For Tracey Bender-Bone and Leroy Bone, singing was never about fame or money. It’s always been about ministry.
“I’ve sang my whole life. Midlothian (music venue) was my family’s deal; we’ve always sung my entire life. I was called to ministry when I was pretty young. I had no idea I would have a partner,” Tracey said, glancing at her husband. “But God knew what He was doing, so it’s been a great time, and we’ve never called a church. We’ve never called a venue, and God keeps us on the road every weekend, so it’s all God.”
The duo, known as The Singing Bones, have been performing and recording country gospel together for 12 and a half years. They travel around performing at various venues and churches. This year, they were awarded the 2024 Gold Cross Duo of the Year by the International Country Gospel Music Association, the oldest Christian music association in the U.S., according to the ICGMA website.
Tracey said they’ve been nominated the last three years but were so sure that they wouldn’t win that they didn’t bother going to the awards ceremony.
“We’ve always kind of laughed because we’re up against people who have names, and we’re like, this is funny to us,” Tracey said.
It didn’t help that the ceremony always takes place around a time of year that’s busy for Tracey with her “actual” job.
“And so when they called us the night before I left for camp and told us that we won, we were both just completely floored and shocked and yea. No words. Up against people that we should have never won against, but God had a different plan,” she said.
The couple sings original songs written by Tracey as well as covers. They have a strong fanbase right here in Lincoln County, where both of them hail.
Tracey graduated from Chandler High School, and Leroy graduated from Wellston.
They also credit Cindy Ashwood for bringing them together.
When Ashwood was running for district judge, Tracey helped with her campaign. She said Cindy told her to call the “Cookie Man” to have him bring cookies to her watch party. Unbeknownst to her, Leroy was the “Cookie Man.”
“I had seen Cindy at one of her rallies and introduced myself. I told her I would like to make cookies for her watch party,” he said.
Tracey said she called the cookie man - even had Leroy saved in her phone as such - and never really knew who he was. But then, one day, he came to Midlothian with his mother. Tracey said she knew that she knew him, but couldn’t place him.
“After the show, I get a text, and it says, ‘I didn’t know that you were, quote, Tracey Bender, and that you could sing like that.’ And I went, Oh!” she said. “From that point forward, he brought his mom out just about every Friday night. And we became friends, and the rest is history.”
Leroy said he wasn’t singing at the time and hadn’t in about 40 years. But then he started singing out at Midlothian for his mother.
“Once I started, she didn’t let me stop,” he joked.
Tracey said one of the most challenging aspects of The Singing Bones is keeping a balance between their full-time careers and ministry, as well as the occasional creative block when it comes to writing.
But so far, they’ve been very blessed. Not once has the duo had to pay a producer or promoter to get their music out or book venues. They’ve performed in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, and more.
“I guess that’s what works when you let Him lead. When God leads you, everything falls into place,” she said.
The Singing Bones will perform at the Ponca City Gospel Jubilee this weekend. Follow them on Facebook under Singing Bones to learn more about future performances.