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ALL ABOUT TBF
Troy Burns (Bryson City, NC.) was one of the founding members of the Inspirations in 1964. Starting at the young age of only 13, Troy performed and was a vital member of the group for over 30 years. For over the past 50 years his name and voice have been sought after by the thousands and both have been known to have only gotten better with age. Having been the lead singer for both the Inspirations and Archie Watkins & Smoky Mountain Reunion, Troy is no stranger to the industry and is loved by many.
Troy is currently touring and performing with his own group the Troy Burns Family that he founded over 12 years ago along with his wife Tammy Burns. While traveling and singing all over the country the family is known for two very distinct things: their close family harmony and their love for the ministry of Jesus.
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Troy, having been singing most of his life, has had the privilege of recording over 700 original and charting songs. Some include Jesus Is Coming Soon, Touring That City, Is That Footsteps, The Wonders of Wonders, Your Tears Are Touching God, The First Million Years, and many more. Troy and the Inspirations were a regular on the network TV show the Gospel Singing Jubilee and had the honor of winning the 1974 Dove Award for the Best Gospel TV Show. With over 6,000 concerts and numerous awards under his belt it is no surprise that this year Troy is the 2017 Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame Inductee! Troy gives the credit to all his success to an evening service in an old fashion revival back in 1962 when Troy was saved at the age of 10 years old. Quoted by many Troy has been called “Mentor”, “My Hero”, “Friend” and a “Patriarch” of Southern Gospel Music.
Tammy Burns (Bryson City, NC.) has had a heart for singing ever since she was a young child. Even though she had no plans to ever be a Gospel singer, she was raised with a formal education in vocal performance and was a member of the Sound Of Youth from Robbinsville, North Carolina.
As the wife of Troy Burns Tammy has had the privilege of traveling the country with her husband as he toured with the award winning Inspirations and she is the only female to have ever taken the stage and sing with the group. For 3 months Tammy had this amazing opportunity to travel and sing tenor with the Inspirations and now she is the full time alto of the Troy Burns Family. Along with her husband by her side Tammy starred in their groups concept video I’m Praying For You, which gave Tammy’s voice the opportunity to be heard around the entire world and has impacted the hearts and souls of millions. Many have compared Tammy’s distinct singing voice to the late Patsy Cline and Barbara Streisand. Tammy has a heart for the ministry and young people and she never passes up an opportunity to invest and love on the younger generations. Tammy believes her passion for young people comes from her own experience as child being saved at the age of 10 years old during Vacation Bible School at Robbinsville First Baptist Church in 1969. Tammy always works hard to make sure that the words she says and the songs she sings only depict the light and love of Jesus Christ.
Ethan McNelly — (Calhoun, TN)
Ethan was born and raised on Southern Gospel Music. From The Cathedrals to Gold City, bass singers have always stood out to Ethan. God put in his heart at the age of 13 years old a desire to sing bass. When he turned 18 that dream became a reality when getting a phone call from The Troy Burns Family. He has been with them for the past 5 years. God has given Ethan a true gift to play multiple instruments, but Ethan’s greatest gift is the gift he received when he was a 6 year old boy, and that was the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. That is what drives Ethan.
In November of 2022, Ethan married his best friend Emma, and they know that their calling is to be disciples who makes disciples. In Ethan’s free time he likes to hunt, shoot skeet, travel, and spend time with his wife and family. Ethan’s life verse is, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Ethan states, “I am truly humbled and honored to travel and sing with people whose desire is to honor the Lord above all else. My earnest prayer is that we uplift Jesus Christ, and that He would use us to draw people to Himself through the music we sing.”
Ethan McNelly (Calhoun, TN)
Ethan was born and raised on Southern Gospel Music. From The Cathedrals to Gold City, bass singers have always stood out to Ethan. God put in his heart at the age of 13 years old a desire to sing bass. When he turned 18 that dream became a reality when getting a phone call from The Troy Burns Family. He has been with them for the past 5 years. God has given Ethan a true gift to play multiple instruments, but Ethan’s greatest gift is the gift he received when he was a 6 year old boy, and that was the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. That is what drives Ethan.
In November of 2022, Ethan married his best friend Emma, and they know that their calling is to be disciples who makes disciples. In Ethan’s free time he likes to hunt, shoot skeet, travel, and spend time with his wife and family. Ethan’s life verse is, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Ethan states, “I am truly humbled and honored to travel and sing with people whose desire is to honor the Lord above all else. My earnest prayer is that we uplift Jesus Christ, and that He would use us to draw people to Himself through the music we sing.”
Daniel Neal (Strawberry Plains, TN)
Daniel has always loved Gospel Music. He grew up listening to Gold City, The Cathedrals, and The Kingdom Heirs and tries to model his voice after trailblazers- Troy Burns, Russ Taff, and Joseph Habedank. He served as the Worship Leader/Pastor at his home church in Corryton, TN for the last 12 years. He loves his church and continues to support them as much as he can. His dream has always been to sing Gospel Music, and is now getting to live out his childhood dream with The Troy Burns Family. In his free time, Daniel enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 children, and is a big sports fan. Being from Northeast Knox County, he is a true Tennessee Volunteer fan. Daniel believes that he is getting to live out his God given calling at this stage in his life. He shared, 1 Peter 4:10, “Every man has received a gift, even so minister that gift one to another.” He states, “I am beyond blessed to get to travel with such amazing people and get to minister to the people the Lord puts in our way. I pray that God uses this group to see souls saved and see people healed all over this world. I am excited to get to live out this dream of mine with some of the best.”
