After four years of performing with the Rose City Singers, a patriotic/folk singing group sponsored by
Portland-based United Medical Laboratories, the Maces decided to resign from their hospital duties and form a Christian group in 1971. Founding member Jerry Leiske named the group Heritage Singers, based on Bible scripture equating saints with God's "heritage ... objects of His special care." Jerry and Rita Leiske left a short time thereafter and returned to their home in Alberta, Canada, to form their own singing group. The first year, the Heritage Singers released two albums (
Hymns We Remember and
Come Along with the Heritage Singers), and performed their first public concert in
Yakima, Washington on June 4, 1971. Original accompanists included Bob Silverman on piano and Gerald Allen on bass guitar, and Pete McLeod on guitar; Jeff Wood would later replace Allen. Later on, the Heritage Singers collaborated with Ronn Huff, who arranged many of their early albums with full orchestration. One of Max's nephews, Terry Mace, ran the sound system for the group for one year in 1972 until Max's son Greg took over at the age of 13 in 1973; he has been the group's sound tech since. Heritage Singers bought a touring bus (a former Greyhound
PD-4501 Scenicruiser they named "Old Blue") from a lot in San Francisco, which remained in their service for 10 years. As their popularity grew, they formed a second group in September 1973, dubbed Heritage II, (subsequently named New Creation) to perform mostly at cities located in the eastern half of the United States;, and a third group in 1995, dubbed Heritage Español, which toured South America singing Spanish versions of the group's signature songs. Almost 300 people have performed as members of The Heritage Singers; however, the Mace family has remained at its core. As for the religious affiliation of its members, Max Mace has stated that while a majority of them are
Seventh-day Adventists, that's not in itself a requirement. "They have to be a
born-again Christian and receptive to the Adventist message." Throughout the 1980s, the group televised a program called "Keep on Singing" and was aired on
Trinity Broadcasting Network. Many of the programs are currently available on
YouTube under the name "Heritage Singers Classics". Around the same time this program was aired, Heritage Singers began performing for
Loma Linda University Church and have done so ever since. Individual members have also been invited to sing at various services there. Starting in 1985, the group collaborated with Art Mapa, a Philippine-born sound producer, arranger, guitarist, and composer. Mapa would later marry the Maces' daughter Val. Soon after, Turning Point Studio was built on the Maces' expensive property near Placerville, CA that serves as the home base for the Heritage Singers. Their albums have been recorded there since. Not long after, Tim Davis came along and has been arranging and coaching vocals since 1992, joining them on stage a few concerts at a time. ==Reunions==