Billboard-1965-10-23-II-The WORLD of RELIGIOUS MUSIC.Pdf

Home , Mento, The Blackwood Brothers, Word Records

SECTION TWO OCTOBER 2 i. 1965 $1.25 THE WORLD UIF le it

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04¢4, of the key role SESAC has played, for more than 34 years; to promote `he inspirational,

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4 lh World of Relifltous Mult Billboard Religious Music Part of THE WORLD. OF RELIGIOUS MUSIC U. S. Cultural Heritage Contents In this first annual issue of The World of Religious Gospel Quartets on-Bus. ..ti,,,;, 10 Music-and in future annuals-Billboard seeks to document the all-pervading influence of religious All' Night Sing 20 music in the total music.industry. As will be apparent IMational Quartet Convention from the many articles, religious musk ini its various 26 forms represents one of the cultural highlights of the Gospel Breakthrough 32 music and record. industries; and it is part of the fabric

Fathers of (Modem , of America's cultural and spiritual heritage. Gospel.... , 34 Too, its influence has spilled over fromthe purely Spreading the Word...,.. 38 religious sphere, so that it is a dominant force in the mainstream of the pop music of America and the Gospel Combines _...., 42 world'. Statesmen Skyrocket 48 These various aspects of, the total religious field will be amplified and illustrated by the many articles.by Oak Ridge Boys...... ,..., 50 and about such personalities as Darol Rice, Tim.Spen- Gospel and Politics cer, Jerry Wexler, the many gospel quartets, Mahalia 52 Jackson, The Staple Singers, Zunas Sears .and the The LeFevres 54 literally dozens of names who are incorporated in this

Happy , issue. Goodmans ...... 56 It is impossible, in one'issue, to present the entire Blackwood Brothers .. 58 story and the .entire scene. That is why this issue is Gospel Vol'utne .l. We feel that Volume 1 will give the reader a Musk Association ..... 66 good idea of the scope, importance and flavor of the Negro Gospel field; of its part in the history Musical Americana. 71 Future issúés óf this annual will add to this lore. "We Shall Overcome" 74 Meanwhile, we thank the many people in the Staple, Singers...... religious field-artists, record executives, producers, - 75 radio personalities and the many others who 'have TV Show - - 76 helped us.makethis first issuea success.

Herman Lubinsky .., . 78

Zenas Seals - 79 Subscriptioh Fulfilment Sendlform 3579 to Gospel Nightclubs , 80 iI1board 2160 Patterson St., Cinclr.noti, Ohio 45514 Published Weekly by fulfillment Manager .. JosephPece Mahilia The 8.Ilboo,d .Pubiishnt Company U. S. Branch Offices Jackson, 82 2160 IPatters on Se Cincinnati, Ohlo 4521,4 Chkoso, Jul 60601. 188 W Rondntpb Tel.: 381.6450 Area: Code 312; CE 6-9818 Peacock Records::.... 82 Hollvwrod, Cott. 90028, 1520 N, Gower 'Publisher Arco Code 213, HO 9.5831 1 -hl B. Cook Ñew York Office Nashville, Tonal 37203, 226 Capitol filvd. Religious Networks 83 Area Code 615, 244-1836 Editorial Office Wetailu i 1on, D. C 20005, Woodward Bldg., 165 We 46th St-, New York N. Y. 10036 733'15'ís St. Datan Rice . . 84 Arco Code 212, PL 7-2800 Area Code 202, 393-2580 Cohloa BILLBOARD NEWYORK International Offices Country and. Gospel. . 86 'Editor-in:Chief Lee Zhho remote Office ,..Andts de Vie.1,, Dir. Editors Paul Ackerman, Mitten 5temfleld 15 Honorer Square, London W.1, HYde Pork 3659 Red Foley and Ernie Ford Cublct U. S. Editorial' Offices 8111board,London trezitlan Office , Syteto Cardoso 'CkcinnaiI Ease. ,Nsw7 Editor Wm. J. SMh, Apt, 1237 460 Proa Ch.cese, de Botofoco West Coast Gospel' 90 Miderert Editor .... e...... ,Ray Si,rck Rio de *fashinootan Jons.ro-26-2535 Bureau CA1e! - Mildred Mill Argentine Pit Nattnille News c, Ruben Machado, Dir, Editor Ellen wrlitanhurt Lovell, 1983, Buenoe.,Aires Nollywocd, W. Cmetr hers Eliot 1,eg« Cover PAotot Contributing tether David L..rherteuch Vol. 77 No. 44 stria ,Bsrille%. BÍrlr Gns.mw tvawsebtNa Aats. Billboard Thy World .of Religious Music .5 BURL IVES- JEROME HINES n

KOREAN ORPHAN CHOIR I\ oc.,tc SCfi, i 4 i i y

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ETHEL WATERS

JINt, ROBERTS

JOHN CHARLES 'THOMAS

There are thousands of dollars in your trading area record buyer can be your loyal customer if you (l'hat'.s how ,we got to be the world's. largest ti agree that the best way for hinci and us to played above are -just a few of the WORD-CANAAN line: Get your ahare

ha - calling. your record supplier today. n.T.W rs..a urw. t.t.ttt j: T. ADAMS WITH DON HUSTAD_ and TAe .Men of Ttaos nd TWO SMITH

BillL Jellmy National Sales 'Manager

6 The wot{d o4 Raligrovs "ids Billboard THE TALL HEN THE FLORIDA BOYS

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THE VANGUARDS

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o) THE REBELS that should lie in your rash register. The religious have what he wants. We do have what he wants, producer of religious records.) We're sure you'll 3 get together is through you., The artists, dis, world .of réligious music available on .the . of this multimillion dollar market by Or zprite.to: i THE HARVESTERS THE COURIER

Word Record Distributing Company P.O. Box 1790, Waco, Texas

Billboard The World at Religioui,Muik 7 1` vti., - i. -a ,--;.

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'HE IMPERIALS ARE TOPS IN THEIR FIELD

911 Surging for packed houses I taping television shows making ,records, / listening .1 riding .the. bus / driving

the bus 1 kidding around at a ianr session 1 playing

with tite kids 1 playing the first .major college gospel

concert 1 arranging songs I talking on the phone 1 meeting people I just relaxing /' hurrying to make the bus / and mpny, many More!

The abot'c things are sonie of the things that occupy the days of Imperials Quartet and field help to make them lops in the óf gospel r»u>ifc. Soñte of hese things may not seem worth mentioning to you. but the Imperials feel that everything they do effects their. singing and their oneness as a group. Ifes. w'th the Imperials, singing is the thing! And everything. else m13' cornplements this. The imperials feel (and it's very obvious to their fans) that to produce..the sound that they are forever striving to produce, and to accomplish the things that they are trying tyaccomplishi every minute,of every day must be dedicated, to -a single purpose- -And with Jake !Tess, Armond Morales, Gary IneSpacklen, Sherrill Nielson, and Henry Slaughter, the single purpose is to produce a bitter sonny with each, co ruing day, and to reach more and more people with 'the Gospel F row listen in music. And when to these five gentiemefr performing. you can rest assured that these are possibly the happiest people around be- ausc they truly live to sing,

The Imperials Are The Booked By America's Most Exciting' Sound imperials Record On i PETE EMERY PRODUCTIONS, INC. HEART-WARMING RECORDS Suite 203 RCA Victor Building 136 Fourth Avenue. North 806 In Gospel Music 17th Avenue, South Nashville, Tennessee Nashville 3, Tennessee

Silllboárd " The World of Religious .Mwie' 9 Ñ''iii Moó'e 1f!gway Wiwi...

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The pioneering gospel quartets of four decades ago traveled the dust} back roads of their area in chugging Model Ts to sing to small groups in country churches. Their radius of operation was not more than 75 miles from their .home city.

Today, the top performing groups 1 travel from .eóast-to-coast in mod'- 4 cm, air-conditioned, custom-made buses which cost $52,500 and have a- - every comfort and convenience. They travel super 'highways instead of rutted farm roads and sing be- .. 0 fore large crowds in air-conditioned Cif churches, schools, auditoriums, 'in stadium and at county fairs. In the beginning the quartets worked for little or nothing. Today the finan= cial rewards fat the top groups arc handsome.

The evolution in petsonat appear- DOUBLE-DECKER type buses were bought by Statesmen Quartet and etack- ances of gospel quartets- over the wood Brothers at same time in 1962. Empty buses cost $40.000 each. It years parallels the improvements in our mode of travel, Among the early traveling pioneer groups were iIn those idays,, the few profession- a man dedicated to singing and pro- the St a_ .m p s Quartet of Dallas, al 'quartets lived a rigorous, soul- moting gospel music to remain with formed in 1924 by the late Frank tryng and often huñgry existence. a quartet. H. Stamps. and the Blackwood Many a time they. missed a meal. In those embryo 'tines the gospel Brothers, who lived in a farm house They frequently had to depend on music publishing companies spon- near Ackerman, Miss. the thoughtfulness and hospitality sored quartets to promotc'thc com- The Blackwoods started out in of host groups for meals and lodg- pany's gospel song books.` Leading 1934, driving a 1929 Chevrolet ing. Most appearances were in gospel hook publishers were the with p r .ii rn i t i v e loudspeakers churches where. a 'free vIill. offering Vaughan Music Co., V. O. Stamps mounted on top, traveling the dirt was taken. When ºa concert per- Music Publishing Co., J. M. Hen- roads of the `Mississippi hill country formancc was, arranged, admission son Mus'c Co. and A. 1. Showalter inviting people to ;come hear them was 10. cents for children and 15 Music Publishing Co. The Stamps at the neighborhood church or the .cents for adults_ No one got rich company later became the Stanaps- little country school house. on those prices. Moreover, it took Baxter Music Co. until Mr. Stamps'

1o wo.td of Willow Alude Billboard ('o 'ii Grave:' iba d o uper1iib vays l I

where it would be singing and invited listeners to write in If they wanted the quartet to .sing at their' church or convention. Radio exposure led to bookings

which, in time, were farther sad - tei farther away: In the 1940s the leading quartets began using seven -seat limousines for travel, These were big, heavy cars, ideal for highway driving, and were standard ; among quartets for a number of years. The biggest gospel music area in those days was Dallas. The two men most responsible wcrc the late Vir- gil O. Stamps, founder of the V. O. } Stamps Musk Co. in 1924 at Jack- sonville, Texas, which was moved to Dallas in 1929, and Frank H. Stamps, his brother. The Stamps Quartet was famous for its broadcasts on KRLD in Dal- took 9nother $12,500 each to get the inside customized for traveling corn. las. \IL professional quartets visited Pori. which.lrsclúdes everything from steeping quarters to an intercom system. Dallas ,whenever possible and appeared on the Stamps Quartet weekly 11' p.m. to midnight broadcasts. death in 1941. Stamps' brother, their own_general region until the The Stamps Quartet also broadcast Frank H. Stamps, bought the com- hitter. 1930s, when better cars ,and three daily programs. The broad- pans and in 1945 it'becarne'Stamps roads permitted more extended casts were credited with increasing Quartet Music Co. travel. The performtng radius was, KRLD from a 10,000 -watt to a The sponsored quartet members ..extended to about 200 miles. These 50,000 -watt station. were 'paid $12 to $13 a week. They tours were of limited days and the In July, 1938, V.O. Stamps pro- would attend various gospel. sing quartet usually were guests in moted the first all-night-radio'broad- conventions, sing the from books of homes' overnight. cast before a live audience: He got their publishing company and by the idea when a woman told him this good will promote the A professional quartet had to company after a concert one evening, "Mr. and create a market for sale of have a radio program to become the Stamps. I could listen to your sing- company's song books, successful. The quartets were not ing all night." Numerous quartets Live performing gospel paid by quartets the radio station, The quar- took part in this big broadcast and were restricted in their travels to tet got the air tiñie fret, announced it was a notable success. Billboard The World of Reliytogr Murk 11 N

SCRIPT CONFERENCE The Statesmen, Blackwood Brothers and four other gospel quartets spend two days in Charlotte, N. C., everytwo months and turn out from eight to 10 one hour ' Singin' Time ln Dixie" TV shows, which are now seen on 53'TV stations around the U: 'S. Seated at desk, from left: Don McDaniel,' assistant directo,- Bob 'McCollum, director. Around desk, from left: Don Butler. ,producer; Howie Lister, J. rnes Blackwood

The first all-night sing was also July 4. The Waycross'sirig was Aug. The next'sigriificant development originated by V. O. Stamps. He 28 this year., Both annually feature in gospel mu.sic,,performing was de- staged this gigantic event in 1940 about a dozen top quartets and termined by an ironic tragedy. Pop- at, the Cottoñ Bowl in DaUas. The draw thousands of fervent fans. ularity of the music had spread top quartets of the day were fea- At such sings, the quartets ,take broadly and there was demand for tured and 30,000 fans turned out. turns performing for a two-hour the top quartets for appearances Since then "all-night" sings have period:, Then a half-hour recess is farther and farther away from their been highly popular with fans.: Most taken, followed by another two home básc. The Blackwood Broth- do not really last all night, however, hours of singing, then a half-hour ers had the lead role in the tragedy. but end at from midnight to 2 a.m. recess. This goes on until sunrise, 1 o fulfill the demands for them, In 1948, Wally Fowler, gospel when the program is ,,closed, 'The they bought a plane in 1952. R. W. music promoter, began staging "all- performers during the night. take Blackwood, member of the, quartet, rest night" sings at Ryman Auditorium 'backstage on cots or on the took flying lessons'for a year. He in A1áshville. Name quartets were bunks in their buses. As the eve- piloted the group to engagements. a the featured and the house, was always ning wears on, the crowd dwindles. About year after Blackwoods But most began flying one other group, The packed. Fowler made the sings a stick it out all' dght. After War LeFevres, to the in monthly affair. J, G. Whitfield took World 11, gospel music took air a plane. over producing the shows in 1960 blossomed. New professional groups R, W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles, and several years ago they ended sprouted rand became successful. bass, singer, were returning home With faster cars and better high- from a business 11954. when radio Station WSM ,at Nash. trip June 30, ways; several dozen full-time pro- The twin engine Beechcraft crashed ville bought the auditorium and be- fessional quartets criss-crossed the as Blackwood attempted to land at gan holding Friday night "Grand country on personal performing Clanton, Ala. Both were ,killed. l he Ole Opry" programs, there. concert tours. The groups stayed. other Blackwood, gave up. flying, as While there arc still numerous overnight In motels or hotels. did the LcFcvres. J. D. Sumner, a "all-night" siñgs around the coun- Radio was no longer a paramount .new bass singer for the Blackwoods, try, there arc only two annual ones part of personal appearance tours suggested to James Blackwood, the which really last all night. They arc and Dallas was no longer the center leader, that they buy a .bus. The at Waycross, Ga., and Bonifay, Fla of the industry. It had spread.. There g-otip bought a used Continental in stadiums. The sing at Bonifay is were other centers, also, in Memphis,, Trailways' coach in the spring' of held on the Saturday night nearest Nashville,' Atlanta. 1955, the first gospel quartet to use

2 ma WOeid.of adiglOW mink Billboard :, . r - ,.

OAK RIDGE BOYS are among the many successful.gospel quartets,. who travel lby TOMMY'FAIRCHILD, pianist for the Oak bus .in order to filly a demanding personal appearance schedule. The .bus- has Ridge Boys of Nashville, checks the every possible reomfort, with sleeping compartments. air conditioning, radio arid Map during a lunch stop on one of. the TY. Clockwise from lower left: Herman Harper Willie Wynn, Tommy Fairchild, group's personal performance tours. Jim Hamil, Smitty Gatlin. Fairchild, at the wheel of their bus. sometimes relieves the driver.

.a bus. They remodeled the inside; dustomizcd the inside. Cost: $12,- And with all this, the Btackwoods had reclining chairs, bunk beds and 500. At the time the Blackwoods play chess while traveling! The a desk. got their bus, the Statesmen got Other groups do various things, in- Two years later they bought a one also, as did the Stamps Quartetr cluding resting, composing, rehears- diesel bus of the type the Greyhound and all were outfitted inside as was ing, reading, making phone calls. company uses. The inside was out- the Blackwood bus, which has these Most top groups with buses have fitted to provide traveling comfort. features: full-tine. drivers. But the real luxury in traveling Soundproof 'walls, six sleeping That's the way the big gospel didn't come till the Blackwoods compartments°similar to a Pullman quartets travel these days. About bought their third bus in 1962. This sleeper, individual air conditioning 30 groups have the streamlined time they got a new bus from the in each sleeping compartment; in- buses. Quite a change from the factory with the inside- stripped out. tercom radio from each compart- Model T days. It cost $40,000. ment to the driver, two-way radio, As James Blackwood put it, a

Sumner designed the. interior, mobile telephone, Test room,, lava- - standing joke in the old days for a based on 'the Blackwoods experi- tory,, refrigerated box for cold quartet starting out was fOr all "to ences from the other buses. A mo- drinks, private clothes closets, tele- get suits alike-now the first thing bile home company in Memphis vision and radio., is to buy a bus."

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'BLACKWOOD [BROTHERS aboard their bus. They were the TRAVELING was in seven -seat sedans for a number of years. fi-st gospel music quartet to begin using bus They bought The Blackwood Brothers used this type road car in 1947: their first in 1955 and decided never to fly egáln after tragic when they headquartered at Shenandoah..iowa. From left death of two quartet members 'in private plane crash in R. W. Blackwood, James Blackwood. Doyle Blackwood. Bill 1954. From 'left" Bill Shaw, 'Whitey Gleason. Cecil Black- Lyles. pianist Hilton Griswald and Roy Blackwood. Doyle J. D. Sumner. Blackwood did riot sing regularly with the group then,

Bitlbotird a The, World, of Religious Musk 13' r^ ' A s:.

921! 414

a. -.._. talCil{11Ki11 L- rte._. i p.. , r, ' .. N (rLi ( y r . ly ' . 1 . NASHVILLE SOUND? Yes! e 'i17c I' (I Pk IA I Nation's top gospel artists? Yes! Quartets, trios, soloists, choirs"? Yes1 Top AFM side musicians? 'Yes! Professional backup singers? Yes! Audio :engineering by ,RCA Victor? Yeti In Victor's multi million. dollar studio? Yes!. Warmth, color, pulse, for, the listeners? TAr lns+,ltla alaj tAr j1.+, - TerA o/

THE PLAINT rsw na.l1..,..,.... o D I S BUTrOR5 34,14.2.1. =sum:. 4asinew 114.4611- Or tMarYtaT7bJ1 Main dina 'Record Service Dixie Record Service Cleveland, Ohio Mobile, Alabama _o_ Clerkivllle Record' Sales Seibert' Music IL News Clarksville, Georgia Agency _ Little Rock, Arkansas Baptist Publications Liáis Rock, Arkansas Southland Distributors Atlanta, Georgia Supreme Distributors .t eoüertien ./ tie Monier IPn.n,..rn eladíd IArm,r;l.a r_atr e/ IUylret+aWnAr Cincinnati, Ohio Pioneer Distributors as Mu ..nr. The 1r.:r..a1 ani a/ req.knern oa.vtr?r. !a áale.. 1.1 Wichita, Kontos kV gee tows. 1/ p.r *wet ree oil seep Ti, Concord Berson Dist. 'Co.. sl.qcej le steel aed *Alt Me Le lAr ea{ Cleveland, Ohio The Wax Works lar ye. Pet e/ ¿Sr p.a.! sappy! Aldan,, Owensboro, Kentucky LYS. 1708 - I.PNF l:N LPS 1436 - LIl,IF lJ

All South Distributors Coast Products, Inc. New Orleans, La. Downey, Calif. NV, i1 drn", 4rY,ice't lake H.,t h ..ally air brit tree, word ,r.tM, IT pop Wwrn awl 1wr4 trod totter ..itA ,orb MrA;teund. e/ !.1 Ih, f.t.l NHe.l. Alt M1'rtklIII, gored b, Re1ir r4j'roire err l: 400,5* eler e/ el. Srahinrn Qssrbt Pseele he, to Aire Aim a51s. 1.rS i712 - I.rNF iilt U'S J U6 U?S:

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AFMr oJ ,ureoM., qsA errard, 11. .a.nYa y top i«pd TAIe julo IM hdrnt Qtetalrrfee.6. JAKE HESS tAr Pap amp 4.t eo ewaarrr. rlre..a aed e!( tAe ra7Y llrr ',rand rn ,:esr.r Mihlf "lb- yrwr4.d en anir,,Lltrn tA, fbjt cut - ,olo afaaw It peos., wrlrr THE .Iii **I4rae. Woo M:^, Eal. "Oa yA. Sonny AND IMPERIALS irrnl.' rad Me Pat «. did - . ntlnt Lify rere lend di at"eA.d' you'll" be /re irrrerr. rritlnt 4A. li:rwt aeli.r LIS lUl - THE PLAINSMEN - LIIrP 3ÚJ U.S Ira = crrrr I3Cv ill. 113» = lJ'rlr !_a. THE WEATHERFORDS THE GOSPEL ECHOES tiff fcstr laniif DOTTIE RAMBO THE FROST BROTHERS CAROL AND JIMMY SNOW ELMER, JUNE AND PAM T01ó t. THE HUMBARD FAMILII BOBBY GREEN THE LESTER FAMILY ¡rrr. dry nrrl 5oatlr(1rrr, Rex /bwlwd - 14111 Cf(r¡ertaia'e Jarbr(te raYdt Mc ....re pMp,1/erw - ROZIE ROZELL liºIMrrrda RC.f 1'M« ;let¡.lea belerd, er(rtiHan ~ail ,3Md ra.l lor mat rorad rlNreiat natiy, "Late; BETTE STALNECKER 1e'r aetd le't jN "Jr. de rei.y l.0 Iupe1 tlrtrtl. LPs Iltso - LPNF Iasi rls 3514- lxxr rtts THE COFFEY FAMILY IRA STANPHILL l ,.1sr(a0, CAI M WAY rI)tnrtlb MAX MORRIS TA_E LOWELL LUNUSTROM'TiEAM W'cE.iei A 1>t1E1 LOTE AMU P.d WITTY GATLIN r4 l,© 1 ,HENRY SLAUGHTER - 7 ARMOND MORALES 4.. 'SHERRILL NIELSEN -.L-_, II I 11EMEa. au LEE ROBBIÑS PAM WALLY AND GINGER

Ti. their tr(ar 14(11 IIM j;ln.... lnne r.d P", err evr SONGFELLOWS QUARTET (erre¡ rwm rpcl.1 fatetl4t tA.n /.Vale. ,/.JI, fern .1lleewa. (p ANN :BURNEM le ,warlA wpm" of Hest L r twi1re19we .¡ 14412a prlei Mite Ay,auf rsante) Met her Mr á.11. :Pub Nir'a LOWELL LEISTNER Iny.l r it, .1.aAr8lr itn4 lv,r Pri5iriaaa bar e1rw ap. LIS ISM = ¿PHI ¡801 LIS 1M) Lrl3r 1221

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the celebrated Gospel Echoes was a great six weeks tour. off from McGuire- Air Field all officers and enlisted men away from good ole U.S.A. turnóut; thrilled with gospel songs away to Greenland, never before .heard by Artists Newfoundland, and traveling the nothern area bases. the cold,,frozen north there one Chaplain said "nothing better" to sing, play and perform mode a great, lasting impression for hundreds of servicemen for the good of Gospel Music. averaging three.concerts,a day V

:S11."-11

BUCK, DOTTIE , r._ GOSPEL ECHOES AND LITTLE JOE -.I) Here is one of the finest trio giiciups in the coúnfry. They sing with a close- . knit harmony. Many of the songs are written by Dottie and Joe. All three play rnstruinents- Buck, the , guitar, Dottie, thé electric guitói and Joe,

1 the accordion. Wlih their peifect hormony and the background of instrumental music that they creak, the Echoes are thrilling American audiences, Part of their work Is in nightly concerts, however, the group conscientious enough to feel the call tó sing for many church .campaigns.

Overseas itinerary loiting SIX

weeks: 1

Leaving

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Sondrestrom- Air 'Base, Labrador, Canada

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Wendy Bagwell and Sunlighters and The Rangers Touring Northern Africa, France, Germany,

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WENDY 'BAGWELL AND THE h o,. o . SUNL_GHTERS

o 1 This .well' known group from Atlanta, Georgia, has sung to countless thou -sands hi concerts over the country. They ore known for their variety of songs, and distinctive blending of voices. The two girls combine to make a -fine duet with Wendy adding a third part that gives the group its unique sound.

IL Í

o THE RANGERS

The three mole voices that ore vetcron of t .t, the gespelsipging world. They ploy and sing loather Ilk* they veer* born and reared together. 'It', notutet, MitInoliye and colorful. David Reece, odd spark to the group with 'hk matchless "playing en the piano. It Z '+ Is a good group here at hame_or abroad: for lnforniolien about them wriseY, Ronnie .Rage, WLAC, Nash ill., Tennessee:

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Billboard Goes To An w101 Nigh"' Sing

Movie Listcr, the friendly, ebullient "Who.put that guitar on?" he asked, The trip would be a long one, pianist and manager for the States- motioning to a guitar case which took about 450 miles. But the bus had men Quartet. was on the phone: up some precious space. Turned out comfortable accommodations: s "Well be in Nashville Thursday it was one the Speer Family usually sleeping bunks for the Statesmen 'aid night to record We'll play a concert, carried on their bus for tile on the the driver, six reclining ,chairs ` up there Friday night and leave Saturday "Singin' Time in Dixie" filmed TV front, mobile .phone, two-way radio, show. morning for the all-night sing at Boni. "Now well have to haul it cold drink box,, a table for writing. fay, Fla. I want you to go down on around till Augusts' said Lister. There Also, till bus was air-conditioned. were a few laughs developed from the bus with us" This will give you a We rolled through the verdant green this incident as.we pulled out. good opportunity to find out aboua Tennessee countryside: Traveling as gospel music, the people in it, the all- It had rained most of the night and the gospel quartets do fs a hard life, night ding." was still. raining lightly when we left. I soon found. They sometimes have The Boni ay sing is one of tvio There were 12 persons on this trip, to miss meals, sometimes grab a sand- which really last all night. (The usual more. than :usual; Lister had brought wich on the rún8 miss sleep. Rozell "all-night" sings end at about 2 a.ei.) the Goss Brothers of 'Atlanta, three and Wetherington, exhausted' from The other is at Wáycrosi,, Ga., which fine .musician*, to Nashville to back seve-ral days of thc grind on the road, Lister founded in 1955 as "thc origi- up the Statesmen at the recording slept in their bunks all day long All nal sundown to sunup sing." The session. The 12 aboard: the others slept several hours each I3onifiy sing is held annually on the The Statesmen, Hovie Lister, Doy at varying dimes during the day. Saturday night nearest 4. July This Ott. Jack Tones, It. D. ,(Ros'itj Rozell The Blackwood Brothers and the year it was, July 3. and !arises S Wetheiington; Mrs. Statesmen travel together when they I 'boarded the Statesmen's modern Cheryl Toney, 18, beautiful bride of arc going to the sank engagement. bus at the Noel Hotel, where the Toney; the Goss Brothers, James, They work as" a team and usually group stays when ,in Nashville, with Ronnie and Lari; Joe Ott, 10, son of play most' concerts together. The Lister at about 8 a.m. Suddenly his Doy Ott; the driver, Charles Smith, Blackwood btis was ahead of us. At usually smiling face clouded and myself. 9:35 aait: the Blackwood driver, 20 Th. World of Rnr.piout MWic BlllbOard S [ r I KIyAN U

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JIMMIE IDAVIS, a big favorite with the crowd, sang his most popular MOVIE LISTER of The Statesmen., gospel song. "Someone to Care" and several others he composed. He a- top showman, while on stage was backed up by the Ptalnsmen Quartet. atkedl "somebody to save me a chicken leg." Later, he .got more chicken than he could eat

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GOSPEL FANS stay the night -at the Bonfay, Fla.. songfest.

Bundy Brewster, told the Statesmen sleepers began to waken. By 6 p.m. aitces fór the quartets and time for driver on the two-way radió to watch all were up. We were nearing our each. I-Icrc it is: out for "NÓ. 1 on the right," In their destination. First round: Minutes: code, ,this meant a policeman was We pulled into Bonifay at 7 and I'.. Blue and Gray Quartct. 15 parked óo. the righb waiting to catch immediately found ourselves in a traf- 2. Pathfinders Quartet, _ , .15 a speeder. fic lam. Turned out all the cars were 3. Blackwood Brothers ...20 During the Morning I had a long, =going to the big all-night sing! We 4. Commanders Quartet ..15 interesting delightful and enlightening edged' along in traffic to the Memorial S, Plainsmen Quartet ...20 interview' with Hovic Lister, already Field football stadium and soon po- 6. Messengers Quartet ,..1.5 a legend in gospel musk. Everyone 1 licemen got -us parked. 7. Jimmie Das is , , . , . 20 have talked to agrees he is the most The Statesmen hurriedly shaved and 8. Conn Trio, .. , .... 15 outstanding showman andperformer dressed, Cars were parked everywhere 9. Statesmen Quartet ...20 in the business. At 1:30, after a re- in sight. People were pouring, into 10. Melody Men Quartet .20 fueling and lunch stop, everyone on the stadium. The sing was promoted II. Couriers Quartet 20 the bus was asleep except Jack Toney. by J. G. Whitfield, of Pensacola, Fla.. 12. Florida Boys 20 his wife,, James Goss, the driver and "'and sponsored by the local Kiwanis 13. Dixie Echoes 20 myself. Toney and Goss did some Club, which would receive a percent- 14. Happy Goldman "pickin' " with a mandolin and guitar age of the proceeds. Tickets were Family ,.,., .20 on country music. 51.50 for adults and 50 cents for' 15. Jubilee Group ...(No time iste ) The rain continued all day, [lightly children. "Use this line=up for ,the second most of the time. At 3, Toney invited The rain. luckily, had stopped about round. Mr. Whitfield will tell you me to rest in his bunk. I was weary 40 miles short of Bonita) and the when you go on the second time how from seven hours of luting and as weather was perfect far the outdoor long ,to stay. ccpted. The "bunk was roomy and ,sing. One of Whitfield's employees "All managers have your gróúp had' a comfortable mattress, I read went, around .to the quartet buses as ready to go oh: ON TIME" till 4;30, then joined the group up they, arrived handing out mimeo- Hovie and, L entered the' stadium front again. Within an hour all the graphed sheets giving order. of appear - (Continued on page 24

Billboard m. world of' Religious Mink 21' ALL NIGHT SING Jimmie Davis, the former country musk star and two-time governor of (Continued from page STAT!a N 21) Louisiana, was a big crowd pleaser as Excitement filled the air, as if one he , stood in a relaxed and detached OWNERS! was about ;to witness ''a compelling manner in his brown business suit and drama. People.wcre everywhere. There sang some of his 'gospel songs with was a piquant flavor of a carnival - feeling and depth. The popular Black- like atmosphere. People milled' around wood Brothers got tremendotrg' ap- stands selling hamburgers, Cokes, ice. plause. The Happy Goodman. Family cream. The quartets set up their racks' drew tumultuous response. And some to sell albums, sheet musk and song- of the other groups got strong ap- books. plause, but the Statesmen really Hovie was stopped by old friends "brought the house down." from time to time to chat. Soon the I learned that a gospel music fan AMERICA'S seating stands on both sides of the identifies with a favorite quartet. That stadium were packed full. The entire happened to me as I stood nearby and INSPIRADIºNetwork football field was filled with people watched the 'Statesmen bounce onto who had brought lawn chairs to sit the platform and burst into a rousing on. Some brought cots .for small chil- gospel song. Their delivery was ex- OFFERS YOUR LISTENERS: dren to sleep on. Most brought picaic- citing and dynamic. They worked type lunches - fried chicken, sand- harder on stage, as emcee J. G. Whit- 1. SOMETHING TO ENJOY: wiches, watermelon, cake, thermos field said iri introducing them, than bottles. Many, 1, learned, had driven any quartet in the business. A tingling Many listen all day: hundreds of miles to attend. 2 checked sensatión raced through me. Here several, including gate keepers, on were the guys I had been riding and 2. SOMETHING TO BELIEVE. size of the crowd -and was.told 12,000 talking with _during the day. Their Lives are changed through persons were there; electrifying performance captivated this dynamic programming. The sing had started about 7:15. me along With the.audlence. The sound system from the portable Houle I. ister kept the crowd. fas- 3.. SOMETHING TO RE A 'PART stage at the far end of the field car- cinated with a monotóg that ,ranged OF. ried the harmonizing., voices loud and from funny stories to an exhortation clear out over the stands and field. that they live a Christian life. The The 'listeners are the Sometimes. the emcee for a quartet thunderous ovation for the Statesmen sponsors, as they buy time would give a stirring and sincere testi- brought them back for encore after to help reach their mony to Chrf tianity. page 64) neighbors for Christ. (Continued on

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Avnv. _I 1328'NoMh Hiql+l.t.d 9002$ i. Inn:.e .a- i. URIt 71ár0001I40~. 1.1 lICJUYWOOO. CALIFORNIA M.ei.f O+$$d 0.4 W Mule I 'm dug far - - we have nescr r- us that archaeologist tells a place, - .1 1* past to fnd.an age, I racial . enough back into our music was not .... r of life whcrc ...... or a condition antiquity of a culture The t/Ii._ one form or another.... in in the most known common span ... the gift of music covser,a the ímpor- man and records of music and Ilr ruins, there arc the land of - ! ancient Assyrian peoples ... In . minimum /rt lives of extinct f.crI Ir it played; in the reigned whose )1 ,,. tancr year 3850 KC_, a queen Eb about the a harp, has been Mesopotamia personal instrument, was Shub-ab. Iles The fourth name the museum today E-- Eb and may be seen in by Cain, and of -_ recovered founded tells of a civilixatioñt chapter of Genesis Their first son was named to him aitd his wife. family. the children born fathered a large sing, ...-r--- built a city, and a F,noeh, who ,afterward his marriage was born son was Lamed): From verse Enoch's youngest history is covered in one hear and Jubal's efitirc the harp lad named Juba!, all such as handle was the father of of-the scripture: "He very shadow of the garden brings us right into the Cod and organ." This chapter of Job, In verse ses en, thirty-eighth "The EX.:9par of Eden ... of the physical, order, the moment of creation for 1 states that in the sons of Cod shouted and, all of morning stars sang together, sang the praisse lot med a choir which joy!" ... The very stars the glorification of .Cod From the earliest ages. of Zion the'Creator! ... lirheñ we sing the songs by music .. , spiritual has been erhaneed rich and saving grace, Lord Jesus for His is and praise the when earth's last picture itS crest, and and enjoyment reaches upon 'his artists y Master-Painter looks painted, and the old their radiant glory a then we will sec 'in all says. "1( is finished," before the throne OF white-robed saints singing KING numberless company of and the new earth when the new heavens of the Lamb ... Yes, and the throne`Of still be congregated about musicians will by faith in Jesus are

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Billboard The World of Nellglóux AIR/tic 23 Sil1ES7REN ENCORES

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.127.;° 1 f13.á I America's favorite I Gospel Singers 1144tS o I -t JAMES J BLACKWOOD ,;b.e[ Qaoo AKWOmD 1I.andd MOVIE BIB 11101W USTER - Singin' i1-r- Co-Soats ' - 1 1 Ctixi ' A STATESMENkBLACKWOOD PRODUCTION imhIER1G'S GREATEST 0 GOSPEL SINGING OAK RIDGE BY SIX O e STATESMEN , A ERIC S

F GREATEST 411i lb QUARTETS 1k CI.

SPEER FAMILY

_.r.- STAMPS REBELS

Billboard "' Tf+o'World of ,Relifliovs Mu'lc 25 MIN '- + li

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_ ' LOBBY DISPLAYS-All professional quartets set up displays FULL HOUSE-Shorty Bradford' sings as Leroy Abernathy In the lobby of the Auditorium in Memphis when they arrive plays at National 'Quartet Convention (1964) to Memphis. to perform at the annual National Quartet Convention. Al. Abernathy is well known gosp..i music teacher. bums, sheet music and song books are sold.

THE VI R L S -41.I I E By ELTON WHISENIRUNT LeFevre, Dóri Baldwin, 1. G. Whit- he had attended as a youth. He sug- fkld, W. B; Nowlin, Bill Hefner, John gested a national quartet convention The National Quartet Convention, T. Benson and Brock Speer. to James Blackwood in 1955. The the biggest event in gospel music fea- On the first night of the 1965 con- Blackwood Brothers decided to risk it, turing more gospel singing taknt than vention a selected group of the top The risk was whether. they would any other event of the year, was quartets in the nation performed: the takein enough money to pay expenses. staged Oct. 14-17 at Ellis Auditorium Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen, Renting `the Auditorium from thceity in Memphis. the Speer- Family, the Stumps Quar- for three days, for example, cost This is the 10th annual convention tet, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Rebels More than S4,000. The Blackwoods and fans in increasing numbers flock_ Quartet and the fast -climbing Junior talked to other major quartets, They loo Ii each year, The first conv'entton 1H1ackwood Brothers. The next day were interested and willing to cá drew 10,000. By last year it had dou- more of gospel music's top groups operatc_ This was necessary lo make bled. This year 25,000 crowded into' were presented in concert: the Le- the venture a success. It was 'agreed the Auditorium in downtown Memphis Fevres, the Blue Ridge Quartet, the the first convention would be in Oc- near the river bluffs from which can Prophets, the Johnson Sisters, the tober 1956 in Memphis: be seen the majestic :sweep. of the Couriers Quartet, the Happy Goodman That first convention was adver- mighty Mississippi Rivet. Family. tised and promoted a year in advance More than 50 professional quartets The amateur contest was held Sat- by the top quartets'by announcements were on hand to inspire, uplift and urday. Groups rfrom all over the na- at their performances. Word also went move the fans. Many new groups par- tion, many aspiring to be professionals, .out, in mailing lists and in gospel tidpated in the annual amateur con- sung their hearts out to receptive music newsletters. Fifteen professional test,, from whose ranks the profession- audience and a panel of judges. quartets gathered for the first con- als of future years cóme. Besides the Guiding hañd 'behind the conven- vention and entertained some 10,000 artists and fans,, the .convention draws tioñ is Mimes Blackwood, 45, tenor ,of fans during the three-day s+esliod. Tick- representatives from all facets of the the Blackwood Brothers Quartet and 'cts were 51,50 .cách day for adults, industry: composers, promoters, pub- only remaining member of the original 51 for children, these prices con- lishers; record company officials,,, group which began near Ackerman, tinued each year until 1964, They are there to enjoy and he a part Miss., in l934: -He is a quiet, kindly, Of the first convention, James of the wonderful, inspiring major dedicated' person with the persever- Blackwood said, "We were pleased gathering of the year for gospel music, ance, dignity and patience it takes ao with the response. We broke even " the make cdntacts, transact business, and promote, cause of gospel musk. Cost to stage it was $ 15,000. This plan for a bigger and better füture- Under Ws guidance the convention has was to grow In future years, with an for gospel music. been accepted by all professional'quar- increasing number' of quartets to pay, the At the 1964 convention, a National lets, fans, leaders in the industry hut so were the crowds, But it was not and cis Quartet Association was formed with on the threshold of a tremen- until 1961 that the convention was a dous . an 1a-member board cif directors as future . financial success, said Blackwood. That the governing body. Of those, 13 have Idea for the convention came from year all performing groups were paid been able to serve throughout the J. D. Sumner, bass singer with the ,regular fees (before they .had been year and attend the quarterly -Meetings. Blackwoods. He has been singing with ,paid less than. their regular fee) and They.are: Don Light, Billhoard, chair- different groups since age 19, is now the convention had $2,000 leftover in man; James Myers, SESAC, secretary; 40, and had for years thought `such the bank to promote .the next year's James Blackwood, J. D. Sumner, a gathering would be,good, much along convention. 1Elovie Lister, Urias LeFevre, Meurice the line of church camp conventions The convention, was held in Mem- Zb The World of Religious Musk Billboard -e ne, . :_f . i 1. t]y : I . - Mr' r : ; ' w . I _ S A 4 I o . .` 3519 f, jV-1 t :,3, Áp 1; t 1/4 I 1,_-,. V -- -- -.xv I_ n Y. 1 Wiff 5 ILI.T IT a 1

_ _ I - - -=------= _ - -rs-- - WORSHIP SERVICE-A worship service is, always observed 'POPULAR-The Happy Goodman Family, performing at the on last -day (Sunday) of National Quartet Convention. Rev. 1964 National' Quartet Convent on, are increasingly popular, Movie Lister (above) has preached at every `service since sell a great .many albums, A factor is the sharp wit of Mr. the convention was founded in 1956, The banner in front Goodman (at piano) and Mrs. Goodman (at mike) who' keep tells the Crowd the 1965 convention will again be in Memphis fans chuckling with their good natured humor. and dates are. Oct. 1417, one day more than any previous convention.

,17J1; COSPEL S1[NGNG phis every year except two. Black- gospel music which made the 1964 been preached at every convention by wood said the group decided to try -convention the smashing success it Hóvie 1. inter of the Statesmen. Lister moving to different cities -to help in- was with attendance of more than is :an ordained Minister of the Gospel crease interest in gospel music. But it 20.000. :Tickets that year, which went in the Baptist Church. For the first dldn",t work out .too well, he said. The on sa e a year in advance, were 12 hour outstanding, singers present a spe- convention was held in Birmingham ach. cial program' of music. After the ser- in 1959, Where -attendance was down 1 he increasing crowds, growing in- mon, Reverend Lister is assisted in lo 9,000 for the three days because terest, more and more' quartets [par- counseling by Rev. Carl Batch, chap- the auditorium seated only 4,500 and ticipating, resulted in the decision to. lain of the National Quartet Convert; it wits held' in July, a bad month to extend the convention to four days tion. gel crowds, this yeai. A tiokct for all' four days Emcee for the°convetitión is á popu- The convention moved to Atlanta cost $12. These seats arc on the first lar, talented man who knows the busi- in Qctmber 196() and total attendance floor. A first balcony seat. for the' ness inside and out, Don Butler, of was 1.1,000 for the three days in an four_ days is 110. second balcony S81 Dallas_ He is dirc'&or of the Stamps auditorium which seats 5.000. Back Day today tickets arc $2.50 in the Con ervatory of Music, business man- in Memphis .in 1961, the crowd first halcony, S2 in the ,second. If ager of the Stamps Quartet, recording jumped to '13,000 and by now 30 pro- ether halts have to be opened, as producer, coñiposer. He is also a tal- fessional quartets were taking pan, happened last year,, these day .to day ented singer and arranger and has re- with several dozen amateur' groups seats will be S2;50. corded many gospel tunes. He has a entered in the contest. The crowds feel a rapport with the fine baritone voice and in 1958 was A new feature in 1962' was a re-. singers. It is not uncommon during named "Mr_ Gospel Singer of Amer- cording contract for winner of the a 'slow, mournful number for tears do ica." amateur eon:est. Fiist ,place went to welt in the.cyes of listeners. -Or, during Butler will be emceeing his third the Sons of Harmony of Flint; Mich. a spritély, cheery number, to see the convention and all who have heard Skylite Recording Co.. owned jointly crescendo of clapping hands join the him regard, him as lops. Said J. D. by the Blackwood Brothers and the beat of the singers, with cries of Sumner: "I think -he is the greatest Statesmen, signed them_. ánd the group "Amen!" emcee for tuch an occasion i have has since' become `a success. They The crowd floes not tire of the ever known.. He is a tircjcis worker, is have -recorded three LP's, have a half voices singing,práise, in varying words fair to each group and builds them to hour TV show in Flint and. make and music, to God. A unique distinc- the highest point a human voice can " tours in the Midwest. tion of the audience and the per- This sense of fairness is only one Convention attendance grew fto former is that all believe in 'God. and clement of what makes the convention 14,000 in 1962 and to 15,000 in 1963. wish to honor 'Him .in song. The per- a refreshing, soul -lifting experience Between the 1963 and 1964 convcn= formers consider themselves to be for all who attend. Each performer tions, gospel music increased greatly musical messengers Of God spreading strives to achieve in his voice a deep in popularity, it spread 'over into the His goipcL feeling of communion with the God pop, folk and country ,musk fields It is in this genial Christian spirit he worships. It shines in his face, his One of the factors is believed to have that the entire convention is con- voice, his personality. He seeks to been a popular New York night club ducted. After the more than -SO groups; impart It to the listener. The fan sits where the waiters and waitresses. sang sing on Saturday night an evening to enthralled; a smile on his lips, a gospel music as they worked. Tor pop remember for any fan, the crowd specter of wonder in his eyes. gladness - and country stars recorded gospel mu- leaves with a warm glow for a high- in his. heart. He has been entertained sic and the public responded. light the last day. That 'is the 10 a.in, and felt an inner glow he could' get It was this increased interest in Sunday worship service which has nowhere else on earth.

Billboard Th. World. of RKtigioin Music 27 J

Gt 'PEE' tnternatlonal Safes Representatives for:

Festival ,s I:te

A rtls; s: * LeFevres * Blackwood Brothers 1.1 * Statesmen Quartet It Í ' ' f:'' * Blue Ridge Quartet I ; . Il1 , * Prophets Quartet W.11 IJI. r ` . I * Speer Family RII , 11 i , Ql Ifl ' 1'p..SS , r y ,, * Oak Ridge Boys '1;-j1 o -{' ,, ` ,'i1 r '+ -,,.. Johnson u> * Sisters . Rebels Quartet ,-o,f¡¡i . 1'I,, . * F ' ., ,, o e :11 ' 1' * Stamps Quartet .,r l I r(, { 'ljt Harvesters Quartet r ta * tl- ', I 0,1Z'.t,lr, d fqq ,1 1 . J , ' l I .' k I I ' Also Distributors for: , c HEART WIRbIING RECORDS ,lo Fill.y, ,tri :.t---..; . oior'I¡, SO;AoS 'Of FAITH 'RECORDS ... -.._ . t I) MAJESTIC RECORDS - Y-i ',{.:i t. '_' I.¡ ' Hi-I 1® I ,',i SIMS RECORDS ,.. r" ,Is `I,I CHRISTIAN FAITH RECORDS TOMDERYAFI RECORDS ¡ I FAAIILYTONE RECORDS SWORD AND SHIELD [J1,1*! \,. (.. P,4THWAY RECOItDS P. C,. BOX 880

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28 TS World of 'Rol pious Music Billboard :F I VI/J ,.1 ` AND THAT'S THE

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Headlining the Caravan package are the LeFevrés, Americans most versa,tile`gospel ürsgers and'musici,onsl i For more than thirty years the leader. For personal appearances contact: Pierce LeFºvre, P.O. Box 400. Atlanta, Geargio.

if» Below: I

Fosdest rising group in Gospel Music today. Why? A new sound, an óriginaF sound, 'fa únique sound,," the The LeFcvres Prophets Quartet, For 'personal, appearances contact: A LIVING' LEGEND IN GOSPEL Joe Mosc ,eo, P. 0. .103 5055, Knpxviile, Tennessee.

Exclusive The finest in television syndicaition. The original ,producers of the Gospel Singing Caravan, The Jake Hess Artist and imperial Show, The Bill Anderson Show, The Gos No -1 pct Roundup, featuring The Chuck Wagon Gang and The Goss Brothers. The ;productions of -Programming, I'm-hove been hailed as unexcelled in their fkIcI offering outstanding ,ratings in major markets in prime { time and drawing prime audiences'in low budget programming, time. Using,only "top -grade" talent, which makes for easy locol merchandising, Programming, Inc. offers these progroms to you as well os thosestill' on the drawing board: From the Executive 'Producer, through the sales -force, the operational management r and office staff, it is. our goal to supply you; with the quality programming your market deserves. We sere- f ice what we sell; give ,us o chance to prove it! Jerry -A .Goff, Gcnerol Manager & Executive 'Producer' P. ,O. The Prophets Hbx 1313, Atlanta, Georgia. "THE UNIQUE SOUND IN GOSPEL"

30 The Work!, of 'Rsbpioui Muta Billboard Top arrongements,,top singers. This is the reason

the Blue Ridge Quartet has introduced more hit songs into Gospel Music than any other group. For' personal cppearances contaci: Elmo Fogg, P. 0.. Box 441, Spartanburg, South Carolina.

ti Below.

'Harmony their trademark, to which they hold the copyright. Urisurpossed, and 'unequaled, ,the F r Johnson Sisters stand without, peers rn Gospel Music. For personal appearances contact: Mary Johnson, 1424 14th, Street, 'Birmingham, The Blue Ridge Quartet Alábanial. '"THE SWEETEST SINGING THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN"

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LeFevre-Sing Publishers Offer! r Offers complete A to Z publsishfng service: music scoring, designi.eg, a ' or complete turn- ,I key" job, ,Check our line for the top publ'ico 1 s Lions, sheet music or song books 'in the Gospel The Johnson Sisters Music 'fiold. Let our stock be yours. "THE SWEETHIEARTS OF GOSPEL 'MUSIC"

Recording Studio Facilities Now Sing Recording Studios in Atlanta, - n Georgia, is where the action h" in 'Gospoli Music. Maior Gospel labels and top independent producers from across the nption e4l.1 (1h2oh,_ hovemode Sing, Recording' Studios their headquarters. The últimate in equipmelt, unexcelled background mvscions, and engineers that ore Gospel Music specioilists combine to make the much heralded "Sing Sound!" Corn- plete record pressing, producing, and distrib. 1eokc ut'rng facilities tart C;1c' available. Let our sound sell' you? Meurice LeFevre, Vice -President .& Gen- (OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE) eral Manager. P. O. Box 1502, Monta, Georgia. WORK FAR YfUI Billboard The world of ,Religious tr.uL11 (FIRST MILITARY TOUR-The firsd tour of overseas bases by a gospel group was made by the Gospel Echoes. saying ( '' good bye to gospel promoter Ken Duncan, right. It took emr Duncan three years to get the Defense Department to send Ari a gospel group on a tour of military bases. The Gospel Echoes are, from left: Buck Rambo. Joe Hatfield arid Dotti .. I Rambo, Buck's wife, r

WLiEGI1NS, niVER4EZ TRIDPS

HEAR SHE "'ORD

Gospel music 9ttade two important breakthroughs in take anything for the experience. It was the highlight of 1965. Three góspcl groups were, sent overseas by the bur singing career We look forward to another such Defense Department to entertain U. S. troops, and Jake tour. It inspired us to do a greater job for our fellow Hess .and the Imperials played an important date a@ the man." University of Alabama, At one base 4,000 turned out to hear them sing. Said The=,significance both of is 'that they were pioneering Rambo: "Yod don't realize how little a thing it is for us, to performances. , Sponsored gospel groups on college cam- do for 4.000 lonely men who have to be there a year, puses were unheardof before, and the Defense Department whether they want to or not" had never before sent a gdcpel group overseas to enteriaiñ The Gospel Echoes, all three ,of whom are ordained Loops. mini ncrs in the United Pentecostal Church, left ra good Now the Imperials are making numerous college imp?ession wherever they appeared. Raymond R. Close. appearances and are devoting a Major share of their time officers' Christian Union representative at. the naval -base to them after opening up a whole new. avenue' for gospel at Newfoundland, wrote: music. "II was our privilege to be entertained by the Gospel The. two overseas trips were the first of what will 'be echoes during the past week. It was my pleasure to find many in the' future. Already plans are ín the making to that they arc not only gospel singers but truly boat again send gospel groups to entertain U. S. servicemen, all over Christian people. Through the singing of God's word,, it the Is world-but it took gospel promoter Ken Duncan óf hoped! that the personnel at these remóte siatlóns might Marion, Ii!., three years to get the Defense Department have a closer walk with God." interested. Major Charles H, Wilkens, chaplain at the base at The first overseas tour began May' 16 this year when Greenland, wrote: the Gospel Echoes of Dawson Springs, Ky.. played at "Just a brief letter to let you know how' much we Thule Air Force Base at Greenland. appreciated the Gospel Echoes; Thcy,conducted themselves They did two to five shows a day, sometimes to only very properll and we enjoyed them very much. We had '12 to, 15 men at Isolated spots. The Gospel Echoes. a wonderful, Christian. fellowship' with them and 'believe composed of Buck' Rambo,. rhythm guitar; his wife, Dotti, me.' this is greatly appreciated here. They would be most electric guitar, and Joe Hatfield, accordion and piano. welcome anytime they return." cheerfully bore up in the 'bone -chilling, cold making per- 'The other tour of gospel singers was composed of the formances in Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador. Rangers of Nashville, and Windy Bagwell' and the Sun. The group gave up fiveweeks of bookings to make lighters of Atlanta. TheRangers 'are composed of Ronnie the trip and said when they returned, they 'wouldn't Page. baritone and drums, David Reece, lead' and piano. 32 The World of Rellyious Music ' Billboard THE IMPERIALS-(Right) They niádc a. major V 'break through to college campus audiences in 1965, now play to college students all over the country. From left Armond Morales, ., bass; Henry Slaughter, pianist Gary McSped- - - 1 den, baritone: Jake tress. lead, and Sherrill Nielsen, tenor. N

COLLEGE CONCERT-(Below) The Imperials and the Sons of Song close out their concert at the University of Alabama May 10, 1965, - an engagement which opened up a new performance area for gospel music.

tta,.qt551y lee - i15Zú 1 !y! i ,

,and Darrell Johnson, tenor and guitar. In Bagwell's group "We expected heckling," .said Hess, "but the students arc singers Jerri Morrison, lead,' and. Jan Buckner, alto. gave us á very enthusiastic acceptance: Even our hymns Bill Byrd, well-kñown Nashville guitarist, accompanied were received better than on the concert circuit. Not a the troupe. Bagwell' a -so plays guita and Jan plays bass. single student left the concert. They are stayed till 'it was These groups left McGuire Air Force Base June 1 for over and Were very énthusiasiic." a nine -week tour of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Playing the date with the Imperials were the Sons of Morocco, Navy gills- in the area, Libya, Greece. Turkey, Song, composed of tee Kitches. Calvin Newton and Bob Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and some Medi- Robinson. The Imperials are made up of Hess. the'lcader, terranean i3lands. who sings lead; Gary McSpaddeá, baritone; Sherrill Niel- "The' response was fantastic," the groups told ken. sen, tenor, and Armond Morales, bass. Their accompanist Duncan when they returned., "We had the red carpet is Henry Slaughter. For that college concert, two Nash- treatment all the way. The audiences of servicemen under ville studio musicians, a drummer and bass fiddle player. 21 ;were especially very enthusiastic." backed up the two groups. Duncan said these faro trips "opened up a vista for Since that first campus concert, the Imperials have gospel music not open before. These groups 'were top ambassadors played a number of college dates, induce"ng Texas'Christian of the U. S., not only to our men overseas University at Fort Worth,, and the University. of Arkansas, hut to the peoples of the countries they visited "Next Fayetteville. Ark. Word has, got around and they are in year the demand for gospel groups ,to 'entertain demand. overseas will be so great we won't be able, to supply it all. The tours this 'year have also sparked an interest Regitnriiñg in October, the Imperials, have begun devoting most of their time toe playing cónceris at church - from the peoples of European countries. I am receiving inquiries about tours for Europcah audiences." endowed colleges and filming their syndicated TV show. have When Jake Hess and the Imperials played their first They cut down ,some on regular concert, dates. college -sponsored concert May 10 at the University of "We have found- college students hungry for this type Alabama, about 1,000 students turned odt. A leading of must:," Hess said. "Our programs are received as factor, no doubt, was Steve Sloan, a star back on the well as any .taken to colleges, and better than most." football team. He was president of the Fellowship of Thus, 1965 opened up two vast ,new horizons for Christian Athletes, which sponsored the Concert gospel musk; college campusesº and overseas military 'The audience response was amazing to us," Hen, bases. The military -tour, while requiring financial and said later. He said he didn't know what to. expect from personal sacrifice, offers great spiritual reward and can a college crowd, who liked rock singers and entertainment lay ihe' groundwork for building popularity among re- of that scope. turning servicemen in later years.

Bililboard The Wóekl of iblielou,e IA ie 33 The Fathers of ]od'oGospefl tIosir

By ELTON R'HiISENHUNT foie gcrieratien_s. Both men sang bass and school took its name after the and, in their time, were the top bass Stamps family, who were outstanding No two men have had more impact gospel singers in the nation. pioneer settlers of the community. The on gospel music than the late Virgil, The author remembers as a child, community brought ín R. M. Morgan. O. Stamps, who died in 1940 at ago in Tyler. Tex.; hearing the famous one of the ,best gospel teachers of the 48, and 'his brother, Frank, H. Stamps, Stamps Quartet on radio. Radio was time, `to conduct the- school. It was who died April 12. 1965. at age 68. big in the 1930's and stations all over during 'the school and lñ the Months They had such tremendous and the U. S. played transcribed programs to follow, while V. O. and Frank were lasting influence on the industry that cut by the quartet at KRLD in Dallas. in ,their formative, impressionable leading quartets of today, publishers 1 still remember the vibrant, rich years, that they were deeply Moved and Composers, still speak of them voices singing the song they made and inspired by gospel music, Both almost reverently. They arc legendary famous as their theme and which .mil- decided to dedicate their lives to It. and without doubt, 'the fathers of lions of persons hummed and sung During their growing -up years they modern gospel music, Just to list their for years, "Give the World a Smile," sang at every opportunity. Both were imposing accomplishments would be a This is the chorus, not counting the blessed with .good voices and soon staggering task. A simple way to un- background voice part, which mi11ons had. achieved; .through the apprentice- derstand their gigantic contributions to of Americans could piobably recite ship of practice and performance. a the field is to Think of them as pio- verbatim today: polished singing ,voice second to none. neers in gospel music and all its facets "Give the World a smile each day They also knew the words of hundreds as we know it today. "Helping someone .on life's way, of gerspeli songs. As young men, they Both played leadership roles. The "From the paths of sin branched Out in the field, teaching total work they left behind is so rich. "Bring the wanderers in with the embryo singing schools of and of such vast influence, to' the 'To the Master's fold to stay. the day, 'singing,at country churches. culture and tradition of the industry "Help to cheer the lone and sad, it was in 1920 that Frank formed that if a Gospel Music Hall of Fame "Help to make some pilgrim g ad. -the first Stamps Quartet. It was a were established, they wouldaprobahly "Let your life so be rural church group during struggling be The first elected to it. 'That all the world may see times and names Of its members are The two brothers workedseparately ."The joy of .serving .Jesus with a lost tó history, In' 1924,. however, in the early years while getting estab- Smite." V. O., after working ,for Trio Music lished and it ís difficult to separate They made the- song so popular- Co.. Quartet Music Co., Jambe D. some of their innovations, but these the lyric and melody are excellent Vaughan and Samuel W. Beasley, or- are',somc Of theft major contributions: and the tempo is ii bouncy upbeat- ganized V. O: Stamps Music Co. at 1) the Founded first professional that it became a standard Dñ the field. Jacksonville, Tex. gospel quartet. A, record of it sold almost a million In 1926, J. R. Baxter Jr. became a 2) Were first to use piano to ac- copies (a million sale of a gospel mtua partner and when the firm was moved company the quartet, ss bich is now sic record is, unheard of today). Every to Dallas in 1929 it became the standard. (Before then banjos, guitars. quartet that caiie along for years Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing mandolins were used.) aftc?wards had to sing the -song as Co. It is operated today by Baxter's 3) Were first to begin regular ,gospel part of their program at request of widow. Mrs. J, R. Baxter. quartet singiiig on radio. the audience. The young company started out 4) Were first to use a theme song Because the song was so closely publishing songbooks,_ and later sheet on radio. identified with the Stamps Quartet, music, to sell to 'singing conventions. 5) Founded_ what is floss the largest people generally thought the Stamps Conventions are groups of persons gospel music school .iñ the 'U. S. to wrote It. However, it was composed who like gospel si-nging.Sometimes the teach .gospel 'music singing, shaped by Otis Deaton and M, L. Yandell, convention is associated with a church, notes used .in gospel onuatie and other copyrighted in 1925 and is now in the but not always. A convention held related subjects tó. young people. public domain, Besides the. millions big sings, at least one annually. in 6) Staged the first all-night gospel who heard it on radio and its concert those days it was- an "all -day singing, radio broadcast in 1936 over Station in the early years,-mililons of our ,clay with dinner on the grounds " KRLD, Dallas. hale heard it on TV and records and V. Oi used' fits Stamps Quartet to 7) Originated the -first all-night sing, sung live, travel around and sing at these con- which became standard programing Virgil O. Stamps artd Frank H. ventions, promoting the publishing for gospel music quartets. (V. O. got Starimps were two of six sons- of Wil- ;conlpany's songbooks. He traveled' the idea when a woman told him, liam Oscar Stamps and Florence Ros- some himself in the early years. later "Mr, Stamps. i could listen to your ser Stamps. who settled; in a sawmill 'limited it, There was competition from Singing all night.") .community in Upshur County. Texas. several other gospel music publishing 8) Was the fait quartet to record about 10 mi_cs cast of Gilmer. when companies. as there is today, and a for a major record company (RCA the area was little More than wilder. quartet appearing at conventions was Victor); ness. V. O. was, born in 1892 and the means used to advertise and pro- Besides all these major achieve- Frank in 1896. mote sales of songhoolts. ments, both men were talented- and When V. O: was 15 and Frank 11. Frank Stamps. meanwhile. had his prolific composers, and left behind they attended a singing kchoól `at' own quartet, performing on records. many dozens of gospel songs for fu - Stamps Schoolhouse. The community - radios conventions and -at concerts, He° 34 The World 'of Rtfligiouf Music Billboard' had several headquarters in those years, the longest at Chattanooga Tenn. V. O.'s publishing operation flour- ished and Frank worked with him on many enterprises.. In 1936, V. O. went to radio Station KRLD at Dallas during the Texas State Fair and sold them on carrying daily gospel music quartet singing. The program was so popular it drew a remarkable amount of mail. The fabulous popularity of he Stamps Quartet In the next few years was credited, with increasing the station's growth from a 10,000 to a o 50.000-watt station. The programs, for many years tht'ec times each day, continued for 30 years. They ended earlier this ycar - because TV is now the mass medium of gospel quartets.

V. O. organized the first"!+1111-Night - Singing and Broadcast" in 1938. It STAMPS QUARTET TODAY-They "keep on keeping on" in became an annual event and from it the Stamps tradition, Top, left to ugh*: Charles Ramsey-. stemmed the "AII:Night Sing." V. O. pianist: Mylon LCFevre, bantone. Bottom, left to right: Roger sang bass right along with his quartet McDuff, second tenor -,.James Hill. first tenor. John Hail, bass. on radio. (Another bass singer traveled for concert appearances.) V. O. was a masterful emcee. perccptive promoter and prudent husinessman. He was at his peak of popularity when he was suddenly stricken In 1940 and died. Frank stepped in immediately to take V. ©.'s place in the famous Stamps Quartet (his own was Frank [ Stamps Quartet and later Stamps All - Stars Quartet) and the work of the publishinE company. in 1945, Frank -. organized a new publishing company, t- Stamps '-'rStanrxnbinrtct Quartet bíusic Co., and the Stamps Quartet School of Music. 0 Both grew extremely fast because of the famous Stamps name. For the next 25 years; 'he made history in his radio work, in frequent concerts, in composing, in the publishing industry and STAMPS',AND 'BLACKWOODS-.The two quartets both have modern buses for in Operating the Stamps"'school. -travel. They play concerts all over the U. S. andrin Canada. The Blackwóods As Frank neared retirement a bought the' Staitps organization in 1962. put a new. young Stamps quartet oh age road few yea -s ago" he looked around for the a quartet.organiialion to carry on the Scamps' operations. He chose the headquarters by J. E. Wheeler of ly carried on the radio broadcasts. Blackwood Brothers, And in 1962 sold Portcrvitle, Calif., who. sang 'in Fran'k,r. They voluntarily stepped aside for the the.Stamps operation -to them. Frank Stamps' quartet in the early years; Blackwoods' to organize a new Stamps remained to do any work he wished. "I doubt that anyone can ever lift Quartet. The quartet of today are all along with his charming wife, SÍIy, the banner of ,gospel music as high as young men, fine s'ngers and develóp- 'who Is still an official in the company. the late Virgil and Frank Stamps." ing as good ,composers. whó travel the Blackwoods sent talented Don Both V. O. And Frank were humble some 125,000 miles a year in a mod Buller, well-knówn gospel singer, pro- and devoutly religious Men, Both Cued ern bus singing concerts and' carrying ducer and leader in the industry, to the expression that they couldn't have the Stamps banner. he director of the operation, Name of done anything "without the good Lord The members are James Hill. first the school was changed to Stamps._ and a million friends." Both used the tenor, from Portsmouth. Ohio, the Conservatory of Music. encourating exp ssIon "keeping on: group's manager;, Roger McDuff, sec- Frank died April 12, 1965, and It is well known in the industry and' ond tenor, from, itaytOwn, Tex.. em- condolences came from all over the today the Stamps Organization, under cee: Mylon LeFcvrc, 19. of the famous U: S. The Texas Legislature adopted a different men, is "kceping.on." l.erevre family. of \tlantá, bantone; specihL resolution Of eulogy. Fails' all When the Blackwoods bought the John Hall, bask from Fort Worth. over the country mourned him, Lead- Stamps, organization in 1962. the Charles Ramsey of Akron, ,Ohio, is ers ñri the industry praised his c-assie Stamps quartet wastmostly Dallas ,men pianist: contributions to the field. Typical was -hadhad daytime jobs and couldn t They "keep on keeping on" in the this from a letter 'written to Stamps travel exccptdon weekends. They main- Stamps 'tradition.

Billboard Thu, Wald of'Ráligioua Mvii¿ 35

1 Il "1:,(«Sz.,1

I1T;TJI

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Er-

GREAT "A NFW Wonderful SIMS Feeling" ALBUM 129 r

36 No World 61 ReRqloui Mui:c Billboard -,i

. _J `-- a

* STARS OF GCSPEL SINGING JUBI LEE

BOOKINGS' RUSTY' GOODMAN, BOX 13 ,MADISOHVlll., KY., PHONE TA 1-299$

ALSO J. for WHIINELD PROMOTIONS, .4140X 5008, PENSACOLA, flA PHONE 433-6561

Billboard no World of Rotl¡I'rov. Music 37 Jarrell Mc Cry ck en S tn':Vord o n

t 1 I\

*rag. .

WORD OFFICIALS-Jarrell F. McCracken, right, president of Word Records. Inc_, holds one of the company's top selling albums. McCracken 'and Marvin Norcross, left, vicerpresident built the company from scratch into the targest,of Its type In the world.

By DON LIGHT rampant sins on the earth and the office. building and plant at Waco, a Christians fought to prevent a touch building in New Zealand, distributes Jarrell 1. McCracken was studying dov. n. The two teams battled 'back, records all over the U. S., New Zea- to he a minister of the gospel at Bay- and forth across the field and finally land, Australia, Canada and parts of lor University itt Waco, Tex., when the forces of .good scored to win the the world. Word records such top he was 'nvlted to speak to a young game. people .in the religious world as Ethel people's group at a 'church one night The dynamic effect this remarkable Waters. Billy Graham. Metropolitan hi 1950. He was a good public speak- speech had on the -audience was the Opera star Jerome Hines; Jim Rob- er, active in church work and often beginning of 'history In the religious erts, vocalist for Lawrence We k; called on to speak. Ile was a sports- record field, Soon so many requests Frank Boggs, Word's first singer and caster for a local radio station. using were coming in for copies that a friend still, one of their top' artists. and Burl that job 'toh work his way through suggested td McCracken he record it Ives. college. and go into the record bus ness. The company records -and' markets His speech that ,night `l5' years ago McCracken decided tei try IL He virtually ,every type of religious re- was titled 'The Game of Life." It recorded the speech with background cording: spoken wordy sotos, choirs,, dealt with the forces óf good versus crowd effects tÓ héig'iten drama -at choiuscit and gospel quartets. Their evil and the meeting ground was a. the Baylor University radio station albums also. range from piano solos football field. The' good forces were and borrowed S75 to get 1,00 records to performances by orchestras of Mom represented by the average' Christian pressed. Those isold and another 100 than 100 pieces, and the coach was Jesus. The evil were pressed, then a third 100. Word's pútpose since 'ilti conceptiótí forces were coached by Satan. '1 That was the start of what is today has been 'to "communicate the' Chris Christian would have the ball first a fabulous, far-flung, diverse* opera- tian rs ssagc;t said McCracken. His down and. 10 to go and would make tión which, is the largest of ;ts kynd' faith that there were pcñplc who an end run. With Bible study and in the world. Word Records, Inc., of wanted 'religious music and messages church attendance running interfer- Waco, Tex., after a humble beginning on record was the gnly thing that kept ence he would gain seven yards, Hut with Tittlemoney, untold hardships McCracken going in. those in'trcdibly then he would he downed {by pride and nothing but faith -in, a goal, was difficult first years when, there was and criticism. built Into an enterprise, which last failure lifter failure.. One of lesser When the evil forces got the tall, year grossed more than $2 million. faith would have given up in despair. they would try to score also with their The company has a new. modern Seeing the highly successful opera -

38 Tho world of Roliylous Musk 'Billboard Lion of Word Records today,' with its big plant, top recording stars, 90 employees, one would find the hardship years difficult to believe. When he first started in 1951 with that first record, "The Game of Life," McCracken got two friends to "invest S500 each. Neither ..,_: McCracken nor ,; ? : his friends knew anything about the :..r.c ;

_ . . ., recórd business. In May 1952 Mc- 't:}':y. 401111 Cracken induced a friend of one of the " investors to join the fledgling com- }?'i; r". 1 we- ... . pany to head the business end of it. GEL,;s, This man, Marvin Norcross, an ac- countant. then 23, was to play a lead role with McCracken in developing the company. - 1n the beginning there was not enough income from the sale of "The WORD RECORDS, INC., Waco, Texas, started on a shoestring in 1950, built Game of Life" to pay any salaries so this attractive $260,000 offrce:warehouse building ,in 1960.. had to build a McCracken returned to Baylor to get $20.000 addition this yeai. his MA in religion. when The company recorded as . its first Norcross Caine ón duty ,and be- stallment plan payments. McCracken artist Frank Boggs, a .fine bass singer gan edging them, something went or a salesman, for examp e, would then a student at Baylor. They next wrong and'all but a few of the records meet +sith a minister, show the prod- tried hiring a salesman, But nobody were ruined! The two decided alter uct, get names of prospects, call and had heard of Word Records and no- that they could no longer press their say: "Our mutual friend Reverend body seemed to want to buy them, own. They got the Tanner company .Smith told! me to call you, I have Saks the first month with a salesman in Texas to press for them. Tanner something thatattight interest you. Will totaled 5753, hardly enough to pay gave them. six months of credit, un- you be free at 8 tonight?` This type the salesman and his expenses. heard of in the record' business for a of selling started slow but proved to company with no assets. McCracken be in Norcross returned to his previous' time highly successful. and Norcross then incorporated. and job in Fort Worth and worked for in May 1958 the company began McCracken raised S1S; 100 by selling Word on the road on weekends, car- stock. the lamily Record Club, the first such rying their entire product in the trunk religious record club. This was success- of his car. McCracken and Norcross They kept going on a minor scale ful and now the company was selling next decided. tosave costs by buying' for two years and realized their 'big by three methods': the club plan by used record pressing equipment and problem was lack .of distribution, In nail, the library in person-toperson doing their own pressing. 1954 they formed Word Record Dis- 'meetings and through record dealers 'and distributórs; This Was almost disastrous. Neither tributing Co. and rook on, along with All continued to knew how to operate the equipment. their product, more than 20 independ- grow. They worked night and day learning. ent labels. They operated in Texas. In 1960 the company erected its pressing records, taking only a few Oklahoma, Louis; urta and Arkansas beautiful building, which has 13.000 hours for steed. They had many equip- and after a time the new company square feet. Half is used for offices ment breakdowns, often worked all began to make a profit. and half for warehouse space. Total night. Once Norcross narrowly es- In 1957 the company introduced a employees of Word Records, Inc., and, caped serious. injury. Word Audio Lib-ary Program,`a.5189 Word Record Distfibuting CO., Inc., One night McCracken worked all package of records. It. was sold in is now 90, night to get 50 records pressed. Theri person -to -person meetings using in- the two 5500 early investors had,

TOP RECORDING ARTISTS FOR WORD RECORDS, INC.

/lb

1 - & My Burl Frank Jerome Ethel Jim Graham leas Boggs Hines Waters Roberts

Billboard The Wortd,ef Rel4h>ei Mink 39 in the meantime, ;;old out. McCracken who were interested in their churches, and Norcross, who built the company, in religion, had a love for good re- .are major ,stockholders. Their work ligious recordings and wanted them, ii IThEY remained .the same from the begin- in their homes. ning: McCracken handled artists, sales "The problem was how to reach RECORDING and operation, is president.. Norcross, than. Most were not in the habit of vice-president STUDIOS and, secretary -treasurer. going to record shops and book stores. handled accounting and business man- And most record shops then didn't agement think there was any market for such Last year the company decided .to records," begin recording gospel quartets and But Word Records, Inc., proved now haw under contract the Florida there teas a market for religious reel Boys, Dixie Echoes, Couriers Quar- ords - a big market. The company in the Recording, tet, Harvesters Quartet and are con now is entering the printed word field Broadcasting and tinning, tó add more. and will publish books of a religious 'The company has grown so tre- nature.. Its first, released this year, Tape Duplicating mendously that in July this. year it was "Don't Miss It If You Can," by for: installed electronic computer equip- Jess Moody, ,president of the pastors ment to handle its orders. There are conference of the. Southern Baptist Convention. RELIGIOUS 50,000 record club members in the U. S. There are 2,000 in New Zea- Jarrell McCracken today is a busy .CLIENTS young man of 36 who not only land, extremely high for a country directs the ever-growing Word enterprises in 12 years' experience in this field with a population of two million, and Waco but flies about the country on with the very latest "and most thousands more in Canada, Australia modern business in his own plane, He is a equipment. No lob too and other parts of the world. This fab- _small. Records pressed-Tapes civic leader in Waco and active in the ulous religious record operation, was - Baylor University alumni -assóciation., Duplicated -2 & .3 Track Stereo built on McCracken's belief there was 'Facilities. Fittingly 'enough, he is a big re- a 'need for it. cruiter for Baylor's. football team, WHITNEY "When, we started there was not flying players in, entertaining them. RECORDING STUDIOS much circulation of religious records_." Perhaps he remembers with .affection he said. "And of .the records available what that 1516 W. Glen Oaks Blvd. first allegorical football there was not much quality. Glendale 1, Cal. (213) 245.6801 I believed game did to spread the word of there were, many millions of people Christianity on Word records. LEXICON MUS:, Inr. Now makes available the inspiring music o4'' l'tALF H CA1IMICF AEL: Choral Collections Choral Octavos Brass Choir Arrangements Songs of Ralph Carmichael Collections Includiling: "We Are hlo a Than Conquerors"

"The Heart Is a Rebel"-Music from ' "The Restless Ones" (new Billy Graham Film)

ORDER FROM YOUR LOCAL MUSIC STORE OR LEXICON MUSIC, INC.-'ACO, TEXAS 76703

40 The world of R.elígieuw Mink BIUboard 1 AHAM G~ r MIriliD'S FAIR PRIM 'o t BILLY thi I, , GR "HAN a a, . I CRUStL1E - . ..- ALBU VIS I.-' HILLY GRAHAM PRESENTS FROM HIS ORLD'S FAIR PAVILION -'NÁN IN THE 5TH 0 IIENSION' &-'- *1-1. T The soundtrack album from the motion picture, with 81.2y Graham's message Fr W. on how to find peace with God. I'us,c com- , , P J ff.1 posed and conducted by Ralph Car achael. r I r>! 1 RCA Camden CAL -813 CAS -813 BsEeeGtAAa 1'V, IICRUSADE'CNOIRir I M . THE BILLY GRAHAM -- YOU Mss FOR WI*I LOS And P.' CROWE CHMMR . ... ,.PC.. u.... ~PP ....Y.

114

rl f , r- ' ' THE BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE CHOIR

SINGS FOR YOU _ I .41.1 +1 4.000 Voices directed by Cliff BarfOws. George Beverly Shea, soloist; Tddd Smith, pianist. Don Hurtad organist, SpalltofGod. Descend Upon My Heart a Jesus Is Coming Again How Great Thou Art Burdens Are LUted at Calvary Blessed Assurance THE BILLY GRAHAM Beautiful Savior Ivory Palaces and others. LOSANGELES CRUSADE CHOIR RCA Victor LPM 2499 LSP 2499 5.000 voices directed by Cliff Barrows. Featuring George Beverly Shea. He's Got the Whole Wortd In' His Hands He's the a Christ Of Every Crests Onward. Christian Soldiers Wonderful Grace of Jesus .The Lord's Prayer Is Pr - UntirThn GlorlosIS II Thy Name Halleluiah Chorus andiothers. N' RCA Victor LPM 2788 LSP 2788 `. I- .h1+., BILLY GRAHAM

INrmNA+nDwL ti cRL.:'lDF CFfOfRi kir

eee eee ..= -,.

J SILLY GRAHAM INTERNATIONAL CRUSADE CHOIRS with George Beverly Shen. Directed by Cliff Barrows. 25,000 voices from Crusades'ln New York; Glasgow. Scotland; San Francis. w co; London; Frankfurt, Gecntany; Sydney. Australia; Gothenburg Sweden; Melbourne. Australia and other cities. 3 RCA Victor LPM 2088 y Available hem

SituBible Book store et .rule 44079/1A/1/1¡

/Y//4.wtl

CNl? Barrows directs 13 So. 13th Street: the Crusade Choir Minncapolas. Minnesota 55403 . sO

- _ . ------COMBIINE 'MEMBER The Singing Speer Family LEADING ll' D PENDBNT-The Chuck Wagon Gang of Fort belongs to the StatesmenBlackwood cbmblne. Worth has recorded for Columbia for 29 years, Front row from G. T. (Dad) Speer Is in. center. Men, from left left: Rose Karnes and Anna Gordan. Back row, from left: James Brock Speer, Ben Speer and Charles Yates. The Wesson, Roy Carter and Howard'Gordon. ladies, from left: Faye Speer wife of Brock; Ann

Sanders and Mom Speer. -

spi Groups P o Recurcs

Gone are the Jays,when all gospel party a quartet goes with is developed own many publishing copyrights on quartets worked separately, More than through association of the' quartets gospel songs. a dozen of the top' ones are mingled over a period of time as they perform Second largest- of the combines is now into three different combines for together at sings all over the country. headed by the. LeFcvres of -Atlanta, live performances, TV shows and re- While all members of the Statesmen= veterans of more than 40 years in cordings.. It works out better [for all' Blackwood combine do not always ap- gospel music. Members of this com- concerned that way. pear at live performances together, bine ate: the Lefevres, Blue Ridge For example, the' Singing Speer they arc frequently booked together. Quartet, Spartanburg, S. C., The Family is assured o'f certain good And when, the Statesmen -Blackwood Prophets Quartet, Knoxville Tenn., bookings as a member of a combine. group'bcgan producing their one-hour and the Johnson Sisters, Birmingham, Also, is it economically advantageous syndicctedr TV ,show last year, "Singin Ala, The four groups frequently book to record for a company operated by Time irk Dixie," 'it was natural that as a unit as the "Gospel Caravan," a gospel' combine a quartet can buy they bring onto the show quartets with The l.eFevres own Sing Recording Its albums for less for retail sale. and record for Skylite-for TV exposure Co. at Atlanta, and have their own also it gets' exposure on a syndicated increases record sales, an ecótitimii: studio. Other group besides the quar- TV show, benefit io both Statesmen -Blackwood tets in' the combiñe record on the The Speer Family of Nashville is. a and the girartet selling an album Sing label. member of the StatestitenBlackwood In addition to Skylite and the TV In addiilón, the LeFevres produce Brothers combine. But it works tine' show, Statesmen -Blackwood in recent a One -hour ,syndicated TV show. Mrs. same way for other quartets who arc years entered Other related fields. They Esa Mac LeFevrc emcees this show. imetribers.of a combine. jointly own lames a Vaughan Music Her husband, Urias LeFevrc,. heads The Statesmen -Blackwood group is, Co., Lawrcnccburg,.Tenn., one' of the the LeFevre organiiatiion. Other mem- the largest., In addition to the States .oldest publishers of gospel songbooks bers of the quartet, in addition to men, Blackwood Brothers and Speer and sheet music, Eva Mac and Urias, arc Alphus Le - Family, these quartets are also mem- The Blackwoods bought the Stamps Fevre, brother of Urias; Pierce Le - bers: Oak Ridge Quartet of Nashville, Quartet Mimic Co., publisher, and the Fevre, son of Eva Mae and Urias; Rebels Quartet of Tampa, Fla., and Stamps Conservatory of Music in 1962. Jimmy Jones apd Rex Nelon. tht Stamps Quartet.lonnerly of Dallas The. Statesmen in recent years The LcFevres also.own a publishing and now of Memphis. formed Faith Music, Inc., and ac- com,pfiny and, copyrights on many The main link that holds these quired' the following publishing com- gospel songs. groups info a' merger :is that all record panies: Lee Roy Abernathy Publishing The third combine is operated by for Skylite Recording'Company, joint- Co., J. M. Henson Music Co. and Vcp 1. G; Whitfield of Pensacola, Fla ly owned by the Statesmen and Black- el lis Songs. veteran gospel singer and' in recent wood Brothers. Which recording coin- Both Statesmen and Blackwoods (Continued on pate 44)

42 The Wort&of RellgioNs Music Billboard IN THE WEST ... the 41 Producer of Gospel Musk

GOSPEL CONCERTS NC. A Non -Profit" Organization

PROGRAMING THE FINEST TALENT IN GOSPEL MUSIC

Pólly mes plus COMPLETE MUSIC PUBLISHING & RECORDING SERVICES AVAILABLE

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Area Códe 21,3 - 376-1916 HIGH FIDELITY RECORDINGS

Traveling Throughout the U. S. and Canada

CALIFORNIA'S OWN . GOLDEN !'TATE QUARTET Host Quartet for GOSPEL CONCERT Productions

Personal Management Bookings 11 (Kenna Martin Polly Grimes 7 P.O. Box 992 108 So. Pacific Ave. Long Beach, Calif.. Redondo .Beach, Calif. Phone 328-521'2 Phone 376-1916 i

Representing GOSPEL CONCERTS in The SAN DIEGO AREA THE .JUBiLIRES __ W Serving The Lord With Song

Don Williams, Mgr. 1648 El Prado Lemon Grove, Calif;

Billboard' Tho Woold of' Relig;ovs Musk 43 Continued front page 42 with other sings periodically at other for Heart Warming, a Nashville label. years, a large promoter of gospel sings. cities. He is promoter of the big -all. The Plainsmen and Gospel Echoes He sang with various quartets in his night sing at Bonifay. Fla., held e...ch also record for Heart "Warming and begiítning years and in 1947 organized year on the Saturday night nearest the Havestcrs for Canaan Records. the' Florida Boys Quartet. He sang July 4. The.sing, this year drew some The Harvesters and Plainsmen do bass with the group until a few years 12,000. a syndicated gospel. TV show for Bob ago and then began promoting sings Whitfield had five sings golítg dur- Poóie Productions of Greenville. S. C. in the South and Southeast. in 1963 ing the )Lily 4 weekend this year: They have various groups on the show he formed the Dixie Echoes Quartet Nashville, and Jacksonville. Fla.. on from time to time as guests, as part of the combine. Friday night; Huntsville, Ala:; Boni. Other independent groups which Whitfield) in co-operation with fay. Fla., and Tupelo. Miss, .on Sat. "are hovering near the top echelon Noble -Dory & Associates, Inc Nash. urday night. of quartets are: Kludt Indian Family, vilie advertising agency, produces a Brothers & While most of the major groups Sego Naomi, the Weather- one -hour syndicated TV show which work in a unit. there are several top ford Quartet and the Rangers. i% a little different from the other independent The combines started in 1952 whe3 TV shows quartets. The major in- gospel in that It has one dependents are: the Statesmen and Blackwood Broth- sponsor, Stanback, for all markets. ers, appearing at a sing, realized they Jake Hess and the Imperials, Nash- The other TV shows are sold to mar- were a top drawing cárd together. ville: Chuck Wagon Gang. kets which secure sponsors Fort Because at least several quartets per- Worth; Harvesters Quartet, Whitfield emcees the show, which Charlotte; form at a sing, the Statesmen and N, C.; Plainsmen. Baton features the Florida Boys, Dixie the Rouge, Blackwoods decided to team up be- La.; Gospel Echoes, Echoes and the Happy Goodman Dawson City, Ky. cause they would araw top crowds Family ,of Madisonville. Ky.. who arc Oldest of these groups is. the Chuck together and it would be beneficial to considered a part of the combine Wagon Gang. which has been record- both. working relationship. Guest quartets ing for Columbia for 29 years. New- They were right They were success- frequently appear on the stow Whit= est is The Imperials, formed in 1963 ful together, became the top draw in field does not operate a gospel record and which is meeting with success the business and froni there grew and label., but devotes most of his efforts because Hess,s a veteran in the field. expanded to the present enterprises in promotion of sings. Hess, one of -the most popular lead they' now own and operate, He has regular monthly sings at singers in the country is surrounded it appears that combines will he a Nashville, Atlanta and Birmingham. by lop singers. The Imperials record continuing trend In, gospel music,,

CALIFORNIA'S FAVORITES d(r/AlQg

-11351 UHF Mono. You say you ve neGer heard of L PS -,1850 Stereo them? ... Well now you have; rst a raro And you'll be hearing a lot morel ACOSPft CUNCERE eY THE Get their new Heart Warming release and hear the, gospel quar- d QUARTET' tet with the 'lull sound." This exciting group is, heard in the West over 50.0130 -wait, clear. : channel KFI. Los Angeles, Sunday eves. at 10:30: Their headquarters Is in Los Angeles and most of their work Fs, done In the West-however, promoters are CALIrORnta'S FftYORITEi Invited, to inquire about a tlir`ni!ed 11 number of dates each year In HIGH C2C2 the East.

H IEART RanG AI vallable for background recording on the [Personal management & Bookings' West Coast. Free records to radio 'stations Mi. Bob Jones Jr, 316 W Huntingten'Dr., and dhk jockeys. Send for catalog:.. )041RM NG 'Monrovia, Calif. .121.3) 357-3244 iY L C Ci R O B The Sone/dlotoa Quartet reeord+.exelrxaírrir on lirart Warming Reeulda

I 44 The World of Relto:aus Mude Biliboar i ... from Music City, U.S.A.

America's first family of Gospel Music I

Arer#1 411«.-7"

A TRADITION IN GOSPEL MUSIC Now in their fortieth year anll still going strong.

See, regulurly on Heár ,oñ "Sing1n- C.e.Poi nubile Time In BOOKIIC.S: BROCK SPEER 7-1¡ tt D lxio' Box 9201 ILmember .NASHVILLE, TENN. 1,kyiete

J.NI ` 1 ; 1Y Billboard Th. World of A.11phu. MAk 5 o.o.r "Singln' Time In 1 ' kylte Dixie'', :Jmembe2,9' Igrg_1g'i

4qp

f ,

sing Hymns of "THE OLD RUGGED CROSS' Featuring an exclusive Intervie,. with the late author of "The * Old Rugged Cross", the Rev. George Bennard. (1880-1965)

D.J.'s - songfrom this GREAT NFW `.. kylite ALBUM will Le corning tr] your station soon. * Exc usive Skylite Recording Artist * Stars of the "Singin' Time in Dixie" TV Series for 'hooklnp: Confect J, D. Unmet 386 N, Hltthlond Ave, Memphit, Tenn. Tetrrnone: FA 3-4206 or GL 2-7078

46 The world of'R.t1g oue Musk Billboard ...anyway you look at it'

THE 3AK NDG DI L71 "S are leaders in gospel music'

1 SKY LITE RECORDING ARTISTS n

TOP BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION

BOOKINGS: SHITTY GATLIN, STARS OF BOX 8533, 1 SINGIN' TIME N DIXIE NASHVILLE, TV SERIES TENNESSEE 37211 833-0503 rvv\ININI STATESMEN SKYROCKET ON SilO\VMANSHIP

riplik 9 r-nY

G L4 .L

' /

THE STATESMEN-They sing wilt in exuberance which gospel mtíslc fans have accepted as an important new element in modern gospel singing.

The most reniarkable ,success story rung and only one other quartet is Marietta, he traveled the area singing in modern gospel singing is without regarded as being. of equal rank. That at church meetings and realized the doubt the Statesmen 'Quartet, a group group is the Blackwood Brolhérs, .tremendous potential -of gospel music [óf lively singers headed by Hovie which teamed up with the Statesmen crowds_ Here vas an opportunity to Lister who have added showmanship In 1952. arid together the t*o groups reach many thousands with the gospel to gospel singing. This uñique de- have made gospel music history. in 'song. parture from standard. traditional in he, organized a quartet to qúartct singing adding ,éxuberant All' members óf the Statesmen arc 1948. - sing on an Atlanta radio station. He singing, arm waving, hand clapping taknted singers, composers and solo- got together tenor Denver Crunipler. and energetic delivery=niFt with im- ists. But the ;man who has done moré of the Rangers Quartet, who had been mediate and almost phenomenal suc- than anyone else' in catapulting the .active with other quartets and had cess. Statesmeq to the top of -the gospel once sung with a Stamps group in Whether this showmanship was the' music world is Hovic lister. Lister, 38, TeÑas; tenor Jake Hiss, "of Athens, sole feature which skyrocketed the is a dynamic, versatile man of many Ga,, son of a gospel songwriter; James Statesmen to such popularity after they talents. He is pianist for the group, .S. Wetheringtoñ, from Ty Ty, Ga., began In 1940 cannot be ascertained also sings, is mana8er. 'spokesman, bass singer, and Doy Ott of McAles- but it is generally accepted as the composer of gospel songs, -arranger, ter, Okla . who had stayed in reason in the ,industry. emcee and is also a minister of the Georgia It cant be' after receiving a degree in business stated with certainty that the States- gospel. For 11 years he pastored a :administration from the of men gained popularity, small country church.in Marietta, Ga.. University prominence 'Georgia. and financial success more quickly while touring :the country during the week- with Statesmen. than any other quartet iñ 'the history the He is art Jake, Hess and Denver 'Crumplcr ordained minister the of gospel muse. of Southern left the group in 'the' eaifly years and 'Baptist The Statesmen ale the most success- Convention, were replaced; by Rosie Rozell, tenor, ful of all post -World War Ii quartets He was born and 'reared in Green- whose voice has been widely aé- and their popularity has continued to ville, S. C.. where both his grand - claimed, and Sack Toncy, lead` tenor climb. The group bills itself as Amer- .fathers preached In country churches who 'is billed Eby the Statesmen .as ica's "top gospel quartet" and "Amer- and, led song Pests with devotion and having "one of the greatest voices ica's favorite gospel, quartet.' ,This vigor* he decided that was the kind of ever to be dedicated to gospel music." may or may not be a liberty. 'but it life he wanted. While a young min- First radio sponsor for the States- can be, said they are.; at the very top ister at Mt. Zinn Baptist Church at ,men was National Biscuit Co. The 48 The World of rt.ltgio.0 Musk Billboard show was such a hit with listeners it cated TV shows and general promo- months and film eight to 10 shows -in was expanded into a syndicated radio tion of- gospel music-the Statesmen a two-day period. 'they start at 2 for nationwide show distribution, the say they have invested more than p.m. on a Monday. work till 10:30 first such show by a gospel quartet. S 1.000,000. p.m , start at 9 a.m. Tuesday and go the advent After of television. the Perhaps the most important move till 10:30 p m_ The Statesmen and' Statesmen produced a syndicated TV the Statesmen made was to join forces Blackwoods star and regulars on the show w_th National Biscuit also the with the Blackwood Brothers, with show are the Speer Family, Oak Ridge spon sor. whom they now operate several- Boys, Stamps Quartet and the Rebels. The rise to -fame and fortune came joint enterprises. The two The Statesmen travel, as do the fast. They played to crowds of 1,500 quartets were on a program together Blackwoods, in an ultramodern Grey- to 2,500, which later grew to 5,000 one night in 1952. Such a mob turned hound -type bus with the Inside cus- as golpet music spread from the out to hear them, both realiz' I they tom built with sleeping quarters, rest South into all sections of the country. were the top drawing card in the room, two-way radio, TV, mobile At week-long revivals it was not business. Because all gospel music phone and other comforts and con- uncommon for 10,0011 to hear the concerts feature two or more quar- veniences. The Statesmen travel right Statesmen. Last year at the annual tets, they decided to become partners along with the Blackwood bus on the all-night sing at Waycross, Ga which because both would benefit from it. highway when they they are filling the Statesmen founded several years Since then most of their bookings engagements together. The Statesmen ago. 11,000 fans turned out have been together. worked 287 one -fighters in 1964, a People outside the gospel music Over 'the years ,their fields broad- few more than the Blackwoods, which field sat up and took notice. Said ened. The combined company. known attests to the enormous demand for Lister, "Anytime a group of entei- as Blackwood-Statestitcñ Enterprises, the Statesmen at concerts. tainers can draw audiences up to with offices in Memphis. where the Lister, star of the group, is perhaps 10,000 and will average 1.500 to Blackwoods Jive, and Atlanta, where the most versatile man in the gospel 2,500 in concerts, this is something the Statesmen live, own Skylite Re- musk business. He never overlooks a of national Interest:" He was right, cording, Co. They record themselves chance to make the most of an oppor- The Statesmen, by the early 1950's, and other leading gospel quartets on tunity. When the National Quartet were very big. RCA Victor begxñ, re- this label. in 1962 the two quartets Convention was founded in 1956. it cording them and. to this writing, have jointly bought on James D. Vaughan was decided to have a worship iervice released 30 albums by the Statesmen. Music Co. at Lawrenceburg, Tenn., on Sunday morning. Lister asked he The group was called to appear on the one of the oldest gospel music song- be ' allowed to preach. He was so ef- Arthur Godfrey and Tennessee Ernie book and sheet music publishers in fective,' he has been asked to preach Ford TV shows; Articles ábout them the business. al every convention since. appeared in Life, Time, Look .and In 1964 the Statesmen and Black - Lister said the Statesmen have re- The Saturday Evening Post. woods went into TV production with ceived "enticing offers" from varloüs As the money poured in. the States- a one -hour "Singin' Time in Dixie" agencies to go into other (oohs of the men bought four gospel music pub- program, which is syndicated and now entertainment business "where the lishing companies: Faith Music Co., shown on 53 TV stations around the monetary rewards arc greater and the Abernathy Music Co.. I. M. Henson country, including such sophisticated work less strenuous. But the States- Music Co. and Ellis Music Co. In cities as San Francisco. Filming is at men have never given any considera- these companies and other related in- Charlotte, N. C., on video tape. The tioñ to such a move. Our future is in terests = recording company, syndi- two. quartets meet there every ;two -gospel: music.

rti c -*S7-1 i.- L..

CO.HOSTS-Hovie'Lister (right) of The Statesmen and Jaines,Blackwood both emcee the ' Singin' Time in Dixte" syndicated TV show', which stars the Statesmen. and Blackwood Brothers. and features four other gospel quartets.

Bidlboard Th. World of Religious Music 49 MLS AR( THE K4ÁSSE

By CLAUDE HALL

While gospel music- fans are one factory and worked two years on the group wants it that way. They also of the most loyal and steadfast groups weekends with the group ... "mostly appear on TV,.one show being "Singin' in the world, their numbers are small trying to create a demand for our Time -n Dixie," a syndicated States- when measured beside jazz fans or group. We played anywhere we could men -Blackwood Production. the people who enjoy get exposure, classical. coun- every church meeting "Gospel musk is just now begin- try oí popular musk. Smitty Gatlin and singing evens we could find." ning to hit its , professional stride," wants his music to appeal to every- Then, In April 1961., the group Gatlin said, "r . . just now bccóming body. With his Oak Ridge Boys, Gates went full time again. Since that time recognized as a field. Before it was lin, in the opinion of many, has prob- it has recorded 15 albums for labels almost limited to church meetings. ably done mare than any other single such as [Cadence, Checker, Warner The reason the field was so limited is man to popularize gospel music; he Bros., Barclay and Skylite. that nobody has taken the time to let brought the currently successful corn- people know it was a big business. We inerctal "Nashville Sound" to his coiitr- Most of the records sold by the group arc at personal appearances. didn't bother to worry ;Shout other let's recordings. our and The Oak Ridge Boys travel by a bus people. We played dates Gatlin uses many instruments - which has been converted to contain worked our set audiences and that drums, country -type guitars, harmoni- beds for each member. About 15.000 was it. I think the gospel field, how- ca, banjo, violins, 16 pieces in all. records are carried beneath the bunks.. ever, is now expanding. We can go "Everybody worried that the died - Once 3500 worth of records were con- into .a city and find more consistent in -the-wool fans wanted only piano ac- fiscated by Canadian border authori- crowds than any other entertainers.. companiment. But we came on like ties. you card find. For instance, In Fort gangbusters. Anyone who didn't like Worth we have gone every other Without the bus the. Oak Ridge the record, we apologized, but those month and the crowds are bigger than Boys could. never keep up the strenu- people were kw and the records kept they've ever been-now about 5.000 ous pace of one-night performances 1 selling," he explained. per their job demands. Their concert touts show. Gatlin has even gone so far ,as to take them an estimated 75,000 miles '1Gospel music has great potential. use saxophonist Boots Randolph as'in= a year, Most of their shows arc We attract not only an audlencc, but strurncntalist on his records. "The fans booked each October during the an- manage to sell records, too. Our fans don't object because it's a hippy nual national convention tin Mem- either like you or they don't like you. sound, especially in songs of victory. phis. Some of the big shows they play even insist Our songs arc 'upliiftng." They express Some people upon the each year are an all-night sing in Char- same seat show after show, We see a happy experience. 1 make no bones lotte, N. C., the night before Easter; them. Mingling with the audience is about telling about how I feel. Jim Waycross, Ga.; Bonifay, Fla.; Louis- a big part our success. You've got doing what I have to do." ville; Greenville, S. C. The quar- of Smitty formed the present Oak tet performs an -average of five nights to get down and mix with people, Ridge Boyi in 1957; in the first year a week;, last. May it was booked for shake heir hands; they'll rally to he grossed only about $1,500 for him- 27 shows. Only July and August 'are your side and rcome to sec you month self: He then nook- a job in a flour the slow months ... mostly because after month. We have no false image.

50 Ti.,,, Wo=1dof Religious Music Billboard A.0

-1.J_

THE OAK RIDGE BOYS: "We have no false image. We try to be the same on the stage as .off."

We try to be the same on the stage "but I'm strictly a -gospel singer." them down more than two to five as off." The business operations:of'a gospel hours. Singing gospel music is. just like group are complex. First, there's ,song- They also carry spare parts on the any other form, of music; "You've got writing. A heavy portion of the ma- bus. In the approximately eight years to go out on stage and throw the ball." terial recorded by most gospel groups the group has,been in existence, they've Gatlin said. "Unless you really get is original-usually written by a mem- missed only three shows-two because with it you.11 lose. the crowd. You ber of 'the group. Gatlin, a B M I writer .of bus failure and one because: they can't let that enthusiasm 01 theirs for 'several years, a few months ago couldn't find the auditorium in Phoe- drop. organized the Cross and Crown Pub-. nix, where they were to perform. "We ,got them going and couldn't lishing Co. Gospel groups, such as the Oak stop then. in Spartanburg, S' C. It was In those areas where their records Ridge Boys, do most of their own' sort of embarrassing after a whíhc are not available, they sell them to booking of show dates., However. Gat- because there was another group wait- the -audience. The first time the Oak lin .said two of the biggest gospel and ing to come On stage, but the audience Ridge Boys performed at Long Beach. show promoters, Lloyd Orrell W. 13, wouldn't let us leave." One of the Calif., they sold $1,100 in records Nowlin, also set up many of things the group does that's a crowd-. before the concert and -another 5600 their 'shows. Orrell promotes Northern plcaser is a skit in which they worth during intermission. -.dates - Chicago, Akron, Detroit, In- tate other groups. dianapolis, Flint; Dayton. Nowlin at - "The audience never The group also supplements its in- gets enough." ranges gospel music shows in Texas, come by selling song and pic- books Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. The songs that the Oak Ridge Boys ture books of the group during their About the^largest audience the Oak sing are usually "our oklef.works . concerts. Gatlin said .. this probably Ridge Boys have ever played Ito is the the ones that have become- standard accounted for about 20-25 per cent 20,000 at the famous Waycross, Ga., with us. 'At the Roll Call; a song six of 'their gross income. in which many gospel groups partici- years old. is -our most requested num- Uniquely, because so many of their pate. ber. Too, we generally sing some of concerts are at fairgrounds or in As for gospel' music fans. Gatlin the songs that are on our latest album, chi rehes. and ball parks, there is little considers them all "good people- and When' one of the other members said overhead most performances: Trans- sincere .in their convictions." ,Ac= he was getting bored with singing the portation, of course, is an expense. claimedthe best quartet of 1964 by the same old song over ,and over, I The group has a full-time bus driver World Youth. Council in a poll of ra- pointed out to him that the people in who's also a mechanic. dio and TV stations, churches, profes- the audience haven't heard it more Once',eñ route from a Sacramento, sional people, and gospel music fans. than once or twice, perhaps not at all. Calif., t;crfo_rmance, the bus suffered the Oak Ridge Boys arc one of the feel that .after you get to know n a burned -out wheel bearing in Lords - most -popular gospel groups in the field song well, that's when you .can work burg, N. M. As a result, the group in the on it and do your best" today. Headquartered Nashville. missed a show in Jackson. Miss., the group consists of Ron Page, Herman Gotlin. was always a gospel singer. .nex.t day. But with a mechanic, for Harper, Tommy Fairchild, Willie He ,admits to loving country music, bus drive.i, breakdowns seldom slow Wynn and. Gatlin.

Billboard me world of a.ttgtors Musk 51

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JIMMIE DAVIS, left, met old friend Hovie Lister at the ail night sing at Bonifay, Fla this year, stopped to chat with him. r Sf L a nd PAtITICS hey Mix for Jimmie Davis

Jimmie Davis, who has:been a top lessor of psychológy at a ,girls' college ("1 felt my obligation was. to the peo- country music artist. two-time gover- in 1931. But he liked 'singing better ple who clected-me.") His biggest all= nor of Louisiana and composer of and his college professor ctircer lasted time hit was "You Are My Sunshine," many hits, is ih his 10th year of corn - only a year. which became a standard and made posing and performing gospel music. him a fortune. It has begin recorded He made a big name for 'himself He has found ill more rewarding than dozens of times by various artists, in country music.- then he was bitten anything he has done. country and ,pop, and sold millions of by the ran. for police political bug, copies. Last year it reportedly reaped "Singing gospel musk has given commissioner at Shreveport, La., ,in Davis $161000 in royalties, 25 years me more pleasure than anything I've 1938 and' was elected. He served four after he composed .and first recorded ever done." he xaid. "1 enjoyed my two years. was next elected in 1942 to a it. It has been so continuously popular terms as governor. It was a great chal- six -year term on the Louisiana Public lenge. Btu I've enjóycd gospel music Service Commission. He served two he has had to record it three different best." years and resigned to run for gover- times for Decca himself; (At a big nor, He was elected and served till sing earlier this year. the crowd, shout- Davis is á leading éxamlle of a 1948. He was elected' again in 1960 ing and' applauding wildly, wouldn't person who has successfully combined and served through 1964. fn. Loúisiana, let him leave the stage until he had music and politics. After receiving his a gover nor 'cannot succeed himself. sung it.) BA degree from Louisiana College Pineville, La:, and his' masters degree Over the years Davis,kepi .record' Last year, just before he left the from Louisiana State University in. ing, .and ,performing, except that he governor's office, Decca signed Davis psychological education, he was pro - didn't perform white hi 'Was governor. to a new lifetime contract and has

52 Th+ World of MYIk BMbOard been recording him heavily since (a opportunity to sing a .sacred song for Davis likes to tell those not familiar lot is in the can foe future iclease). them.') Early this year he resumed with where the church its that it is ' When you're 100, we'll give you a his performing. appearances at gospel located "on Peckerwood Hill, between better contract," they told him. sings and is now in great demand at Quitman and )oncshoro, la." It is on Ten years ago Davis felt an inner them. the site of the old home place where Davis was born and grew up. heed to write and perform gospel mu- In his last year in the governor's Davis frequently sings and preaches sic. He wrote "Someone to Care" and mansion, his many friends- gave him at the new church. recorded it It was a hit. "I had so á testimonial dinner at which more many beautiful letters on it, it moved than $100,000 was pledged to build Davis lives with has wife and son in me said. "It was an deeply,".he inspir- a church to be named for hies. The Baton Rouge. has a public relations ing thing." a As result, he switched church, "Jimmie Davis Tabernacle," business there, also owns a nearby from country to gospel music. which Davis describes as "perhaps the farm where he - raises cattle and Since then hé has recorded .many most beautiful country church any- horses. (His son, Jimmie Jr., 20, man- gospel songs and has composed.almost where in the world," was finished last ages the farm.) Davis also owns four 50.' "I feel that in gospel music I can spring and dedicated May 16. music publishing companies, rum*. render a service,"' he said. 'That- is Davis Music, Inc.; Vern A non-dénotnlnational church, it Music, Inc.; why I prefer it." Gospeltone Music Publications. cost more than S500,000 (all contribut- Inc., and Zest Músic, Inc. Davis; appeared at gospel' sings ed by friends of Jimmie Davis), has around the country for several }cars all modern features, including central He is a warm, friendly, sincere per- before he was elected governor in air conditioning. and heating systems, son who never fails to draw tremen- 1960. While governor he sang and fre- the best sound equipment. 14 -acrd dous applause when he performs at a quently preached at churches, spoke' paikiitg lot and is beautifully land- gospel sing. He deeply feels the songs at.civic clubs. (" never overlooked an séapcd. he sings.

JIMMiIE DAVIS .performing at a gospel sing. He Is 'in great demand. at them, is a big favorite with -audiences.

Billboard * The World of Rnrpiova Mu tic 53 5 vris always they have maintained their Jacks faith in God and a dedicated devotion to gospel music. I Their concert appearances are one of Ad of the biggest audience draws in gospel music today. Billed as "America's most versatile singers and musicians," CosiceZ the LeFevres probably use more musical instruments in accompaniment rrades than any other gospel group. They use f piano, accordion, rhythm guitar. trumpet and bass guitar. Alphits Is one of the most versatile musicians in gospel music. He plays almost every instru- GOSPEL 'PIONEERS - From ment You name It and if he can't humble beginnings 40 years play it. it won't take him long to learn. ago, The LeFevres are now one of the top groups In the na- This highly talented group Is really tion in performing, recording more than a quartet-they've been a arid TV production: Eva Mae sextet since Píercc LeFevre, oldest Let-ewe, wife of Urias LeFCvre, son of Urias and Eva Mac, joined is in center. Clockwise from them in 1959. He sings baritone, also lower left: fierce LeFevre, plays trumpet, is calledi "The Pat Jimmy Jones, Urias 'LeFevre, Boone gospel Alphus ' LeFevre and Rex of music." 0 Nelson. ,LL Urias sings lead, plays guitar; Eva Mae plays' piano (she used to sing with the group, sometimes still does); Alphus sings tenor and plays different instrument. Jimmy Jones sings baritone and plays bass, and' Rex Nelson The LeFevres, one of the oldest and Call; S. C. They met when both were sings bass and plays rhythm guitar. most respected quartets in gospel mu- students at Lee College in Cleveland, Nelson and Jones joined the LeFevres' 1957. sic, is also one of the most outstanding Penn. Eva Mac, an accomplished pi- in groups today in live performing, gos- anist and poised public speaker, There arc other members of the pel TV productioñ, recórding and pub - proved to be one of the most valuable famous LeFevre family. Meurice Le fishing. members of he group. Fevre. son of Urias and' Eva Mae, heads the Sing Record studio and op- They are the -center of ,a vast gos- Personnel of the LeFevres has, ..of eration. pel music operation at Atlanta where course, changed over the years; but their Sing Recording Co.. in a new the mainstays have heen Urias, Alphus And Mylon LcFcvre, 19. son of modern building with the very best and Eva .Mac. The early 'group lived Urias and Eva Mae, Joined the Stamps sound equipment, records many top through. the ..1929 stock market crash, Quartet last year as their baritone gospel groups. The Sing label main- the depression and, in 1939, moved singer. He is also á talented composer, tains, besides its own recording studio, their headquarters to Atlanta. Eva following in the footsteps of many I But the future complete hrinl'ng services, operational Mae kept the LeFevres going during in the cFevre family. will probably find Mylon back yin offices, warehouse and shipping dc- World War II, with Urias and Alphus

Atlanta carrying on . the outstanding pantments and is one of the largest Away in service, Many times when tradition of the LcFcvres, His time all -gospel producers of records and she had no singing group she carried with the Stamps Quartet will serve sheet music in the world. on with radio shows .playing gospel him well as a training period. records. The group, founded more than 40 The LeFevres travel mórc than 1100; years ago in the hills_ of Middle Ten- After the war the LeFevres began. 000 riffles a year in 42 Slates for con- nessee, has grown into One of the their fabulous expansion. One enter- certs and have a fan club with mórc leading operations in gospel music. pr'sc after another came. [heir im- than 3,000 membcs, ln addition, they The LeFevres. as a incase spread and there started trio at popularity product the popular one -hour syndi- was such demand at long Smiths ilk. Tenn., with Urias, Alphus foi them cated TV show, "Gospel Singing Cara- and Maude LeFevre, -all teenagers, distances from their home base that van," which Eva Mae emcees, billed as the LeFevre Trio. they bought a private plane. But .because bad weather hampered flying The LeFcvres have helped, in their They sang at country Churches and decades gospel music, to make so much they gave it up -and now four in were.n constant demand. Maude. got it one of the most popular .grass -roots: travel .(n a modern customized bus, married and another sister replaced her form of music in America today. This. for a time. In 1934, Urias, who rheads The LeFevres, who have pioneered' popularity continues to grow and it the LeFevre operation, married the ;in gospel, music, have seen times of is deeply satisfying to the LeFevres former Eva Mae Whittington Of Mc - .joy, despair, prosperity, happiness. But to have had a, lead role to it.

54 The World of Religious Musk Billboard 3 osie L1 t r Pub1iadtioris ORIGINATORS OF GO EL AND RELIGIOUS MUSIC

G VIP G REVERENCE TO GOD THROUGH MUSIC

publishers of . .

How Long Has It Been? Then I Met the Master Where No One. Stands Alone 'Til the Storm Passes By Led by the Master's Hand I'm Feeling Fine The Man on the Middle Cross The Gentle Stranger He Knows Just What I Need The King and I Walk Hand in Hand At the Crossing and others

RIG

INQUIRIES INVITED; MOSIE LISTER PUBLICATIONS P.O. BOX 644 TAMPA, FLORIDA ,33601 TELEPHONE: 238-2641 cording and making concert appearances as professionals. The original group consisted of six family members. - During their navels, Happy met Ves- tel Freeman of Fyffe, Ala. They were married and Vestel became a part of' the Happy Goodman. Family. 'World War II broke up the group_ Sam Goodman, Charles (Rusty) Good- man and Bobby Goodman went into service, During those years, Happy I and Vestel carried on, doing mostly revival and church work. They were culled to pastor Life Temple -at Madi- sonville, Ky., and still do when not on the road for concert performances. The group remained split up after the war. Rusty, the bass singer, spent a year working for Martha Carson and five and a half years with the Plainsmen Quartet before moving to Madisonville to become once again a THE HAPPY GOODMAN FAMILY, which made a, sensational part, of the Happy Goodman Family. climb to the top of the professional gospel world In 1965, Sam Goodman after the war joined are, from left: Sam Goodman, Vestel Goodinán, Charles Goodman and Howard (Happy) Goodman. Vestel is the wife Happy and Vestel in Madisonville and of Howard. worked with them. He became choir director at. Life Temple, made concert and revival appearances with Happy and Vestel. Sam sings both baritone s and first tenor. Rusty is a noted gospel song .com: !ITT ST OPEL tilUP poser. Perhaps his best Is "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now," which is becoming a standard in the OF THE YER field. A number of quartets have recorded It since Rusty wrote it three years ago. He also composed 'Touch the Hand of the Lord." Before dedicat- The Happy Goodman. Family is 'agree' Vestel was selected Miss Gospel' ing himself completely to gospel mu- the hottest gosiiel quartet on the sing Singer of .the U. A. in 1964. sic, Rusty was co -writer of some pop circuit this year. The'second'area which songs. Besides composing, he is or- 'I heir albums sold to gospel in the Good - fans in mans have ganist for the Life Temple choir, increasingly greater numbers --many an especial appeal is in their sense of humor. which people come from many Stites. times more than they The crowds love it. had ever sold They 'always to hear. before.. Fins were seeking booklets 'manage to keep the au- dienct laughing., The outstanding It was these four-Happy, Vessel; about them, buying their sheet music. Rusty and Sam-who reorganized the member of 'the group who excels in At sings, their popularity at times Goodr"nan this is Sam Goodman. Happy Family two years would ring the applause meter louder ago and made it into the top group The third facet than any group. of the group's popu- it is today. Recently ánóthétGoodman The compelling appeal of the Good- larity is their deep sincerity. They are joined the had hunihle, group-Bobby-who man family 'lies in three areas, all devoted Christians, all active sung with the original Goodman Fam- separate and yet. paradoxically. re- in church work In Madisonville, Ky. ily in the beginning years ,before the When lated. one of the Goodmans make an war. Bobby now backs up the group First, they arc a quartet of three expression relating to Christianity, the with bass guitar and alsosings specials. .audience men, all brothers, and an outstanding can tell' fróm'the way it is The Happy Goodman Family ap- delivered that it woman singer. The woman is Vestel comes from the heart pears regularly on the syndicated, gos= and the Goodman, wife of Howard (Happy] speaker feels and means what pet music TV show "Gospel Singing he_ says. The Goodman, leader:of the' group who Goodrrians deeply feel Jubilee's and have recorded, several They are sings lead and baritone missionaries performing a albums on the Sims label since their Vestel sings a high soprano in a work for God. reorganization. During the simmer of way to delight and thrill the listener. The original Goodman family quar- 1965 their new success enabled them Her clear. pure voice rings through tet had its beginning In 1933. Founder to buy ª new '$50.000 customized bus above the male voices and yet blends was Howard (Happy) Goodman, As with built-in steeping bunks and other with them to produce an exciting, he was growing up he taught himself traveling conveniences for the many distinctive harmony and sound. It is to,play ,piano He had a fine singing road tours they ,are now called on perhaps this unique departure from voice and was fictive in church sing- to make. the usual four men in a quartet. that ings. He ,taught his younger brothers The ,peak of success the Happy so. delighted the fans in 1965. It Is and sisters to sing with fiim, Soon the Goodman Family Is enjoying today as true that Vestel is regarded by all in group was singing in churches and at one of the 'top got'pcl groups in the the gospel field as the star of the singing conventions. nation couldn't 'have happened" to group, and the ,three Goodman males They gained prominence, began re- nicer folks.

S, The World of R.liyiovª Musk Billboard THE EST IN

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ITHE FAMILY BIBLE ERNEST TUBB DUST ON THE BIBLE , KITTY WELLS LTYIN' IN GODS COUNTRY WILBURN A COLLECTION OF FAVORITES' BY THE Preclou$ Memories 'Hell Ihderstand I Dreamed I Searched Herron Tor You BROTHERS Shall We Gather at the CARTER FAMILY Hero Stranger wed Say Well Dose Great Speckled I Heald hly Savior Call Lord I'm River Lei the Lower Lights Be Burn S-eet Hearten in My Wew Jealous Bad, end otben. Coming Home, a -d others. in: Wren the 'Roll Is Caard Up Yon. Hearted Me, and others. DL 4397 DL 74397 DL 8858 DL 78858 der. and others. DL 4404 DL 8959 DL 78959

(SE) DENOTESJMHANCED FOR STEREO

Billboard The World -,of Religious Musk .57 jilt'

By CLAUDE HALL of baffle boards that gave his bass forming. They drew mail from 27 fiddle a stronger sound. States and Canada. Sitting in on a Blackwood Broth- The Blackwood Brothers lire in It was in 1950 that the group ers recording session is quite an ex- Memphis, considered by many to moved to Memphis, where they've perience. It was an experience 1 en- be the gospel capital of the world. been based ever Since. They had a joyed a couple of months ago in RCA The reason is largely because it's the daily program on radio Station Victor's Nashville offices. Here's the headquarters _of the Bllackwood WMPS. Success- became even greater way it happened Brothers. the ,greatest gospel music in Memphis. They'd .been record'Ing I walked into the studio, and be- empire ever created. on their own label, but in 1951 the hind a waist -high partition wearing group signed with RCA Rec- it all started in 1934. The (bur Victor earphones was an - engineer fiddling ords. original members were Roy, Doyle with some complicated instruments. Today. they were recording their and James (brothers) and R. W. Behind soundproof windows in anoth- 20th album for RCA Victor. All of Blackwood (a son of Roy). They sang er part of the room the Blackwood their arc still active the in those early days anywhere they redords in Brother's quartet stood facing two company's catalog. could f-,nd an audience around their to a microphone. Before the .quartet In 1954, they appeared on the hometown of Ackerman. Miss. The was Whitey Gleason playing on a "Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout" show audience became larger when they piano. Scattered about and playing on CBS -TV , , , and won it. The lined up a radio program over were Pete Wade on guitar; Ben song they sang on the "The WHEF-Radio. Kosciusko, Miss. show, Speer of the Speer Family gospel Man Upstairs," 'became a hit. group on bass; and Doy Ott. who They had the key to success-a key Then tragedy virtually destroyed sings with the Statesmen Quartet, now used by all major gospel groups the Blackwood Brothers. They were pumping an accordion. -they sang with conviction. In 1937, in such demand for petxtnal appear- they moved, to Jackson, Miss., with Then 1 noticed Darol Rice in- ances that the only way they- could daily broadcasts W1DX-Ractio. tently listening to the music over on fulfill obligations was tó fly. At this the loudspeaker, lie's one -of themost Two years Inter,, they moved to time. the quartet consisted of James Shreveport, prominent a&r Wren in the field and La., to broadcast daily on and R. W. Blackwood. Bill Lyles, radio Station 1940, had flown in from California for KWKH, In the Bill Shaw and pianist Jack Marshall. this recording session. .group moved to Shenandoah, da., On June 30. 1954, just three weeks The studio was RCA Victor's old for daily radio broadcasts over KMA- after winning the Arthur Godfrey Radio. building, the récord company had show, R. W. Bkickwood and Bill newer and fancier studios next door, With. the outbtcak of World War Lyles were killed in a private plane but this room the Blackwood Broth- iI, the group combined_ singing with crash. ers were recording in could literally working in San -Diego,,, Calif., defense A nephew of James Blackwood. be called the room of hits - many plants. Doyle Blackwood left the Cecil Blackwood, was enlisted, and singers in both the popular and coun- group about this time because of Ell J. D. Sumner' joined to sing 'bass. try music fields had recorded some cif health, returning to Tennessee. The reorganized_' Blackwood Brothers their greatest hits here. After the war, the Blackwood. agajñ captured the Arthur Godfrey You sort of wondered why or how Brothers took up gospel singing on a talent 'show in 1956. After ,pianist as you looked through the sound- full-time basis, again on radio Sta- Jack Marshall left the group, Wally proof window. Unused instruments tion KMA in Shenandoah. Their Varner was with them five years. raid scattered about. Cables snaked popularity was so great they had to Then Whitey Gleason took over the across the floor; turning the room into broadcast three radio shows a day piano and the group 'has been the an obstacle course. Ben Speer was - and were estimated to have had a sane* singe. All of them have made visible only from- the waist iii ; the million listeners, At this dine, the a name for themselves as singers, rest of him was hidden behind a wall' organization had two quartets per- (Corteftiued on page '60) rt,er World of Itetlgiouu Mute Billboard JEÁAYkt4ANES and the SW.4'l BE RI J2& i O YS "America's Móst Authentic Gospel Music ambination" Now appearing at college campuses, major network TV shows, all-nite sings, church -related concerts, county and state fairs and expositions, and civic club conventions all across the land.

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Billboard " T o World of Religious Music 59 GOSPEL EMPIRE BUILDERS tional Gospel Quartet. Convention, (Continued from page 58) which the Blackwood Brothers or- composers,. arrangers .and musicians. ganized and promoted in 1956. The Gleason plays 24 instruments convention is held each year in Just recently, J. D. Sumner left the October in Memphis. Last year, the Blackwood Brothers Quartet to sing event attracted more than 50 profes- ATLANTA SOUND bass for the' Stamps Quartet, John slonal gospel quartets and 100 ama- Hall, bass singer with the Stamps teur and semi-professional groups. plus RECORDING STUDIOS, INC. Quartet, took over Sumner's place with about 20.000 spectators. the Blackwood Brothers. James Blackwood is also on the Presents All arc married; have families and hoard of directors of the Gospel Mu, live in Memphis. With their own sic Association, 'organized in 1964 to WORLD-WIDE bus-which contains everything from promote and improve the status of sleeping compartments to a tele- gospel music. RECORD phone-they travel about 100;000 The Blackwood Brothers own and miles a year. Last year, they gave operate the Stamps Quartet Music SOUNDS 175 one-night concerts. Co., Inc., of Dallas, one of the larg- But the Blackwood Brothers arc est gospel music publishing com- OF ATLANTA involved in more than just personal panies in the world. The company appearances and records. The man owns its own printing plant and pub- h /CORDS behind all. of the business activities, lishes several books of religious songs a man who has done more than any each year in addition to church And these Great Groups living being to bring gospel music to hymnals and sheet music. The Black- the world, is lames Blackwood. The wood Brothers also own the Gospel. Ron Blackwood Quartet only original Member of the quartet Quartet Music 'CO., Inc., Memphis. that is :fictive together with Soul Searchers still with the group, the Statesmen Quartet James owns and, operates a religious of Atlanta, the Blackwood Brothers James Crisp & The Guidesmeri record disti'ihuting company in Mem- ówñ the James D Vºughan. Music phis that distributes more than 20 Co.. Lawrcocebure, Tenn. The Pilgrims" Quartet labels throughout the South. His With. the Statesmen, the Black - The Powell Sisters brother Doyle manages the firm. woods Own and operate Skylite Rec- Together with Doyle, James also ords, one of the. largest gospel' record The TrebleAiirs has a retail religious record store in firms in existence. Some of the gos- The Deep South Quartet Memphis. pel group, that, record on the Sky - James is also p1esiderlt of the Na- (Continued on page 62) The Disciples The Singing rostelr Family

The Gospel Tone Trio

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Billboard 115e World of RePrá ovs Muisic 61 GOSPEL EMPIRE BUILDERS closer to the microphone during the chorus of the -song. (Continued from page ,60) --1 So they started the song again. - lite label arc the Speer Family, the This time, James Blackwood was giv- Oak Ridge Boys, the Stamps Quar- 'ng the song that extra effort the tet, the Rebel Quartet and the Junior quartet is noted for. His voice broke. Blackwood Brothels. These- same The others erupted in nervous laugh- quartets also start 'on 'an hour-long ter. Rice had them start back half syndicated Statesmen -Blackwood TV way through the song. As they fin- Productions show currently seen on ished, he said, "that'll do it. Are more than 50 TV stations.. we ready for the next song?" They There's also a Ron Blackwood were; they intended to record the en- i Quartet, managed by the oldest son of tire album in two days. the late R. W. Blackwood. They Most- gospel groups sell their own record on the Temple Records label. albums at their, personal appearances. Then Doyle Blackwoot. manages the So do the Blackwoods. When they Memphians Quartet which features first started recording for RCA Vic- the lead voce of Doyle's son, Terry tór, the label was e responsible for Blackwood. The ylcmphians record only about 25 per cent of their sales: for Zondervan Records. they sold the rest themselves. But The 'Stamps Quartet is also oper- now RCA Victor 'accounts for about If ;Iíxstivne ú ated by the Blackwood organization. 75 per cent of their total sates. On Besides all this, the Blackwood a night's concert in Canada, they sold organization conducts gospel music $1,910 in albums: a 28 -day tour Ctrs (Qwtrtct schools in many cities each year, grossed about 520.000, but expenses winning new friends with teaching young people to sing gospel arc high. music. "THE Their most requested song at per- SOFT - Blackwood - Statesmen 'enterprises sonal appearances is "The 'Old Coun- SINGING SOUND" also publish a monthly magazine try Church." devoted to gospel music --Gospel In addition' to singing in some of Harry Martin, WFBM-TV Music Hi-Lites. the largest auditoriums In he nation, Indianapolis As the Blackwood Brothers fin- the Blackwood Brothers have worked Phone: New Palestine, Indiana ished singing the song, Darol Rice (area 3t7) 861.4394 went through the door to explain with some of the great -evangelists, something.. He wanted J. D. Sumner including B111y Graham.

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- ALL NIGHT SING THE SATURDAY NIGHT SING (Continued from page 22) t YftRIETY S1USlC PROGRA,11-Ic111iYING encore. They went far over their 20- SOULS 'r HHOUG11' SONci miñute limit. When they finally finished, they were drenched in perspira- tion. Prornoihig I,be Top Gospel Groups in the country surfs as: The exciting evening moved on. Weary, 1 slept in Hovie's hunk on the THE SPEER FAMILY THE RON BLACKWOOD QUARTET bus from about midnight to 3 a.m. THE CHRISTIAN TROUBADOURS And many others. By the time the sing ended, most of the crowd was gone. Rut they'd he No heard ,on radio Station KHOF-FM, Glendale, Calif., and KBBI,-FM, hack -for next year's sing! Riverside, Calif. Soon to be seen on Channel 30, KITH, Lo Angeles, Calif. The bus headed for Atlanta, home base. of the Statesmen, 256 Contact- Jerry A. Jones, P.O. Box 648,, Burbank, Calif. miles away. Rosic Roach!, who usually drives at night, while the driver gets some sleep, was at the wheel. At Atlanta I boarded a plañe for Nashville, When I reached THE A,kJ:íJCAL HART F ÁMILLY Nash+ it lc I $1 had on the same suit 1 had left in. I had taken an overnight, World Renown Evangelists` Recently enjoyed successful bag with me but had had no opportunity to use anything in It, except my European Tour. Now performing at the Liberty Temple toothbrush. L had traveled' almost Evangelical' Church-Detroit, Mich. 1,000 miles in 26 hours, most of it by bus. I needed a shave, a bath a ad COMPOSER GOSPEL OF SONGS. AVAILABLE some food (we had missed breakfast). ON: GOSPEL MELODY RECORDINGS But át was a rewarding experience WATCH FOR COMING ALBUM RELEASES Ill never fcirgcl. And 1 learned that gospel quartets, though the touring Write for- life is hard, love performing beforea PICTURES . RECORDS . SHEET MUSIC live audience just as much as do actors Rev,. R. L. HART on Broadway. They wouldn't think of 1300 E. Seven Milo Rd., Detroit 3, Mich. ! giving it. up!

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Danz. let end a/ II Pm truly RrateruJ tor awl., PubJiciion, ..rhe wood apio of R!lJpou. the ham girds mYMute me to a:.couneo laltaRCAN Vá< bar and dleJyay LSg-3440 A b, /I.sJo. Slags ISoothJood Tarorltee LPM-3440 With Thy Anita Kerr Stetdeer%Jsev"y S6r. I.caedder !t P.rJriJeRe tu Mm hand - ~hi who p-ociaimfhe ~pal the rranY hdleal+d o! lr .ue Chriex io?ple tete*idov, tLreajh tLa tnedia pet'eosat npp.a'ateeea, of radfo, 'and rea,- tail. aat Jeaet- h Apeetnl ttdanha lo Anita Kerr and her to All who iróup of .pJeed,d made Ihe.recardigJt ,arl;.ts. and arealonia Nashville areal Joy od laleaaiñr- Sincerely,

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Billboard The World o4 'Retiglev Munle t55 ciQ STEL MUSIC ASSOCU C [ m I LETES FIRST

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J GMA BOARD First board of the Gospel Music Association was elected Quartet at the, 1964 Natioñal Convention iri Memphis to:serve until the 1965 convention. First row, from left: Larry Scott. James Blackwood, Brock Speer. Meuriee LeFevre, J. G. Whitfield, Don Light from left: J. (chairman). Back row, D. Summer, Urias leFevre, Hoyle Lister, W. B. Nowlin. Bill Hefner. John T. Benson James S. Wetherington. Not in Jr., photo: Warren Roberts, Don Baldwin, Charles-Lamb, W. F. Myers.

The Gospel Music Association,, GMA bcliciies the disk jockeys, by who has been acting chairman of which was organized at the the 1964 Na-, 'identifying s i.th GMA, knowiñg the .board' the past year, will tional Quartet direct the Convention át Mem- people in gospel music and being a drive. phis, was founded by -leaders in the part of GMA, will play more gospel At present there are 150 individual gospel music industry to .foster and records. this, be§ides' adding to pub- members of GMA: These members promote gospel music. lic exposure, would iitcreasc royal- pay dues of Sip a year. GMA .con- the ties Iñ .one year it has been in for gospel publishing companies centrated iii the past year in getting existence, and it has made significaflt ac- performers and ,strengthen the top industry leaders as members and complishments. The most important indust ry. has been successful, Light said. has been to get all various divisions Although, gospel music has grown After Che National Qutrtel Con- of gospel music - publishers, pro- tremendously erne its beginnings as ,a venlion in Memphis Oct. 14-17 this moters, record companies. performers facet of the rinusic industry some 50 year, GMA will initiate a life mem- co-operating to achieve an as-so- years ago. it is still, in a way, just bership drive. Dues will be $100 per eiation which will be good for the beginning to grow hig. GMA saes the. person, Here again, important -mem- entire industry. pótential and hopes to promote gospel ber of the industry in publishing The problem the GMA hopes to music -on a major scale. much as the companies, radio and TV, gospel quar- solve, briefly, is this: Country Mitsic Association success- tets and promotions, will be sought fully Gospel music' has for a long timc promotes. country music. as members. After an office is estab- At been an entity unto itself. Quartets the GMA directors, meeting lished. the rnembership drive , will Aug: 16 owij their own publishing companies, in Nashville, the board vot- broaden to fans. ed to their own record companies and sell immediately set in motion an Officers and directors for -GMA their own records, The leading quar- organizational Membership. dt^iv.n wE1l be elected at the National Quay tets or- combines of 4uartcts distrib- Dues ,for each holding company will tet Convention in hlcmphis.Directors. he Si00 per year. ute small monthly house organ pub- For each subsid- who'. will; serve two year term`s, will iary of the holding company. lications .giving fans news of gospell dues be sought- rvlto will work at building will be `S50 per year, quartets. Because Of this over-all, self - GMA and who will attend -quarterly With money from these dues and containment, there has been relative- meetings. other sources, GMA hopes to set up is ly very little airplay of gospel records. "If GMA successful, the bulk an office in Nashville within the next of its membership will have to be GMA eventually hopes to correct 12 months (by August 1966) find ruedº up of disk jockeys," i fight said. this by having in Its 'membership a employ an executive_ secretary. Don "We hope to achieve this and have substantial number of disk jockeys. I ight, of Billboard's Nashville office, a major trade association." 6,8 T s World Hof iRtftgfout Mwk Billboard FPIESZIP T

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I ,. 4 . - 1 L _ ,.P THF, EXTRAORDINARY VOICE OF WILLA DORSEY IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN EASY FLEXIBILITY WINCH RISES FROM THE LOW RICH TONES AND SOARS THROLGH A THREF-AND-A-HALL OCTAVE RANGE TO LYRIC COLORATURA BRIM IANCE It is 5 spirit-filled experience tó hear Willa sing. DAVID BRIAN A beautiful róicc DALE EVANS Jung glorious BEATRICE &AY Willa I)orsºey BARRY SULLIVAN Willa Dorsey is ,aEcoasuínmate . DALE OLSON, DAILY VARIETY

Willa Dorsey" is the greatest . ROBERT 'Mcfl:RKIN, METROPOLITAN OPERA Personal Management: GVRARD AGI,NCY RICHARD YANCEY Public Relations: 1570 No. Gower Street GLEN A. Hollywood, Calif. GREGORY 90028 Hollywood 70 The Wortdf of ,iReliglo, Mink Billboard NEAR. GrIS =EL T,ir, No Musical / -' Other ,. _ _., Form is Quite .°- -,,, . l . I_ JOE BOSTIC tike It "it stands as a unique musical contribution."

By CLAUDE-HALL were referred to as, The Man says." public." The reason, be feels, is that Bostic, a recognized: authority in the songs arc created by When Joe Bostic launched his own Negroes for the gospel field, said that two "great Negroes. They arc' written in the Negro gospel show'in the early 1940's talents wrote perhaps 70 per Negro idiom. As songs lose on WCNW, predeccssór to the present cent of such, the all the gospel music of that period- a lot of their universal appeal. The WLIB radio 'station in New York, he "Róbberta Martin and William Dorsey. music gets through, but the subject played only two types, of standards. It was, that era that produced such matter Present-day; gospel music had not yet doesn't. great singing stars as Myrtle and "The key to gospel," he "is appeared the scene, Bostic, said. said, ótí Mahália,Jackson and Robert Bradley." the humanization of religion' and, man's "There were classics like "Swing Low, Still another change came iñ the personal with Sweet Chariot," "Deep River" and relationship Christ. 1950's, he said; .and this change is Perhaps Negro religion a little "Nobody Knows the Troubles I Feel" the sees till going on emphasis on bit differently. know." -the sorrowful songs created during today-the I don't and gimmicks. than What, about white gospel? Bostic the ditys-of Slavery when. -the Negro harmonics rather Jan the spiritual. Showmanship is feels this genre is cousin to country saw 'little' hope for himself In this 'Wag- substituted for purity .ex- music. Some great white chairs sing world and-pít`aded for the solace of a of music, better life -in -the -next And there was pression. the he adds. Th result, while not Negro .gospel More than 400 radio stations now jubilCe aausic tqo which. in essence, it is to the at is the first-born child.of the spirituals. as pur,progenitors heard perhaps. program Negro community day, Rostic Of the two types of gospel then a stimulating experience of its own. It least part of the broadcast' great (said. 100 program to the around, ¡Once' songs were the larger has produced its own schoól of Nearly composers and artists. Men like lame_ Negro market exclusively, Bostic, 'who part of the bfoa east"ing log because has been with WI IR since he they more closely filled the spiritual Cleveland, Ale, 3radLord, Raymond started Razzberry, Lumpkin and iti the 1940's, said that programming needs of the day. Born in the 1R90's, won Jessie Dickson. All. have gospel to the -Negro community has come a jubilee music coincided with the be- their own groups or choirs and their ,creativity long way In the past 30 years. but ginnings of a promise of a better life. and versatility enormous. Negro music has remained' a 'staple. Church -inspired (most Negro colleges is Where going? "3t It is ,part Of their heritage 7which the were church schools in those days), is Negro gospel his with pride. every higher institution of learning had has enormous appeal to Its own corn- Negro takes .to bosom said, it "No other musical form is quite like its júbilce choir. Some, like the Fisk munity," he "hut somehow has it, as a unique contribution." Jubilee Singers, Nashville became never really made it with the general it stands world famous and many of .the great American; classics in this form were written to=fit these choirs. These were no 'longer so¡tgs of, sorrow, but those of hope, joy, and enthusiasm. Their Church Music Plays tempos were livelier. Songs, such as Key Role in Pop Sound "When ,the Saints Go Marching In," "Sorrow Valley" and "Ezekiel' Saw By JERRY WEXLER the Wheel." Vice -President. Atlantic Records This type of Music, Bostic said, was 'The influence'. of Negro church music upon the American pop the standard fare on pll ,gospel pro- music scene hi..s been 'so greát, so. all' pervasive, that it is almost grams up to the 1940's. impos.sibk to measure. A great majority_ of our Negro singers in the ,and started their singing With the 1940's, however, carne a pop field heard their first music in church brought with theist to change-not so much of tempo, but careers as. members, of local church choirs. They the 'field of popular music the vocal styles, the rhythms and the sheer of subject matter. Gospels, originally pleasure' of 'singing that they learned in. church. a 'kiind of 'hymn to mans relationship Many of our most popular 'angers. like the late Sam fie.. with his Maker. took i more prag- and ltlantie's own Solomon Burke,.started their professional careers at matic turn. i ink by ilittle,.God be- spiritual singers. lily Charles fused the music of. the chore's and the came exemplified as more of a living blues to found a powerful trend- in the field of pop music. Gospel :human being-someone the' singer music and the blues together have. molded a major part of our current could talk to man-to-man, In these popular music and have played a key role, in creat_ing,today's pop sound. new compositions, Jesus was often referred to as "The Man" and :his words

Billboard world of RsIlgtoua Mude 71

FOR PEW! jusui A.: THESE ARE THE WORLD'S

y'i77 GREATEST. SPIRITUAL 4 ARTISTS 0,2~

THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS In The Morning -- REMEMBER ME THE FIVE BLIND BOYS . THE GOSPELAIRES REVEREND CLEOPHUS ROBINSON SONGS OF THE SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS QUARTET PRAISE in, \FATHER I STRETCH ' VICTORIA & THELMA HAWKINS The 1 MY HANDS INEZ ANDREWS ertional alsC"= TO TREE THE HIGHTOWER BROTHERS 1 Nightingales THE HI -WAY QUE C's 1 THE HARDEMAN SINGERS NIGHTINGALES716'''l THE BROOKLYN SKYWAYS THE MELODY KINGS a' THE BITERS SPECIALS THE SOUTHERNAIRES THE VALLEY WONDERS THE PROFESSIONAL GOSPEL SINGERS THE PILGRIM HARMONIZERS THE GOSPEL CRUSADERS THE SOUL SEEKERS THE EXCELLO GOSPEL SINGERS THE CHARIOT GOSPEL SINGERS THE STARLIGHTS OF BALTIMORE THE GOSPEL KEYS Som 2809 Ennae,. THE COTTON BROTHERS Great THE BELLS OF ZION Houston. Tax. THE REDEMPTION HARMONIZERS THE GABLEAIRES THE MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY THE SENSATIONAL NIGHTINGALES THE PILGRIM JUBILEE SINGERS Album F REVEREND ROBERT BALLINGER From REVEREND JULIUS CHEEKS THE LOVING SISTERS THE SUNSET TRAVELERS JUST FAITH I"'""ffilli102015 THE O'NEAL TWINS THE GOSPEL COMMANDERS THE MIGHTY REDEEMERS REVEREND ISAAC JENKINS THE DETROIT HARMONEERS THE GOSPEL ECHOES jzt:. Jr, Tins I THE GOSPEL CONSOLATERS lannWrItIng On S Ito THE SEVEN SOULS \Vail THE KANSAS CITY MELODTAIRES I ARCHIF BROW-71ff 1 THE POWERLITES THE GOSPEL CHALLENGERS THE AWAKENING ECHOES THE GOLDEN ECHOES THE BALTIMORE ECHOES CAMP 11 11 PRAY BONES IN TN .1 THE SPIRITUAL CARAVANS FOR ME THE JACKSON SOUTHERNAIRES =TIM Zteut THE SENSATIONAL SKYLARKS OF DETROIT - THE PORTER SINGERS SAMUEL STEPHENS 11:14 t THE DREXEL SINGERS MILD y RHONDA DAVIS I it:- ENE MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY iL 1 _ "WE S qJVCOI, "E" Carries Religioas Message

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-.wtac world mulo FREEDOM SINGERS: Selina, Ala., youngste s lock hands and sing freedom songs based on old hymns and spirituals ás police surround them in front of the Dillas County court- house.

Words and music orrongement for ger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, plus body Sing Freedom," "We Shall Not "We Shall Overeóm." ore by Whip Mahalla Jackson; Peter, Paul and 1k Moved," "Moving On," "Ballad Honor, fronkHomlltbo, Goy Cali woo Mary. and Theo Bikel. Of the Student Sit-ln, " "Which Side omd Pet. Seeger.. Copyright is hold by Pete Ludlow Musk. Two Seeger albums on Colum- Are You. On?' "Freedom's Conlin' Inc.. New York Royolttes bia feature derived horn this composition ere con. "Overcome,' 'with one and It Won't Be Long," "Get Your Iributed to the Freedom Movement -un bearing that title for a Carnegie Hall Rights Jack.," `'Buses Are A-Comin', der the trustsoship k of the writers_ concert. Oh Yes," "Ain't Gonna Let No- While "Overcome" has been strictly body Turn Mc Around," "Sing Till By ELIOT TIEGEL identified as the civil rights' theme the Power 'of the Lord' Comes sbng, folklore predates it to the early Down," "I'm. on My Way to the Religious music has .often had .its pprt of the century when. it appeared Freedom Land," "Wóke Up This roots in contemporary problems; Dup- in an old Baptist hymnal, "I'll Over- Morning With My Mind on Free- ing the days of slavery, the wail of come Someday." dom," "Fighting for MI Rights," the bondsman was refined, put into When Negroes and whites. alike "Been Down Into The South," "We'll written music, and found its way into made their 1963 march on Washing- Never Back," "Guide. My Feet While the treasury of Negi:o irituals. ton, "Overcome" was chanted by i Run This 'Race," "Hard Travelin'," "We Shall Overcome cis the reli- both young and old. When the dra- "Bull Conor's Jail" and Keep Your gious. music of the '60's. Though its matic Selmit:to-Montgomery" Ala Eyes On message is delivered the Prize.," in biblical over- march was held last .spring, thousands tones, it deals with the It has become axiomatic for fo k great social of people flóckcd to join, including revolution of the day. singers to include "Overcome" in per- an'impress'ive array of ministers.of all if "Onward Christian Soliders" has formances. Pickets and protesters have Oven faiths. Again "Overcome" united been seen on TV and heard on radio solace and strengt to people them. down through the' years . because of emotionally uttering its lyrics as they Several other its bright religious message and moralistic songs re- are carted. away by police or face a flecting on the "movement," include confrontation. po- sprightly feeling, then " We before stern-faced Shall "Freedom and Over`c-dmc" is a song of the '60's tied Highway" '"Made Up lice. This exposure has given the song My Mind I inexorably to religion through Won't Turn Around an almost standard quality. its sung by the moralistic tone and concern ,Staple Singers, an estab- Its lyrics, in part, sum up man's for lished human dignity. gospel group, and "Mississippi nonviolent faith in tomorrow: God Damn."" sung by SQ significant has the phrase, 'We In an album Shall Nina Simone, a jazz pianist. Overcome" become, that Freq. We shall overcome, dent Johnson As the civil rights movement has dramatically utilized it We shall overcome. in a' spread around the country, young nationwide television appearance We shall overcome. someday. to ,People have composed freedom songs explain his determination in getting Ó1t deep in' my heart, his voting based on old hymns and rights bill passed. spiritual to !' do believe, Professiórtal reflect these varying entertainers in the folk situations. There. We shall overcome someday. music' field have are songs for sit -Ins, rides, been the flag wavers, freedom Well walk hand in, hand, for the and voters registration. song, with their;young, ener- We'll' walk hand In hand. getic, urban followers picking up its The titles are explicit in their, de- We'll walk hand In hand someday; message of courage. These artists have scription: 'We Me Soldiers," "I'm Oh deep in my heart. all been associated with the fight for Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table," 1 do believe, 'hurnara dignity and include Pete See - 'They Go Wild Over Mc." "Every - We shall overcome someday. 74 tit. World of .ReNarout Musk Billboard _.. o /

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-?- Purvis, Cleo and Mails take their cue from Pep Staples at an Epic recording session.

"We Bring she .ford's Message Werever We Can"

The Staple Singers, the eminent Americana. Miami Reach, July 13. on. a farm. near Drew Miss. One of Chicago-based, family group, led by Len Levy, Epic Records cbief, aad 14 children of a family in the Delta Mississippi.born Roebuck (Pop) Sta. Rabinowitz plan to increase Epic's country, he absorbed generations of pies, .have performed at Carnegie Hall, activity iñ the gospel field in view of musical history. He says: "I taught at the International Jazz Pest; al in its increasing importance in the general myself the guitar by listening closely Washington, and on numerous tele- music scene. Rabinowitz pointed out to others." viis'ton 'shows, 'cof)egc campuses and (3Tegro gospel has two aspects one In 1933, he married Oceola Ware, auditoriums. Wherever they gó, they for the Negro and one -for the white, of Drew, and after Cleo and Pervis are greeted with enthusiasm, and their and the music .is now being accepted were born, the family moved to __Chi- contribjitibn to the gospel field, is in- at. the folk level; in conjunction with cago. Life' was difficult in. those raid - creasingly recognized: fire latter thought it can be definitely Depression years in ChicagoY'and the group also plays theaters, and stated that.gospeb Is very big in col: Roebuck worked in the stockyards and at this writing (late August),,the group leges.' sought relief from worry iii the eve- is booked into the Apollo, Theater, Rabinowitz continued: "The church nings by singing spirituals. fl'appily, New York,, whence it trawls to the is,the center of the Negro community Oceola and the children shared this Howard Theater, Washington the and. this is truer today than ever, and musical feeling. Uptown Theatel, Philadelphia, and the music is snore important than Before long, neighbors were im- then on tore. series of concerts. ever." pressed and the family received invita- Roebuck Staples; in describing this The Staple Singers include, in addi. tions to- sing at churches. Mavis, who heavy schedule of activity, to Sol Lion. to Roebuck, his daughters Cleo was born in 1939, ultimately became Rabinowitz, Epic Records' director of and .Mavis..and his son, Pervis. Their a member of the singing group too. merchandising., for whom the Staples recordings, ron Epic, such as the al - By 1948, two years after they had record, said:' `'We bring the, Lord's hum. "Amen," have enjoyed broad -joined the Mount Eagle Baptist message wherever we can." success, Church in 1946, they had become so The,Staple Singers. Rabinowitz re- Pop Staples, whose bluesy guitar is well known among church congrcgs- calls, were a smash hit at the- Epic prominent in the musical background tions that they decided to devote

Records convention at ' the Hotel of the singing. was born and raised themselves to gospel singing full-time.

Billboard Th,, World, of Robiovi 75 1 N

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11$

THE CHOIR of the Pleasant Green Baptist Church, Memphis, appears on ''TV Gospel Time."

I -V "TV 'Gospel Ttme" is the first nationwide program Flo use an ,all-, Negro cast,. floor soloists to choirs - _, - to 9-= announcers to commercial models. It 3111 has provided many opportunities for ' these often neglected performers to receive national exposure for the first l time. Typical of these is WCBS-TV's 1 E 1 top New York newscaster, Pat Con- - nell, who first appeared as a commercial voice on "TV Gospel Time." The half-hour program's format) consists of gospel soloists, groups an i choirs, Tt pointedly has no prcachcr _ nor does° it display re igious sytnbols. - The program is viewed as entertain- r-, I rtlent in the most positive sense, 1 I I The music is based ion the natural LJ harmony.of f lk singers and is urtially 1 sung 'by R .grou-6t oufr art r re -11- most .always of one sex, In I963. "TV Gospel lime" ,appeared on six stations. Today, less than four years later, it is currently seen in 50 markets across the country. According to, recent Pulse reports, four out ,of ¿very five television sets 76 Ow World. of R.Itgious Mutk - Billboard a,

CHICAGO'S .BARRET'r SISTERS, Savoy Recordi artists,' will soon be featured on 'TV Gospel Time."

THE LOVING S STERS of Little Rock are.big favorites on"TV Gospel.Tinte."

owned by American Negroes are participated on the program are the Time" is The Rev. Alfred Miller, tuned to 'the show in those cities in Roberta Martin Singers, The Rev, widely 'recognized as one of the which it 'is telecast. Cleophus Robinson. Mmc. Ernestine rworld's, most accomplished gospel Public recognition has not stopped! Washington. the Barrett Sisters. Fran- musicians. He is Minister of Music at :it America's boundaries. The program, cis Cole and The lkev. Alex Bradt, r Brooklyn's famous Church of God in received wide acclaim throughout Among the participants on 'TV Christ, Washington Temple, Brooklyn. Europe following Its participation in Gospel Time" is Francis Cole, a di- The program's director_ is Peter Gian Carlo Menoni's Festival of Two htunitive lass of 25, not ytiite 4' Brysac, formerly production manager Worlds (the Spoleto Fcsiival)I For the feel I T inches tall. Francis h sched- at CBS where' he .handled shows such first time in history a Ncgro gospel uled to receive the Doctor of Philoso- as "The Armstrong Theater." He is program was broadcast ihtroughout phy degree from Columbia' Universit currently head of operations at New Europe through the facilltles,of RAI, in music education al the end- of the York's leading U} F station. the Italian 'television network. Before month. 'Born of a poor 'family in "TV Gospel Time" is, distributed !caving for Spoleto, "TV Gospel Cleveland she has worked her way 'both nationally and internationally by Time" was given a Bon Voyage award up by her own bootstraps, Working as integrated Communic,,tions Systems' and wished godspeed by the Na- a domestic to pay her way through (ICS), a corporation headed by Len tional Count'', of Negro Wornen, the college, she began teaching school Salt., specializing in market consttha- largest. Negro women's. ecgankation when she received the bachelor's de- don and 'programming for ethnic mar- in the world. gree and .complemented her income kets. "TV Gospel Time"' 'has taped pro- by playing in uptown barsdhrough the Howard A, Schwartz produces rthe . granis in Cleveland. Washington, Chi- early hours. She has now been recog- program. cago, Memphis, Jacksonville. Rich nized as one of the country's leading . "TV Gospel. Time" has shown that Mond and Newark. Thus, while being harpsichordists. Miss Cole has com- both the natioit'S dceptng and siewing seen throughout the country, it has, bined her fantastic knowledge of the - hahits' can he changed by ,fires sting also. _given .Apaartunity to the best harpsichord with her deep feeling (or a program That combine% serious folk gospel groups across, the co -Wry a gospel music and perhaps for the music in a professionally entertaining chance_ to participate -lit-id for some a first time in histors "I V Gospel format and that the broad mass of chance to become Tnétter known na- Time" has Introduced gospel singing Americans, both Negro and white. tlon;tlly--arid íntcrnalióttally. Among accompanied by the harpsichord. can appreciate each 'other's cultural the leading gospel groups that hive Music director :of '"IV Gospel heritage and' contributions.

Billboard U. world of R.ttgiw. Nook 77 Negro Gospel Music Makes flu flare! eritage

Afttrii sluti r, n

Herman Lubinsky, pioneer record spiiituals used to be a capella-with- artist cannot defect~ he cannot go executive and president of Savoy Rec- out instruments-because many of the pop and hope ords and its to maintain his sales ,affiliated labels, Sharp Negro churches were too poor to wr- and in the gospel. field. Regent, and Savoy vice-presdient chase instruments so ... they created Mendelsohn added: "There is no and a&r executive Fred Mendelsohn, rhythms by stamping their feet and such thing as a pseudo gospel, were reminiscing about the world of clapping -or their hands. And when the hybrid gospel. It must be Negro gospel music and its honest. And importance churches prospered, they added drums, the as a cultural Instrumentation can be almost any- heritage. piano, guitar 'and other instruments, Said Luhinsky' thing-but not what you don't hear "Our records -sell to even bass fiddles. And from the spirit- gospel in churches." buyers all over the world, and uál. developed the jubilee-the type Ile continued: 'The artists at especially to the man with the dinner re- of Negro music. often associated with Cordiing sessions:know what pail and the woman who works iñ they want. the such groups as the Delta Rhythm and therefore kitchen and over the the a&r function is washtub. They Boys, Golden Gate Quartet and others are loyal followers of aimed .at achieving what the artists the gospel field .... and from this came the gospel, want and you cannot fool ,to project." them with in- which had a beat and a happier sound': ferior records. Said l.ttbinsky: ' We put Into the These people want the and a more advanced hest; arrangement. groove:.what the artists do in church. they want the honest material "In the old days," con ti ucd Men- Much of our recordings are done on and a sincere performance, and the delsohn. "many Negroes could not locat'on-live, in church-and we do record must project this feeling as soon read ,... so a church would hire - a this in' as the needle is 'in order to get the true emotional the groove." 'tcader to read the Songs. The con- Savoy. of course, feeling. In this lkind of recording is a vita namí: in gregation would repeat the lines and the field. for work, there are no 'takes..''Technically, its catalog is a veritable sing it back 'to the reader "who's who" ... there a record may be a great record, but of gospel and spiritual were no musicians just music, ... this chant if it 'has no soul, no ¡honest emótion,. with product by such names as and response pattern (so important in it tis worthless." _James fjcveland,, Davis Sisters, Rh- traditional jazz) and the clapping and As for the .future of 'Negro berta Martin and Gbspel Clefs. gospel stomping of the congregation. This is music. Mendelsohn said; "The future Mendelsohn, who handles the a&r the genuiné spiritual." Is work for the indicated in the fact that this music .Savoy operation. said: Lubimsky added that Savoy prod- 'The Negro spiritual is now being accepted by white listen- is the great herit- uct is sold overseas through leasing age of amerfcan ers as a forth of folk music, and by music; from it comes arrangements, and that important blues, which mar- jazz and blues devotees; is being is the mother of rhythm kets are England, France, and Scandinavia, exposed in colleges and'_on television. blues, and from it eventually Liberia and South Africa. He added Too, such noted acts' as Clara Ward comes jazz, much of which derives that good gospel packages are catalog play lócations in Las Vegas and tour from the' blues, and, of course, the product and sell consistently for years. the world, roots of blues and scoring success in Europe, its offshoots are Cleveland's "Peace Be Still" has everywheic Japan and other ,areas. This music in rock 'n' toll and in the racked -up- over 30,000 sales after will continue as a vifall cultural entity. general pop and folk -fields. three years and is still going strong.. and as an influence upon tite Mendelsohn continued: 'The early broad "But," warned Luhinsky, "a gospel str'eani.. Of Amelicin music: 78 tee, Wotid of Roligious Music Billboard 4 LSOF NEGRO &3PEI.

MUSIC - i _ - Simple Human Em ot,ions

Zenas Sears

By ZENAS SEARS deejay type:' I was told then that gospel programming óii radio that Radio Station WAOK. Atlanta only '"old. fashioned" people listened are discussed pro and con, over and When Billboard asked me to write to gospel, and we still hear the same over. Some stations mix gospel and' an article on Negro gospel music in prldictión that we will have to change pop records together on the same radio, 1 felt at first that it should be soon because of a lack of audience.. I show and feel it has been accepted written -by someone close to the scene. think this. is nóf true because music and ,profitable, We do not. Our own But then, I have been watching the based on simple human emotion's survey, show that listeoers who enjoy progress and evolution of this type usually remains popular. both popular and gospel music would religious expression for a' tot of years. It has always been a problem With rather have them in, separate seg- As a youngster i remember the radio programmers to decide how to ments.' And then there are the criti- Tuskegee and Hampton Institute classify a deejay shoo featuring gospel cisms of the music itself. I agree that groups bii tour -16 rá se funds for the music. The combination of religiously most gospel music played on our colleges and Kondered why Negroes inspired music on records-, commer- stations has little relationship to the had' to go td separate colleges. When cials. arid c)ecjay shows; cannot he great liturgical compositions of Bach I was 10 years old, my father took classified as "religion" under the and Handel, as performed, say, by the me. to the funeral of a friend in a FCC definition. How can it be 'con- Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But we Negro church in Baltimore. I' was sidered purely entertainment since arc trying to serve people who just so disturbed and moved by the music those 'whó listen receive some -degree don't understand Bach or react to that I had to be removed from the of spiritual aid? Oúr four gospel dce- Handel. church. jays at la AOK and WRMA, (Mont- There is.another radio station play- When I took, my job in radio in gomery, Ala.), Harrison Smith. Es- ing classical music in Atlanta, and Atlanta in 1941, my duty was to in- mond Patterson, Benny Tolbert and in a 26 -station (AM and FM) city troduce the ' Reliable Jubilee Four" Ralph Featherstone, are chosen, be- there are certainly enough radio hours on the Mutual Network. The lead cause of their knowledge Of the' music td flow tihiefor any type of music singer was Preston York, who re- they introduce, their ability to. project with a large following. The gospel mained a valued friend and adviser a warns personality on the air, and corñposition itself has. always seemed until he died in 1962'. .Our station. a Willingness to make., persoiral op_ to me to be a time enough of the WAOK, has programmed' eight hours pea ran ces., American folk song, written and pre- of gospel music Monday through We do not encourage a gospel disk served among the common people. Friday for the- past 12 years. In Al- jockey to pose as a minister, but to The individual groups and choirs lanta a boom city with a prosperous build an image of "the respected lay- performing the music, even the most and sophisticated,' Negro community. man." All of our decjays are in daily proficient, seldom hive had formal our gospel programs have not yet demand as emcees of musical pro- training hut rather spring from the lost their ,popularity. According to grams, men% day speakers. Sunday small' church 'choir or congregation. our latest pulse rating. Harrison selaóol guests and honored- platform deep "Glory The expression of emotions en- Smith's a p m. to. 10 show, visitors; A popular gospel disk jockey courages originality rather than a Road," is Atlanta's most popular radio will'.build mote station good will 6n formal pattern as found in more so- program for the entire two hours. a week than mtost pop disk jockeys phisticated musical forms, and no one It has been 20 years since I started in a month. can deny the tremendous influence our hour-long gospel progriin of the Of course there are many areas of of gospel music in thé field of jazz. Billboard rh World of Rellgleus Music 79 F 0f R1'ER HOUSE

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Negro gospel music has barely Artists, a key gospel booking agency, pands and pulls Itself in periodically. 'crossed ovcr the line" to appeal to this is the current slate, of the art. It is currently in a withdrawn slate mass audiences. Yet the music is When Blackwell says that gospel with most professional gospel groups heard in such noa-religious spots 1s music hasn't "crossed over the line; not working all. year. Disneylaíid and Las Vegas where it he means the majority of professional, Góspcl is greatly associated with is an accepted entertainment form. hard-working gospel performers have free -wheeling Sunday meetings in Tbc bas c outlet for gospel music is not gained acceptance by white audé- which the congregation gets emotional- the 'circuit' of churches and. halls coces. Mahalia Jackson ("she's the ly involved with the performers. But which run through the Carolinas, queen') and Clara Ward, are the only there arc several groups which have Tennessee, Georgia, 'Louisiana. Flori- two exceptions, Blackwell. says. challenged Ibis strict church associa- da and reach, up 'into Washington, Sirch long=established acts as the tion to bring the joy of gospel music New Jersey, New York and Chicago. .Original Atahama Blind Boys, Cara- into such locations as gambling casinos, To Robert (Bumps) Blackwell, as- -vat -is', Mississippi Blind Boys and nightclubs'arld theaters. Bessie Griffin sociated with gospel, music 15 years Harmonizing Four, are unknown out- and the Gospel Peals were the first through record company associations side the" Negro circuit. group to play nightclubs, claims Black- and now as president of Westwood Blackwell says 'this circuit both ex- well, who handled much of the West

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f GOSPEL AT DISNEYLAND: Clara Ward, center, and .her stomping singers provide loot - GOSPEL AT OISNEYttAND; Clara Ward rhythms on the stage of the Golden Horseshoe Theater at the Southern California and singers entertain° with foot-stomp - amusement park. At right is her mothérr, Mrs. Gertrude Ward, who founded the group, ring rhythms from the stage of the Golden Horseshoe Theater. 80 Th. World of Relra.ovr, Mude Billboard gr, r 1 A - Coast's Specialty Records gospel LP's . in the early '50's, A gospel show. '"Portraits In Bronze," featuring Bessie, was pre- [b night- sented in Los Angeles,at several , . _ ". . clubs to overflow audiences and ran I. - . -. `. -r - . , < , for one year. "Portraits" was then I" 1 %P { - ir '; , r 4- by Liberty Records. Black- 'o 11 recorded ' r : - .1 *,i. - well claims the recent'"Black Nativity" - ' ' >' . 1.- which piaycd in New York and was a ¡ sensation recently in Europe. was in- o . 74tr spired by "Portraits." 1 "

Gospel music wasn't heard in night- ' I clubs before 1959, he notes. "Psycho- logically gospel singers have shied away from breaking away from the - il r 3' church." Blackwell said. "But being a singer and singing in different places doesn't change what's in their heart. When Bessie sacig at the Renaissance and Macambo, both in Los Angeies. a soloist before a packed audience at we felt she was reaching more people THE TWO SIDES OF BESSIE: Performing as the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Los Angeles (photo I) and vnth the Gospel Peals on the street who needed to hear the before collegians of the University of Arizona during the nationally televised "Hoo- message than needed it in elñuch. tenanny",show (photo.2). Miss Griffin was amóng the first gospel artists to perfóoin As long as they'd sit and listen. she'd outside the church. sing." Since Miss Griffin paved the way. such other acts as Clara Ward and her singers, including a group headed by . I IY , her mother Gertrude. Helen. Grandi- 1111 f I Urir son and her singers. the Staple Singers ,, Li and Hightower Brothers have ,all appeared in non -church locations. There have been furors about singing -gospel in clubs but it has never l publicly involved, these artists The biggest huff was exploded by Mahalia a .1 Jackson when the "pop gospel" movement was unleashed in New York in 1963. A nightclub euphemistically ca Ted the "Sweet Chariot" opened in which hastily put together gróups sang songs avoiding references to God or Jesus. \Vailresses were dressed as angels and drinks were served :on tambourines. Mahalia publicly spoke out against what she called a blasphemy against God. Religious groups pretested to Columbia Records which was releas- comb tó hear her sing there. She has tapped,. Virgin area- because there are ing exclusive Sweel Chariot albums. also sung the gospel at_ the Neal-sort many authentic acts unknown outside The furor went unnoticed by the Festival, (1957 acid 1962) the Colleges and theaters could icircuit. agencies public, but pop gospel albums were on Broadway iñ "Tambourines, ,to be l ucrative areas if talent ordered off the, market. Glory," at Melodyland, (across from would see the potential, Blackwell Theater feels. .One year 'before the popgospel Disneyland), the Apollo trend was born, Clara Ward appeared (New York). Jazz Workshop (Boston) There arc' some acts which havcli't at both Disneyland and the New Fron- and in churches all over the U. S. played odtside the church for reasons tier Hotel in Las Vegas. The group "We've never been criticized for including moral beliefs 'or just never was booked into Las Vegas for two playing in nightclubs," she claims. being pushed that way'. These groups weeks with three füur-week options. 'This associat ion .hats mover ,stopped us include the Swan Silvertones, Harmo- The talent buyer for the hotel picked, from ,getting one job," Miss Ward be, nizing Four, Original Alabama Blind Joy up all three option's .after hearing the Nieves there's ,nothing wrong with ex- Boys. Those Mighty Clouds of group opening nigHL Her i as. Vegas posing gospel 'to nightclub audiences. And the Dixie Hummingbirds. stay extended in 1964 for a total of "There should heed restrictions where Blackwell' estimates hat Mks Grif- 90 weeks. This long stand forced Miss we can sing,' she explains. Naturally fin as a single draws about '$2,000 Ward ,lo send out another 'group to the Ward Singers earn good 'money a wee}: and the Alabama Blinb Boys' fulfill their .previously booked engage- by playing° night spots. Philosophically estimated potential income is $150.000 ments. she notes: "Places we go keep us so a, year before expense -deductions. The have -tó worry about the Miss Ward says she's never re- long that we don't Blind Heys are the top name, pro- ceived' any criticism for singing in other bookings." motor gays, followed by the Dixie 94) Leis Vegas. She claims ministers have The gospel market ii still .an uñ- (Continued on urge 81 Billboard The Wooed of Roigious Musk ,

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Plaha.ia r - e. !, Jackso ; Backn

Business n

Mahalla Jackson

As we go to press, the devotees and is conscious of her position rangéments by such talents as Marty of religious music are enraptured by among Negroes. She wishes to be an Paitch and Percy Faith. "Mahalia," the fact that Mahalia Jackson, the inspiration to them, and because of says Townsend, " wont t shy away from world-famous gospel artist. is singing this she will not let- down the a non -religious song, but she will again: Mahelia, who a saffered heart church. . . She wants to remain a not do a romantic Tin Pan Alley attack about one year ago, has been 'pure symbol." ballad." convalesiing. In mid -August, Irving At the same time, Townsend point- Sales Of Mahalia's recordings Townsend, vice-president have of Colum- ed' out, Mahalia knows she Is a figure come up greatly, both bia Records' in'the United West Coast operations, in jazz: `she 'is aware of the kinship States and confirmed overseas. Townsend con- that he had traveled to between gospel and other musical cluded. Chicago to Cut some sides with Ma- forms, and she loves such artists as Mahalia, as a,chitd, was influenced halia early iñ August. The site of the Ray Charlés, But she is adamant in by the artistry of such early great recording session was the New Salem that she wants to sing religious ma- blues" singers as Ma Rainey. Bessie Baptist Church- terial. Smith and Ida Cox-all Of whortt she Townsend, who has recorded Ma- Mahalla, says Townsend. feels that heard on. records. lint she said' years halia for Columbia for 10 years, said: she serves three` audiences: 1) The later "that a Nees singer has a "She is back in business: she is still a did church Negro; 2) the educated, broken spirit and is burdened . . little weak but is regaining strength. sophisticated Negro audience (whom He sings out or ignorance of the di- and she is singing well." Mahalia would call the northern vine power which lifts men u, :" Townsend added that Mahalia was Negro), and 3Y the white audience Therefore, she ,has devoted! .all her now accepting engagerricnts for TV (aside from jazz fans) For the last. talents to gospel songs..She regards shows. "She h almost ready," he Mahalia records product with. ar- this work as her lift's mission; said, "to resume her normal Work." Speaking of the imponance. of Negro gospel music-oíá.hich Ma - Italia is such a great symbol-Town- send noted the_ influence of this mu.s-c Peacock Has in the pop and jazz- fields. "Many That. Old -Time Religion artists," he added, "have come to the When someone is in the mood for and Inez Andrews enc. the Andrew - attention of the pop and jazz fans that old-time religion., via he knows he efts. the gospel route. Some_ examples cad feet 'the spirit immediately 'by Don Robey, who heads up the are Ray Charles. the date c, listening to recordings on the Pea- Peacock operation, has been record- Sarah Vaughan. ,and Dinah as ing- cock label. Peacock, ton. and pits subsid- ing Negro spiritual' and gospel music And even` among the newer iary Songbird,. assuredly crop of have one of since 1947. Robey says that rpei'sonal young artists." Townsend the strongest rosters of 'Negro pointed out, sj ii- appearance tours are an important "their mothers and fa¿ ¡teal artists in the industry. thets were strongly factor in the religious field: that they influenced by gos- Among them are such as pel! musk and names enhance the., sale of .an artist's re- they imported this to the Dixie Hummingbirds, The their children," Rev- cordings. erend Cleophrüa Robinson, the Pil- The volume of sales,,Robey-assert Townsend feels one of the most grim. Jubilees, the Highway Q,C.'s, cd, isincreasing throughout the world. important aspects of' Mahaliars influ- the Sensational Nightingales. the Gos- Overseas markets which are of its- ence was the fact that she did not pelaires, the Five Blind Boys of portance Include England, France; go pop. Alabama, the Loving Sisters,) to Rev- Germany, Sweden, Denmark . "She feels her religion very strongly erend and Ballinger,, the Sunset Travelers parts of Asia,, particularly Japan. 82 rn. ~de of a.ltglou, Musk Billboard .L

AT 442advtg 1 Li/ Wor_.).T

Two religious radio networks oper- panics and has 1.000 stereo I P's in ming. When the government's ruling ating from the West Coast broadcast his library. AIR avdids gospel- that AM -FM stations must not dupli- gospel music to domestic and imier- Nashville sounds; spirituals=Negro cate more than 50 per cent of their national audiences. the domestic serv- music, playing "what's left." programming, F v1 owners will be iee is America's inspiradlo Network Each program is produced and an- looking for material. he says. Sacred (AIR), a new programming service nounced y AIR staffers. Barton music in prerecorded tapes up to three of the Family Stations service in Los. Buhtz handles "Music to Live By,' hours could be one answer, accord- Angeles. The international Operation Harold Hall handles "Morning ing to Palmquist. is Far Eas; Broadcasting, headquar- Clock," Wally Drolts handles "After While AIR is concerned with tered in Whittier, Calif. Glow," -Bryce. Bressler, handles 'Pro- lightening he load of people's minds The AIR Network is Owned by. file," Norvcl Slater handles "Eve- in the U.S,, the Far East Broadcast- Dick Palmquist and has been in oper- ning Song" and John Arthur handles ing Co. is concerned with spreading ation since last January.. His company' a halt-hour children's program, "Big the gospel in the undeveloped- coun- provides stations with complete sa- John and Sparkle." during the"Mti'sic tries. Its _slogan is "Christianity to cred in three and one- to Live By" program. programming the World by Radio.""The company half hour taped blocks. The service AIR provides its programming to began lb 1945 and has grown to is an outgrowth of the San Francis- listeners who buy the time from the where it has one transmitter beam- co -basal Family Stations operation station at $15 per half hour.. The ing from two which programs sacred music on station gets $S'of the S15. Palmquist to Chiba Okinawa, KEAR. San Francisco; KEBR. Sac- says this totals about 57.000.a month smaller stations on Okinawa; 12' sta- ramento; KECR, San Diego; WFME, for a station. Sponsors .ale usually tions in Manila and the Philippines Newark, NJ., and KHCB, Houston. businessmen who want to build a solid and a station on San Francisco Bay AIR's first outlet is KRKD in reputation within their commun;ty, beaming into, Latin America, Presi- I.os Angeles which airs its programs,. so they sponsor Christmas programs. dent of the company is Robert Bow- from midnight -6 'a.m. Palmquist says Palmquist sees the FM market as man. FEBC's first transmitter went he uses music from 30 record com- the next step for his sacred program- on the air in 1948 in Manila.

Yin?, CLARA WAR 'I8,, ENS 11, e SINGERS 6325 8th Ave., Los Angeles 43, ít same Music Everywhere Sing the Gospel California CH[JRCHES PUBLISHERS OF RELIGIOUS MUSIC COLLEGES AUIDITORIU'MS ri 10--

NIGUT CLUBS WARD .011 GERTRUDE rounder Contact GENERAL ARTIST CORP. 53T E. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas. Nevada fl BESSIE GRIFFIN Known for favorite Standards such or, One of Amer'ica's Top Gospel Singers "THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE" r - "A BRIGHTER DAY AHEAD'; Car-lent Alburtis "LORD DON'T LET ME FAIL" "all GLORY HAULELUJAtL" EPIC Recorda As featured by; 'FABULOUS BESS!F, GRYFFIN" MANAMA JACKSON Epic Records JAMES CLEVELAND "PORTRAITS IN BRONZE" Liberty Record. And many other top Gospel Artists For oreilobilitiea. contort: JACKSON ENTERPRISES I Penned' soul. from the 2057 93rd Street of MARGARET AKENS Lou Aniteles .17. Calif. L Billboard The World of dit'elfoious Music 83 QUA RTETS- EVANGEL ISTS - TRIOS -CHURCH CHOIRS - SINGING and MUSICAL GROUPS

It you ore thinking of making a record album, by all means pet the most for y6ur effort and teensy- get the facts on the CRUSADE CUSTOM -PLUS P RO GRAM!! QU RifT FEATURES-- SAVINGS- Prices unbetlekebly law whit TOP DUALITY. SOUND BIG ,TIME ',SOUND- A corntterei6l1 round that catches the cos of DJs and buyers. The DIE i ES III toping studios, moster,n3, pro' oessing and pressing techniques ore the best in the industry. RELIGIOUS III 911 LABEL P RODUCTIONS: Aff of our ¿loss A productions placed The trend toward on the CRUSADE gospel quartets Rice is adding additional instru- ¡LABEL is 'gaining momentum; ore given according to thents, on some of his dates, "We're Promotion vie rodio DJs, printed page, RCA Victor's chief religious producer trying ito he ,modern," he cep' etc. Also royalty agreement, Darol. Rice, who ained, headquarters in 'but large orchestras áreñ't really Holly wood hut does Custom l'ressingds and Printing the brunt of his necessary because -this is message mu- work in Nashville. sic we're We supply marry other eorrpanies with dealing with,' jackets and Hollywood, he explains, is his home; or pressings, We will What Rice does do is "upgrade olso ,produce your job on your Nashville, his creative office. The the owe excitement and harmonies or o euetom (label. emergence of the quartet sound as the of the arrangements:" He' claims dorninant one in white religious people have FROM music come to YOUR MASTER TAPE we is attributable accept a more modern sound will produce your to two factors, Rice o1 bum or we wi l l on religious products and this accept- assist with the studio. says. First, many of the quartets have ance has prompted artists to formed their own record corñpenies extend GOOD NEIGHBOR their talents by attempting PROGRAM¡ and second, sundry religious com- new things. Crusade artists work os one1hugh panies have Of all the artists Rice fairily..,.write for begun signing quartets for records, details of our George Beverly eo-operatihn program. their rosters. Shea has the most There. is also -a move on for ama- L.P's /2) in the Victor catalog. Rice's roster SHEET MUSIC PUBLISHERS teur quartets to fórm and go the pro- also includes the Blackwood We will, print for Prothers, other musicpub fessional. route. These groups are Statesmen Quartet. Tony fishers, consider your songs for usually formed by members of church Fonatine, Jack Holcomb, Solomon contract, take your song off tope King, and place It in choirs, Doris Akers'and the Cliff ear. manuscript form rows rw.ody for copyright, etc. Rice said he hoped to expand his Choir. This last-named group is new to quartet roster in line with this growing the label, and Rice has just recor led, Only hof we offer the mosfr emphasis and Interest He will be at a special LP with the leader of do we boost the Natióñál'Gospel Quintet Convex. the Billy Graham choir. lion in Memphis, in October to "talent The, market for religious ,product is scout." The producer said' she plans ' tremendous," Rice feels, bdt he adds actively listening to new quartets with that the music is not reaching as many the - hope that sevt ral' outstanding people as possible, He cites the total voices may blossom forth. involvement with popular music prod. The effect of ucts which regular music the quartet -growth is - stores must Box 252 2270 But North Avente a sharper feeling of maintain as the reason religious rec- FLORA, ILLINOIS 62839 competition among religious record companies. ords are. not found on too, many Phones; 662.3521-662.2225 Rice also If no answer feels that a flood of new shelves. 662-7171-66214335' compositions Area code 618 breathes a freshness into While there is a, ,move .on to, create the religious. field. ft appears that, at - new songs, Rice says that recording A grrai big least two bu.rirtess in a little bitlytou.t members of many gospel the old hymns Is "not a liability" since groups arc ` songwriters and actively most churches stick with, the estab- cleating new songs. lished songs. 84 The World of Religiou Mole Billboard cu ureme

J_ SIDE' I -FI 1 `.:=sr.so. PLAY :': _ a'

':*w.r,^L .'á",, Paul Michelson 4 =.7 Organist nrranger/Conductor

Iº' 'P' Old Fashioned Music for the American Family . j.2nitfr, Supreme offers one of the widest selections of Revival Hour Choir hfgh.quality Mono and Stereo recordings available 4 .. featuring.bestloved Sacred Artists. International Radio' Favorites DOw "--1 J A whole new world of Thrilling Sacred Music including: L kt, Beloved hymns and Gospel Song's Spirituals Ronnie Avaloñe Sing-alongs Inspirational Narrations Sacred Classics Exciting Southern, v, Award-V iotring Gospel Music and Saved fork songs - Dramatic Tenor In jus) a few shbrt years Supremo RecOrds hos made a tremendous impact on the religious record buying public.,This has happened because many of, the finest Sacred artats .are now on the .- Supreme label'. The Laymen Singers *These exclusive árt¿sts are joined in the Supreme family by: Featured on American Charles Magnuson Ed Lyman Glade Roó London, Crusader Choir Gospel Folic Sing ''-4t Baptist World -Wide Broadcasts Sonny Moreno Covenant Gospelaires Joyce tandorf Al' Garr and many mare.

Vep Ellis, Soloist

Oral Roberts

Crusades, Radio & T.V. `.`"*'.- ; c ALL 9, LIE SUPREME LABEL

Y' , 1

SUPREME RECORDS 304 SO. BRAND BLVD. GLENDALE, CALIF. 91209 (213) 245-3340 ,.r aJ I` Ly - V

Ár1 T

HAVE I MON iDOTS

By DON PIERCE ft sident of Starday Recorder Our forefathers, the pioneers. who settled the 13 original States, and who later migrated ever westward, found strength, courage; and togetherness from singing ogospel and sacred songs accompan led by stringed instruments. The hardships endured by the pió- neers were made more bearable by.the songs of inspiration and their faith in the teachings of Christianity. This faith was expressed by preachers and the congregations in small rural churches throughout the land. Where churches were not available, traveling preachers carried the gospel iñto the backwoods and hills. Calls to 11 worship ñearly always meant joining together In singing the gospel Musi- cal accompaniment was generally quite simple, consisting of the fiddle. the banjo. and, when available, gul- 1 : tars and piano.. The Instruments were ,j almost identical to those used ' in American country music so it was l only natural that country music art- - F) fists learned the-se songs - during their - u -- 1 "growin' up time" and included a ION' PIERCE. left,. and Wayne Raney listen to Raney's Mexican radio station. broadcast from a large amount of goll and steered music as a part of their regular en. tertainment programs. Many of the songs have been handed down from one generation ;to another by Gar, father tó son, mother to -daughter. Untrained voices, hand- made instruments. and learning Jo pick and' sing by car is a heritage common to both country music and gospel music. The American Negro who sang spirituals in the fields as he worked also made a large contribution to this music source, and many of these old spirituals were adapted by the settlers, and later by country music entertainers, 86 and are Th. World of Rellelou, Musk Billboard a part of gospel music today. As country music became. a prominent part óf the American musical scene, an litcrcasing amount of sacred and gospel music was included in the, repertoire. The "Grand Ole Opry" And other country music shows developed, and through radio, and later _: television, added emphasis and popularity to the movement. Nov,, personal appearances by country 'artists always include gospel songs and in recent years w'c have witnessed the development óf a highly specialized 1 form of sacred and gospel musk expression, in the- form of gospel quartet singing. The close harmony of the gospel quartets, featuring many fine void and soloists, constitutes a refinement of the old-time group sacred singing. Drums and electrical amplifica- tion were added to provide a modern sound. However, the glorious roots CARL STORtis a favorite all over the world. in the form of the told -time songs handed down by our forefatthert remain an important part. It has been said, and it Is true,. that no matter who F-'.W, sings a country_ song, the result is still country music because the song is in- violable. The same applies to gospel P . I and sacred songs. - "i " Starday Records, a label specializ- 1.)'4"9-413;,1111' OIML,I ; F + _ ing in country music, was- quick to L I _ .1 recognize the need for gospel music - --- r lo in long-play album form. A substantial catalog of albums in colorful jackets, featuring performances by some of the gospel music field's most notable stars, including the Sunshine Boys. r the Lewis Family, Wally Fowler, the the Masters Family, Carl Story and `d Oak Ridge Boys, was highly successful, and record dealers learned -that '4' gospeLand sacred music was a highly I salable commodity. A particularly unusual arid favorite 1.1 sound of many is the mountain blue- THE 'LEWIS FAMILY, ¡leading country gospel group, Is on touryear-reund. grass songs sung with high pitched' harmony, with fi'e-string banjo ac- The latest innovation Is a four-tec- among the masses of the Japanese companiment.. ord gift edition, packaged -in a full -col= people. Many songwriters, publishers, hook- or box, consisting of four LP's Custorir manufacturing for artists. ers. and, promoters of talent recognize with 64 songs to retail 'at S6.79. choirs, gospel quartet groups, preach.. that gospel and sacred music is in This album is appropriately titled ers, Ind others, represents -another imr heavy demand and'have specialized in "The Wonderful World of Gospel portent facet. of Starday's activities the presentation of good, clean family and Sacred Music" and' presents the the sacred music field. The Starday entertainment with gospel and sacred best of the country gospel artists'iñ a Music catalog has hundreds of prom- mtrhic on the stage, on radio, on tele- true collectors' item. inent and often recorded sacred songs vision, and on records. Gospel and sacred music is a large that produce -an important part of the Notable among Starday's success pan of Starday's day to day function company's publishing revenue. in merchandising gospel and sacred and the entire staff has' worked, to 4t Starday,, it is felt that sacred albums arc its radio mail-order .offers spread, the popularity of recorded music is a part of the natural heritage through the Wayne Raney agency in gospel and sacred music - country of American country music and our Concord, Ark., with shows óñ radio. style - on ap iñternational'baisis, The plans aré for continued expansion of :In an effort to cover -all portions ,of Ember Libel' of England has Issued our sacred catalog and creation of the public market, Starday pioneered five sacred albums from the Starday new merchandising ideas so that sa- the Concept of econorny or budget - catalog: In Japan, buegrass sacred cred and gospel music can better priced sacred albums and currently albums have proved to he very popu- achieve its rightful share of the rec- has the largest catalog of country lar despite the language barriers and ord market. W e are proud to he a gospel and sacred recordings. lack :of knowledge of Christianity part of Gospel Americana, 87 állboard Tho wood of Rtlgious Mink FOLEY AND FORD IUNTRY ARTISTS CLOSE Te THE CHURCH By CLAUDE HALL on the "National Barn Dance," a Country music artists; as a- rule, are Chicago network radio show. Hé was clase .to the Church. They sing re- later one of the big stars of Nash- ligious music in almost every personal ville's "Grand Ole Opry" for seven appearance, whether it is on the stage years before moving on to host ABC - of some small auditorium in a rurat TV's "Jubilee U.S.A." for six year's. town or on a network N'show before In 1962, he turned to acting and co- millions of people. They sing these starred with Fess Parker in ABC-TV's hymns and spirituals, not because It's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" expected of them-though it often is series. but because- it's - part of their heri- Tennessee Ernie Ford, a native tage, the -music they grew up with .of Bristol. Tenn studied music .at and love. Red Foley the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Many country music artists write befóre turning disk jockey and work- religious songs now and then along ing at radio stations in Atlanta _ and with all of the other kinds of songs Knoxville. After World War II, he they write. And many of the records was working as a 'disk jockey for they make contain either one relig- KXLA, Pasadena, Calif., when he ious number or several. was signed to a fecórdiag contract by Probably two of the greatest arc Capitol Records. his earlier hits were Red Foley and Tennessee Ernie Ford, for the popular field. 'Sixteen Tons" When a man sells a million records sold more than 3,000,000 records. of a spiritual, he's got to .be one of But the past kw years he has also be- the outstanding vocalists of our time. come one of -the world's most success- Red Foley has had many .million - ful singers of religious music; an out- selling records, among them such Da - growth of closing each of his TV ea Records favorites as ''Peace , ,. in the shows with a hymn. By 1962 he had . - Valley" and "Just a Closer Walk'With won a Le total of five gold records signi- Thee." h native of Blue Lick, Ky., fying 51,000,000 in sales for five dif- Tennessee _Ernie Ford Clyde Julian Foley began his career ferent albums of religious music. Jennessee Ernie Ford One of the foremost re igious album sellers of all-time . I=y 17:n I ,i._ 0G \ I rI

SING WE NOW NEARER THE CROSS HYMNS Of CHRISTMAS ST -1005 THE STAR CAROL Is ST-2394 ST756 sr-ton Inewe

Irrs tNip;' 3` ,. 'r f' s ' - 1' 'IIYMNS AT HOME t-- - - A FRIEND WE HAVE wE- GÁTHER - 5T-1604 LET ME WALK ST -1272 TOGETHER wiTH raze ST -1937 51.22º6 Persoñol Monagemen JIM LOAKES. .tn F..xcl 643 Larkin Sr San Franeteleo ugim IPcorriirj artiaT Pvbltc RelOtlDnL FREEMAN/SUTTON tl ASSOC. 88 The World of 'Rel.giovs Musk Billboard .í F714-4:'. : -+.~ 11Slzr.lgailf . "r 74-- ' .f

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,C ove ofS Am" Gerus M y Xr,E 1S MARO vJtTM MY RECORDSoRos ' NOI`i£ rJc,=A ;1.014 et, RJ.S To f Er *In goYS A Watch for MARLY'S Hea the cetuRIN. 1 ANY AlJ£SVS !-aVEf NE L HAND PUPPETS "SING WITH R, orr A Y" .91'14 v,i¡tME P(ECUoVS° EMffS AND DOLLS APIM t3'1-E Available Radio Show A 5111101 MOaE. rt'nNY Soon syndicated in ANO "ANl ARE- RFCORDS most major U.S. p1v OTHER SS - markets. 1 NAt'W oAy E xPmE TH6 S V nl S tl l l,l 1.E1 ,F¡NTH M A RcÍ CNRISTMAS MeaSY Ser445 HYMNS

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Billboard Ts. Wortd of Religious "ilk 89 folly's tours,go out bimonthly and usually feature three groups. All con- RE1IGI(,U certs aré prayed in auditoriums with large capacities. Polly's gospel cots- eerts differ from those presented in the 'South in that the number of acts Big M is small, while in the South the shows are all-night sings and use many People- Polly says her audiences resent 'EST CC more than three acts. Her concerts run from 8 p.m. to midnight and are "fast-moving progranis, produced pro- By ELIOT TIEGEL fessionally.' Among the acts she books are the Religious Blackwood Brothers, music is becoming á Státesmen Quartet, major entertainment Imperials, Har- form on the vesters. Couriers., Golden West Coast. State Quar- Artists, booking agents tet 'Speer and Family and' Chuckwagon record distributors all express Gang. enthusiasm for the future. The pres- Peop e from all walks of ent is in great shape. life attend the religious concerts. "Teen-agers "There ís a great deal of opportun-ly like them because the to expand songs arc the gospel circuit," accord- jrvey," she explains. "'Adults ing to Polly Grimes, enjoy president of them because there is á lot Gospel. Concerts, a of show- leading hooker of manship. The concerts are not icligious talent in meant; the West. The en-' to 'he church ser but tire Pacific .ices, we do dry Northwest region is vir- to be spiritual in nature.' tually untapped," .she said The gos- Miss Grimes hasbeen.a gospel pro- pel circa*** as developed by het' com- moter since 1960. During that time pany now ciómprices the following she has built a up mailing list of . California cities: Long Beach, Oak- 30,000 names, which regularly re- land, iakessficcd, San Jose. Sacra- ceive notice of her fortihcominc shows. George Beverly Shea is mento and Fresno, and featured Las Vegas, For Bob Jones Jr. singer for the Billy Graham Crusade. Nev. of Singtime En - (Continued an page 92). -INS IIU.NG GOSPEL AR] 'ISTS

MARTHA 11' III i`r -" . BETE' Y JEAN BRANHAM ,1 ert E. I PHI',THAM Featured tiolobsts -- ('r . With Martha, as Civic Convention, Brumley&sons - ! Recitalist and Accoln- Caanpuses-Conierts panist, ii- on tour In the and The Itertlwd Mutic Co. Evangelistic Crusades U. S. and Overseas. SJILUTI3S I'LL TELL THE WORLD, ZLP-67S The World of Gospel Singers MARTHA may also bar heard on Undercut Recording recording ZLP-647 THE GOSPEL QUARTETS THE CO4- hfl%L Fast. ERA SHAM SINGS NDDERVAN VENTION SINGERS THE CHRISTMAS FAVORITES' Records RECORD- ING ARTISTS THE RECORDING INDUSTRY THE RADIO.TY INDUS. TRY THE Ws THE PRESS *OM.. Dick Anthony THE GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION Dom. L. MD THE "WORLD OF RELIGIOUS. Ii has. arranged for your reUSIC" Church For their combined contribution to toe Choi - gospel add religious music woad. - and a siosdit YOU" S "thank to' the re. -PEI mg-.. Wain 1 cording ! s ua. artists and bit who have re. wr corded and pOgri.nmed 0+e- o, wA %Ongs. roir t e e toyed Di 'nthonty ALBERT E. BRUMLEY á SONS Arrangements we red MoU< per formed by i Harllwd CO outstanding Muate Pubtlaen . - IOAC-AfNue-e recording tirtjsts.,. Pow.tl. 240..,05 370 rheno, 2Ní1 i MELODY FOUR QUARTET Putillsheei et '$'11 Fry A$ t' Ii2e@h Hold Mr ltlandt" "Ili 'Sect You in 'the SIXTEEN SINGING MEN tAórning$ -ea rata'r Be an Old:We Chef-giant" "l'm Bound For KOREANORPHANI CHOIR That CIIy¡ and or"! "lust A Rose emit Do" and more than many album 1 .17 MT. t 2,010 other bIuulllul religeoas songs and -- - by-x, Write or call for .tru - , OIOtt IiÓA IOU. CBttSfiAN -J -- sheets - lead sheets, desolapes 10OcSlllfi Oa - i AMiNOnr P11IIb+ ia10 CO t071 $1157 1000 IIIACN,CAI 90 The World of Religious Musk Billboard The Finest ChoraP Sound in Religious Musc Today SH rPARD CHORME

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t ?EAT/VE 80U/V/17 rvauonat record menutacy'.! and d.sIr.b iIo V 1 Sootioililot 1s RIlt.c.i MOW (I Call Creative Sound FIRST! CR 1-4843 9000 Sunset Blvd.. Los Angeles. Calif, ..., ail - 3i.:. Billboard 11ho Wotid of 'Religious. MviIc 91 Continued from page 90 The Songfcllows Quartet. Jones Spencer's -own Manna music company own group, also works res ival serv- has published' the song "How Great terprises, the market for gospel quar- ices and camp meetings, providing 'Thou Art," which he claims is the tets seems to be growing. special music. These jobs are secured biggest selling gospel tune. The song Such through quartets as the Songfe;lows. recommendations. The group is used as the theme for the Billy Christian Troubadours and Gold is featured on station KFI in Los An- Graham Crusade featuring George State Quartet work Concerts actively geles Sunday evenings from 10:30.11. Beverly Shea as featured vocalist. from the Canadian border and Jones believes the Christian college Spencer' compares his hit field song through California, Washingtoin, Ore- is an untapped market. Pasadena (1.000,000' sheet music copies report- gon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Ari- Nazarene and Southern California ed sold) to that of a popular record College zona and Oklahoma.. Less acivc are in Costa Mesa are among hit in that it stimulates other kinds of the Jubilaires and Gospelaires. the 50 schools, which could develop similar music. into a new, major The- Southern circuit. Since many when California region is of these Spencer claims that Rév Shea as good a schools aren't allowed to began place for quartets as any book singing with the Graham Cru- other regular entertainment packages. sade spot with its population in the Jones' over 10 years ago, the exposure country, Jones says. organization-Singtime Enter- helped boost religious Most groups prises-,is putting muck sales. work together a show fea- Spencer has handled RCA year-round, including national turing a seven products tours. -piece band, a girls eight years. trio plus the Songfeliows Quartet to The major portion of the business sell for S500. He claims the number of book - is conducted Bible stores across the country has in churches on Sundays. From the. standpoint of Old religious increased 100 per cent. He has hymns and standard gospel songs record distributor Tim Spencer, 150 who accounts in the Western States comprise 'the repertoire. Concerts otít- handles RCA -Victor product alone. exclu- and these stores are prime s.'de the church are usually sively, the market outlets for held Fri- is constantly er'ow- religious records. day and Saturday nights. ing. Years ago the religious field was Spencer cites Billy The 'major event which attracts strictly in the South. Now in's growing Graham's radio chow, "Hour of Decision," as being quartets is the California Gospel strong in the West, he says. Quartet a great influence on the world' of re- Concert and Convention, held Gospel concerts were unknown in three times ligious musk. The sho1w has been on a ,year. The first gather- California five years ago, but today ing the air more than 10 years. was in San Diego last June. The 5.000 persons pack the tong second Beach "Tne gospel is set:' for October in Los Auditorium for a capital still lies in the religious shows Con- South." Spencer Angeles, with the third meeting next cert appearances said in his Hollywood stimulate record bus- office. "but the February in Fresno. iness West Coast is grow- throtagh book -Bible stores. ing all the time."

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92 The. World 'of Reltpiovs Musk Billboard Gospel

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SOMEBODY BIGGER THAN YOU AND I RAY RODLES (LP=Album 1 . Christian Faith Recording,' STATIS]IL.. te'th HOVIr. LESTE..R 'RCA 1 k*or Recorded by TIIG Closet IlLv,,tY Sails ...... RCA Victor TEN!rtSAEF. ER'I'E. FORD . . . .. Capitol HE'S ONLY A PRAYER AWAY Gol trox NIAcRAR alvD Jo STAFFORD Capitol Recorded by JANE FkO]IwN . - capitol CIIAKt3'.S TURNER , . Christian Faith Recordings MAu +t.1.. JACKSON (LP=Album 1 Columbia RAY RoDI.Es (LP -Album) . . Christian 'Fjth Recordings ARTIiuK (.00rclY Columbia CLARA WARD (LP -.Album) Dot I ASKED THE LORD 'Doer. None. (LP -Album) . . . . , . _ Dot Rc` rded by FRED WAKING ...... Deeca GEORGE REYERLY 'SHILL RCA Victor\lAl1Ai;1.. Rue I' oLLY . . Dacca JACKS4r Colombia THE, 1'it. SPOTS - Deeca GORDON MACRAE Capitol I.svoncoCE V.ELK (Album).¡ . . . . Coral ALAN McGtu. - Sacred Records At.sz4 Beet'., Sacred Records EINAR EKBERG & EtNER WAiRl.o . . . Evangel Recordings Jou'. Y DrsMorro' (LP.Albura) ...... Tops DICK KALrst+N Dacca Et\AR WACIItMO (F.P-AIIKtm) E+angel RAY Rots' c (LPAItum) . . . Christian Faith Recordings', TONY FONTANE (LP.Albunal . . RCA Victor STEPHEN Kv MALYAN . .. . r . Christian Faith Recordings CitaKl-ER TURNER ChristianFaith Recording% CUARLn_s TURNER . . . . . Christian Faith Recording is STEVE MUSTO . . . Blblctotte Recordings .... TAKE &Y THE HAND CHUCK CONNOati . . D«ra GOD THE STATESML: QVARTET with IIoYtE LISTER Slcylite Recorded by MAIILLIA JACXSON (LP-AliHtmi Columbia I' FOUND THE ANSWER GEoaci: ittigata SIlLA RCA Victor Recorded by YOU GEORGE BEVERLY SHEA º RCA Victor THERE'S SOMEONE TO HELP Mitt;uA JACKsoN (LP'Albumh Columbia Recorded by NAT Cot.E (LP -Album) Capitol GORDON WooDRu: N (LP) . Christian Faith Flecioi+lings. JACK Hot.Coain RCA Victor I AM ALONE ALAN MCGILL . . . . Sacred Records NOS F.VA.c,jro C.oeiICIIA,:L {61'..ALtnrm) , . . Sacred Recorded by RUB 'DANREL (LP llhum) . . Sacred GEORGE BEVERLY SH-EA RCA \ loor EtNAT' W'tritsto (FP Album) Evangel STI Mgt% KEItA1r.YAN Christian Faith Recordings

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Billboard Tho World of IRetlpious ,Music 93 (Continued from page 81)

Hummingbirds, - Swan Silvcrtones, Clouds Of Joy, Soul Stirrers, Cara-. vans, Gospel Harmonettes and the 1'NDE'r T _ Davis Sisters. Other respected gospel groups arc ADVERT"- ER the Highway CQ's, Patterson A guide to valuable Singers, sources of religious music, records and Marion Williams and the related servic's and Stars Of products. This "rndéx is,próvided as an Faith, Princess Stewart and Prof. additional service to Alex readers. The publisher does not as- Bradford and the Bradford Singers. sume liability for errors or omissions. Initially; when Miss Griffin was playing clubs, Blackwell says he appeared before a Los Angeles Council Listed of Churches to ask that ministers sanc- Alphabetically tion their congregations attending gos- ad.Mfiter /g. Ad.Idiur pel shows outside the church. This was necessary in order for the artists M. M. AIKEN to appear one PUBLISHING 83 1 AHALIA night in a club and the JACKSON . 70 next, return to a church environment. DICK ANTHONY PUBLISHING 88 Blackwell says tinny Ministers around JUBILAIRES 43 th country arc allowing their con- JERRY BARNES & SWANEE gregations to LEFEVRE ENTERPRISES 29 enjoy gospel music'out- RIVER BOYS . side the church. , 59 The LESTER-FAMILY ...... ,,16 promoter points to Ray Charles BLACKWOOD BROTHERS .68, 69 as the first major gospel -oriented' art- MOSIE MARTHA LISTER PUBLISHING ist to break into popular music and BRANHAM - , 9D become a major MUSICAL HART draw. Charles has ALBERT BRUMLEY & SONS 90 FAMILY 64 retained his ehurchy soulful feel in all his EYE OAK RIDGE music.- In transferring gospel music BULL'S MUSIC .. , 93 QUARTET 47 to the popular Tick), artists have RALPH CARMICHAEL OLD FASHIONED AIRS "dropped the word Jesus and sub- 40 QUARTET stituted baby and love," Blackwell ex- COLUMBIA RECORDS 62 plains. ..,..-.95 (THIRD COVER) PALMQUIST AIR Thus Etta Times' version of "Some- NETWORK .22 thing's Got a Hold on Me, It CRUSADE ENTERPRISES Must Be 84 PATHAY -28 the Lord:' came out "Somethings Got a DECCA RECORDS 57 Hold on Mc, It Must Be Love" and MARCY PIGNER 89 Sam_ WILLA Cooke's,gospcl version of "Stand I DORSEY 70 By Me Jesus" was Ben E. King's PLAINSMEN 'QUARTET .. - , , .17 big DOUBLE hit "Stand By Me." F ENTERPRISES 9,2 PROGRAMMING INC. .. , , ... 62 Gospel music is actually the third DUKE -PEACOCK step or modem RCA VICTOR interpretation of Negro RECORDS RECORDS music Blackwcl!notes. Before Lincoln 72,73 freed SATURDAY NIGHT SING 64 the slaves in 1864, field hands KEN DUNCAN 18, 19 ..... sang spirituals which were cries of SEGO BROTHERS ELMER & JIM .,,.,,, 61 mercy: "'Sometimes I Feel Like a 17 SESAC Motherless _ 3 Child" and ''Red' Eyed T. FONTAINE .96 (BACK COVER) Captain.," After the Emancipation GEORGE BEVERLY"SHEA ... 65 there was no reason for anyone to TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD .: 88 write BOB SHEPARD spirituals. Blackwell says, so D. CORRAL . .- 91 jubilee songs were FRIESEN/MARY JANE . - 67 introduced. They SINGING TIME IN DIXIE ... , 25 described the scriptures. "Swing Low GOLDEN"STATE QUARTET 43 Sweet Chariot," Joshua Fit SKYLITE RECORDS the Bat- GOODMAN , .24 tle ót Jcricthti" and "fezebcf " The FAMILY 36, 37 Original SONGFELLOWS 44. Gospelairs and Golden Gate GOSPEL SING TIME ARTISTS .64 Quartet were among the SPEER original FAMILY - 45 jubilee exponents. GOSPEL SING TIME TIM Gospel music was the third ad- RECORDS ,...93 SPENCER .. _ 23 vancement and is only, about 25 years GOSPEL SINGING. STAMPS QUARTET ,46 old, says Blackwell., These songs are personal CARAVAN 30, 31 prayers: STARDAY ., "He's Alive Today," RECORDS - ... ,. , , 2 "One Baptism" and ''Great Joy." GOSPEL SINGING JUBILEE ...63 SUPREME Among the first gospel acts were the RECORDS 85 BILLY Original Blind Boys of Alabatña, GRAHAM ,,,...... 41 TRI STATE Brother Joe May and organist Maceo BESSIE GRIFFIN . , , .....83 Woods. CLARA WARD SINGERS ,. ,.. .83 There arc also POLLY GRIMES modifications of soft ....43 WHITNEY RECORDING and hard gospel. The soft kind is a HEARTWARMING STUDIO ballad like "I BelieVe," the hard, often -.,.,1 40 rocking, RI-CORDS ,,14, 15 penetrating kind are "Move ..,,.... WORD RECORDS , , . 6 Along" 7 and "Travefin' Shoes." JAKE HESS & IMéERIALS ....8,, 9 WORLD WIDE RECORDS 94 60 The Weild 'Music Billboard ¡ HYMNS BY JOHNNY CASI[ Rik ; --

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