In the spring of 2010, the band released its first national single. Until then, radio play for the group had been limited to the southeast and to certain online radio sites. As a result of the national release, a revised version of I Know a Man debuted on the national Christian Voice charts at #83. It then found its way onto the International Top 100 Charts and ultimately became the band’s first national top 20 hit.
In early August of 2010 the group was honored further
by receiving a total of six nominations for some of
gospel music’s top awards: Group of the Year,
Christian Comedian of the Year
(Tommy Frizsell), Song of the
Year & Artist, for I Know A
Man, Crown Jewel Southern
Gospel, Crown Jewel Acoustic
Gospel and Songwriter of the
Year (Darrell Frizsell).
As 2011 began, the band was
honored with a Group/Band
of the Year nomination from the 2011 AGAPE Fest Fan Appreciation Awards. Fans from
across the country voted the Waymasters as one of the
top 5 best groups of 2011. The group was also nominated
as one of the nation’s top 5 favorite Christian Country
bands by the Christian Voice CGM Fan Awards. A honor that was repeated in 2012.
The Group’s second national single, God Sent an Angel shot to the top 20 nationwide and reached #1 on one of the northeast’s largest gospel stations at the time, WCWV 92.9 fm. It finished the year as the stations #3 song of the year. It became the group’s second International Top 100 hit and spent an amazing 16 months on the gospel charts.
In June of 2012 the Waymasters, under pressure from their fans, decided to release a limited number of “Studio Proofs” of their soon to be released eighth album, Smoky Mt. Gospel Vol. 2. Proof copies are what the band listens to while making the album in order to make decisions about each song, such as what instruments need to be used or vocal treatments, etc. Basically for them to “proof” each song before final adjustments are made. The proofs released were rough mixes of nine of the songs that would appear on the 12 song project. As proofs, they were unfinished and included some talking before and after the songs that did
not appear on the final product. Other differences fans may notice between the proof CD’s and the final versions could be the addition of different instruments, vocal parts and overall mixes of the songs. Only 250 of the proofs were made and all proofs were numbered and signed by the band. Fans of the band are already considering them collectors items.
The Group’s third national single, Let Me Feel Your Spirit Once Again was released in June of 2012. It debuted that same month at #73 on the Christian Country News charts. One month later, the song became the group’s first national #1 hit. It remained the #1 song for August blessing the group with a two month ride in the top spot.
As all this was happening, Harold
increasingly found it difficult to cope
both on the road and in the studio. He
had began to struggle with lingering
health issues and the demands of
traveling and performing were
beginning to take their toll. Finally,
after several months of internal debate,
he made a heavy-hearted call to the
band. On August 30, 2012, after 33
years and with a #1 song on the radio,
Harold Frizsell sadly felt the time had
come to retire from performing the
gospel music he so loved. Co-founder of the band, vocal mentor to Tim, guitar guide to Chewie, bus driver, brother and uncle... his roll in the band will always be missed.
For the rest of the group, the blessings continued in 2012 as they received another round of nominations for some of gospel music’s top honors: Group of the Year, Acoustic Gospel Crown Jewel, Male Vocalist of the Year (Darrell Frizsell), and Entertainers of the Year.
In September, Let Me Feel Your Spirit Once Again continued it’s amazing chart run by becoming the first
song to reach #1 for three months in a row in
the chart’s history. It continued at the #2 spot
for October and November and in December
charted #2 internationally on GTE Music
Magazine’s God’s Country International
Gospel Music Chart. This gave the song the
amazing honor of charting in the top two for
six months! The group also ranked #4 on
the “Most Played Overseas Gospel Artists”
charts for December along with Guy
Penrod (#19) and the Isaacs (#17), among
others. The song then earned honors as the
2012 Christian Country Gospel Song of
the Year. The band is so very thankful and
quick to give all the glory to God.
November also marked the date of the
group’s fourth national release, Wreck on the Highway.
A complete reworking of the old 1940’s hit, the song showcased the band’s arrangement skills and vocal
uniqueness. In March, 2013 the song became the group’s fourth top 20 and second top 10 by charting #9 and #10
on the National and International Country Gospel Charts respectively.
2013 also marked the official release of the much anticipated Smoky Mt. Gospel Vol. 2 album. With a record setting #1 song already part of its catalog, expectations were hopeful for the new project. The band presented the album to God as their offering of thanks for His blessings in their lives and to uplift His glory.
March saw the release of the group’s fifth national single, Little Mountain Church House. In June, 2013 it became the group’s second #1 hit and second International Top 5. In July it became their second multi-month #1 and gave the band the honor of having the #1 song for July in both 2012 and 2013. The song went on to become the 2013 Christian Country Gospel Song of the Year marking the second consecutive year the band was awarded the honor.
Blessings continued in 2013 in another round of gospel’s top nominations: Song of the Year, Acoustic Gospel Crown Jewel, Male Vocalist of the Year (Darrell Frizsell), and Entertainers of the Year.
July 2013 marked the release of the Waymasters’ sixth release, There’s a Man in Here. In January 2014 the song became the group’s third national #1 single while charting #2 on the International Gospel Charts for November 2013. The song repeated at #1 nationally for February marking their third multi-month #1 single.
In March 2014 they released their seventh single, Lift Up Your Hands. In July it became their fourth national #1 and marked the third consecutive year the Waymasters posted the #1 song for July. They continued to hold the top seat nationally for August while posting #3 internationally. This gave the group the honor of holding the #1 song for August two of the last three years.
Another year of nominations saw the group named in six of gospel musics biggest categories: Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Acoustic Gospel Crown Jewel, Male Vocalist of the Year (Darrell Frizsell), and Gospel Entertainers of the Year.
In August 2014 they released their eighth single, There’s a Light guiding Me. The band ended the year being named 2014 Christian Country Gospel group of the Year.
In March 2015, There’s a Light guiding Me became the band’s fifth Top 5 Hit by charting #2 nationally.
In February 2015 their ninth single, What would I do without Your Son became the band’s first acapella song to be released as a single. Chewie provided the lead vocal on this harmonic, traditional sounding piece that topped out in May 2015 at #2 as their sixth Top 5 hit.
In September 2015 their tenth single, Hills of Glory was released this time with Tim fronting the verses. The song became the fifth #1 single for the band after scoring the lead spot in February 2016. This achievement set a gospel record as the Waymasters became only the fifth artist in history to release five #1 singles from the same album. They joined Michael Jackson, Rodney Crowell, Brad Paisley and Katy Perry in the prestigious honor. They also became only the second artist in history to have eight Top 10s off the same album. Shania Twain’s country offering, “Come on Over” ranking as the only other project to achieve the milestone.
February 2016 also
marked the release of
their eleventh single,
Take Me Home. A celtic
sounding ballad that
stirs both the mind and
soul. In October it
became the group’s
sixth #1 from the
Smoky Mt. Gospel
Vol. 2 album placing
the band alone in the
record books as having the most #1 and Top 10 singles from the same album.
In February 2017 the group reluctantly released their tenth single off the Smoky Mt. Gospel Vol. 2 project. When the Sun of Life Goes Down climbed the charts and hung around the Top 10 all summer and fall until ultimately claiming the #1 spot for the Christian Voice Charts in January 2018. The final numbers for SMG Vol. 2 totaled ten singles released, ten Top 10’s, nine Top 5’s and seven #1 songs. Praise God!
The summer of 2017 was a truly
blessings filled summer for the the
guys. They were nominated for 11
of the countries highest gospel music
honors including Album of the Year,
Group of the Year, Crossover Artist
of the Year just to name a few. They
were awarded the 2017 Gospel Music
Fan Awards Favorite Country Gospel
Group as well as 2017 Group of the
Year and 2017 Bluegrass Artist of
the Year. The group gives God all
the glory!
In the fall of 2017 Waymasters
released their first single not found on Smoky Mt. Gospel
Vol. 2. since 2012. The single Pour Love immediately
shot to the top of the charts and became the group’s first International #1 Country Gospel single in February 2018 and again toped the charts, this time nationally, in June.
Nominations again filled the summer with the group finding acknowledgments in every category in which they were eligible. They were awarded the 2018 Gospel Music Fan Awards Favorite Country Gospel Group for the second straight year and ICGMA’s 2018 Bluegrass Artist of the Year as well as the prestigious Award of Excellence. The group gives God all the praise!
In the fall of 2018 the guys released the melodic and captivating, The Redeemed are Coming Home. It topped the GTE charts in February of 2019 as the #1 Country Gospel song nationally and #2 internationally. It followed that blessing with another round at the #1 spot for March on both the Christian Voice and GTE Charts and #1 internationally.
When 2019 began the group surged with intensity and hope for the new year. It also marked the 40th anniversary of the the founding of the band! In May the group was richly blessed by fans as they were awarded the 2019 Gospel Music Fan Awards for Favorite Musician (Chewie), Favorite Album (Smoky Mt. Gospel Vol. 2) and Favorite Country Gospel Group for the third straight year! In July they also were honored with Album of the Year for Smoky Mt. Gospel Vol. 2. Mighty is our God!
In September, the band held a 40th Anniversary Celebration where previous and current members of the band held a two hour concert to thank both fans and God Himself for 40 wonderful years! Former members, Danny Frizsell and Lane Presley, joined the guys onstage for the much anticipated event. Fans from Texas to North Carolina and from Pennsylvania to Florida were present for a wonderful night of music and praise. Co-founder, Harold Frizsell was also set to rejoin the group for the historic event. But unexpectedly, just days before the concert, he suffered a serious stroke. It was heartbreaking as both he and the band was looking forward to playing together again. Thankfully to our mighty God, he slowly recovered and only suffered limited, lasting affects.
The group’s thirteenth single was also released in September 2019 and The Great I Am became their 10th
#1 release by topping the charts in April of 2020.
The spring and summer of 2020 repeated the list of award nominations the group has been blessed to enjoy. This year they were again awarded the Gospel Music Fan Awards Favorite Country Gospel Group and ICGMA’s 2020 Bluegrass Artist of the Year and Band of the Year. As always, the group gives only credit to God.
In May of 2020 the group’s fourteenth single was released. What a Beautiful Day became the band’s third international #1 in October, and their 11th national #1 in February 2021, seeking to remind everyone of how wonderful God is in an uncertain time when so many were seeking reassurance during Covid.
The awards season of 2021 repeated the list of nominations the group has become known for and though Covid regulations had damaged the fan participation in the live events, the spirt of the programs were still shared. This year the group were awarded the Gospel Music Fan Awards Favorite Country Gospel Group for the fifth year in a row. They also took home ICGMA’s 2021 Bluegrass Artist of the Year and Tommy was blessed with the prestigious, Living Legend Award! The group humbly received all honors putting God first.
Their fifteenth release, I am Blessed, filled the airways during the summer and fall of 2021 after its drop in June.
It became their 12th National #1 after topping the charts in March of 2022 as well as #2 Internationally.
During that time however, in mid January of 2022, shockwaves shook throughout the band as one of its members was hospitalized due to complications from Covid. Chewie had contracted the disease earlier in the month and within a day after recommended, transfusion treatments, he suffered a heart attack lasting hours. Doctors attributed the five blockages to blood clots thrown from the dreaded virus. Emergency stent operations were performed and days after returning home, he suffered a stroke similar to the one suffered by Harold a few years earlier. Thankfully, the Lord moved and Chewie began recovering well and was even able to rejoin the band back out on the road in April. The group also began recording it’s next single, an original composition with Chewie on lead vocal.
Awards season 2022 once again saw a healthy list of nominations for the band. Thankful to be able to perform again on stage, they gave God the glory when they were honored with ICGMA’s 2022 Group of the Year!
In October of 2022 the much anticipated, sixteenth radio single, “Just Believe” was released. The song is strong with soaring background vocals and a powerful message delivered by a reenergized Chewie. The song topped Nashville’s “Inspirational Country Chart” for the week of January 12, 2023 marking the 13th #1 release to date. It also landed #1 on the National Charts and #2 Internationally for March 2023. It also became the group’s first Dove nominated single.
While recording their seventeenth single, the band took a break to help their buddy, Berry Lee White with backing vocals on his then new release, “Where are you Taking Me.” The group provided a very Beach Boy inspired backing track of oh’s and ah’s, vocal repeats and other harmony treatments. The song shot to #1 for Berry Lee and the band and was not only their first joint recording with another artist but their first to top the charts as such. This marked their 14th stand at the #1 position.
They returned to complete their next single and in September of 2023, the band released, “Child Come Home.” A sweeping saga of a man’s decent into sin and God’s continual calling for him to return home. The song garnered much hype and attention and was the groups 15th National #1 and second Dove nominated release.
The group is available for bookings and continue to perform across the country to old and new fans alike, spreading the Word of the Lord through praise and song. The Waymasters were founded in their faith and love for God and each other, and on that foundation they continue.
