History

Originally part of the Stamps organization, they eventually split with that group and relocated to North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, later settling in Spartanburg, South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

.

The group endured many personnel changes during the early years until Elmo Fagg, Ed Sprouse, and Kenny Gates joined the group in the 1950s. Burl Strevel was the bass singer for a while, and was later replaced by George Younce

George Younce

George Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...

. Jim Hamill pulled a stint at baritone. Hamill was eventually replaced by Bill Crowe.

When George Younce left the group to join the Cathedral Quartet

Cathedral Quartet

The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....

 in 1964, Burl Strevel returned to sing bass. Shortly after Strevel rejoined the group, Fred Daniel replaced Ed Sprouse at the tenor position. Strevel and Daniel had previously worked together with the Sunshine Boys.

When Elmo Fagg retired, Laverne Tripp joined the group at the lead position. Shortly after Tripp joined the group, Fred Daniel came off the road and was replaced at tenor by Don Seabolt

Don Seabolt

Don Seabolt is an American singer and songwriter best known for singing tenor with the famed Blue Ridge Quartet from Spartanburg, South Carolina from 1971-1978. Prior to his tenure with the Blue Ridge Quartet he served as the lead singer for the Prophets Quaret from Nashville, Tennessee...

. It was during this era that the quartet achieved immense popularity, particularly in northeast United States, playing to record breaking crowds at state and county fairs all over the region. The biggest blow to the group occurred when Burl Strevel died of a heart attack on November 12, 1981. After that point, Bill Crowe owned and managed the group until he disbanded them in January, 1985. The group had a television show that was syndicated in several markets. The programs were taped and shown early in the morning at the studios of WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, SC

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 with Charlie Pride, Janie Fricke

Janie Fricke

Janie Fricke is an American country music singer, best remembered for a series of country music hits in the early to mid 1980s....

, and Ronnie McDowell

Ronnie McDowell

Ronald Dean "Ronnie" McDowell is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1977 with the song "The King Is Gone", a tribute to Elvis Presley, who had died not long before the single's release. From that single onward, McDowell has charted more than thirty Top 40 hits on the Billboard...

 in Burtonsville, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

, but tensions with and among group members 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."

Discography

The following is an incomplete discography:

• 1965 The Blue Ridge Quartet (Canaan Records
  Canaan Records
  Canaan Records is a Christian record label and is a subsidiary of Word Entertainment. It started in 1965 by founder Marvin Norcross as a vehicle for the label's Southern Gospel quartets. Their biggest artist to date is that of the Legendary Happy Goodman Family...
  
  CA-4605/CAS-9605): The Streets Of Gold; Precious Memories; Lord I'm Coming Home; I Dreamed I Searched Heaven For You; Not My Will; Stop And Pray; Lead Me Guide Me; Mansion Can't Be Bought; Suppertime; The Haven Of Rest; How Great Thou Art; Take My Hand.

• 1966 The Love Of God (Canaan Records CA-4616; CAS-9616): Move Up A Little Closer; When You Travel All Alone; Michael Row The Boat Ashore; How Long Has It Been; Somebody Touched Me; Jesus Prayed Alone; The Love Of God; Gonna Build A Mountain; Room At The Cross; Yesterday Today And Tomorrow; I Wanta Go There; No More Alone.

• 1966 Who Am I (Canaan Records CA-4622; CAS-9622) His Eye Is On The Sparrow; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; A Soldier's Prayer; I Met God On A Mountain; Here's My Buryin' Ground; Oh Glory Hallelujah; Who Am I; Ten Thousand Angels; Win The Lost At Any Cost; Palms Of Victory; Grace Greater Than All Our Sins; Every Day Will Be Sunday.

• 1967 Blue Ridge Quartet Sings America's 12 Favorite Hymns (Canaan Records CA-4637; CAS-9637): Beyond The Sunset; Abide With Me; Whispering Hope; God Will Take Care Of You; Ivory Palaces; Jesus Savior Pilot Me; How Great Thou Art; The Old Rugged Cross; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; Amazing Grace; In The Garden; Rock Of Ages.

• 1968 Sing Out The Good News (Canaan Records CAS-9651). 1968 Songs We Can't Stop Singing (Canaan Records CA-4645/CAS-9645).

• 1969 And That's Enough (Canaan Records CAS9667LP): I've Been Born Again; On My Way To Glory; He Touched Me; I Want To Stroll Over Heaven; I'll Follow In Thy Steps; Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho; Daddy Sang Bass; America; To See My Savior's Face; Jesus Is Coming Soon; I Know A Man Who Can; That's Enough (Daniel, Tripp, Strevel, Crowe, Gates).

• 1969 Green Green Grass Of Home (Canaan Records CAS-9658).

• 1970 Ride That Glory Train With The Blue Ridge Quartet (Canaan Records CAS-9675): I'd Have No Hope; I've Been Set Free; I've Got A Song In My Heart; I'm The Least In The Kingdom; I Just Can't Make It By Myself; When I Lift Up My Head; That Glory Train; Mama's Hungry Eyes; Let Me Tell You What My Lord Can Do; He Paid The Debt For Me; Child Of The King; For God So Loved.

• 1971 There's A Great Day Coming (Canaan Records/CAS9698): That Day Is Almost Here; I Just Came To Talk With You, Lord; Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man; A Man Who Is Wise; It Won't Be Long Til Jesus Comes; The Eastern Gate; Old Folks Home; In The Shelter Of His Arms; If I Could Have The World; The Christian Way; Jesus Took Care Of It All; I Took God's Hand (Fred Daniel, LaVerne Tripp, Bill Crowe, Burl Strevel, Kenny Gates, Blain Bucy, Jerry Browning).

• 1972 On The Move (Canaan Records CAS-9713). 1973 The Blue Ridge Quartet Puts It Together (Canaan Records CAS-9729).

• 1977 Blue Ridge Now (QCA Records QCA358): Pearly Gates Swing On Open; That's Why I'll Praise Him; I'll Be Going Home; The Triumph Song; Already Mine; I'm Gonna Magnify His Name; A Kid's Song; Praise God I'm Rich; He Is Really Alive; The Me I Want To Be.

• ???? Together (with The Sheltons) (QCA Records 106317B): He'll Pilot Me; Power In The Blood; I Want To Be Ready To Meet Him; Love Lifted Me; Standing On The Promises; I Feel Like Traveling On; Nothing But The Blood; No Not One; I Am Bound For The Promised Land; Showers Of Blessing; It's Different Now; Keep Walking.

• ???? Somethin' Within: Everybody Will Be Happy; I'll Meet You In The Morning; Somethin' Within; My Last Move; Do Lord; Until Then; Right Now I'm So Happy; The Old Gospel Ship; Home Sweet Home; I Must Tell Jesus; Empty Mansions; It's Different Now.

• ???? A Thing Called Love: A Thing Called Love; The Smile On His Face Never Fades; I'll Have A New Life; Teach Your Children; Get Together; The Games People Play; One More Valley; Time Has Made A Change In Me; That City On The Hill; Medley Of Laverne Tripp's Songs.