(Photo: Facebook.com)

JEFF TURNER

The Nelons found a special guest on the front row of the group’s concert at the First Assembly of God in Fort Meyers, Florida Thursday night: Evelyn Tornquist Karlsson.  Most fans wouldn’t know by her full name. Her albums in the 70’s and early 80’s as well as her appearances with the Billy Graham Crusades were all done under her stage name, Evie. Perhaps her most well-known songs include grammy award nominated Come On, Ring Those Bells; Mirror and Never the Same.

Most Southern Gospel groups had a very lean schedule in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Nelons seem to be making up for that in 2021. The group’s schedule this year is packed through early June.