Above is the definition from Webster’s dictionary of a word that is very important to the Joyaires! Each member of the group has a rich spiritual Christian heritage of which they are very thankful! The Joyaires consist of Debbie Peters, Ernie Peters, and Anna Brooks.

Ernie’s dad was a choir director and always sang in a group. He was a member of the Oneida Winsett Quartet, which was sponsored by the R.E. Winsett Music Company for many years. At the time of his death at age 76, he was traveling and singing in a bluegrass gospel group. Growing up, Ernie sang with his Dad and sisters as a family group. As a teenager, he sang in a quartet with three of his cousins.

In 1965 he met Debbie while singing at the church her father pastored. Debbie had grown up in church and sung with her Mother and sister (Sharon). Singing was a big part of her life even when not at church: there always seemed to be a crowd gathered around the piano at their house singing.

Ernie and Debbie were married in 1969 and not long after, her Mother quit singing with the girls and Ernie took her place. (They still kid him about “rooting-out” their Mother!) Sharon sung until 1993 when throat problems forced her to give it up.

Ernie and Debbie live in Harriman , Tennessee and are members of Batley Baptist Church in Oliver Springs , Tennessee , where Ernie is a deacon and both are members of the choir.

The newest member of the Joyaires is Anna Brooks. Anna sang with us ten years ago. She and her husband David Brooks Jr. and their children, Austin, Haley, Macy, and Megan live in Clinton , TN and are members of Batley Baptist Church . Anna has a tremendous voice, is a member of the choir, and is a very accomplished pianist. We welcome Anna and her family.

The Joyaires have 18 recordings and two videos to their credit. Ernie also has two instrumental projects. Ernie and Debbie are songwriters and have contributed many of the songs on the recordings. Their last four projects have been produced by Roger Talley. They have just completed a new project, "The Empty Chair.  They have chosen material from well known writers like Rodney Griffin,  Kyla Rowland, Adina Bowman, Stephan Phillips, a new writer Leonard Fletcher, as well as some older music.

The group had their first Singing News top 80 song in July 2003 with “I’m Glad I Got Lost”, a powerful song written by Kyla Rowland.

The Joyaires have appeared on the National Quartet Convention Artist Showcase, the Inspirations’ “Singing in the Smokies”, the McKamey’s “Hometown Singing”, the Primitives “Hominy Valley Singing”, J. Bazel Mull concerts, “Singing on Grandfathers’ Mountain”, “The Jimmy Snow TV Show", and other major venues. They made their first appearance on the Jubilee at Sea Cruise in February 2005. They have also received a great deal of national television exposure on GMT. The majority of their dates are ministering in churches in several states. They currently fill about 125 dates a year which they are hoping to continually increase.

The Joyaires’ goal is to be a blessing to all to whom they minister and to lead the lost to Christ. They want to continue their respective family traditions and hand down from one generation to another the importance of not only being a Christian but also living a life becoming a Christian!

The mission statement of the Joyaires’ is Ephesians 6:6: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Their motto, which can be found on all their printed material, is Nehemiah 8:10 …for the joy of the Lord is your