4,`W. RELIGIOUS MUSIC \\\\\\\\\l,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\1 GMA Votes to Expand Its Organizational Drive NASHVILLE - Directors of hope to open a GMA office in the Gospel Music Association. Nashville within the next year at its quarterly meeting here and employ an executive sec- Aug. 16, voted to initiate im- retary. mediately an organizational Attending the meeting were membership drive, with dues of Don Light, of Billboard's Nash- $100 a year for holding cotn- ville office, board chairman; panies. James Myers, of SESAC, New Dues for subsidiaries of hold- York: Brock Speer, Speer Fam- ing companies would be $50 ily, Nashville; J. D. Sumner, per year for each subsidiary. Stamps Quartet, Memphis; Ho- The board also voted to initi- vie Lister, Statesmen Quartet, ate a life membership drive Atlanta; James S. Wetherington, after the National Quartet Con- Statesmen Quartet; John T. Ben- vention in Memphis Oct. 14 -17. son, publisher, Nashville, and Dues will be $100 per person. W. B. Nowlin, promoter, Fort The directors expressed a Worth. JAKE HESS AND THE IMPERIALS -From left: Armond Morales, bass; A NEW ALBUM by the Stamps Henry Slaughter, pianist and emcee; Gary McSpadden, baritone; Jake Quartet, "Stamps Quartet Sing Hess, lead; Sherrill Nielsen, tenor. Hymns of the Old Rugged Cross" (SRLP /SSLP- 6034), is sure to be a top -selling record. PROFILE The Stamps Quartet is one of the many top groups who re- cord for Skylite Records. (Advertisement) The Imperials Made Light Sets Up Fast Climb to Top BB Luncheon The Imperials were Hess next remembered Ar- NASHVILLE -Don Light, organized less than two years ago but have mond Morales of Los Angeles, who resigned recently as sales already climbed to the top of a bass singer with a superb blend executive at Billboard's Nash- the world. They sound. That reminded him of ville office, will co-ordinate gospel music are one of the first -rank per- pianist Henry Slaughter, because Billboard's luncheon for gospel forming groups in the business both Morales and Slaughter had music industry leaders Oct. 15 today. been with the Weatherford in Memphis. Dozens of gospel groups Quartet. Slaughter was an out- The luncheon will be at 12 struggle for years and never standing composer and arranger. noon at the Downtowner on the reach the top. The Imperials' Both agreed to join Hess' new second day of the National spectacular climb is not so sur- group. Quartet Convention, Oct. 14 -17. prising when one examines their About 100 gospel music lead- For his tenor singer, Hess history. Jake Hess, who sang contacted Sherrill Nielsen of NEW TV SHOW: Jerry Goff, general manager of Programming, Inc., ers have been invited, including lead for the Statesmen for 15 Hess Atlanta, recently signed the Chuck Wagon Gang to star in a 15- minute group managers, publishers, Montgomery, Ala., whom years, decided in late 1962 to syndicated TV show. The show, "Gospel Round -Up," will be the first composers, record company of- had heard sing. Nielsen was form his own quartet. He knew gospel music show to be produced in color. In photo with Goff are ficials, promoters and represen- then soloist with the Air Force from experience, however, that a Beth Plyler (left), operational manager, and Kathy Tenney, office tatives song -licensing organ- Strategic Command band, but of new group would not succeed in co- ordinator. izations. said he would be ready. While a highly competitive field unless waiting Purpose of the luncheon is to the call, Nielsen was it had top -caliber singers. several major college concerts introduce Billboard personnel to discharged and acquired valu- Hess began his search. He had able this fall, booked by Dennis the industry, explain the things experience with the Speers met Gary McSpadden of Lub- Family. Huey, vice -president of Pete Billboard is doing in promoting Shaped Notes bock, Tex., a fine baritone sing- Emery Productions. The book- gospel music, and receive from Hess kept up with his group er, and knew he would be ideal. By DON LIGHT ings resulted from the success- industry leaders their ideas on and it was December, 1963, Gary's father is a minister and ful University of Alabama con- what Billboard should do next to before the time was ripe. It Gary grew up singing gospel Jerry Goff, president of Pro- cert the Imperials played last further gospel music. had taken him more than a year gramming, Inc., Atlanta, was in spring, the first appearance of songs. Hess told Gary his plans to prepare. He gave the States- Among executives from Bill - and asked him to be ready when Music City last week, taping the gospel music on a major campus. hoard who will men his notice, called his new attend are Hal the call came. Gary agreed and, first "Gospel Round -Up" syn- Darol Rice, RCA Victor's B. Cook, publisher; Zhito. Lee before the call came, got ex- group together in January, 1964, dicated TV show. The 15-min- a man front Hollywood, editor -in- chief; Paul &r di- Ackerman, perienced with the Oak Ridge and Jake Hess and the Imperials ute show features the Chuck rected the music Pete Statesmen in sessions editor: Heine, direc- Quartet. were born. Wagon Gang and the Rangers, here last month for winter re- tor of sales, all from the New and is the first gospel music lease. Rice will return this month York office; Elton Whisenhunt, show taped in color. to produce an album of gospel news editor, and Mark -Clark RCA Victor's George Beverly songs by the Anita Kerr Singers. Bates, general manager, from J. D. Sumner Joins Stamps Shea recorded his first album in It will be their first gospel al- the Nashville office. Nashville recently under direc- bum. MEMPHIS -J. D. Sumner. Sumner, 40, is president of tion of Dared Rice, It will he re- Marvin Norcross, of Word Family's first album for Word's bass singer for Blackwood Stamps Quartet Music Co. and leased in October.... Jake Hess Records. Inc., Waco. Tex., will Caanan label later this month at Brothers Quartet for 10 years, general manager of Skylite Re- and the Imperials are set for produce the Happy Goodman Nashville's RCA Victor studios. has become bass singer for the cording Co., jointly owned by Stamps Quartet. John Hall, who the Blackwood Brothers and sang bass with the Stamps group, Statesmen Quartets, Sumner has took Sumner's place with the been in gospel music 20 years. Gospel Music Gains in the West Blackwood Brothers. He started with the Sunny South The Blackwood Brothers own Quartet in 1945, went with the Music Sunshine Boys in 1949, and By HUGH CHERRY to the energetic efforts of Polly Hess and the Imperials, the Har- the Stamps Quartet Co., which the with the Blackwood Brothers in DJ, KFOX, Long Beach, Calif. Grimes, director of Gospel Con- vesters, the Couriers, Oak sponsors Stamps Quartet. Sumner said the switch 1954. LONG BEACH, Calif. -Gos- certs, Inc., Redondo Beach, Ridge Quartet, the Weather - Calif. Through her efforts such fords, Sons of Song, in addition of he and Hall was an organiza- pel music is growing in popu- tional change. top groups as the Statesmen and to the Statesmen and Black - larity in California, with several Sumner has managed the radio stations programming it, Blackwood Brothers now make woods. regular semi -annual tours in Stamps Quartet since the Black- Word Signs and a regular personal- appear- Attendance at the first con- wood Brothers acquired the California. cert 1961 was ance circuit now played twice in 2,000. Miss Stamps operation in 1962. The Miss Grimes hooks a concert Grimes said crowds have yearly by several top quartets. grown switch enables Sumner to con- Goodmans for two nights in a row in Long so that now more than 50,01)0 Prior to 1960, there was little duct business of the Stamps Beach, city where it is done. or no gospel music on West only attend the twice -a -year circuit WACO, Tex. -Word Rec- and the shows usually play to group more conveniently. Coast radio stations. Gospel mu- concerts. ords, Inc., has signed the Happy sell -out crowds. Rest of the cir- sic is now a regular feature of Long Beach draws bigger Goodman Family to a recording sic school (the second is now in KFOX, Long Beach, Calif.: cuit is composed of one- nighters crowds than the other circuit contract, Jarrell McCracken, at Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacra- progress), with enrollment from KRAK, Sacramento, Calif.: stops. she said, hut a large part president, announced last week. mento, Oakland and San Jose. the Western States and Canada. KTOO, Las Vegas, and KSAY. of this straw is front the nearby The will their This will assure continuance of Goodmans record Oakland. Calif. Calif.. and Las Vegas. Los Angeles area. first album for Word's Canaan gospel music growth in the Miss Grimes has introduced Miss Grimes said Gospel Con- label this In addition, two syndicated Western States. month. gospel TV shows are seen in the to audiences gospel quartets certs. Inc., has plans to expand Word, which has about 10 s w Los Angeles and San Francisco that were completely unknown the gospel circuit to other Cali- gospel groups under contract. areas on Sunday mornings. to the California public before. fornia cities and into other (Hugh Cherry is a well -known is in process of expanding its Much of the interest in gospel She has created a public follow- Western States. Her organiza- DJ for Station KFOX at Long recording of gospel music music here can he attributed ing for such groups as Jake tion also conducts a gospel mu- Beach.) groups, McCracken said. 38 September 4, 1965, BILLBOARD Copyrighted material

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