brought his or her own individual tastes in music. Shelva's heart is with Gospel music. Patrick with his love of the Claw hammer banjo has brought the Old Time flavor to their music. Barbara brought her love of discovering Old Spirituals. Wade and Carol bring their desire to play hard driving Bluegrass. As a group, The Gospel Keys have a great respect for each member and their gifts, which brings a unique sound in combining Gospel, Old time and Bluegrass music for all to enjoy.

Above all, The Gospel Keys have a desire to give something to each and everyone who comes to hear them play. You can just take a break away from everyday life and enjoy some of their foot tapping music or on the deeper side maybe you'll find a message in one of the songs they play. In all their activities, the Gospel Keys give all the glory to God.

The Gospel Keys recorded their first CD called "Journey Home" in 2001. Our second CD released in March of 2003 entitled "Send It Up", includes 3 original songs with one written individually by Shelva, Patrick and Barbara. Patrick's original "Send It Up" provided the title cut for the second CD.

The Gospel Keys have played many different venues since forming in 1999, anywhere from First Nite in Warrenton, VA to many churches, festivals and nursing homes in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. Check out the Calendar on our web page http://www.gospelkeys.net and come out and enjoy some good Old Time Gospel Bluegrass Music. Don't forget to stop and say hello to everyone after the show.


Band Bio's

Patrick McCauley

Patrick, a simple unassuming land surveyor by day, easily slips into his alter ego-mountain banjo play from the heart of Appalachia. Combining the styles of Grandpa Jones, Uncle Dave Macon and Snuffy Jenkins, Patrick keeps alive the joyful sounds of exuberance that otherwise may have been lost with the passing of those beloved musicians. Patrick's spiritual values are evident in his deep felt renditions of gospel music with The Gospel Keys. He also performs in an old-time duet style with Annie and Mac. Patrick rounds out his performing with a mean blues harmonica.

Shelva Norman

Shelva began singing with hers sisters at the tender age of six and by the time she was twelve, she was performing on local ratio stations in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. At thirteen she had taught herself to play the acoustic guitar and has been playing and singing ever since. She has performed with several local country, western and bluegrass groups over the years as well as her own family band "Free Spirit", featuring her husband and three sons. Shelva's heart has always been set on Gospel music and she has written dozens of gospel songs and set them to bluegrass music. Ordained as a minister in 1996 she began her evangelistic work preaching the gospel and performing throughout the valley. She is quick to tell you that all her success comes from the glory of God who opened all the doors. She is a founding member of The Gospel Keys whom se considers family. The other band members will quickly tell you she is the heart and soul of the band as well as their spiritual leader.

Carol Manuel

Carol started playing bass in 1998 and has not put it down since. David Hurt with the Shenandoah University taught her the music behind bass playing. The Bluegrass community showed her the heart and soul of the Bluegrass/Gospel bass. Carol has played Upright Bass for The Gospel Keys since the band formed in 1999. Her bass playing is the drive behind the Keys. She has also played for Narrow Passage (Gospel Band) and Doug Jimmerson (Tenor, Civil War Music). Carol drives great joy from playing the bass, which she feels is a God given gift. She hopes that The Gospel Keys performances touch members of the audience both musically and spiritually.

Wade Manuel

Wade comes from a background of Country and Bluegrass music as his father (Bill) has been performing Country and Bluegrass music for over 50 years. He still performs today with the Tar River Boys in North Carolina. Wade first picked up a guitar in Vietnam (1972) and detoured for a while playing "Rock n Roll" rhythm guitar. In 1997, Wade bought his first mandolin and returned to his "roots" and has been playing Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel ever since. Wade is a former member of the Bluegrass Gospel band "Narrow Passage" and is one of the founding members of The Gospel Keys, which formed in 1999 to perform Good Old-Time Traditional Bluegrass Gospel Music. Bluegrass Rules!

Barbara Stevens

Barbara learned to play piano and guitar at an early age but really found her niche in old-time and bluegrass music just a few years ago. She loves to sing and expresses her spirituality and creativity as a member of The Gospel Keys and the duet of Annie and Mac. Barbara writes songs, poems and children's books and she is also an artist specializing in watercolors.