Annie Herring

by Greg Prato Gospel singer/pianist Annie Herring has issued albums as a member of the group the 2nd Chapter of Acts as well as solo material. Raised in North Dakota, Herring (then known as Annie Ward) was part of a large family -- nine children -- as their parents encouraged the youngsters to sing in the church choir, at school openings, country church picnics, and farm co-op meetings. Around the same time Ward was married in 1969 (becoming Annie Herring), both of her parents died less than two years apart from each other. Herring assumed custody of her parent's two youngest children, Nellie (now Nellie Greisen) and Matthew Ward, who were 14 and 12 years old at the time. Turning to music to ease them through this difficult time, Herring, Greisen, and Matthew Ward began singing religious songs together and eventually honed their singing style into three-part vocal harmonies. The trio, known as the 2nd Chapter of Acts, had no intention of becoming a real music "group" per se (they performed primarily at churches and coffeehouses), but when Pat Boone heard their early song, "Jesus Is," he arranged for the group to sign with MGM Records. Beginning in the early '70s, the 2nd Chapter of Acts issued several albums (including such titles as In the Volume, How the West Was One, Mansion Builder, etc.) and scored a hit single that enjoyed some crossover success, 1974's "Easter Song." The trio continued to issue albums and tour throughout the '80s before retiring in 1988 after the completion of their "farewell" tour. Herring (who had penned the majority of the 2nd Chapter of Acts' material), then pursued a solo recording career, issuing such '90s releases as Flying Lessons, Waiting for My Ride Home, There's a Stirring, Glimpses, and Wonder, among others. In 1992, the 2nd Chapter of Acts celebrated the 20th anniversary of their debut with the best-of set 20: 1972-1992.