Members: Craig Allen: guitar, banjo, dobro, vocals;  Scott Johnson: mandolin, guitar, vocals; Tracie Rhodes Johnson: acoustic bass, vocals; Danny Allen:  sound engineer.


Influences:  The Rochesters; Doyle Lawson; Ricky Skaggs, and others.


Venues:  The BLACK CREEK members have played many different venues together over the years, including Church functions, such as revivals, homecomings, seasonal festivals, youth rallies, camp meetings, and missions events; Festivals, such as Acorn, Oaktoberfest, Painter Farm, Sweet Potato, and Farmers Day; Music Halls, Theatres, and General Stores; Civic Clubs, such as Ruritan and Lions;  Private Engagements, such as benefits, birthdays, fundraisers, dinners, and reunions; and even Fishers of Men Fishing Tournaments. We've had the honor of performing at events with such great artists as Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Singing Perrys, Roby Huffman & the Bluegrass Cutups, and others, but the greatest honor of all is playing for our Lord Jesus Christ.


In the Genes: BLACK CREEK is sort of a family. Craig and Danny are brothers.  Scott and Tracie are married.  All four of them are brothers and sister in Christ. All have many musical leaves on their family trees, including soloists and instrumentalists, family groups who sing southern gospel music, choir directors, church musicians, recording studio owners, and DJs.

Not Quitting the Day Jobs: Craig drives trucks for the Food Lion Corporation; Danny is a captain with the Johnston County Sheriff's Department; Scott is the parts manager for Johns Hiester Chrysler Dodge Jeep; and Tracie is a personnel technician with the North Carolina Department of Correction.


In the Beginning: The current group found it's beginnings in another group, Jordan's Journey. In the spring of 2000, Craig, who was a fresh convert, began playing/singing at church. Scott and Tracie became intrigued with the type of music he played, and joined in a couple of Sundays to sing with Craig. Another church member, Cabot Barbour, joined in on the bass guitar. Craig began playing at area retirement facilities. Scott, Tracie, and Cabot voiced an interest in tagging along one day. And the bug bit. We played as Jordan's Journey until the Lord called Cabot to seminary in 2002. Craig, Scott, and Tracie came back together in 2004 as BLACK CREEK, with Danny Allen as sound engineer.  Skyler and Julie Smith also worked diligently with BLACK CREEK in early-2008 while Scott and Tracie took a break. But they're back on the road in full swing now!

Oddest Engagement: The West Virginia Mission Trip, for sure. We packed up, had a convoy with us from our home church bearing supplies for the flood victims and support for us, and started driving.  The closer we got, the narrower the roads got, until finally, we turned off onto a small, wooded path called, "Devil's Fork Road," (how unnerving!) that led way down into what the community folks called "the holler."  It was probably 90+ degrees that day as we played on the back of a flatbed trailer - so hot, that Craig's Martin guitar cracked down the middle! (Where's the nearest hospital - for Craig AND the guitar?)  The Lord used the folks that came for supplies and assistance to touch our hearts in an awesome way, and we were able to send news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ echoing into those hills, to those who couldn't come. 


What's in a Name: The name BLACK CREEK evolved from the members' common geography (and Craig's wife, Jenny!). We all live next door to one another on a tributary of BLACK CREEK, which is a topographical feature that defines the rural area we call "home." 


Favorite Song: Has to be "Heaven's Door," a song with which we close many dates, written and arranged by singer/songwriter Gary Duty at Sound Doctrine Music, which gives a straight ahead outline of the reason Jesus came, and that's our mission.

And We're Different Because: Of our strong conviction to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.  We want folks to hear the Message, not the music; the Savior, not the sound. We long to see the lost come into the fold; God help us to never neglect the work of carrying the Gospel and to see the lost as God sees the lost.



Some of Our Favorite Links: Please feel free to visit these websites for more information on these ministries, to get Highway Shepherd CDs for distribution, or to book them for your next church event.



The Highway Shepherd: Our pastor, Dr. Billy Cashwell, of Benson Grove Baptist Church, is also known as the Highway Shepherd. He founded this home missions project in 1994. Since it's inception, the Highway Shepherd has given out more than 60,000 cassettes and CDs to truckers and travelers alike. Bro. Billy receives letters and phone calls from all over the country describing how the cassettes and CDs  have helped strengthen Christian faith and brought folks closer to God. Many have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior through this ministry.



Starting Point Jesus:  Scott's father, Linwood Johnson, founded this ministry in May 1999, and began with a radio broadcast. It is an evangelistic ministry dedicated to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.  The radio broadcast is aired on WTSB 1090 AM radio on Sundays at 9:35 a.m. God has blessed the ministry tremendously and allows him to preach for revivals and camp meetings. His family also sings gospel music as a part of the ministry.



Merry Hearts Ministries:  Danny's wife, Teresa, founded this ministry a few years ago. The Lord has blessed her with the gift of humor and the ability of being able to laugh at herself and all of the "adventures" she has encountered while ministering. Her comedy character, Eulamae Etheleen Ledbetter, is a preacher's wife who KNOWS church folks!  It is through laughter that Teresa enjoys connecting with her audience the most. The Lord allows her to minister at ladies retreats, conferences, and other venues.



CRAIG ALLEN (vocals, guitar, banjo, dobro)

  
Click Here to E-Mail Craig