The Sims Family

Festival favorite returns on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM on the Bandstand, TN Ave.

Powerful traditional Southern Gospel music with tight, intricate harmonies.

The Sims Family is a local bluegrass gospel group that has been around for six decades. David Sims grew up in Estill Fork Alabama and learned to sing harmonies from his mother as a child. David began to sing publicly by being a part of his local FFA quartet back in the 1950s. That foundation launched a love for and a ministry within bluegrass gospel that has carried on since that time.

David would marry Ms. Dixie Martin in the early 1960s and the Sims Family group was officially formed. Many musicians have served with the group over the years, but the Sims Family music and ministry has never changed. David has jokingly mentioned that at times during their ministry it would be just David, Dixie, and his guitar that would go. Eventually, David and Dixie's children would establish a love for serving the Lord in song and would be instrumental pieces of the harmonies that the Sims Family is known for. Their oldest son, Justin, is still part of the Sims Family group to this day.

Ms. Dixie passed unexpectedly in January 2018. While David was tempted to put down his guitar and quit, he was encouraged by his family and friends to continue to serve by doing what he and Dixie had loved for so many years. That is what David did, and the Sims Family is still going strong today.

Today, the Sim's family consists of multi-generational musicians and singers. There are many special characteristics to the group, but the most recognizable is the spirit and the love for the Lord that the Sims Family members convey.

The group consists of David Sims (vocals, guitar), Justin Sims (vocals), Gladys Keller (vocals), Joe Keller (guitar, vocals), Dwight Duckworth (mandolin, vocals), Randy Hill (banjo, vocals), Curt DuBois (Bass, vocals), Nathan DuBois (fiddle).