[300] Bassist Quenton Bryant Focus Of MTSU Gospel Extravaganza

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 11, 2010
CONTACT: Mary Glass, 615-898-5145; mglass@mtsu.edu

BASSIST QUENTON BRYANT FOCUS OF MTSU GOSPEL EXTRAVAGANZA
Rare Kidney Disease Can’t Keep Local Gospel Musician Down, Say His Friends

(MURFREESBORO)—Quenton D. Bryant, a gospel musician who was diagnosed with a disease known as Glomerulonephritis while still a teen, will be the honoree at the 10th MTSU Gospel Music Extravaganza at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Stone River Church, 2315 Joe B. Jackson Parkway, in Mufreesboro.
According to information on the Mayo Clinic Web site, Glomerulonephritis, also known as glomerular nephritis, is a type of kidney disease in which the part of the kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged.
All proceeds from the upcoming concert, a staple of MTSU’s Black History Month, will benefit Bryant. The lineup of entertainers slated to pay tribute to him includes choirs, soloists and dancers.
Affectionately known as “Q” by his family and friends, Bryant is the son of Johnnie Bryant and the late Wilson Riley Bryant. Growing up, music was encouraged in his home, especially by his piano-playing mother who ensured all of her four sons played an instrument, including Bryant, who learned to play bass. In turn, he has performed for various churches in Nashville, Mount Juliet and Murfreesboro, such as First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, Rutherford Mass Community Choir, Primitive Baptist Church at Watch Night Services and with his family at Corona Baptist Church. He also currently serves as bassist for Cedar Grove Primitive Baptist Church of Murfreesboro. However, his musical talent aside, Bryant said his life’s calling has been “to preach the gospel”—yet he always takes his bass along just in case he’s invited to perform. Moreover, in spite of his Glomerulonephritis diagnosis, Bryant pursues living life to the fullest. He was an academic scholar, as well as an all-star athlete in high school. He also attended MTSU, where he was on the football team before joining the U.S. Air Force. After he returned from military service, he worked for the City of Lebanon as a police officer and also attended Nashville’s Barber College and earned a Master’s Barber License. In 1998, Bryant’s illness extended to renal failure, which caused him to require dialysis treatments three times a week. After five years of waiting and dialysis, in fall 2003, he received a kidney transplant. That kidney failed in November 2005, however, and today Bryant once more awaits another kidney and has resumed his regimen of dialysis three days each week. Since his 2003 kidney failure, Bryant has suffered many health setbacks, including severe hypertension, along with vascular disease, which has led to an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg and numerous trips back to the hospital. Still, though, he has longed to play the bass, report his family and friends.
—more—
GOSPEL Add 1
In fact, on his first day home from the hospital after his leg amputation, he climbed the stairs backward to get to his bass and play his gospel music; thus, proving his determination and dedication to living as he always has. In a written statement from Bryant’s family, they stressed, “In spite of what we as a family have endured, one thing is sure, and that is that we will continue giving thanks to God for all things. Our motto has been, ‘God has trusted us with this trial, we will trust him for the results!’ No matter what it looks like, we know God is well able to do exceedingly and abundantly above anything we could ask, or imagine.”
TICKETS: Concert admission for this year’s MTSU Gospel Extravaganza is $10 per person, $5 for students and free for children under age 6.
For more information, contact Mary Glass at 615-898-5145 or Lucille Wilcox 615-898-5611


—30—







With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.