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I had the awesome privilege the other day to witness history in the making. I was watching the rebirth of the The Prophets Quartet with Ed Hill, one of the best Baritones to ever grace the stage of a gospel concert. Gathered in a small studio in Brentwood, TN were some of the greatest icons in Gospel Music as well as some of the greatest studio musicians you will find anywhere. As a young man I sat in many audiences mesmerized by the singing of these giants in our genre. Sitting in this session, I knew I couldn’t pass the chance to do an interview.
Reforming the Prophets was an idea that had rested in back of the mind of Ed Hill, but he never gave much effort to getting it off the ground until his Pastor, Johnny Minick, casually brought up the idea to Ed. That sparked a yearning in Ed. He called his close friend and former roommate, Bill Baise, who sang with Ed for many years as tenor with the JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.
To Ed’s surprise, Bill had been thinking the same thing, except that he thought it would be some sort of version of the Stamps that would reform. They both felt that this was something that God was about to be in the middle of, and they wanted to be a part of it. Ed, Johnny, and Bill were becoming very excited this new venture, but the Prophets were a quartet and you can’t have a quartet without a Bass singer. Ed just happened to sit in a pew at church across from phenomenal Bass singer, Hovie Walker, every week. Well it didn’t take a genius to see what God was doing, and Hovie became a part of the team. In the meantime, they had figured out that Johnny is a pretty talented piano player and would fit perfectly with them when they needed live music. Now the only thing missing was a powerful Lead singer.
It just so happened that Johnny Minick knew of a man with a great Lead voice, but had no experience singing in a quartet. Ed and Johnny thought that there would be no harm in talking with this man. They had no idea that he had dreamed of singing with a quartet. This “newcomer” had classical vocal training and has sang and preached all across this country to thousands of people. Paul Jackson, was ready to step up to the plate as Lead singer for the reformed Prophets Quartet. The group is now complete.
All of these men, famous in their own right, have been to places in music that most of us only dream of. They can easily say, “been there, done that." Almost in unison they emphasized that their goal this time around is Ministry. They’ve worked at the highest level of professionalism, but their goal now is to reach as many souls as they can for the Lord. Their new motto is that they “not just be called Prophets, but be Prophets”. An interesting fact that Ed included was that he formed the Prophets and sang with them from 1959 to 1973, but wasn't saved until 1978. Ed says, “That’s why the Prophets will be different this time.” They all want to take their past experiences and reach outside the walls of what has traditionally been done. They are looking to minister in churches, concerts, fairs, and any other place they can get their foot in.
While they intend to do some old Prophets material, they are anticipating a new direction in their music. They want to stress the professionalism for which they are so well known.
Ed Hill formed the original Prophets, then went on to sing with the Singing Americans, the Statesmen and the Stamps. Bill Baise sang with the Smitty Gatlin Trio and the Stamps. Hovie Walker sang with Willie Wynn and the Tennesseans, the Thrasher Brothers, formed the Singing Americans, sang with the Statesmen and the Classic Imperials (Classic Voices). Paul Jackson ministered to and sang to thousands across this nation as an evangelist. This is success waiting to happen.
An interesting fact that Ed included was that he formed the Prophets and sang with them from 1959 to 1973, but wasn't saved until 1978. Ed says, “That’s why the Prophets will be different this time.” Ed also says that while he was struggling on what name to use for the group, his wife insisted on him using the Prophets. Ed is smart enough to listen to a Godly woman.
I couldn’t resist asking Ed, Bill (who both worked with Elvis) and Hovie (who worked with Leon Russell), what they learned from working with such successful secular artists. They all said….. "Professionalism." Their desire is to use that professionalism and give it to the Lord.
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see what is going to happen with the rebirth of this great group.
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Reader Comments
I remember Hovie Walker When he sang bass for The Thrasher Brothers.I hope they cut a new cd soon.As J.D. used to say "I CAN'T WAIT"
Skull
I was priviledged last night to sit in a service where Bill Baize was singing and preaching. Wow, he can still hit those high notes with ease and power. I can't wait for this CD to come out. BTW, not only is he still a great Tenor singer, but the man can evermore preach too.
Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
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Written: 01/01/2007 
Author: SGN
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