| Having been born the son of a Baptist
minister and serving as minister of music in various churches throughout the southern
U.S., Ronnie Cottingham realizes the need for quality music with a message. Music
that is used to compliment the preached WORD, to praise and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ,
and to convey the content within the song in an exciting way. That's his purpose as
he shares the GOOD NEWS in Song! Whether performing as a
vocalist in a heavy concert schedule, directing the music for revival meetings or crusades
all across the country, leading marriage enrichment conferences with his wife Beverly,
producing records, writing songs, or getting involved in mission work in other parts of
the world, Ronnie Cottingham's dedication to spiritual excellence and integrity has gained
him the strongest momentum and the highest regard. The Lord has richly blessed his
efforts and used him to touch thousands of people.
As a young boy, Ronnie invited Jesus into his heart and soon after
that began to realize that God had gifted him with a voice to sing His praises. He
spent many Saturday nights in the next several years attending "all night gospel
singings" listening to the close, four part harmony of The Harvesters Quartet, The
Statesmen, and The Blackwood Brothers. His heart's desire was to sing in a gospel
quartet. While in high school that dream became a reality. Ronnie's high
school choral director Edsel Coats, asked him if he's like to sing in a male quartet and
represent the school. Guess what his answer was? Edsel had played for the
Blackwood Brothers off and on down through the years and his dad, the late J. B. Coats was
the writer of the great song "Where Could I Go But To The Lord". It wasn't
until some time later that Ronnie realized that not only was J. B. Coats a published
writer but Edsel also. Both of them had many, many songs in the old Stamps/Baxter
series. Ronnie sang, Edsel accompanied and arranged music for The Troubadours
quartet. Later the name was changed to The Trailsmen. They traveled quite
extensively for several years and God blessed those days. Ronnie was now into his
college years and the guys went their separate ways. It wasn't long before Ronnie
was asked to help begin a new group, The Professors. How about that name?
Ironically, each of the members were actually in the educational field but far from being
professors! The name came from "professing Christ through gospel
music". For the next several years, Ronnie traveled with The Professors and
again, God blessed. During those years with the quartets, Ronnie traveled as lead
singer and together they recorded five albums It was during those years that God
began to develop Ronnie into a songwriter. Ronnie gained notoriety for his song
"You're the Only Bible, That Some People Read" and since that time, it has been
recorded by several other artists. About this time Ronnie began to feel God leading
him into a solo ministry. During the years as a soloist, Ronnie has recorded
thirteen solo albums, one album with his family, and two videos. He has also
published a songbook entitled FROM THE PEN OF RONNIE COTTINGHAM featuring songs he's
authored down through the years.
Seeing the need to broaden his efforts to spread the gospel and
minister to families, Ronnie and his wife Beverly now spend at least one weekend each
month leading a marriage enrichment conference entitled HOW TO KEEP THE HONEY IN THE
HONEYMOON. God continues to bless this phase of his ministry in strengthening the
family. Having a part in leading mission groups to Russia, Ukraine, and Romania is
at the focal point of this ministry. Each year the Cottinghams also lead a tour to
the Holy Land and Ronnie sings along the way!
Ronnie Cottingham has taken seriously the call to use his talents
for the Lord! The call of God on his life is real!
The ministry of Ronnie Cottingham . . . encouraging, inspirational,
and uplifting! |