The Gospel Lights - Ricky Adkisson

I was born in the city of Milan Tennessee in Gibson County with a population of about six thousand on March 16, 1967. I am the son of Joyce Adkisson, who is the daughter of Forrest and Mary Adkisson. I was raised in a little community called Graball, outside of Milan, where my music experience began. My Grandfather and Grandmother started me in my singing career. Forest was a harmonica player. While he played I would sing. We would get into the very back room of the house, because the rest of the children would laugh at the way we sang. Sometimes this led us to go around to other people houses to play and sing.

After I became a teenager I joined a gospel group called The Wings of Faith. I sang with them for ten years. After the group stopped singing I kept pressing on and joined the Jackson Spiritual Travelers. I sang with them for three years. Then I joined the Gospel Jubilee Singers and after singing with them for two years I decided to quit singing. I did quit for about a year and a half. Bay T. Wright came by and sit down and talked to me and ask me would I come back and sing tenor for the group. I told him I didn't know if I wanted to sing again. He came back again and again and I finally told him I would. We sang with them for two more years. After this we ran into The Gospel Lights, I knew I wanted to make one more change. Bradley, Bay T. and myself talked to The Gospel Lights about coming into the group. Shortly after, The Gospel Lights added us to the group. A few years later Bay T. Wright passed on and left us. Ever since he left, I have always thought about what he said, "People always like to hear your tenor voice because it's so clear, the range you have, the things you can do with your voice, there's no one that can do what you do around here."

I have been with the group for fourteen years and still going strong. I hope one day the songs I sing will be a legacy for the group, and to be known all over the world, or just to be a blessing to somebody in song.

Ricky Adkisson
August 2004