2002

SG History 101 - The Harmoneers

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame recently inducted the Harmoneers Quartet into their halls. The Harmoneers won the coveted Mary Tallent "Pioneer Award". This group is very deserving of the award. Let's hope the gospel music industry can bestow the same honor upon them.

The Harmoneers were organized in the early 1940's by Fred C. Maples. Maples was a native of Cleveland, Tenn.-- a central location for quartet music in those days. His group soon signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, possibly being the first quartet to record on that label. The members of the group at that time were Herbert Newman, Paul Stringfellow, Maples, Sidney Braden, and Charles Key. The war was underway at the time, so they were limited in their ability to travel. At the end of the war, Maples revamped the quartet by hiring Bobby Stickland to sing tenor, Ermon Slater to sing baritone, and AD Soward to sing bass. This group moved to Knoxville, Tenn. and began an affiliation with the Chattanooga Medicine Company. They became spokesmen for "Scalf's Indian River Medicine", which they sold during their transcribed radio broadcasts.

During a war imposed recording ban, the group released several recordings as the "Maple Leaf Quartet" on Lee Roy Abernathy's "Quartet" label. The name change was a result of their exclusive recording contract with RCA Victor. If you come across any recordings by that group, you'll be listening to the Harmoneers!

As with any group, the personnel of the Harmoneers changed a bit through the years. Strickland and Soward left the group and were instrumental in the formation of the Statesmen Quartet. Slater left the group to join the Rangers Quartet. They were replaced by three gentlemen that became core members of the Harmoneers for many years to come: Bob Crews (lead), Wallace "Happy" Edwards (tenor), and Seals "Low Note" Hilton (bass).

The Harmoneers Quartet arrived in Decatur, Ga. from Tennessee in 1949. The hard-working group sang live regularly on Atlanta radio station WEAS, now WGUN, and later on NBC and CBS radio. In the 40s and 50s, the Harmoneers became one of top quartets in the nation. "Happy" Edward kept the audience on their toes with his humor, and the group always lived up to their name with wonderful harmony.

Fred C. Maples retired in the mid-1950's, and soon the Harmoneers reorganized with "Happy" Edwards, Bob Crews, Shorty Bradford, Seals Hilton, and Charles Key. This was one of the most exciting Harmoneers lineups, but it was also quite short-lived. Jimi Hall soon joined the group as pianist and lead singer. The four man group (Edwards, Hall, Crews, and Hilton) continued for several years and released their first long playing album on the Sing label in 1959 titled "This Little Light of Mine". Prior to this, eight RCA recordings by the Harmoneers were released on a 10" album titled "Church in the Wildwood". This is one of the rarest gospel records in collecting circles.

The group experienced several personnel changes prior to their retirement in the early 1960's. Former members include Fred Elrod, Troy Lumpkin, Joe Moscheo, Mack Evans, Byron Burgess among others.

The group received the "Living Legend" award at the 1995 Grand Ole Gospel Reunion in Greenville, SC. Although the Harmoneers name has been formally retired, Bob Crews, Charles Key, Seals Hilton, and Jimi Hall are still alive and well. They performed at the reunion just a few years ago.

Harmoneers Quartet Key, Paul Stringfellow, Sidney Braden Maples, Herbert Newman (I may have Braden and Newman reversed) approx. 1943		Charles Key, Happy Edwards Fred C. Maples, Bob Crews, Seals Hilton approx 1947
picture from cover of RCA record set	Charles Key, Bobby Strickland, Ermon Slater Fred C.Maples, AD Soward approx. 1946	Edwards, Crews, Hilton Jimi Hall approx 1960
Edwards, Crews, Hilton Hall, Key 1998	Shorty Bradford, Crews, Edwards Hilton, Key approx 1958	from top> Fred Elrod, Maples, Hilton, Key, Troy Lumpkin approx 1955

SG History 101 - Blue Ridge Quartet

The Blue Ridge Qt. was formed in Dallas, Texas in 1946 as a part of the Stamps organization. Shortly thereafter, the group moved to Raleigh, NC and then Burlington, NC before moving to Spartanburg, SC. The BRQ remained in Spartanburg for the rest of their career. They were noted as having the "sweetest singing this side of Heaven".

In the early years, the personnel changed a great deal until the team of Elmo Fagg (lead & manager), Ed Sprouse (tenor), and Kenny Gates (baritone and pianist) got together in the early 1950's. Burl Strevil was the bass singer for a while, and was later replaced by George Younce. This core group remained together for many years. The group hired Jim Hamill as baritone and later hired Bill Crowe. Crowe remained with the group until they disbanded.

When George Younce joined forces with the Cathedral Trio, Burl Strevil returned to the BRQ. Burl remained with the group until his death. Shortly after Strevil rejoined the group, Fred Daniel replaced Ed Sprouse as the tenor. Interestingly enough, Strevil and Daniel spent many years together in the Sunshine Boys. They brought several of the Sunshine Boys' hits to the BRQ.

When Elmo Fagg retired in 1969, Laverne Tripp joined the group as lead singer. His songwriting skills and intense delivery brought a new appeal to the group. They experienced some of their finest moments with the personnel of Fred Daniel, Laverne Tripp, Bill Crowe, Burl Strevil, and Kenny Gates as the group adapted a more "country" sound.

A number of personnel changes occurred in the 1970's. The quartet added a band, and began to sing country music in addition to their gospel songs. Burl Strevil had a massive heart attack and died in the late 1970's. The group disbanded shortly thereafter.

They were the first gospel group to record for Decca records. They recorded for several major labels, and were the first white group on Gotham Records. The were also the first professional gospel group to perform in a Catholic church. They recorded for Sing and Skylite in the 1960's, and were a major artist for Canaan in the 1970's. The BRQ released over 100 albums. They were instrumental in forming the Gospel Singing Caravan with the Lefevres, Prophets, and Johnson Sisters. Other former members include Otis Forrest, Don Seabolt, Norman Allman, Gary Timbs, David Reece, and "Tiny" Jack Taylor.

Kenny Gates, Bill Crowe, Fred Daniel have been a fixture at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion. They have been joined in the past by Ed Sprouse, George Younce, Norman Allman, and Donnie Seabolt.