Asheville, NC - Southern Gospel Music icon, Eddie Deitz, suffered a heart attack Wednesday, May 19 and had Open Heart Surgery, Thursday, May 20 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.

A catheterization revealed Eddie had severe heart blockage. His doctors determined that stint and balloon procedures would be unsuccessful to open up his clogged arteries and veins, so Eddie was scheduled for bypass surgery. The surgery was originally set for Friday, May 21. However, due to intense pain Eddie was experiencing, his doctors moved the surgery a day ahead.

Eddie began his professional Gospel music career as lead singer for the Inspirations in 1969. He later became their baritone, until leaving the group in 1979 to do full-time evangelism work. He then rejoined the Inspirations in 1991, remaining with them as baritone until late 1998 when he formed Eddie Deitz and Mountain Gospel, consisting of him, his daughter, April Deitz Lambert, son-in-law, Eric Lambert, and his son, Brandon Deitz. Eddie has sung the past several months with Archie Watkins & Smoky Mountain Reunion.

Eddie is also pastor of Allens Creek Baptist Church in Waynesville, N.C., and he formerly pastored Franklin Grove Baptist Church in Bryson City, North Carolina.

Further details about Eddie's surgery will be reported by Singing News as they become available.

Eddie's family, Archie Watkins & Smoky Mountain Reunion and the Inspirations request that Southern Gospel enthusiasts and Singing News patrons remember Eddie in prayer.