The new voice of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has been announced — the first time there’s been a switch on the long-running “Music and the Spoken Word” since 1990.
Derrick Porter will take over as executive producer, principal writer and presenter of the radio and television program on June 23, a week after longtime host Lloyd Newell appears on the program for the final time. The program features the music of the choir, the premier performing troupe of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with inspirational messages.
Porter, 42, lives in Bountiful, where he is the lay bishop of a Latter-day Saint ward, or congregation, with his wife, Rebecca. The couple have six children.
“Rebecca and I marveled as we’ve reflected upon this call extended by [church] President [Russell M.] Nelson,” Porter said in a news release Friday. “I am sincerely humbled at the opportunity to serve as a steward to carry on this great legacy.”
“Music and the Spoken Word” has been carried on radio since 1929, making it the longest continuously running network broadcast in radio history. It debuted on television in 1949, and the syndicated telecast is the longest-running nonnews show on American TV.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Lloyd D. Newell is leaving "Music and the Spoken Word" to serve as a mission president.
Porter will be just the fourth regular announced in the show’s 95-year history. Richard L. Evans hosted from 1930 until his death in 1971. (He became a Latter-day Saint apostle in 1953.) J. Spencer Kinard took over in 1971 and was replaced by Newell in 1990.
In December, Newell announced that he was stepping down to serve as a mission president for the global faith. He will oversee the California Los Angeles Mission starting in mid-June.
“What an honor and blessing to begin every Sunday morning with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for more than half my life,” Newell said in the release. “I can’t begin to capture the many meaningful moments I have shared with the choir. It has been a sacred trust to prepare and deliver inspirational ‘Spoken Words’ over so many years.”
In Utah, “Music and the Spoken Word” airs Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on KSL TV-Channel 5 and KSL radio AM-1160 and FM-102.7.
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