Formed in 1980, the group was one of the most successful quartets through the 1980s and 1990s, charting ten number one hits in Singing News magazine and being host to many icons in the Christian music industry, including Brian Free, Ivan Parker, Mark Trammell, Mike LeFevre, and Tim Riley.
[1] The Alabama-based Christian group was renamed Gold City in Dahlonega, Georgia at midnight on New Year’s Day in 1980, composed of tenor Bob Oliver, lead Jerry Ritchie, baritone Ken Trussell, and bass Dallas Gilliland.
Original owner Floyd Beck died in 1984, resulting in Tim Riley taking over ownership and the group relocating to Gadsden, Alabama.
After the departure of Free, Jones, and Parker in 1993, Lacey switched to lead while Mark Trammell became baritone and Jay Parrack was named the new tenor.
Aaron McCune, who was bass singer with the Palmetto State Quartet at the time, joined Gold City in May 2006.
Beckie Simmons, while at Century II and her own agency, has handled the quartet's bookings for the majority of its existence.
After the National Quartet Convention, it was announced that Perry's pianist, Bryan Elliott, would fill the piano bench.
On January 28, 2020, Bruce Taliaferro announced his return to the group, after the resignation of lead singer Scott Brand.
[7] On January 11, 2022, Taliaferro announced his second resignation from the group, effective immediately until his replacement by Gadsden native Cole Watson.
Chris West departed the group in January 2023 and Jeff Chapman of the Kingdom Heirs was announced to be their full-time bass singer starting on April 20 after filling in at multiple shows.
[citation needed] On August 15, 2023, Josh Feemster replaced Taliaferro as the lead singer for Gold City after he departed the group earlier that month.