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Dave's Top Eight
1. Jerry Reed...Revisited by Darrell Toney (reviewed 6/07) (5 Stars) Click title to purchase at CBD.com...click artist name to read Dave's Review. A CD will automatically fall out of the Top Eight after twelve months if no CD surpasses it before then.
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Most Recent Articles
Why blog? (Three years and counting)
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-----------December 20, 2005Eva Mae LeFevre Biography LeFevre, Eva Mae Whittington (1917 - ) Eva Mae Whittington was married to Urias LeFevre in 1934. They formed the Lefevre Trio along with Urias’ brother Alphus and frequently performed at revivals where Eva Mae’s father, Rev. H. L. Whittington was preaching. The LeFevres were the first full time gospel group to be based in Atlanta, GA. Eva Mae was forced to manage the group a few years while Alphus and Urias left to fight in World War II. After the war, Eva Mae and Urias had five children. As Eva Mae’s children grew older, they began to join the group on the road. Pierce played trumpet and sang. Meurice and Andrea played saxophone and trombone. Mylon sang and is the credited writer of the song “Without Him.” With Eva Mae’s popularity as a pianist and emcee, the LeFevres became part of a television show called the Gospel Singing Caravan. The Caravan also toured together. Later Jerry Goff, who was married to Andrea Lefevre at the time, produced The LeFevre Family Show for television. Eva Mae was the last LeFevre to sing with the group. She left the road in 1977. By that point, Rex Nelon was managing the group and his daughter Kelly was a group member as well, so Nelon decided to change the name to the Rex Nelon Singers. Eva Mae has continued to appear at various reunion functions such as the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion and the Gaither Video Series. She was inducted into the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1997. Labels: biography September 24, 2005Denver Crumpler Biography Denver Dale Crumpler(1914 - 1957) Denver Crumpler was a native of Magnolia, Arkansas. He first sang with the Stamps Melody Boys in the 1930s. He joined the Rangers Quartet in 1938 just before they began a five-year stint at radio station WBT in Charlotte, NC, and stayed with them for more than 10 years. Crumpler subsequently joined Hovie Lister and the Statesmen in 1953. Noted for his Irish tenor style on tunes like “Climbing Higher and Higher,” Crumpler was only 43 when he passed away in 1957. 40 years later, Crumpler was inducted into the SGMA Hall Of Fame. Labels: biography September 9, 2005Florida Boys Biography Florida Boys(circa 1948-present) J. G. Whitfield formed the Gospel Melody Quartet following WWII with Roy Howard, Guy Dodd, Edward Singletary, and “Tiny” Merrell. Howard passed away in 1951 following a radio performance. By 1952, Glen Allred had replaced Dodd in the group to sing baritone and play guitar. Les Beasley came on board to sing lead the following year. Inspired by Wally Fowler’s introduction of the group as “those boys from Florida,” Whitfield changed the group name to the Florida Boys in 1954. Derrell Stewart joined the group in 1956 to play piano. Whitfield left the road in 1958 after the death of his first wife and a subsequent re-marriage. At that time, Beasley assumed the management responsibilities for the group. Under Beasley’s leadership and with the continued support of their founder, Mr. Whitfield, the Florida Boys embraced modern technology to enhance their fame. In 1961, Whitfield began producing a black and white television program with the Florida Boys called The Gospel Song Shop. A few years later, the Florida Boys were called on by Showbiz, Inc. to anchor the Gospel Singing Jubilee, with Les Beasley co-producing and Whitfield selling ads. In addition to the Florida Boys, the Jubilee featured a cast of groups including the Lefevres, Couriers, Happy Goodmans, and the Dixie Echoes. The show was ultimately syndicated into 90 markets and ran for more than a decade. The success of the Florida Boys on television secured them a spot on the Canaan record label, a division of publishing giant, Word, Inc. After recording on Canaan for 20 years, they moved to Homeland and when that label went out of business, to Cathedral. In 2000, Les Beasley “fired himself” from singing lead, though he continued to travel with the group as the emcee and bass player. He hired Josh Garner to sing lead in his place. Celebrating 50 years together in 2006, Allred, Beasley and Stewart have toured together longer than any other full-time gospel music threesome. Labels: biography September 6, 2005Michael Combs Biography Michael Combs(1957-) Michael Combs has been singing gospel music since 1991 after giving his heart to Christ in 1989 at the age of 31. An ad campaign for a recording called Lambitus introduced him to Southern Gospel fans. Curiosity was sparked at first by advertisements stating that the singer had a rare “disease,” which was later revealed to be Lambitus. When Combs went on to combine his somewhat unorthodox vocal style with a string of popular and at times, controversial songs, he soon had a dedicated group of fans. The Solid Gospel radio network refused to air his song “Not For Sale” due to what they deemed to be low production quality, but fans requested the song so much that it landed at number five on the Singing News chart. Other popular songs by Combs include “It’s Time To Get Up” and “Drinking From My Saucer.” Labels: biography September 5, 2005Roy Carter BiographyRoy Carter (Mar. 1, 1926-Aug. 4, 1997) Roy Carter served in the Navy near the end of WWII and was ultimately discharged in February of 1946. In 1947, Roy majored in Bible and education at Abilene Christian College using his G.I. Bill supplement of $90 per month to pay expenses. He completed his double major in three years. After trying his hand at preaching, teaching, and selling insurance, he moved back home to Texas to sing bass with his family’s group, the Chuck Wagon Gang, who had just started actively touring after 15 years singing almost exclusively on radio. After five years on the road, Roy took a break from the Gang in 1957 to sell school supplies for Weber-Costello. The group itself entered a period of semi-retirement at this time, though they continued to record. Roy returned to the group in 1963, but in 1967 he came off the road again, this time to try his hand at teaching once more and earn his Masters degree. As before, the group reduced its touring schedule and ultimately ceased to tour after Anna Carter (who had carried on the group in Roy’s absence) married Jimmie Davis in 1968. In the mid-1970s, Roy reorganized the Chuck Wagon Gang with his sisters Ruth Ellen and Bettye. Ronnie Page and Pat McKeehan alternated on the fourth part and Anna Carter Davis sometimes sang in place of Ruth Ellen when her schedule permitted. At first, they only sang on a summer schedule to allow Roy to continue teaching. Once the group stabilized with McKeehan and Ruth Ellen around 1977, Roy began making plans to return to full time touring. In 1987, Roy retired from teaching and realized his dream of touring full time once again. He continued to sing with the Chuck Wagon Gang for the next ten years until his death in 1997. Roy Carter received the Marvin Norcross award in 1989. Labels: biography August 30, 2005Anthony Burger Biography Anthony John Burger(June 5, 1961-February 22, 2006) After suffering third degree burns on his hands at eight months of age, Anthony Burger’s doctor told his parents he wouldn’t likely be able to move his hands in the future. Despite the odds, Burger was healed. At the age of five, he was accepted at the Cadek Conservatory in Chattanooga, TN. A child prodigy, Burger was playing classical piano repertoire within a few years. Burger’s first recording, Anthony Burger At The Lowry Organ was released in 1975 when he was 14 years old. He joined the Kingsmen while still a teen and remained with that group until 1992. During that time, Burger recorded nineteen projects with the group and was voted the Favorite Pianist in the Singing News Fan Awards for an unprecedented ten years. The award was renamed the "Anthony Burger Award" for several years after that. During this period, Burger presented the award to the winner each year, but was ineligible to receive it. In 1992, Burger left the Kingsmen Quartet to pursue a career as a solo pianist. He joined the Gaither Homecoming tour the following year and has since been featured on more than 65 Homecoming videos. Burger has continued to release piano solo recordings and headline concerts, but his solo schedule is now balanced by about 80 Gaither Homecoming dates per year. Adding more variety to his schedule, Burger formed an impromptu sideline group with Ivan Parker and Kirk Talley around 1998 called “The Trio.” The group performs at several events each year. (Shane Dunlap has since replaced Parker.) Burger’s piano folios are popular among keyboard players. The Hazelton Brothers piano company also honored Burger when they began offering an “Anthony Burger Signature” model. In late 2005, it was announced by Steinway and Sons that Burger was being added to their exclusive roster of endorsing artists, making him the only Southern Gospel pianist to ever hold that honor. On February 22, 2006, Burger died of a heart attack on while performing on stage during a Gaither cruise. He was 44 years old. Labels: biography August 28, 2005Nick Bruno Biography
(additional info contributed by Cliff Cerce)
----------- Nick BrunoNick Bruno was a key contributing member of several groups during in the 1960s and 1970s. As a teen, he was a member of the Keystone Quartet with Richard Sterban. He and Sterban moved to the Eastman Quartet in the mid-1960s, but later returned to the Keystone Quartet. Future Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall and future Imperials member David Will would get their first full time singing jobs with the Keystone Quartet. Bruno began producing, arranging and working as a session piano player at Baldwin Sound Productions when the Keystone Quartet was based in Harrisburg, PA in the late 1960s. He traveled with the Stamps for a year or so during their early Elvis years before joining the Kingsmen in 1972. Later, Bruno produced the novelty song “Excuses” for the Kingsmen. The song held the number one position on the Singing News chart for an unprecedented ten months in 1981-82. Bruno would produce another mega-hit for a former Kingsmen Quartet member not long after the success of "Excuses." The song was “Beulah Land” and the singer was Squire Parsons. Bruno worked in Branson, MO for five years producing live shows for some of the top secular acts there. He later returned to Nashville, TN where he produced recordings that helped elevate artists like Quinton Mills and the Booth Brothers in the eyes of Southern Gospel fans. In recent years, Bruno has become a mentor of sorts to many young artists. He writes a regular article for Sogospelnews.com that typically focuses on the business side of the industry. He also has written a book about the industry called The Gospel Music Truth. Meanwhile, Bruno has continued to record and produce. His most recent venture is a record label called Song Garden that is designed for up-and-coming Southern Gospel artists. Labels: biography August 25, 2005James Blackwood Biography James Webre Blackwood(1919 - 2002) James Blackwood formed the Blackwood Brothers Quartet in the 1930s along with his two older brothers (Roy and Doyle) and a nephew (Roy's son, R. W.). The group turned heads over the next twenty years, but their career really began to skyrocket in 1954 when they won a competition on Arthur Godfrey’s television program and were signed to record with RCA Victor. Tragedy also struck the group in 1954 when two members (R. W. Blackwood and bass singer Bill Lyles) were killed in a plane crash in Clanton, AL. J. D. Sumner and Cecil Blackwood joined the group at that time and Wally Varner soon became their pianist. James Blackwood and J. D. Sumner are noted for jointly designing the first bus for group touring purposes. They also started the National Quartet Convention, which grew to become the largest annual event in Southern Gospel music. Later Sumner and Blackwood purchased the Stamps Quartet and in time Sumner left the Blackwood Brothers to manage that group. Following the formation of the Gospel Music Association in 1964, Blackwood served on the GMA board of directors. In 1971, Blackwood found himself at the center of an ethical scandal over methods the Blackwood Brothers used when selling GMA memberships at concerts. Ultimately, the Dove Awards were nullified for that year and Blackwood issued an apology to the industry. After the GMA expanded to cover all forms of Christian music in the 1980s, Blackwood frequently criticized the organization for promoting what he deemed to be worldly influences. In the 1980s, Blackwood joined Hovie Lister, Jake Hess, J. D. Sumner, and Rosie Rozell to form the Masters V. The group was very popular on the concert circuit. Blackwood frequently performed “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” and “More And More Like Jesus Everyday,” going out into the audience and delighting them by ending the song in tenor territory. Blackwood was in his mid-60s at the time. After that group disbanded, he started the James Blackwood Quartet which included several former Blackwood Brothers members. Blackwood was also a frequent guest on the Gaither Homecoming videos in the 1990s until his death in 2002. He was inducted into the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1997. Labels: biography August 23, 2005Eugene Bartlett Biography Eugene Monroe Bartlett (1884 - 1941) E. M. Bartlett was a noted songwriter of hymns and Southern Gospel songs. In 1918, he became a founding partner in the Hartford Music Company. Like many music publishers of the day, Hartford began sponsoring traveling quartets who in turn promoted their products. In 1926, Albert E. Brumley joined the company and Bartlett served as his mentor. In his career, Bartlett wrote a number of songs that are now Southern Gospel standards including "Everybody Will Be Happy Over There" and "Just a Little While to Stay Here." Bartlett also wrote the occasional novelty song, including “Take An Old Cold Tater And Wait” (later popularized by Little Jimmy Dickens). His best-known song was one of his last, the classic hymn “Victory In Jesus.” It was written in 1939 just two years prior to his death in 1941. Bartlet’s name was added to the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 2000. Labels: biography August 18, 2005Primitive Quartet Biography Primitive Quartet(1973-present) The Primitive Quartet was formed in 1973. Two pairs of brothers were in the original group: Reagan and Larry Riddle and Norman and Furman Wilson. The group formed after the four went on a camping trip together and ended up picking and singing around the fire at night. After singing together in church, they began to get requests to sing at other churches in western North Carolina. The group was originally known as the Reagan-Wilson Quartet. Larry and Reagan’s brother Mike Riddle replaced Furman Wilson in the late 1970s. The group became full time in 1978. They also had changed the group name by this point to reflect their characteristic style. Two other members have been added to the group since the 1970s. Randy Fox joined in 1986 to sing and play various instruments. Jeff Tolbert joined in 1997 to play banjo, fiddle, and sing. The group is best known for the song “Fallen Leaves.” The Primitive Quartet hosts a singing each summer during July. At this event, the top gospel bluegrass groups in the country come together for several days of singing in Hominy Valley near Candler, NC. They also have a singing in the fall. Labels: biography August 10, 2005Mark Lowry Biography Mark Lowry(June 24, 1958-) Mark Lowry was born in Houston, TX, the middle child of Charles and Beverly Lowry. Lowry’s mother is a noted songwriter whose songs include classics like “I Thirst” and “The Ground Is Level” as well as more recent songs like “Monuments” (Wilburns). After graduating from Liberty University in 1980, Mark began his career as a solo singer, but he soon began telling jokes to fill in the gaps between songs. The comedy routines he developed ultimately came to be as much a part of his act as the singing. In 1988, Lowry’s popularity took a quantum leap when he joined the Gaither Vocal Band to sing baritone and provide comic relief during concerts. Within a year, he had released a solo comedy recording on the Word label called For The First Time On Planet Earth. Following in his mother’s footsteps, he began to receive recognition for his songwriting ability in 1990 after Buddy Greene set music to a lyric Lowry had composed in 1984. Since Michael English’s initial recording of “Mary, Did You Know?” in 1991, more than 30 major recording artists have released their own versions of the song, including Kenny Rogers, Kathy Mattea, Natalie Cole, and Donnie Osmond. When the Gaither Homecoming video series exploded in popularity in the 1990s, Lowry had a recurring platform for his creative output. Bill Gaither became the straight man for his comedy. Lowry was regularly featured on solos with the Vocal Band, and developed close friendships with a number of the legends that appeared on the series including J. D. Sumner, Howard and Vestal Goodman, Jake Hess, and others. During the 1990s, Lowry was quick to take advantage of the then emerging Internet. He launched his own website where he developed a personal connection with fans (which he came to call “reMarkables”) and also published an email newsletter he titled “reMarks.” During the same time period, Lowry wrote a series of children’s books featuring a hyperactive mouse named Piper and hosted a television talk show with Kathy Troccolli. In addition to touring with the Gaither Vocal Band, Lowry did a number of concert tours to support his comedy releases on the Word label. He ultimately moved to the Spring House label in 1998 to release But Seriously, a recording that had no spoken comedy and very little musical comedy. In 2001, Lowry left the Gaither Vocal Band, but continued to maintain close ties with the Homecoming video series. A two-volume set of videos called The Best Of Mark and Bill was released in 2004. He has four videos that are certified Gold (50,000 units) and two that have reached the Platinum level (100,000 units). Lowry’s tours in recent years are typically booked through one concert promoter and featured a select cast of performers such as Stan Whitmire, Lordsong, and the McCraes. In 2005, Lowry launched another unique venture, a multi-day, multi-activity “Senior Trip” to Nashville, TN…where no one under 50 years old is allowed to attend unless their spouse is over 50. Labels: biography August 7, 2005Lee Roy Abernathy Biography Lee Roy Abernathy (August 13, 1913 - 1993) Lee Roy Abernathy was born into a sharecropping family that frequently relocated during his teen years. He began singing at the age of five in his father’s group, the Atco Quartet, and learned to play piano by the time he was 14. In addition to sitting under shape note instructors like James Vaughan and Adger Pace, Abernathy studied at the Conservatory of Music in Atlanta, GA. Abernathy wrote a number of gospel classics including “He’s A Personal Savior,” “A Newborn Feeling,” “Wonderful Time Up There (Gospel Boogie)” and a parody of that song called “Terrible Time Down There.” He was also noted as a Southern Gospel music instructor, particularly for his "Modern Gospel Piano Course By Mail." Abernathy is credited as being one of the first to introduce sheet music and mail order piano courses to Gospel music. Along with Dwight Brock, Abernathy was one of the first to play “turnaround” type introductions on songs. He also served as a vocal coach to individuals (like London Parris) who went on to have great success in the industry. Abernathy was also well known as a performer. He pulled stints with the Rangers and the Homeland Harmony Quartet. Abernathy and Carroll “Shorty” Bradford also performed together as the Happy Two, billed as a “two man quartet.” In 1983, a recording titled Command Performance paid tribute to the songs of Abernathy, with performances by the Rex Nelon Singers, Gold City, the Singing Americans, the Hemphills and others. In addition to gospel music, politics also had an attraction for Abernathy. He composed songs for Franklin Roosevelt’s 1936 campaign and was a candidate for governor of Georgia in 1958. Labels: biography July 29, 2005Isaacs Biography The Isaacs The Isaacs began as a family bluegrass group during the 1970s. Lily Fishman Isaacs has a Jewish background. Her parents married at the end of World War II. Her father had been forced to serve in a German labor camp and her mother had been confined to a concentration camp during the war. After Lily was born in Germany, the Fishmans immigrated to New York. When Lily grew up, she began singing as half of a folk duo called Lily and Maria. They released an album for Columbia in 1968. She also performed on the off-Broadway theatre circuit. Joe Isaacs was playing with a group called the Greenbriar Boys when he met Lily Fishman at Gerdes Folk City, a New York City hotspot. The two were married in 1970. One journalist commented that the unlikely match was analogous to “Ralph Stanley joining Joan Baez.” Lily and Joe became Christians in 1971 after attending the funeral of Joe’s brother and hearing the gospel message that was presented. She now describes herself as a “completed Jew.” After Lily’s conversion, the couple quit performing in nightclubs and began singing exclusively in church settings. Their children Ben, Sonya, and Becky were born between 1972 and 1975. During those years, Joe had a group called the Calvary Mountain Boys. He later headed a group billed as Joe Isaacs and the Sacred Bluegrass. This group was together until 1986. Early on, the three Isaacs children recorded a project billing them as the Isaacs Trio. They were laughingly referred to as the Chipmunks at the time, due to their high harmonies. As they matured, the three Isaacs children began singing from time to time with their father’s group and appearing on a local cable access network. They re-billed themselves The Isaacs in 1986 with the three children now full-fledged group members. Their music was bluegrass, but their vocals were more akin to Southern Gospel, and so they began to have moderate success in both genres. In the early 1990s, the group’s popularity grew considerably. They were invited to appear on the Gaither Homecoming videos and were an instant hit. Joe and Lily would ultimately divorce, but Lily continued to perform with the family group. The song “I Have A Father” came very close to being a number one hit for the Isaacs on the Singing News charts. Their next single was “From The Depths Of My Heart.” It did reach number one and it held the position for three months in the summer of 1993. Rebecca married John Bowman in 1994, and John joined the group to play guitar and banjo. Tim Surrett also married into the family and joined the group on the road for several years playing dobro and other instruments. He and Sonya ultimately divorced, after which Surrett returned to sing with the Carolina Boys/Kingsmen. Sonya Isaacs released a self-titled project on the Lyric Street label in 2000 that was aimed at the mainstream Country market. Vince Gill produced several tracks and it was critically acclaimed. Isaacs also toured some with Gill as a backup singer and featured vocalist around this time. A follow up project with Lyric Street was planned in 2004, but the label first floated a single to radio to test the waters. “No Regrets Yet” peaked at #36 on the Billboard charts in February 2004, but the label and Isaacs parted ways a couple months later with the second recording left unfinished. Meanwhile in 2003, the Isaacs joined the Homecoming Tour full time and saw another song hit number one on the Southern Gospel charts, “Stand Still,” co-written by Sonya and Rebecca. The group released a CD titled Heroes in the summer of 2004. Labels: biography July 27, 2005Legacy V Biography Legacy Five(1999-present) Roger Bennett and Scott Fowler were members of the Cathedrals together from the time Fowler joined the group in 1990. The two men formed a friendship and became business partners, producing recordings for up and coming groups when they weren’t touring. When the Cathedrals completed their “Farewell Tour” in 1999, Fowler and Bennett formed a new group, hiring Glen Dustin (bass), Josh Cobb (tenor), and Scott Howard (baritone). In light of their heritage with the Cathedrals, they adopted the name Legacy Five. Highly acclaimed in 2000 with songs like “I Stand Redeemed” and “Stepping Out On The Water” from their Strong In The Strength recording, the readers of the Singing News responded by nominating all three of Legacy Five’s new faces as Horizon Individuals. (Bennett and Fowler weren’t eligible.) Josh Cobb won the award, but he and the group parted ways two days later. The group also won in the Horizon Group category that year. Tony Jarman was ultimately chosen to replace Cobb. Legacy Five followed up their debut with the recordings Heroes Of The Faith and London. The latter is reminiscent of the Cathedrals project Symphony Of Praise in that it mixes Southern Gospel vocal harmonies with a philharmonic orchestra. This release produced the group’s first number one single, “I Found Grace,” which topped the chart in September of 2003. Jarman resigned from the group to pursue a solo career in 2004, and was replaced at tenor by Frank Seamans, a former member of The Sound, the same group that brought Scott Fowler to the attention of the Cathedrals. Legacy Five released a project titled Monuments in 2004. See also: Discography, Members Labels: biography July 24, 2005Janet Paschal Biography Janet PaschalJanet Paschal joined the LeFevres in the mid-1970s, first appearing on the 1975 recording titled Experience...The LeFevres. She made the name change transition (from the LeFevres to the Rex Nelon Singers) with the group after Eva Mae LeFevre’s departure in 1977. The group released a recording called Feelings in 1979 and saw their single ”Come Morning” hit the number one position on the Singing News chart for the months of June, August, and October in 1980. Another popular tune that featured Paschal with the Nelons was “We Shall Wear A Robe And Crown” from the 1980 Expressions Of Love release. After leaving the Nelons in the early 1980s, Paschal ultimately embarked on a solo career. Her initial solo release was on the Shiloh label in 1986, titled I Give You Jesus. By 2004, she had added ten more releases to her solo discography. Paschal’s success as a soloist came in the Inspirational market. “God Will Make A Way,” “Another Soldier’s Coming Home,” and “Written In Red” are just of few of the songs for which Paschal is well known. Seven of her singles have reached the Top Ten on the Inspirational chart, including the 1990 number one hit, “Take These Burdens.” Labels: biography July 23, 2005Nelons Biography The Nelons(1977-present) The Rex Nelon Singers were formed in 1977 from the remnants of the LeFevres. The name of the group was ultimately shortened to “The Nelons.” Original group members included Rex Nelon (bass), Kelly Nelon (alto for the LeFevres since 1972), Rodney Swain (tenor), and Janet Paschal (soprano). The group’s first recording for the Canaan label in 1977 was titled The Sun’s Coming Up. A live recording followed in 1978 which included a song written and performed by Rex Nelon called “I Love To Call His Name.” In 1980, a song from the group’s 1979 recording Feelings became the Nelons’ first number one song on the Singing News chart. “Come Morning” actually hit the top position three times in non-consecutive months, which is rare. After Janet Paschal’s departure from the group in the early 1980s, Karen Peck became the soprano for the Nelons. Jerry Thompson married Kelly Nelon and began singing with the group as well. The group would enjoy a successful run of popularity with Peck and Thompson. Four songs that are now considered Nelons classics all came from a 1983 project titled We Shall Behold The King. Those songs are “We Shall Behold The King,” “When I Receive My Robe And Crown,” “Oh, For A Thousand Tongues,” and “Walk Right Out Of This Valley.” For the rest of the 1980s, the Nelons sang in a style that came to be labeled “middle of the road.” They were more progressive than most Southern Gospel groups of the time, but they weren’t full blown contemporary in style, certainly not compared to other vocal groups of the day like Second Chapter of Acts or the Imperials. Songs like “God’s Way Up,” “Don’t Give Up” and “Thanks” attracted a younger audience while tunes like “The Sweetest Song” continued to appeal to traditional Southern Gospel fans. By the early 1990s, Peck had left the group to form New River. The singing members of the Nelons were all relatives for a couple of years with Rex and Kelly joined by Todd Nelon and Kelly’s husband Jerry Thompson. Another Nelons song reached number one on the Singing News chart in 1992. The song was “I’m Glad I Know Who Jesus Is.” 1992 also began a series changes for the group. At a couple of points, there was a question of whether the group would continue. Jerry and Kelly left the group to pursue a vocal duo career around this time. Rex considered retirement at the time, but discovered a young talent in Charlotte Penhollow and carried on. Jerry and Kelly subsequently returned to the group in 1993. Amy Roth began singing soprano for the group in 1997. Jerry Thompson and Kelly divorced around this time, and Thompson left the group. The group then went through a number of personnel changes. David Hill was with the group for one CD, as was Paul Lancaster. Ultimately, Kelly married the group’s bass player Jason Clark, who began singing with the group. Jason’s father Dan Clark joined the group to sing bass and Kelly’s daughter Amber Thompson became the group’s soprano in 2002, making it a group with all the members related once more (though three of them now had the last name of Clark). Dan came off the road in 2003 and the Nelons subsequently became a trio consisting of Jason, Kelly, and Amber. The Nelons have won five Dove Awards, including four for best Southern Gospel Album. Kelly Nelon received seven Singing News Fan Awards in the categories of Favorite Female Vocalist and Favorite Alto between 1980 and 1990. See also: Nelons Discography, Rex Nelon Biography Labels: biography July 11, 2005Videt Polk Biography Polk, Videt Richard(1919-2002) Videt Polk was a noted singer, teacher and songwriter who lived in Baton Rouge, LA. There’s a street named after him in Baton Rouge. Polk served as president of several singing conventions, including the TriState Singing Convention for a period of 47 years and the Arkansas-Texas Singing Convention for 25 years. He was also president of the National Singing Convention for five years. Polk was in charge of the Jimmie Davis homecoming event for 20 years and was a co-owner of Stamps Baxter Music Co. Some of the gospel singing events Polk held at the Governor’s Mansion in Louisiana drew as many as 50,000 people. Polk published and compiled a number of gospel songbooks for Stamps-Baxter and Zondervan/Benson. He also wrote numerous articles on the subject of gospel music. He co-wrote several songs with Bobby Burnett. Their most popular song is the 1958 children’s praise chorus “God Is So Good.” Polk co-wrote a book with Mrs. J. R. (Clarice) Baxter in 1971 titled Gospel Song Writers Biography. Labels: biography June 20, 2005Palmetto State Quartet Biography Palmetto State Quartet(late 1940s-present) Early members of the Palmetto State Quartet in the late 1940s included Greenville, SC residents Jamie Dill (pianist), Clarence Owens (tenor), Woodrow Pittman (lead), Malone Thomason (baritone), and Paul Burroughs (bass). The group had a 30-minute program on Greenville radio station WFBC on Sundays at 8:00 AM. Jack Earl Pittman replaced his first cousin Woodrow in 1954. Jack Bagwell replaced Thomason around the same time. The two Jacks would sing together in the group for more than 40 years. For many years, the group operated as a part-time regional group. Ken Turner sang bass for the group in the 1960s after Burroughs left. Laverne Tripp also filled in for Jack Pittman for a while when Pittman was having health problems. The group actually stopped singing for a while in the late 1960s, but formed again in 1971 with Dill, Bagwell, Pittman, Claude Hunter, and Cliff King. The next change came in 1981 when Joel Duncan replaced King at the bass position. Eddie Broom joined as the group’s guitar player in 1984 and became their tenor singer when Hunter left in 1986. The Palmetto State Quartet began to expand their horizons in 1989. Dill had passed away in 1987 and was replaced by David McCabe at the keys. Jack Pittman took over as the group manager. In 1989, the legendary Hovie Lister replaced McCabe following his stint with the Masters V. The presence and personality of Lister opened up new doors for the group to travel more. Woody Beatty joined them a few months later to augment Lister’s keyboard with his synthesizer work. Beatty became the full time pianist when Lister left in 1992 to re-organize the Statesmen. By 1987, the Palmetto State Quartet was working a full time schedule. Bagwell and Pittman decided to retire in 1997. Bass singer Harold Gilley made his exit from the group at the same time. The restructuring that followed brought in Kerry Beatty to sing lead, Tony Peace at baritone, and Jeff Pearles on bass. The group has had a series of changes in recent years. Former Kingsmen pianist Andrew Ishee succeeded Woody Beatty at piano. John Rulapaugh joined the group to sing tenor in 2002. Aaron McCune became the group’s bass singer in 2003, and Rick Fair replaced Tony Peace in 2004. Despite the changes, the group’s song “Knock, Knock, Knock” reach the number one position on the Singing News Top 80 radio airplay chart in 2004. Labels: biography June 13, 2005Ben Speer Biography Speer, Ben Lacy Speer (1930 - ) Ben Speer was born in Double Springs, AL in 1930 and began performing with his family group at the age of two. The youngest of the four Speer siblings, Ben eventually made “The King Is Coming” his signature song. He also arranged music for the group and developed a reputation as a comic emcee for the group. Ben retired from the Speer Family in 1992, but continued to appear with them at select dates until the group itself retired in the late 1990s. The Speers still appear from time to time on reunion events. In addition to performing, Ben Speer established the Ben Speer Music Company in 1946, the first major publisher of sheet music. In more recent years, he has been active as a record producer in the Southern Gospel music industry, most notably for the Homeland label and the Gaither Homecoming videos where he’s also frequently a featured performer and functions as Gaither’s music director. In addition to artist projects, Speer has produced numerous accompaniment tracks for Homeland’s EZ Key series and sang with the Homeland Quartet alongside label owner Bill Traylor. Speer has also operated the Ben Speer’s Stamps-Baxter School Of Music, a two-week summer program on the campus of Trivecca Nazarene University, for a number of years. Labels: biography June 11, 2005Oak Ridge Boys Biography Oak Ridge Boys(1943-present) The Oak Ridge Boys grew out of Wally Fowler’s Georgia Clodhoppers. The town of Oak Ridge, TN drew national attention after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in August 1945. Fowler, whose group had been popular in the area since 1943, subsequently re-named the group after the town. At first they were known as the Oak Ridge Quartet, but they also referred to themselves using the “Boys” moniker dating back to the early 1950s. Starts and Restarts Over the next 20 years, more than 30 members passed through the group including Calvin Newton, Joe Allred, Cat Freeman, and a teen-aged Glen Allred who played guitar and sang baritone whenever Fowler didn’t appear with the group. Fowler actually started a group called the Oak Ridge Quartet at least four times. The first group left Fowler to form the Stone Mountain Quartet. Fowler hired a new group, which he sold to Bob Weber in 1952. It folded in a couple of years. Fowler reclaimed the group name with a third lineup in 1956. Smitty Gatlin was the group manager/lead singer and Ronnie Page sang baritone with the 1956 group. The group members secured the ownership from Fowler in 1958 and with the addition of tenor Willie Wynn, bass Herman Harper, and pianist Tommy Fairchild, they became one of the more popular quartets in the early 1960s.  The 1960s: Success In Gospel MusicDuring the 1960s, the Oak Ridge Boys had their own television program, which was geared for youth. The program was called It’s Happening. They also popularized a stage routine called “Go Out To The Program” which featured the Oaks mimicking the popular songs of other artists. (The routine was actually originated in 1953 by the Dixie Hummingbirds, a popular black gospel group.) In one skit, for example, tenor Willie Wynn and the rest of the Oaks would sing the song “Higher” in the style of Rose Carter with the Chuck Wagon Gang. This was especially popular on multi-artist events, because the artist they were spoofing would often join them on stage to the delight of the crowd. By this time, the group was known and marketed as the Oak Ridge Boys, so Fowler started a fourth group and again named it the Oak Ridge Quartet. A lawsuit filed by Gatlin and the other Oak Ridge Boys forced Fowler to stop using the name, though. When Gatlin left the group a few months after the resolution of the lawsuit in 1966, Duane Allen was hired to take his place. William Lee Golden was already singing with the group by this point, succeeding baritone Jim Hamill in 1965 (who succeeded Gary McSpadden in 1964). Noel Fox replaced Herman Harper in 1969. The 1970s: Moving From Gospel To Secular Allen and Golden got to know Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban over the next few years. When the bass slot came open in 1972, Sterban was hired. He had been singing backup bass for J. D. Sumner in the Stamps and touring with Elvis Presley previously. Bonsall joined in 1973, replacing the 15 year veteran tenor Willie Wynn. The group continued to sing gospel music until 1975, but their increasingly progressive stage presence had begun to worry some promoters. Many fans were bothered as well. 200 people stood and marched out in protest when they performed in Roanoke, VA in 1975, an act the Oaks accused the Kingsmen of putting into motion, but the Kingsmen denied. Jim Hamill was particularly outspoken about the direction the Oak Ridge Boys were going at this time, referring to them as a “night club act.” Les Beasley would also speak positively about the image of the Statler Brothers, saying they weren’t “Oak Ridge types.”  The turning point came when they were booked to open a tour for Roy Clark and were told they were just “three minutes” away from making it big in Country music…that is to say, they had everything they needed to succeed in terms of talent and stage presentation except one hit song. After a couple of lean years attempting to break in the Country industry and failing on the Columbia label, they had success with their 1977 MCA album called Y’all Come Back Saloon. Any doubts about whether or not the Oaks were switching to secular were resolved at that point.The 1980s and 1990s: Secular Successes A string of hits in the late 1970s and 1980s established the Oaks alongside the Statler Brothers as Country music’s top male vocal groups. With novelty songs like “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue” and a Gospel/Christmas/Country genre-crossing classic in “Thank God For Kids,” their popularity reached new heights. After Bonsall joined the group in 1973, their only change in membership came in 1987 when William Lee Golden was voted out of the group for failing to modify his “mountain man” appearance among other issues. Band member Steve Sanders took Golden’s place, and Golden sued the group for $40 million. The suit was ultimately settled out of court. Golden returned to the group at the beginning of 1996, still a mountain man. Sanders died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1998.  Back To RootsFor most of their secular career, the Oak Ridge Boys recorded for MCA and RCA. In 2001, the Oak Ridge Boys signed a recording contract with Spring Hill and released From The Heart, an all gospel project containing new material. With several Spring Hill recordings now under their belt, the Oaks have won their way into the hearts of gospel fans again, although they still receive criticism from some for continuing to appear at questionable venues such as casinos. The group has been featured on the Gaither Homecoming videos in recent years and has a daily show at the Grand Palace in Branson, MO. Labels: biography June 10, 2005Dad Speer Biography George Thomas "Dad" Speer(1891 - 1966) G. T. Speer was born in Fayette County, Georgia in 1891 and was raised near the town of Double Springs, Alabama. He taught in singing schools for the Vaughan and Stamps-Baxter based schools and had a reputation for being a stickler when it came to proper singing. In 1921, Speer and his new wife, Lena, organized The Speer Quartet along with G. T.’s sister and brother-in-law, Pearl and Logan Claborn. The Claborn’s left the group in 1925. As G. T. and Lena’s children Brock, Mary Tom, Rosa Nell, and Ben matured, they were trained and developed into the Singing Speer Family, a group that continued traveling into the 1990s. Dad Speer also wrote over 600 gospel songs. Many are standard repertoire for groups today. Some of his more popular tunes include "Heaven's Jubilee," "I Never Shall Forget the Day," and "The Dearest Friend I Ever Had." Labels: biography June 7, 2005Brock Speer Biography Jackson Brock Speer(Dec. 28, 1920 – Mar. 29, 1999) Brock Speer began singing professionally with his parent's quartet while still a small boy in the 1920s. Aside from a stint as a soldier in World War II, Speer sang with his family group his entire life. Ultimately moving to the bass position, Speer became the leader of the group after the death of his parents in the mid-1960s. Under Speer’s direction, the group was one of the top drawing groups in the industry until their retirement, recording on the RCA, Benson, and Homeland labels among others. In 1972, Speer served as president of the GMA. He also served the organization as chairman of the board and was a permanent board member. He was inducted into the GMA Hall Of Fame in 1975. The SGMA inducted Brock into their Hall Of Fame in 1997, also inducting his parents that same year. Labels: biography June 6, 2005Mom Speer Biography Lena Brock "Mom" Speer(1900 - 1967) Lena Brock grew up in a musical family. Her father, Charles A. Brock, taught music in the South and trained his children to sing at an early age. Her brother Dwight Moody Brock was one of the more innovative piano players of his day, introducing what became a common practice of instrumental turnarounds between verses and being one of the first to establish the five man “quartet,” four singers plus a piano player. He was with some of the earliest versions of the Stamps Quartets. After marrying G. T. Speer in 1920, Lena joined him in forming the Speer Quartet the following year. She was the group’s original soprano and continued to perform alongside her husband and with their four children as the Singing Speer Family until her death in 1967. She was best known for her moving renditions of songs like "Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All" and "Time Has Made A Change In Me." In 1997, Speer and her husband were inducted into the SGMA Hall Of Fame. Labels: biography June 3, 2005Jimmie Davis Biography James Houston "Jimmie" Davis(1899 - 2000) Jimmie Davis got his start in the music business writing country songs in the 1920s and 1930s. His most popular tune was “You Are My Sunshine,” written in 1940. He also played roles in several westerns filmed by Columbia Pictures in the 1940s. It was also in the 1940s that Davis pursued a political career, ultimately becoming governor of Louisiana in 1944. In his later campaigns for political office, Davis would sing gospel music while the Plainsmen Quartet backed him up. This endeared him to voters, and he served a second term as governor in the early 1960s. Davis recorded on the RCA Victor label and also on Decca, and was best remembered for his performances of the songs “Suppertime” and “Mansion Over A Hilltop.” He also wrote a number of gospel songs including "Someone To Care" and “Sheltered In The Arm Of God” (co-written with Dottie Rambo). Davis served a term as President of the GMA in 1967, and later married former Chuck Wagon Gang member Anna Carter Gordon. The Nashville Songwriters, Country Music, and the SGMA have inducted Davis into their respective Halls Of Fame. Labels: biography May 30, 2005Cleavant Derricks Biography Lister Cleavant Derricks(May 13, 1910 - 1977) Baptist minister Cleavant Derricks was a writer of gospel songs whose works are counted as standards among Southern Gospel quartets today. "Just a Little Talk With Jesus", "When He Blessed My Soul", "We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials", and "When God Dipped His Love in My Heart" are just a few of the more than 300 songs he contributed to gospel music. Many of his songs were published by Stamps-Baxter in the Depression era. In addition to songwriting, Derricks served as pastor and choir director in Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. Derrick’s son (also named Cleavant) began a career in entertainment by following in his father’s footsteps initially. The two co-wrote a Grammy nominated project called Satisfaction Guaranteed in 1976, which was released on the Canaan label a year before the elder Derricks’ death. It was a follow-up to the 1975 release Just A Little Talk With Jesus. The son is better known for his acting career that followed. He was an original cast member on the sci-fi television series Sliders, portraying the character Rembrandt “Crying Man” Brown. He also won a Tony Award for his work in the production Dreamgirls. The elder Derricks’ efforts were recognized by the GMA in 1984 when he was posthumously inducted into their Hall Of Fame. The SGMA Hall of Fame inducted Derricks as well in 2001. Labels: biography May 29, 2005Couriers Biography
The Couriers
-----------A brief history The Couriers formed in the 1950s at the Assemblies Of God Central Bible Institute in Springfield, MO. They became full time professionals in 1958, with group members Neil Enloe (lead), Duane Nicholson (tenor), Don Baldwin (baritone), Dave Kyllonen (bass), and Eddie Reece (piano). Harrisburg, PA became the group’s home after they scouted the country for areas where their competition would be minimal. The group soon secured a spot singing on radio station WCMB. By the early 1960s, the Couriers were key concert promoters as well as performers. In 1964, they became one of the original groups included on the nationally televised Gospel Singing Jubilee. In 1968, the Couriers scaled back to a trio format and due to tight finances, became the first group in Southern Gospel to appear with pre-recorded soundtracks rather than live musicians. They would go on to establish their own television show (Couriers) in the early 1970s. At this time, the Couriers stood in contrast to the rest of the entertainment driven industry with their ministry focused approach. Although other groups certainly promoted the gospel, the Couriers’ program had an altar call as its primary focus. Neil Enloe wrote a hit song for the group in the early 1970s called “Statue Of Liberty” that became their signature tune. Unlike most “southern” groups, the Couriers have experienced the bulk of their success in the northeastern United States and Canada. Labels: biography May 5, 2005Rex Nelon Biography Nelon, Rex Lloyd (January 19, 1932 - 2000) Rex Nelon served in the Marine Corps in the early 1950s. After his discharge, he sang with several part time groups around Asheville, North Carolina. His first full time position was with Homeland Harmony Quartet in 1955. In 1957, Rex joined the LeFevres in a dual role as singer and guitarist. He continued with the group for the next 20 years and ultimately became the group owner. When Eva Mae LeFevre retired from the group in 1977, Nelon, whose daughter Kelly was already singing with the LeFevres, changed the group name to the Rex Nelon Singers. The Nelons became a trend setting group in the 1980s, often introducing songs that would be classified as “middle of the road” such as “Oh, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing” and “Don’t Give Up.” After turning the group over to Kelly in the mid-1990s, Rex Nelon continued to appear regularly on the Gaither Homecoming videos. He was in London, England at a taping session with the Gaithers when he passed away in 2000. The SGMA Hall Of Fame inducted Rex Nelon in 1999. See also: Nelons Discography, Nelons Biography Labels: biography April 24, 2005Kingsmen Biography The Kingsmen(1950s-present) Several groups have used the Kingsmen name over the years, both in sacred and secular music. The most popular secular artists to use the name were the pop group who had a hit with “Louie, Louie” and the Statler Brothers, who changed their name once “Louie, “Louie” became a hit. Other groups have used altered spellings of the name, such at the “King’s Men.” In Southern Gospel circles, a male quartet based in Asheville, NC is the best-known group calling themselves the Kingsmen. Brothers Raymond, Reese, and Louis McKinney formed the group in the 1950s. David Young played for the McKinney brothers in 1957 and 1958 while he was a student at Mars Hill College. Young had his own group called the Kingsmen Quartet based in Lenior, TN from 1953 to 1956. Charles Collier and Harold Bailey were also members of the group around this time. Eldridge Fox joined in 1957 and began to manage the group by the early 1960s. Longtime bass singer Ray Dean Reese joined the Kingmen around 1963 or 1964. Reese sang bass for a couple of years. He then left the group for a couple of years to sing with various other groups and deliver JFG coffee on the side. He returned to the group in the late 1960s. A third individual whose name came to be synonymous with the group joined in 1971, lead singer Jim Hamill. Hamill was formerly a member of the Blue Ridge Quartet and Oak Ridge Boys. In 1973, the group released a trend setting live recording called Big And Live. On this project they introduced fans to their exciting brand of singing. Unlike the more polished and choreographed Statesmen and Blackwood Brothers of the previous two decades, the Kingsmen emphasized an exuberant energy. Big And Live also showcased a number of songs that would go on to become classics. Their first version of "The Glory Road" is on the recording. The project also included their own arrangment of "Love Lifted Me" and "Love Will Roll The Clouds Away." With the success of Big And Live (which won a Dove Award in 1974), and never missing an opportunity for creative marketing, the group was billing themselves as the “Ton Of Fun” during the 1970s. Indeed, when the entire group of eight individuals including band members stood on a set of vehicle scales, they did surpass 2000 pounds. The Kingsmen of the 1980s continued to combine high energy, up-tempo music with an exciting brand of showmanship. They recorded more live projects than the average Southern Gospel group because the concert setting was where they excelled. Popular songs for the group during this time included “Saints Will Rise,” "Child, Child," and the novelty song “Excuses.” Ernie Phillips, Ed Crawford, Wayne Maynard, Squire Parsons, Anthony Burger, Arthur Rice and other individuals passed through the group over the next few years. Burger was so popular during his extended stint with the group, he won the Singing News Fan Award for Best Musician ten years in a row. For several years after that, the award was named after him. By the early 1990s, the Kingsmen had joined forces with Gold City to record a series of live recordings called KingsGold. Parker Jonathan was singing baritone for the group by this time. Tim Surrett took on a dual role singing lead at times in Hamill’s place, and playing with the band. Andrew Ishee became the group’s piano player in the late 1990s. The multi-talented Randy Miller played guitar, harmonica, and was featured on selected songs as a vocalist. A hit with the sentimental song “Wish You Were Here” featuring Surrett’s bluegrass tinged vocals marked a turning point for the group. The song proved the group could have success with a polished studio ballad in addition to their success in emotion driven concert settings. In time, Fox and Hamill withdrew from traveling, though they did continue to appear at selected events. Greg Fox, son of Eldridge and longtime drummer for the group, assumed road manager duties for a few years. After the elder Fox’s death in 2002, the Kingsmen Quartet name was retired. The legal ownership of the name was turned over to Charles Burke, a businessman from Maiden, NC and owner of the Singing Americans. The remaining Kingsmen members toured for two years billed as the Carolina Boys Quartet. During this time, they had a hit song ”God Sits On High,” featuring tenor singer Jerry Martin. Nick Succi had replaced the departing Andrew Ishee at piano when the name change occurred and Tim Surrett returned the following year. In 2004, the Kingsmen Quartet name was transferred from Charles Burke back to the group, now managed by 40+ year bass singing veteran Ray Reese. The group subsequently released a project titled Born Again that included several previous Kingsmen hits like "Excuses," “Love Will Roll The Clouds Away” and “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More." Vocal problems plagued Surrett over the next year and he ultimately left the group. Former Wilburns and Palmetto State Quartet baritone Tony Peace joined the Kingsmen in 2005 replacing Surrett. The top vocal half of the group in 2005 included Jeremy Peace at tenor and Phillip Hughes at lead. Bass player Jason Selph was frequently featured as a vocalist as well. Nick Succi (piano) and Reese's son Brandon (drums) complete the Kingsmen band. See also: Discography, Members Labels: biography April 11, 2005George Younce Biography George Wilson Younce(Feb. 22, 1930 – Apr. 11, 2005) George Younce was a native of Lenoir, North Carolina. He studied shape note singing and performed with the Spiritualaires when he was still a teenager. He sang with several groups over the next 20 years including the Watchmen, the Homeland Harmony Quartet, the Weatherfords, the Florida Boys, and the Blue Ridge Quartet. In 1964, he joined what was then called the Cathedral Trio, so named after Rex Humbard’s Cathedral Of Tomorrow in Akron, OH where the group was based. With the addition of Younce’s bass voice, they became the Cathedral Quartet. For the next 35 years, Younce and Glen Payne moved the Cathedrals to the top ranks of Southern Gospel. By the 1990s, the Cathedrals were universally acclaimed by fans and the Southern Gospel industry. A farewell tour prompted by Younce’s gradually declining health and the death of Glen Payne ended the Cathedrals’ run in 1999. In 2000, Younce formed the Old Friends Quartet with his son-in-law Ernie Haase, the legendary Jake Hess, and Wesley Pritchard. This group released two recordings and appeared on limited dates until Hess’ death in 2004. Younce and the Cathedrals are members of the GMA Hall Of Fame, and Younce was inducted into the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1998. Most remembered for his singing and mastery as a concert emcee, Younce also wrote several gospel songs including “Yesterday.” See also: Cathedrals Biography, Cathedrals Discography, and Cathedrals Members Labels: biography April 10, 2005Wendy Bagwell Biography Wendell Lee “Wendy” Bagwell(1925 - 1996) After serving as a United States Marine, Wendy Bagwell formed the Sunliters in 1953. By 1961, the Sunliters consisted of Bagwell, Jan Buckner and Jerri Morrison, a line-up that would remain together for more than 30 years and release more than 40 recordings. Their first major hit was a sentimental song called “Pearl Buttons.” The group is best remembered for their 1970 release Here Come The Rattlesnakes. The title track featured Bagwell performing a comedy routine about the Sunliters singing a date for a church that handled snakes as part of their worship. It ultimately became the first Southern Gospel album to be certified as a million seller. Bagwell was hired to be a spokesman for Stanback brand headache powders in a television ad campaign. He soon became nationally known for his signature catch phrase “and that’s a fact with my hand up.” Some of his other comedy routines included “Ralph Bennett’s Volkswagen,” “Me, Old Ronnie, and the Monkey,” and “Pickin’ Up Paw Paws.” Bagwell passed away in 1996 and was posthumously inducted into the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1997. Labels: biography March 7, 2005Mosie Lister Biography Thomas Mosie Lister(September 8, 1921 - ) In 1939, Mosie Lister studied music at the Vaughan School Of Music in Tennessee. He began his musical career as a singer, performing as an original member of the Sunny South Quartet before World War II. After a four year stint with the Navy, he worked a few months again with the Sunny South Quartet before leaving to form the Melody Masters with Jim Wetherington, Alvin Tootle, Lee Kitchens, and Wally Varner in 1946. Lister remained in Atlanta when the Melody Masters moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1948, Lister was tapped by Hovie Lister to be the original baritone for the Statesmen. (Despite their common last name, similar first names and involvement with the Statesmen, Mosie is no relation to Hovie). Lister soon gave up his professional singing career to devote his attention to writing, continuing to work as an arranger for the Statesmen. In 1953, he formed the Mosie Lister Publishing Company. Some of Lister’s better known tunes include “Then I Met The Master,” “I’m Feelin’ Fine,” “His Hand In Mine,” and “’Til The Storm Passes By.” Lister was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in 1976 and into the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1997. Over the years, Lister also became a popular arranger of choral music for Lillenas Publishing. He has continued to write songs for popular Southern Gospel groups in the early 21st century. The Dove Brothers, Booth Brothers, and Palmetto State Quartet are just a few of the modern groups to recorded songs written by Lister. The Dove Brothers released a project titled A Tribute To Mosie Lister in 2004, which Lister also produced. Labels: biography March 5, 2005Dottie Rambo Biography Dottie Luttrell Rambo(1934 - ) Dottie Rambo got her start in Southern Gospel by writing songs and performing at revivals. She was eight years old when she first became interested in writing songs. By the age of 12, she had left home to sing full time. Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisiana heard her music and signed her to a writing contract when she was still in her teens. She married Buck Rambo when she was 16, and their daughter Reba was born when Dottie was 18. Reba began performing with the group when she was three years old. As she grew older, the Rambos grew to be one of the most popular family trios in gospel music. In addition to performing, Rambo continued to write. An extremely prolific songwriter, she has written more than 2500 songs. Her tunes have been recorded by dozens of secular artists and hundreds of gospel artists. Whitney Houston’s version of “I Go To The Rock” was included on the movie soundtrack for The Preacher’s Wife, which sold over two million units. Driven by Houston’s performance, the song also won a Dove Award in 1999. Other popular songs by Rambo include “Tears Will Never Stain The Streets Of That City,” “He Looked Beyond My Faults” (to the tune of "Londonderry Aire” aka “Danny Boy”), “Too Much To Gain To Lose,” “If That Isn't Love,” and “We Shall Behold Him.” Like her songs, Rambo’s awards are also numerous. She got her first Grammy in 1968 for a solo project called It’s The Soul Of Me. In 1994, she was named “Songwriter Of The Century” by the Christian Country Music Association. In 2001, ASCAP recognized Rambo with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rambo is also a dual member of the GMA Hall Of Fame, having been inducted both as an individual and as part of the Rambo Trio. As the years have passed by, Dottie Rambo has endured more than her share of pain and heartache. She suffers with chronic back trouble and has undergone 10 surgeries. At various times, her health problems have left her in comas. On the home front, Rambo’s marriage ultimately failed and the subsequent divorce from Buck Rambo was particularly painful. She has experienced a comeback of sorts in later years, though. Barbara Mandrell hosted a televised Tribute To Dottie Rambo in 2002. Then in 2003, Rambo released her first project in 18 years, Stand By The River, which included a duet with Dolly Parton on the title song. Labels: biography Ed O'Neal Biography Ed O’Neal (1936 - ) Bass singer, Ed O'Neal was born in Raleigh, North Carolina where he grew up singing with his brothers. He joined the Serenaders in 1958 and moved to the Gospel Harmony Quartet in 1960. A year later, he joined the Dixie Melody Boys, where he has remained for over 40 years. O’Neal took the group in a country direction for a couple of years in the mid-1980s, rebilling them as the DMB Band. He soon returned them to a traditional male quartet format and brought back their original name. As owner and manager of the Dixie Melody Boys, O’Neal has developed a reputation for molding young singers. McCray Dove, Harold Reid, Devin McGlamery, Derrick Selph and others got their formal training singing under O’Neal. The Dixie Melody Boys are best known for their renditions of “Antioch Church Choir” and an O’Neal composition called “When I Cross To The Other Side Of Jordan.” O’Neal became a member of the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 2004. Labels: biography February 21, 2005Wally Varner Biography
Labels: biography February 15, 2005Stamps Quartet Biography | |||
Wally Varner Biography