Horace Clarence Boyer
Encyclopedia
Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer (born in Winter Park
, Florida
on July 28, 1935; died in Amherst
, Massachusetts
, July 21, 2009) was one of the foremost scholars in African-American gospel music
. He and his brother James had a career as singers under the name the Famous Boyer Brothers. The brothers recorded for Excello
(1952), Chance
(1954), Vee-Jay
(1955 and 1957) and Savoy
(1966 and 1967).
Horace Boyer published over 40 articles on gospel music. As an educator, he taught at several universities, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst
, and directed many choirs and gospel workshops throughout the world. Dr. Boyer was instrumental in introducing African-American gospel music to many communities beyond the African-American church.
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on July 28, 1935; died in Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, July 21, 2009) was one of the foremost scholars in African-American gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. He and his brother James had a career as singers under the name the Famous Boyer Brothers. The brothers recorded for Excello
Excello Records
Excello Records was an American blues record label, started by Ernie Young in Nashville, Tennessee in 1953 as a subsidiary of Nashboro, a gospel label...
(1952), Chance
Chance Records
Chance Records was a Chicago-based label founded in 1950 by Art Sheridan. It specialized in blues, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel.Among the acts who recorded for Chance were The Flamingos, The Moonglows, Homesick James, J. B. Hutto, Brother John Sellers, and Schoolboy Porter...
(1954), Vee-Jay
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
(1955 and 1957) and Savoy
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
(1966 and 1967).
Horace Boyer published over 40 articles on gospel music. As an educator, he taught at several universities, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
, and directed many choirs and gospel workshops throughout the world. Dr. Boyer was instrumental in introducing African-American gospel music to many communities beyond the African-American church.