SG History 101 - Blue Ridge Quartet, SG History 10

Oct

2002

SG History 101 - Blue Ridge Quartet

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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.

Reader Comments

TRACY,THAT MOVIE WAS FILMED IN 1964 OR 65 .IT WAS A FEW YEARS BEFORE MY TIME AS I WAS BORN IN 1969!IT WAS ABOUY A LITTLE BOY WHO DID NOT WANT TO GO TO A CHURCH THAT WAS HAVING A GOSPEL SING.THAT WAS THE PLOT IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THE FILM.THEN THE MOVIE WENT TO THE CHURCH.THE PREACHER IN THE MOVIE WAS PLAYED BY MERLE KILGORE.THE MOVIE WAS NOT STRICTLY A BLUE RIDGE FILM AS MANY OTHER GROUPS SANG AS WELL INCLUDING THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS,STATESMEN,JD SUMNER AND THE STAMPS,THE IMPERIALS,LEWIS FAMILY AND A FEW OTHERS.ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO THE SINGING NEWS RAN AN AD AND I HAVE A COPY OF THE MOVIE ON VHS.I CANT REMEMBER WHERE I ORDERED IT FROM.EACH GROUP ON THE FILM SINGS 2 SONGS.DWAYNE GARWOOD

Commented by On 09/09/2003

Tracy,

Please email me privately at .

Commented by On 09/09/2003

Tracy, I would like for you to email me privately at I certainly would appreciate it..Thanks..Tommy D. Mayo

Commented by TOMMY D MAYO On 09/09/2003

The movie "Sing A Song For Heaven's Sake" was released in 1966 by Marathon Pictures and was the first feature lenght Gospel Singing Motion Picture ever filmed..it starred the Blue Ridge Quartet, Statesmen, Blackwwod Brothers, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps, Imperials, Oak Ridge Boys, Lewis Family, Rangers, Gospel Echoes, Klaudt Indian Family, Doris Akers, Los Quatros Latinos, Swanee River Boys, Gospel Chorale Singers along with Billy Grammer, Merle Kilgore and "Red Foley". It did have a great story plot and plenty of singing!. I cherish my copy, even today!. Maybe the Southern Gospel Music Industry could produce another one..might would be a great marketing tool for today!!.

Commented by TOMMY D MAYO On 09/09/2003

Didn't HOMER TANKERSLEY sing with the Blue Ridge Quartet for awhile or was it another quartet? Again this is back in the 50's I'm referring to.

Glenn Camp

Commented by On 11/18/2003

I remember the BRQ singing all the time in the 1070's @ Eldrige Park in Elmira, NY.. I just loved hearing them sing.. I cant believe 2 of the members are now with the Lord. Although, they did GREAT work for him.. And you guys are doing a good job at letting us remember them. Are they still singing? Or are they just selling the records? :thumbsup:

Commented by On 02/05/2004

I FIRST MET THE BLUE RIDGE QUARTET IN 1969 AT ONTELEE PARK IN NEW TRIPOLI,PA.I LOVED THE GROUP FROM THE START. WE FOLLOWED THEM UNTIL THEY PARTED. THEY WERE GREAT AND ISURE DO MISS THEM. WE DONT GET TO SEE ANY GOSPEL GROUPS AROUND HERE ANY MORE.

Commented by On 02/25/2004

My father was killed in a car accident when I was 21 months old. When I reached 5 years old, my mother listened to the BRQ all of the time. I wanted a new daddy so desperately that I would look through catalogs and ask her to "buy" certain men for my daddy, but the man I wanted most was Laverne Tripp! My mother said she tried and tried to tell me that he was already married, but I didn't seem to care! I have been trying to find out whether any of the albums with Laverne on them was ever recorded on CD. Can anyone help me? :thumbsup:

Commented by On 03/03/2004

Wow !!! Just happened to be browsing and came across this site. I was a member of BRQ during the early 70's. I was part of the band, The Mark Four. Later I got to sing a little also, Mr. DJ was my signature song. I just feel very good as I sit here reading some of the comments from folks around the country that remember so much. I grew up in Spartanburg and they were always my heroes. Burl Strevel was and still is (other than my dad) the greatest guy I have met during my life. He was like a father figure and mentor all in one for all of us younger guys that came along during that era. Donnie Seabolt is still one of my closest friends and I still talk occasionally to Crowe and Gates. Gospel music is not what it was back in the days, but the memories of that era still brings a smile to my facewhen I think about them.

Thanks for the memories....
George Colley

Commented by On 03/03/2004

LIKE GEORGE COLLEY I JUST HAPPEND TO FIND THIS SITE.WHAT A BLESSING TOREAD SO MANY NICE COMMENTS ABOUT THE GREATEST GROUP OF GUYS I'VE EVER KNOWN.I HAD THE HONOR OF SPENDING ALMOST 2 YEARS ON THE ROAD WITH THEM.FROM 1976 TO 1978.AFTER MY FAMILY GOT TO BE FRIENDS WITH THEM,THEY INVITED ME TO SPEND THE SUMMER ON THE ROAD WITH THEM,WELL THAT TURNED OUT TO BE ALMOST 2 YEARS.I FIRST SAW THE BLUE RIDGE IN 1969 AND FROM THAT CONCERT ON MY LIFE WAS NEVER THE SAME.THEY BECAME MY HEROS AND 35 YEARS LATER THEY STILL ARE. WHEN I WAS ON THE ROAD WITH THEM THE GROUP CONSISTED OF BURL STREVEL (THE GREATEST MAN I'VE EVER KNOWN),BILL CROWE,FRED DANIELS,DONNIE SEABOLT,KENNY GATES,LARRY ORR,STEVE BOYD,GEORGE COLLEY OR BLAINE BUCY AND ERNIE FOX OUR BUS DRIVER.I AM SO BLESSED BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE HERO'S AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY MY HERO'S BECAME MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.LIFE ON THE BUS WAS ALWAYS ALOT OF FUN.EVERYBODY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE EACH HAD OUR MOMENTS BUT NOBODY WOULD EVER DARE SAY OR DO ANYTHING TO ONE OF US BECAUSE IF THEY DID THEY WOULD HAVE A BUS LOAD OF GOSPEL SINGERS TO DEAL WITH.THERE IS NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE BLUE RIDGE.I STILL TALK TO KENNY,BILL,AND FRED FROM TIME TO TIME.THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THE BLACKWOODS,STATESMEN,SPEERS,AND THE REST OF THEM AND THEY WERE GREAT BUT THE BLUE RIDGE WILL ALWAYS BE A HEAD ABOVE THE REST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANY OTHER FANS AND FRIENDS.
ROBBIE HUBER

Commented by ROBBIE HUBER On 03/11/2004

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