2006

Look Who We Caught Up With - Phil Enloe

Phil, you come from a very musical family. Just how many singers have come out of the Enloe clan?

There are six children born to Clifton and Dorothy Enloe and all of us love and have been active in music some how in our lives. We were too poor to afford any other pass times, so music was our pursuit and outlet.

My sister Charlotte lives with her husband, Dr. Fred Ingram, in Chanute, KS. She has been the pianist for years, and is a good singer, too. She sang in a great church trio when she lived at home in Illinois.

David was the next child to be born and he always fit the high lead or tenor range. He majored in music education at Southern Illinois University. He sang tenor for the Keystone Quartet out of Philadelphia for several years, then went on to teach music in public schools in Ohio. He has now retired near Nashville, TN.

Of course you know Marvin Neil, who was the next born. Neil attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO, where he joined The Couriers just before they decided to move to Pennsylvania and go full-time. He started as a shy and bashful lead singer with two formal piano lessons under his belt, but went on to develop into a powerful lead singer as well as an innovative song writer, arranger and pianist.

Robert Dale, "Bob" was the next arrival to the Enloe clan. Though Bob has a great rich bass/baritone voice, he didn't pursue any full-time singing career. He used his talent to lead worship at his home church in northern Indiana before retiring here in Florida across the street from me. Bob pursued a business career, (a very smart move), and became very successful at his skill. He stayed out of the uncertain life style of being a traveling singer. He had the itch, but didn't scratch it like the rest of us.

I, Phil, came on the scene soon after and began my musical journey during high school. A local, yet well known tenor singer, John Moody, allowed me to join his quartet when I was only 16 years old. I will forever be grateful to him for giving me a chance. My first full-time job was with the Marks Quartet out of Portland, OR. After we went broke, I moved to Memphis, TN to join the Jr. Blackwood Brothers Quartet for 2 & 1/2 years. Later I got the opportunity to join my brother Neil in The Couriers and enjoyed 23 years with them. My wife Jan and I are enjoying traveling and singing together.

Danny Joel, was the final arrival to the Enloes and he possesses an incredible tenor voice. Before going solo, Danny was a member of The Eastmen Quartet in Pennsylvania. He still is very active in his own ministry.

Why was there never an Enloe Quartet? I think the age differences is the main reason why we never formally formed an Enloe group. Every time we get together we sing and sing and sing. Neil has arranged a couple of songs for us a few times for special occasion, but our lives have gone in so many different directions to have been able to pull us all together in the music business. I admire family groups who have made that happen, but it is rare and much sacrifice has been made for a family group to succeed.

Most of the fans remember you as the Baritone and then Bass singer for the Couriers. Many may not know that you sang Bass for the Jr. Blackwoods. What was the connection that got you the position with that young group? Give us a little history lesson. Who else did you sing with?

I started out singing tenor in my high school choir and special quartet, but when I heard that the Royal Sons Quartet (John Moody, Mgr.) had an opening for a bass singer, I asked to audition. I faked it through and John had pity on me. I worked hard at stretching my range. Everyday in class and walking down the school halls I would continuously run the scales, trying to lower and lower my voice. I learned that you can make a note sound lower than it really is, by tonal fullness and placement. I wanted that job with the Royal Sons and wanted to keep it, so I poured myself into the part. Even though I did stretch my range I didn't abandon my upper register, so it remained in place.

When my first full-time job, with The Marks Qt. was over, (bus broke down everyday and ended our career together), the lead singer, Dean Brown, and I decided to go to where we had always wanted to go, Florida. We had both been sent by our families and local churches to be gospel singers and we didn't want to return home as failures, so we headed south for greener pastures. At least we planned to get as far as our gas money would take us. Well, we ran out of traveling money near Memphis, TN. We both got a job at a local department store and hoped to soon be on our way to Florida.

Once we realized that our Musical heroes were headquartered in Memphis we stopped by their music store in hopes of getting a glimpse of one of The famous Blackwood Brothers. We didn't meet any member of the group on that first visit, but we did meet a Blackwood. We met Ronnie Blackwood, (son of the late "R.W. Blackwood"), and he was quite a guy. He had a part-time group and needed two singers. Well, we jumped at the chance and started singing with Ron. We were not aware that there was another Blackwood Brothers Qt that was full-time. It was the Junior Blackwood Brothers, (consisting of: Winston "R.W." Blackwood, Ron's brother, Jimmy Blackwood, James' son, Bill Lyles, Jr., Everett Reece and Jim Brown).

From our point of view, they had it made. They opened many of the concerts for the Famous Blackwood Bros. and all other dates were scheduled by their office. With Bill Lyles, Jr. (Bass) and Jim Brown, (Tenor) both leaving the Juniors to pursue other careers, Dean and I were at the right place, at the right time, tried out and both got the jobs. We were with the group for more than 2 years and had the time of our lives. We traveled and shared America's concert stages with true legends and pioneers of gospel music.

After being with The Couriers I though I wanted a normal life. Full-time gospel quartet music was all I knew. I was on the road constantly, with no roots and longed for staying in one place for a while. Little did I know that the mold had been cast and I would never be truly happy without fulfilling my call. You see, I really hadn't seen the ministry value and power of the message of gospel music until I stepped back and realized it's ministry potential. I just liked singing and traveling and all that went with it. I didn't understand the depth nor the impact of gospel music on a soul.

So, once out of music, I struggled to get back in. My good friend, Eddie Hawkes, (former pianist for The Couriers), started a group in Akron, OH. We sang and I went back to college, Akron University for a couple of years. During that time I got a call from my friend, Terry Blackwood, who sang with the Imperials. They offered me a job and I flew to Las Vegas to join them. After a brief tenure with The Imperials a conflict of interest arose between the group and their self appointed manager who, not only fronted them recording and royalty money, but worked for them as an agent. He was out of the country when The Imperials hired me. When he learned of an opening in the group, he had taken it upon himself to find a replacement. Because of the power and economic hold he had on the group, I was replaced. Sometime later I learned that after my first replacement didn't work out, Larry Gatlin was hired and replaced in a power play just the way it happened to me. However, I have no hard feelings, I remain close friends with Terry and all of the guys who were in the group at the time. They are great guys.

After that disappointment, I decided to pursue my secular career in commercial art. I hired on with an advertising firm and newspaper and tried to forget about gospel music. A local evangelist heard about me being in his area and asked me to help him with his revivals on the weekends. I refused at first, then reluctantly agreed. Six months later he informed me that the doctors have required him to take much needed time off and he handed me his date book of services and said I had to fulfill his obligations. I was scared stiff, but I set out to try and the dates never ran out. I worked as a soloist for 14 years and grew in the Word during those wonderful years.

I returned to The Couriers in 1980 through 2000 before retiring in Venice, Florida where I tried to get to many, many years prior. Now, my wife, Jan and I are truly enjoying working together, singing and preaching. We just returned from Kenya, Africa where we are building an Orphanage for Street Kids.

You've written some pretty neat songs. I remember a few were very unique. Are you still writing songs, and what has been your inspiration for the songs you have written?

I am still writing, but not at the pace that I did before. For a while I was challenging myself to write on different subjects and in different styles. Sometimes I was inspired and sometimes I was just challenged. Lately I have been compiling my inspirations and waiting for the right musical mood to present a message in power and anointing.

You have also written a book or two. What are the stories behind your books?

My first book, "Don't Quit, Now!" has been received very well. I have sold well over 30,000. I have three books in the works, but can't find enough hours in the day to complete them. I long for the time to just sit and complete the manuscripts.

Since you've "retired," how do you spend you time?

I just can't seem to get the love of ministering out of my system. We tried to slow way down our schedule, but it is difficult. One call leads to another and here we go again. Much has changed since I began, much for the good and some not so good. I just love to minister, no matter where or for how many. We have now been in 46 countries and our over seas project has once again got me excited about not completely ending my ministry.

You had a pretty good run in Southern Gospel Music, ranging from the 1960s to the 2000s. What was your favorite decade in Gospel Music? How was that different from today?

Three major things have impact gospel music in America.

(1) The advent of the Praise Team.
Years ago, I (or we) could schedule a 30 day tour across the country with pastors and promoters eager to book a date on any day of the week. A gospel group coming to town for a concert was a refreshing and exciting event. People would pack the churches and auditoriums. Gospel groups had refined and perfected programs to thrill audiences. When Praise Teams became the norm in churches, many churches felt that the music niche had been filled. Many churches now feel that they are self suffient with all of the music they need. Volunteer musicians now fill the church platforms and dominant the services. Praise Teams have become a force in the local church. I am not knocking them. Most are wonderful people dedicated to ministry and have given their skills to the Lord. A few have brought a venue and style of music that the world is very comfortable with. Some have voiced that Southern Gospel music is look upon as substandard to the trend of today. I like my brother's quote, "The only ones who like our music are the People".

(2) Churches shutting down services.
There is another trend that has played a part in changing gospel music's role churches today. Many churches are beginning to prefer one morning major service and are shutting down mid-week and Sunday evening services. Many pastors are heart broken that Sports, Television, Vacations and Apathy has continued to lower their attendance throughout the week. With only one main morning service conducted per week at most churches, gospel groups, (who depend on churches to minister in), are hard pressed to find a church who will book them. With only one service pastors feel that they must fill the pulpit at that one service. So, this change has had it's impact, good or bad. The itinerant evangelist has felt the devastation of this change on their ministry as well.

(3) Bill Gaither's Homecoming gatherings.
Bill Gaither's vision has rekindled the careers of many gospel singers. Without Bill Gaither gospel music would have experienced a major decline years ago. He has brought back and repackaged gospel music to the delight of thousands. We are all indebted to him for bringing the value of this medium to the public via video and television.

When is Gaither going to do a "Best Of Phil Enloe" CD?

Bill Gaither is a great man, but he has many, many people who are much more deserving for a"Best of * * " CD than me. I see myself as a gospel singer who stepped into gospel music as one era was ending and another emerging. I love and honor the gospel singers who paved the way for the rest of us to follow and I admire those who have picked up the baton of music ministry and are running on for God. The Lord and Gospel music has been very good to me and I am truly grateful.

I don't think that God's call to Ministry is ever lifted, how is God using you today?

Jan and I go anywhere and everywhere. We love gospel music and how it draws people to Christ. there will come a day when I will not be able to keep up the pace, but for now, we love it. We get tired "from it", but never "of it".

If someone wanted to get in touch with Phil Enloe today, how could they do that?

We have a website: www.janandphilenloe.com where we update people on our ministry, where we post pictures and current events, as well as our Schedule. Our telephone numbers are posted as well, so we can be found on the web and people find us everyday. I am always thankful and thrilled to get e-mails and/or calls of someone who remembers, was touched and/or changed by a feeble song of years ago.