Dixie Melody Boys
The Dixie Melody Boys are an American Southern Gospel quartet from Kinston, North Carolina. They have been active for over 45 years.
The group was founded in 1960 by Avis Adkins; Ed O'Neal, their bass singer, joined in 1961, and subsequently became the group's leader and manager. Under O'Neal, the group became something of a revolving door of singers who would go on to have significant careers in the field of Southern gospel, including McCray Dove with the Dove Brothers, Rodney Griffin with Greater Vision, Harold Reed with The Kingsmen, Derrick Selph of Brian Free and Assurance, Dustin Sweatman of Mark Trammell Quartet, Bryan Walker, who went on to become a contestant on Season 9 of American Idol and then later joined The Perrys, and Devin McGlamery with Karen Peck and New River.
The group has had more than twenty hits in the Southern gospel field, including "Antioch Church Choir", "I'll Be Living That Way", "Don't Point a Finger", and "When the Son of My Life Goes Down". The group has released a large number of albums and numerous VHS videos and dvds.
Ed O'Neal has received the Marvin Norcross Award and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame in 2004.
On January 1, 2011, The Dixie Melody Boys became the latest inductees into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.[1]
Members 1986-present
- Current members
- Ed O'Neal - Bass (1961-present)
- Steven Cooper - Baritone (2007-present)
- Donald Morris - Lead (2009-present)
- Matt Felts - Tenor (2010-present)
- Former members
- Baritone
- David DeLawder 1986-1987
- Nathan Widenor 1987-1991
- Bill Bass 1991-1992
- Rodney Griffin 1992-1993
- Jamie Bramlett 1994-1995
- Dave Needham 1995-1997
- Craig Singletary 1997-1998
- Kenny Cook 1998-1999
- Derrick Selph 1999-2003
- Dustin Sweatman 2003-2004
- Andrew King 2004-2007
- Bryan Walker 2007
- Steven Cooper 2007-present
- Lead
- McCray Dove 1986-1998
- Jamie Caldwell 1998-2000
- Devin McGlamery 2000-2004
- Dustin Sweatman 2004-2006
- Donald Morris 2006
- Bryan Walker 2006-2007
- Rob Shelton 2007-2008
- Joe Kitson 2008-2009
- Donald Morris 2009-present
- Tenor
- David Walker 1986-1988
- Ernie Haase 1988
- Derrick Boyd 1988-1993
- Harold Reed 1993-2004
- Dan Keeton 2004-2007
- Jonathan Price 2007-2010
- Matt Felts 2010-present
- Piano
- Bobby Ledford 1986-1989
- Dwight Young 1989
- Steve Wood 1989-1992
- Eric Ollis 1992-2004
- Dustin Sweatman 2004-2006 (played and sang)
- Instrumentalist
- Other former members
- Avis Adkins
- Henry Daniels
- David Kimbrell
- Greg Simpkins - piano
- Phil Barker - tenor
- Ralph Walker - tenor
- Jerry Kelso - piano 1978-1985
- Jeff Knight - piano, tenor 1985-1986
- George Shambaugh - guitar 1986
- Darren Humphries - drummer
- Allen O'Neal - baritone, guitar
- John Jarman - lead
- Del Martillmon - baritone
- Tony Brown - piano
- Craig Hamm - lead guitar 1983-1986
- Frank Sutton - tenor, bass guitar
- Olan Witt - drummer 1983-1985
- Kent Humphries - lead
Discography
- Favorite Instrumentals of the Dixie Melody Boys (196?)
- Refreshing (1976)
- Are You Ready for Gospel (1977)
- Sending Up Boards (1978)
- The Sing-Sational (1979)
- Live! (1980)
- Just As We Are (1981)
- Antioch Church Choir (1982)
- More Than Just Good Ole Boys (1983)
- Too Much Thunder (1984)
- Streetwise (Benson RO3899, 1985)
- Back Home (1988)
- Ridin' High (1989)
- On Fire (1990)
- Dynamic (1991)
- Gonna Praise the Lord Live (1992)
- No Compromise (1993)
- Masterpiece (1994)
- Old Time Religion (1996)
- 100% Pure Southern Gospel (1997)
- Live in Music City (1998)
- Heading Home (1999)
- Quartet Classics (2001)
- Request Time (2001)
- Vintage (2002)
- A Seat in the Heavenly Choir (2004)
- Like Never Before (2005)
- Live at Pigeon Forge (2005)
- Hymns (2006)
- Traditions (2006)
- Smooth and Easy (2006)
- Serenade (2008)
- Back to the Good Ole' Days (2008)
- Singing the Classics (2009)
In 2004 and 2005, the group released seven compilation albums, entitled Historic Journey vols. 1-7.
Notes
References