More Than 300 Attend Service for Gospelaires Member

SPRING VALLEY, CA (November 10, 2006) – More than 300 people attended a memorial service this past Sunday for 80-year-old Melvin Anderson, a member of the Covenant Gospelaires quartet for more than four decades.

Anderson, who was born on August 19, 1927, died October 31 at Mount Miguel Covenant Village where he and his wife have resided since 1999. The memorial service was held at Mount Miguel.

He is survived by his wife, Lurlene, whom he married in 1967; a brother, Evert Anderson; a sister Evelyn Satterberg; son Joel Anderson; stepson Larry Bye; and four grandchildren: Kelsey, Ryan, Conner, and Tyler Anderson.

The youngest of three children, Anderson was a master carpenter who played a significant role in securing the Alpine Camp and Conference Center near Lake Arrowhead for the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He helped build many of the projects that make the camp and conference center what it is today.

The Gospelaires were formed June 17, 1952. The quartet sang at churches in many denominations, made numerous radio and television appearances, and were featured during one Easter sunrise service at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. The quartet also was associated musically with evangelist Leighton Ford and the Billy Graham evangelistic team.

The Gospelaires won the National Evangelical Film Foundation award for Best Sacred Male Quartet Album in 1965 for “Presenting . . . The Covenant Gospelaires.” They also won in 1968 for Contemporary Gospel Sounds and again in 1971 for “It's a Wonderful Day.”

To read a previously published story about the re-release of the group’s CD album, including a photograph of the group, please see Covenant Gospelaires.

In addition to Anderson as second tenor, members of the quartet were Dave Boldt, first tenor; his brother, Evert Anderson, baritone; Bob Swanson, bass; and Charles Magnuson, accompanist and arranger.

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