The Downings

The Downings
Origin United States
Genres Southern Gospel
Years active 1969–1977
Labels Heart Warming Records
Vista Records (Late 72-73)
Impact Records
Associated acts The Speer Family
Members Ann Downing
Paul Downing
Joy Gardner
Dony McGuire
Past members Sue Dodge
Greg Gordon
Dickie Matthews
Larry Ford
Linda Robinson
Wayne Hilliard
Nathan McGee Peters

The Downings were a Southern Gospel quartet founded by Paul and Ann Downing. The group underwent several changes to the lineup throughout the 1970s, and disbanded in 1977.

Formation and original line-up

Ann Sanders began her gospel career when she joined The Speer Family in 1963 as their new singer and pianist replacing Ginger Smith. Ann stayed with The Speers for five years. It was during this time that she met bass singer Paul Downing, the two eventually married and in 1969 formed the group.

The original line up consisted as:

The line up got a recording deal with Heartwarming Records and recorded three albums in the first year of the groups life but saddy the line up fell apart when Sue, Greg and Dickie left at the begin of 1970.

Transition (early 1970)

After the break up of the original line Paul and Ann began straight away to put a new line up together with ex-Dixie Echoes tenor Larry Ford, Soprano singer Joy Gardner and ex-Speers pianist Linda Robinson. The new line up began appearing in churches and town halls across the US but sadly once again the line up was not stable and Linda left only a few months in and just before recording started for the fourth album.

Third incarnation (mid 1970)

Soon after Linda Robinson left the group she was replaced by Dony McGuire and worked began on the new album "Happiness Is The Downings". The album and the line up were well-received by the public and more church and town hall dates came the Downings way.

The third incarnation was:

After a few dates at churches and town halls Larry Ford decided to retire from gospel singing and once again Paul and Ann had to find a replacement.

Fourth incarnation (late 1970)

It didn't take long for the Downings to replace Ford as they quickly found tenor singer Wayne Hilliard and began work on their second album of 1970 "This Is The Day". The public seemed to like Wayne Hilliard more than any other tenor the group had, had before this made the album sales of This Is The Day every high and even more dates came the groups way. By the end of 1970 the group had gone through several incarnations but had managed to keep up album releases and dates.

Fifth incarnation (1971-72)

Bass guitarist Nathan McGee Peters was added to the group at the beginning of 1971 making the group have the fifth line up with two years of the it's career. Between the years of 71 and 72 the Downings recorded three studio albums and one live album. The group also recorded some of their most well known songs in these years which included "I've Got Confidence". It seemed that the group was getting more and more fans with each new album and date they did but the good times end suddenly when Wayne Hilliard annocused that he was leaving the group at the end of 1972.

Fifth incarnation (1973)

The Downings decided not to replace Wayne but instead just have Ann and Joy share lead vocals. Four albums were recorded by the Downings in 1973 and many more dates and television appearances. Ann and Paul were voted favorite female singer and favorite bass singer respectively in 1973 in the Singing News Fan Awards and the Downings lost their longtime bass guitarist Nathan McGee Peters as he left the group and the music industry at the end of 73.

Sixth incarnation (1974-77)

After four years of unstable line ups the Downings finally got a stable and what some fans would consider their Classic line up this would consisted of:

They began to force more on television and dates then recording gospel music as a result of this their sales began to drop thou they released a studio album in 1974 I Feel So Good About It and their second and final live album Praise Him! Live in 1975 but the group were dropped from Heart Warming Records. Paul and Ann managed to get the group signed to Impact Records at the beginning of 1976 and recorded a new album Spiritfest the album had ok sales better than they had seen with the two previous albums.

The Downings continued to play live and appear on television throughout 76 and it seemed like the wider public still liked to hear the Downings sing and preach. The group recorded their last studio album in 1977 Birthplace before calling it a day, sales were no better than the previous album and the strain of keeping the group together was to much for Paul and Ann.

Post Downings

Ann Downing began a solo singer and songwriter and her songs have been recorded by many artists in the gospel world. Paul Downing wrote with his wife Ann from time to time but was out of the music industry. Paul died in 1992 while trying to reform the group.

Members (Past and Present)

Discography

The group released 18 albums in 8 years.

Studio albums

Live albums