EACC presents The Isaacs Nov. 9
FORREST CITY — East Arkansas Community College will present the award-winning gospel group The Isaacs and their Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry tour on Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m. at the EACC Fine Arts Center.
Purchase tickets online at EACC.edu or call 870-6334480, ext. 352.
Grammy nominated and multifaceted award-winning group, The Isaacs have spent five decades creating the undeniable family harmonies and distinct sound that have made them a favorite among audiences everywhere. As matriarch Lily and her three children Ben, Sonya and Becky celebrate over 50 years, the Grand Ole Opry inductees and Gospel Music Hall of Famers continue to build on the legacy with a newfound excitement and never-waning passion for the music they love to make.
The masterful vocalists, instrumentalists, and songwriters are known for their ability to bridge and blend genres.
See STATE, page A3
Photo courtesy of EACC STATE
From page A2
Their sound has led to invitations for performances on over 50 albums and stages across the country from highprofile artists including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Paul Simon, and many others.
The Isaacs have been featured on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 30 years, appeared on Gaither Homecoming tours and videos for over 25 years, performed on prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall, and entertained fans at CMA Fest, the CMA Country Christmas special, and more. They have won 19 Dove Awards and received Grammy nominations for their latest three albums.
The group’s origins reach back decades. Matriarch Lily Isaacs was born to parents who were Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors who moved to America in 1949 and became American citizens at Ellis Island in 1955. She got her start in the industry as an off-Broadway actress at the Woodstock Playhouse and a folk singer recording for Columbia Records. Patriarch cofounder Joe Isaacs was a former Decca Recording artist who played with many legendary bluegrass artists, including Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks and Ralph Stanley.
In 1971, a death in the family brought Lily to church for the first time where she first came to know the Lord. Joe and Lily were inspired to begin singing Christian music, which laid the foundation for building the group’s ministry. A 30-year breast cancer survivor, Lily was also the inspiration for the hit country song “I'm Gonna Love You Through It,” recorded by Martina McBride, and cowritten by daughter Sonya Isaacs and Jimmy Yeary.
Lily's testimony has been an inspiration to people around the world.
Ben Isaacs, bass player and vocalist for the group, spends time in the studio producing The Isaacs, as well as other artists including The Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, Karen Peck, the Cherryholmes, and others. He has been nominated for six Grammy awards, voted Producer of the Year several times in the Absolutely Gospel Awards, and produced several Dove award-winning albums. Ben has played and sung on projects for Don Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins, Doyle Lawson, JD Crowe, and Paul Williams, and has been voted Male Vocalist of the Year and Musician of the Year in a number of prominent award shows.
Sonya Isaacs is the mandolin player and vocalist for the Isaacs. After her solo country stint with Lyric Street Records, she concentrated on writing songs and has had cuts by Trisha Yearwood, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Vince Gill and more, along with numerous gospel cuts. Sonya has won several Dove Awards, and she enjoys singing backup vocals for artists such as Reba, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, and more. She was also a background singer for Miley Cyrus in the Hannah Montana movie, and appeared on soundtracks for Disney films Geppetto and My Neighbor Totoro. The IBMA, SGMA, and CCMA have nominated Sonya for Female Vocalist for many years running, and she has won numerous awards in all these genres.
Becky Isaacs serves as guitar player and vocalist for the group. She started writing songs as a teen and landed her first number one with “Stand Still.” She often writes with her sister Sonya, and fellow artists have recorded several of her songs. Sonya and Becky penned “Heroes,” which won a Dove award for Bluegrass Song of the Year, “Waiting in the Water,” “Your Cries Have Awoken The Master,” and “A Miracle Today.”
She has provided backup vocals for a variety of artists including Paul Simon, Alabama, Dolly Parton, Don Williams, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins, and Russ Taff, and received several Female Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year nominations.
The Isaacs have performed the National Anthem at many professional sporting events including NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games. They often tour internationally, traveling to South Africa, Norway, Holland, Scotland, Ireland, Israel, Canada, and more as they bring their musical messages to fans around the globe.
Their non-profit organization, The Isaacs Foundation, blesses the less fortunate in America, and their Fishman Isaacs Israel Initiative has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Israel.
Tickets for The Isaacs’ performance are $49 and available online at EACC.edu, by calling 870-633-4480, ext.
352, or in person at the Fine Arts Center Ticket Office.
Group discounts are available for 10 or more and save 20%. The EACC Fine Arts Center is located at 1700 Newcastle Road in Forrest City, just off Interstate 40.
