Common Bond

While the Common Bond Quartet has always recognized that they would not be the group they are today without the help and support of their families and so many others who have been instrumental in their development as individuals and musicians. Immediately prior to their coming together in 2009, original members Kevin Willis and Rick Melton had been a part of the group ‘One Bond’—which had been both a trio and quartet formed at the First Church of God in Mt. Sterling, KY. Bryan Stevenson and Mike Bradshaw had formerly been members of the quartet: ‘Commissioned’ that was a quartet formed in the First Church of God of neighboring Winchester, KY. In the fall of 2008, both quartets found themselves in a position of being short two members (due to changes in jobs or family responsibilities of their respective members) and each group was considering disbanding entirely. However, several of the members felt that God had not released them from the call to minister through music.

In early 2009, the four men met together to discuss merging; and in a very short period of time they each received a conviction and assurance that God had, for years been preparing each of them, individually, to the ministry to which He was now calling them. After much prayer, and through some unusual events which could only have been attributed to God’s handiwork, the men came to know that the Lord had brought them together to sing together, minister to others and ultimately bring glory to Him through their partnership. And so, Common Bond Quartet was created.

The four continued to sing together until the departure of Kevin Willis (tenor) in the summer of 2017. In 2018, Lee McCarren (tenor) and, Karen Melton (alto) joined the group. At the end of 2018, Bryan Stevenson (bass) resigned from the group and was replaced in early 2019 by Rick Towe. In the Spring of 2019, Mike Bradshaw (baritone) resigned due to health concerns, and a desire to spend more time with his family. Bill Petrea (baritone) joined the group in May of 2019. Unfortunately, again, due to health concerns, Bill was unable to continue to travel with the group, so the group brought on their current Baritone, Bob Melford.