EXECUTIVE BOARD
President
Arthur Rice
Arthur Rice was born in Asheville, North Carolina on December 27, 1962. Arthur was born into a singing family. His mom, (Nedra), dad, (Julius) and sister, (Peggy) sang as the Rice Trio. Arthur started singing with them when he was three years old. Julius was a shaped note singing schoolteacher in the fifties and sixties in North Carolina and he later started a group called the Pilgrims Quartet. At the age of seven, Arthur started playing bass guitar for the group and would eventually sing lead for the group when he was fourteen. After singing lead for the Pilgrims for four years, Arthur left to start singing with the Gerald Payne Family at the age of eighteen. It was with this group that Eldridge Fox heard Arthur sing and offered him a position with the Kingsmen Quartet. Arthur played bass and sang during one of the great eras of The Kingsmen until his departure in 1989.
In 1990, Arthur was reunited with two former Kingsmen - Hall of Famers Squire Parsons and Ernie Phillips in a group called Squire Parsons and Redeemed whom he sang with for five years. His next move was one that placed Arthur at the forefront of gospel music fans all over the world. He moved to Pigeon Forge to be the lead singer of Dollywood’s own Kingdom Heirs in 1995, and they soon became one of America’s favorite male quartets. During his tenure they recorded several albums and television specials with Dolly Parton. In 2022, Arthur retired from the quartet after 27 years.
Arthur served four years as Vice-President of the SGMA and was elected President in 2013 where he continues to serve as of 2024. On October 29, 2018, Dr. Jerry Goff with the Jerry Goff Lifetime Achievement Award honored Arthur. On August 5, 2023, Arthur was inducted into the Tri-State Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.
In July 2022, Arthur became the Minister of Music at Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, NC. He has been “Forever Changed” by this music and the love from his wife Tammy, and two sons Bradley & Kaleb.
Vice President
Gary Casto
Gary Casto, Vice President, has served in a leadership position for the SGMA since 2000.
When Gary was only seven years old, The Calvarymen Quartet sang at his home church. Squire Parsons and Conrad Cook were with them then. After hearing Squire sing “Gloryroad,” Gary fell in love with Southern Gospel music.
He began singing with a local group in 1984 before starting his professional career with The New Revelation Quartet in 1986. During his career, he has sung with several groups, including The Southmen Quartet, The Harvesters Quartet and several others.
Many fans, however, first became acquainted with Gary when he joined The Wilburns. Today, Gary is the lead singer and manager of Tribute Quartet, a group he helped found.
Gary joined the SGMA team as a member of the Advisory Board in 2000. He later moved up to the Board of Directors, and has served as Vice President for the last eight years.
In addition to the SGMA, Gary served many years on the board of the Southern Gospel Music Guild (SGMG) and is a current board member of the National Quartet Convention. He brings to us a vast knowledge of the industry, and vital managerial skills. For the last twenty-three years, Gary has faithfully served the SGMA through both challenging and rewarding times.
Gary says, “My vision for the SGMA would not only be to seek out new avenues of preserving the heritage while promoting the future of this great organization but there is also ample opportunity to educate those clueless of the history and pioneers of this great genre.”
The SGMA is fortunate to have Gary Casto on our team!
Treasurer
Karen Peck Gooch