The Celebration Singers have been performing at churches, fairs, schools, and special events for over 26 years. Based in South Florida, the Celebration Singers perform mainly in the State of Florida. The group was formed in May of 1981, out of a praise and worship team. Walley and Betty Oglesby, along with Emma Polly, formed the group. When we started singing we had a full size band and used a truck and trailer to haul our equipment. We then were blessed with a motor home that belong to the Oglesbys. We spent many wonderful hours on the road until we out grew it and we were blessed with a 1953 4104 GMC Bus. Over the years, the group has gone through many changes, but has still continued to keep on singing for Jesus. In June of 1999, Betty Oglesby, one of the founders of the group, went home to be with Jesus.
Over the years we have hosted the Gospel Music Event in Okeechobee, Florida. One event is the Speckled Perch Festival held every year in March and the other event, The Labor Day Festival held in September. We were getting ready to get things together for Labor day when Betty Oglesby died in June, so Mary Lanier and Emma Polly were left with a decision of what direction to take, to stop now or to continue on. We both had prayed about it and we didn't want the work to die too. We were ready to go on and see what God had for us. I made several calls to groups and soloists about coming to sing for the 3-Day Event in September. I called Carol Peaden, from Pahokee, Florida and ask if she would like to come and do some solo work. She didn't even know of Betty's passing. She asked what we were doing for the third singer. I told her that we were waiting on God for His direction on the person to fill the other spot. Carol asked me if she could come and sing with us at a practice. By this time my heart was racing, because I knew the great talent that she had and the blessing she was when she sang. I told her I would call Mary and by the time I called Mary, I was crying and rejoicing because I knew in my heart that something was going to happen. Mary was so excited about it too.
We got together the next weekend and we sang a song and I stood in awe of what I heard. It was as though we had been singing all our lives together. Our first sing was September 1999, Labor Day Weekend . Carol has been with the group since that time. She is a great blessing and has a great testimony of the miracles that God has done in her life. God always knows just the right person to fill each spot and we are very thankful for Him sending Carol Peaden our way. We have had the privilege of singing at many churches and events over the years. All of a sudden, for some unknown reason, we found a bass singer. For 6 years it was just us ladies, but Jimmy Gibbs, from Indiantown, Florida, joined us on a trial bases in December of 2004. We had a great time singing with Jimmy so we gave him a contract. Jimmy is a great blessing, and very helpful to us. We also thank God for sending him our way.
Mary Lanier came to the group in September of 1987. She has been a mother and a friend to a lot of people. She comes from Okeechobee, Florida and has a great heart for singing as well as writing songs. Emma Polly was one of the founders of the group coming from Vero Beach Florida. God told us many years ago, " That if we would walk through one door he would open two in the place of it," and He has done just that. We have been so very blessed to have sung in several states: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Georgia. Wherever God has opened the doors we have gone through. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, that we will all be found doing what God has called us to do by being singers of the gospel. We have completed several recording projects. Click here to listen to The Celebration Singers latest CD.
Call Mary Lanier at 772-597-4224 if you would like to book the Celebration Singers at your church or special event. Click here if you would like to request a booking online. We will confirm your request as soon as possible.
To get better acquainted with each member of the group and see a piture click on each name below.
