Crystal River Quartet rekindles harmony after 30 years

After more than 30 years apart, members of the old Crystal River Quartet of Philadelphia finally reunited, sharing laughter, memories, and the unmistakable bond that only lifelong friends and gospel music can create.

Michael Wells, Brian McDonald, Scott Gregory, and Tim Watkins picked up right where they left off, reminiscing over steak dinners at City Limits Seafood & Steaks last week.

“It was special in more ways than one,” Gregory said. “We had the best time ever getting together and fellowshipping with one another—I’d do it again tonight if we could.”

“They have a 16- and 20-ounce ribeye you can order off-menu,” Wells said. “That was one of the best steaks I have ever had, no doubt—it was great.”

After a meal that swelled bellies and may have tested a few pants buttons, the quartet decided to sing together once more—this time choosing a song they had never performed as a group before.

Their signature harmony remained as strong as ever as they sang “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary.” Even a few lingering restaurant patrons came over to listen.

“I teared up a little,” McDonald said. “We are old friends, but our hearts have never separated. It felt like home when we sang together.”

“I wasn’t expecting it, but figured we could pull one out of the hat,” Watkins said. “It brought back so many memories—it was a mixture of happy and sad, but it was a joyous time.”

The Crystal River Quartet was formed in 1990 when most members were in their early twenties. Before coming together, Wells, McDonald, and Watkins were part of The Believers Quartet and later brought Gregory on board when he was just 16 years old.

“I had a good time with the guys, but with me being 16, I was still learning,” Gregory said. “Brian lived close by, so he’d come pick me up and we’d be gone all weekend. We’d leave on a Thursday and come back early Monday morning just in time for me to go to school.”

The group quickly became well-known in the community and beyond, performing crowd favorites like “I Still Trust You” and “Singing and Rejoicing” across the Southeast nearly every weekend for years.

“There was a large group back in the day that would pack a church out when we went somewhere to sing,” McDonald said. “It wasn’t just fans—it was family.”

Traveling together led to plenty of unforgettable moments.

“I remember one time we were coming back from a concert in the Delta, and our driver missed a curve, sending us straight into a cornfield,” Wells said. “We had to turn around and drive out at two in the morning—we were all young guys and had a blast.”

While they often switched harmonies, their core roles remained the same: Wells sang baritone, McDonald sang tenor and played piano, Gregory sang lead and tenor, and Watkins sang bass. Phillip Willis also played bass guitar for the group.

In the early 1990s, the quartet frequently performed on the Gulf Coast alongside Gold City Quartet and J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet. Their most memorable concert was opening for the Cathedral Quartet at First Baptist Church in Louisville.

They even had the opportunity to work with the Cathedral Quartet in the studio, recording their first project, “For The First Time,” with Mark Trammell and Gerald Wolfe outside of Knoxville. Songwriter Leonard Barrier also contributed original material, including “Beyond Compare.”

Their first project was released under Gerald Wolfe’s production label, while their second album, “Straight A’s,” was produced by Skyline Records.

After several years together, life took them in different directions—whether pursuing preaching, music ministry, or getting married and starting families.

However, the years spent as a quartet left a lasting impact on each of them, shaping their values, responsibilities, and faith.

“We grew together spiritually and grew together in our friendship that will last a lifetime,” Wells said. “We got to be such close friends.”

“We were just there for one another—it was a bond of brotherhood that was amazing,” Watkins said. “The message in the songs always spoke the message. We didn’t have to preach it—the songs preached it for us.”

After sharing their reunion on social media, the group received an overwhelmingly positive response to their photo and restaurant performance video. Now, they’re planning to meet more regularly.

Who knows? A reunion concert might just be in the works if the Lord allows.