Blue Ridge Quartet

The Blue Ridge Quartet (1946–1985) was a musical group founded in 1946.[1]

History

The Blue Ridge Quartet was organized by Frank Stamps's Stamps Quartet Music Company of Texas. They started in Raleigh, North Carolina, but ultimately settled in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

When they began in Raleigh at the beginning of 1946 they operated out of radio station WRAL. Among the original members of the group in 1946 were Leonard "Red" Mathis, tenor; James Smith, lead; Wayne Roseberry, baritone; Shaw Eiland, bass; and Mike Cunningham, pianist. Eiland and Roseberry were former members of the Stamps-Baxter Lone Star Quartet, also headquartered in Raleigh. After a short time Elmo Fagg and Jack Taylor, both from the Lone Star Quartet, joined them. It wasn't long before Wayne Roseberry left and Everett Payne became the baritone singer.

Burl Strevel joined the quartet in 1947 to sing bass, and they moved over to WDBB radio in Burlington, NC. In 1948 they moved to WSPA radio Spartanburg, SC and dropped the "Stamps" name. Former Lone Star Quartet lead and baritone Clarence Turbyfill joined to sing tenor. In 1949, Kenny Gates became the Blue Ridge Quartet's pianist. When Turbyfill left in 1950, Ed Sprouse became the group's tenor. When Payne left in 1953, Gates picked up the additional duty of singing the baritone part. This lineup of Sprouse, Fagg, Gates, and Strevel remained together for a number of years.

Around 1956, Strevel left to join the Sunshine Boys. After some turnover, the bass slot was filled by George Younce. Jim Hamill was hired for the baritone slot with Gates remaining at piano. After a year or so, Bill Crowe replaced Hamill and began a long tenure with the Blue Ridge Quartet.

When George Younce left the group to join the Cathedral Quartet in 1964, Burl Strevel returned to sing bass. Shortly after, former Sunshine Boys member Fred Daniel replaced Ed Sprouse at the tenor position.

When Elmo Fagg retired in 1968, he was replaced by Laverne Tripp. This was the beginning of several personnel changes in the lead position that occurred during the 1970s. Donnie Seabolt and Jim Wood were two individuals who filled the lead slot.

The Blue Ridge Quartet shared a number one song on the Singing News chart with the Oak Ridge Boys from February through November 1971. The song was "I Know." Other number one songs for the group include “That Day Is Almost Here” (December 1971-February 1972) and “After Calvary” (October–November 1972).

Burl Strevel died of a heart attack on November 12, 1981. After that point, Bill Crowe owned and managed the group until they disbanded in January 1985.

During their final years, Crowe changed the group name to Blue Ridge Country Road Show, shifting the emphasis of their music from Gospel to Country. The group made a few major appearances, including a show for 25,000 people with Charlie Pride, Janie Fricke, and Ronnie McDowell in Burtonsville, Maryland, but tensions in the group ultimately led to Crowe's decision not to continue Blue Ridge Country Road Show.

In later years, former members of the Blue Ridge Quartet made limited appearances at reunion events and at events in Spartanburg, SC billed as the Blue Ridge Quartet. At some of these events, only three members were present despite being introduced as a "quartet."

The Blue Ridge Quartet was the first white gospel group to record for Decca records (the black Selah Jubilee Singers recorded for Decca in the late 1930s and early 1940s). They were also the first professional gospel group to perform in a Catholic church. They recorded for Sing and Skylite in the 1960s and for Canaan in the 1970s, releasing over 100 albums in total. The group had a television show beginning in 1956 that was later syndicated in several markets. The programs were taped and shown early in the morning at the studios of WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, SC. The group was also instrumental in forming the Gospel Singing Caravan (1962-1965) with the Lefevres, Prophets, and Johnson Sisters. The Blue Ridge Quartet was billed as a group who produced "the sweetest singing this side of Heaven."

Members

Tenor
Lead
Baritone
Bass
Piano

Discography

The following is an incomplete discography: 1958-1960 LP-451(Thru This World I sadly Roam),LP-452(Ride That Glory Train),LP-3503(The Streets of Gold)

THE OLD COUNTRY CHURCH; SUPPERTIME; THIS HEART OF MINE;JUST A ROSE WILL DO; MANSIONS OVER THE HILLTOP; PEACE IN THE VALLEY; RAINBOW OF LOVE; WASTED YEARS.

The Blue Ridge Quartet also cut several 45 RPM records and at least two 78 RPMs with Gotham of Philadelphia, PA.

There were also several 45s with Sing, one of which had two songs on each side!

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sgma.org/gogr_history/blue_ridge.htm
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