Passing of Bishop F C Barnes

Gospel music lovers across the country were saddened with the passing of AIR Gospel/Malaco Recording Artist Bishop F C Barnes on July 11. Bishop Barnes was 82.

Bishop Barnes started singing with quartets at the age of 14.  He spent a number of years traveling the circuit before answering the call to ministry organizing the Red Budd Holy Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina where he would serve as pastor and chief musician.    He would later go on to pair up with Reverend Janice Brown.  The duo made eight albums, one of which yielded  the smash hit Rough Side of the Mountain in 1983. The album would sell over 500,000 units and ride the charts for over a a record 97 weeks.

Bishop Barnes recorded several albums with his son Luther and the Barnes Family, with his group called the Company (featuring his nieces Deborah Barnes, Wanda Barnes, and Lisa Barnes)  his Red Budd Gospel Choir as well as several recordings from the quartet he founded, the Sunset Jubilaires.

Funeral arrangements are pending.