Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Archie Watkins brings his award-winning tenor voice to Sacred Sounds Fridays at the Ringgold Depot Friday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Singer and pianist Tim Veazey will also perform and Randall Franks, officer Randy Goode from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” will emcee.

Ticket donation is $5.

Watkins is no stranger to the stage with 45 years under his belt singing tenor with the Inspirations of Bryson City, NC., and now he is in his second year on the road as a soloist.

“It’s been overwhelming. I can’t believe what has happened,” he said from his home in Whittier, NC.

He left the Inspirations in February 2009 and immediately calls flooded in asking him to come and appear as a soloist.

“I started working on a solo project, and the Lord gave us some good songs,” he said.

“We put up a website and before I could turn around I had thirty dates booked.”

Those thirty turned into 120 as the first year progressed.

“It’s nothing I am doing,” he said. “It is in the hands of the Lord. All that matters is I am doing it for the right purpose and the spirit of the Lord is in it.”

His wife Cindy joins him now as he travels around the southeast sharing his ministry.

Some of his best-loved songs are “Two Shoes,” “I’ll Not Turn My Back on Him Now” and “Touring the City.”

Chattanooga native Veazey musical talents have brought him around the world performing in front of royalty, crowds in excess of 60,000 and on leading network television shows.

As a musician, he performed with acts including Crystal Gayle, Doug Stone, Billy Joe Royal, Rita Coolidge and Sonny Turner of the Platters.

Coolidge featured his song “Out of the Blues” as the title cut of her hit 1996 CD.

As a solo artist, he has performed in concert with Ray Stevens, Kathy Mattea, Chet Atkins and many more.

He will be featuring recordings from his latest recording “God Is Workin’” and “Gospirisophical.”

The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund. The Share America Foundation, Inc., a Georgia non-profit, presents scholarships to talented musicians who excel in the Appalachian musical arts.

Donations for tickets are $5 for adults and free for children 5 and under with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at SonShine Christian Books in Fort Oglethorpe. The store can be reached at 706-861-7675.

For more information, visit www.shareamericafoundation.org or Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.