The group formed on December 25, 1970 with Randy Perry and his sisters Debbie and Libbi in Georgia. In the mid-80's, the group signed with former pianist for the Happy Goodman Family, Eddie Crook on his, then new, Morning Star Records label. Also during this time Libbi met and married Tracy Stuffle who would become the group's bass singer.
Eventually Debbie left the group to rear her family and the Perrys were joined by soprano singer Denise Helton. During this time the Perrys experienced enormous growth in their popularity with such songs as "I Remember The Day", "I'll Go On", "The Mountain", "He Knows How", "Get Involved", "This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me" (a remake of a classic Happy Goodman Family song) and "The Rock of Ages".
In the mid-90's, shortly after the release of the very popular "Grace" album, Randy Perry left the road to concentrate more on evangelistic work and Denise Helton would also leave the group to pursue other ventures. Nicole Watts and Barry Scott would come in to fill these spots. Barry Scott soon left the group and was replaced by Mike Bowling, a former member of the New Hinsons. In 1997, the group made a record label transition from their home of a dozen years, MorningStar Records, to Daywind records owned by Dottie Leonard Miller. They also signed an exclusive booking agreement with Harper and Associates. Their debut album on Daywind, "Crossings", included their first two #1 songs on the Singing News charts, "Not Even a Stone" and "By Faith I Can Touch Him Now."
Mike would also leave to join with the The Crabb Family and also pursue his own solo career; and Nicole Watts married and departed the group shortly after Mike's departure. David Hill joined the Perrys and held the lead position for approximately nine months. His only album with the group was, "Absolutely, Positively, Live!", which featured the #1 hit, "Praise God, It's Settled, I'm Saved." Loren Harris, formerly of the Wilburns, took the lead position shortly afterward. After Nicole's departure, this time marked a turning point for the Perrys.
Having always been a quartet consisting of two females and two males, the group was faced with a decision that many had been anticipating for some time. The group decided to not fill the position of Nicole Watts with another soprano but to turn that position over to a male- hence the hiring of baritone Curt Davis.The group has since became a 3 male, one female group and has gained very high status in the southern gospel community. After the departure of group pianist Dennis Horton in 2000, Adam Harman joined the group. Adam departed the group in 2002 to join the Dollywood based quartet, the Kingdom Heirs. It was during this time that the Perrys had their fourth #1 song, "I Rest My Case at the Cross" written by the great master songwriter Kyla Rowland. Justin Ellis, formerly of the Accords, took the pianist position and remained with the group until July of 2004. In August of 2003, Curt Davis resigned his baritone position with the Perrys. After the fill-in from the Perrys' producer Wayne Haun including National Quartet Convention 2003, the Perrys hired Joseph Habedank for the baritone position. Soon after Joseph Habedank joined the group, patriarch of the Perrys, George Perry, passed away in November of 2003. Though this was a time of testing for Libbi and all of the Perrys, they managed to keep on singing for God's kingdom. After the departure of Justin Ellis to perform with the Crabb Family, the Perrys hired Matthew Holt as the group's pianist in September of 2004 at the National Quartet Convention. It was around this time that the Perrys had their fifth and latest #1 song, "I Wish I Could Have Been There." Mr. Holt was hired as pianist approximately one day before the Perrys were awarded their first Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Mixed Quartet of the Year.
Fans and the Southern Gospel Music industry showed the Perrys support for their hard work by honoring them Singing News Fan Awards for the 2004, 2005, and 2006 Mixed Quartet Of The Year. The Perrys also received the Harmony Honors Awards for Favorite Album of the Year, This Is the Day, and for Favorite Song of the Year, I Wish I Could Have Been There written by Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey. Libbi Perry Stuffle was awarded Singing News Fan Awards for the 2005 Female Vocalist and Alto Singer Of The Year and the 2006 Alto Singer of the Year. The Perrys were also awarded the Singing News Fan Award for Album of the Year in 2006 for their album Remembering the Happy Goodmans.
In August of 2006, the Perrys announced that longtime lead vocalist, Loren Harris, had resigned his position with the group in order to spend more time at home with his family. The decision was made by the Perrys to move Joseph Habedank to the vacant lead position and bring in Nick Trammell (son of legendary baritone Mark Trammell) to fill the baritone position. The first recording, entitled "Look No Further", under the new line-up was released in September 2007 at the National Quartet Convention. In addition to the release of the album, Nick Trammell received the Horizon Individual award by the Singing News Fans for 2007. Several months later in July 2008, Matthew Holt announced his departure from the group to pursue other interests. Bryan Elliott, formerly of the Anchormen and the Palmetto State Quartet, joined the Perrys as pianist in August 2008. His first concert with the group was August 8, 2008.
It was announced February 24 that Nick Trammell was departing as baritone singer. Former sound manager Troy Peach has been hired as Trammell's replacement.
The Walk
Perrys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I have waited here a long time
For you to turn around and notice me
But now you're here holdin' hands with me
Walk me down the middle of the county fair
Walk me down the middle like you don't care
Walk me by the Ferris wheel and make sure that she sees
I've heard about your bitter end
'Bout how she stole your heart and put it back again
Well I may not be the prettiest girl around
But I sure am a sight for sore, sore eyes
Walk me down the middle of main street
Walk me down where the whole town will be
I don't need no parade but make sure that she sees
Let the whole world know you belong to me
I'd walk through fire for you
Walk through barbed wire for you
I'd walk for miles, it's true
Just to be with you
If you'll walk me down the middle of my mama's church
Walk me down that aisle in your finest shirt
Let the whole world know
You will walk me down the middle of the county fair
Oh walk me down the middle like you don't care
Walk me by the Ferris wheel and make sure they all see
Let the whole world know you belong to me
In Perry's "The Walk," the singer is professing her love and desire for a man who she has been waiting for a long time. She states that she was meant to be by his side, waiting patiently for him to notice her. However, now that he is holding her hand, she requests that he walk her down the middle of the county fair and across main street, ensuring that everybody sees them together. She wants the whole world to know that he belongs to her.
The lyrics suggest that the man has been through a difficult relationship in the past, where he had his heart broken by another woman. However, the singer is willing to go through any obstacles to be with him, even if she may not be the prettiest girl around. The imagery of walking through fire and barbed wire portrays the extent of her determination and love for him.
The chorus repeats the request for the man to walk her down the middle of the county fair and main street, with an emphasis on making sure that everybody sees them together. The song ends with the woman requesting the man to walk her down the aisle of her mama's church in his finest shirt, making her final plea for the whole world to know that he belongs to her.
Line by Line Meaning
I was meant to be by your side
I was created to be with you.
And I have waited here a long time
I have been waiting for an extended time.
For you to turn around and notice me
I have been waiting for you to acknowledge me.
But now you're here holdin' hands with me
You are holding my hand now.
Walk me down the middle of the county fair
Take me down the center of the county fair.
Walk me down the middle like you don't care
Let's walk as if no one else is around.
Walk me by the Ferris wheel and make sure that she sees
Take me close to Ferris wheel so that the other girl can see us.
Let the whole world know you belong to me
Make everyone aware that you are mine.
I've heard about your bitter end
I know about your heartbreak.
'Bout how she stole your heart and put it back again
About how she broke your heart and mended it again.
Well I may not be the prettiest girl around
I may not be the most attractive girl you have met.
But I sure am a sight for sore, sore eyes
But I am really appealing to the eyes.
Walk me down the middle of main street
Take me to the center of main street.
Walk me down where the whole town will be
Take me where many people are there.
I don't need no parade but make sure she sees
I don't want a parade, but please make sure she sees us.
Let the whole world know you belong to me
Make everyone aware that you are mine.
I'd walk through fire for you
I'm willing to face any challenge for you.
Walk through barbed wire for you
I'm willing to walk through dangerous obstacles for you.
I'd walk for miles, it's true
I'm willing to walk many miles for you.
Just to be with you
My only desire is to be with you.
If you'll walk me down the middle of my mama's church
Please take me to the center of my mother's church.
Walk me down that aisle in your finest shirt
Take me down the aisle of the church dressed in your best shirt.
Let the whole world know
Make everyone aware.
You will walk me down the middle of the county fair
You will take me to the center of the county fair.
Oh walk me down the middle like you don't care
Let's walk as if no one else is around.
Walk me by the Ferris wheel and make sure they all see
Take me near the Ferris wheel so that everyone can see us.
Let the whole world know you belong to me
Make everyone aware that you are mine.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KIMBERLY PERRY, NEIL PERRY, REID PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind