Statesmen quartet
Encyclopedia
The Statesmen Quartet was a Southern Gospel Music group founded in 1948 by Hovie Lister
. Along with the Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen Quartet was considered the most successful and influential gospel quartet of the 1950s.
During the first years, the group underwent several member changes, and included singers like James 'Big Chief' Wetherington, Denver Crumpler, Jake Hess
, Doy Ott, Hovie Lister, 'Rosie' Rozell, Jack Toney.
Their hits spanned many decades, they were the first Gospel artist to receive endorsement deals, they made television commercials, appeared on TV shows and they were signed to RCA Victor before launching their own label with the Blackwood Brothers.
by piano player Hovie Lister
, a Baptist
minister and convention-style piano player with a flair for showmanship. Lister constructed the quartet as a hand-picked group of the best singing voices in order to secure a prime time-slot on the new WCON
radio station. The initial line-up included lead singer Hovie Lister
from Atlanta, Gordon Hill on bass, Bervin Kendrick from Birmingham singing baritone and Bobby Strickland of Albertiville singing the tenor. The group's name was lifted from the title of a newsletter published by Herman Talmadge
, Governor of Georgia, with Talmadge's permission. The quartet made their debut on WCON in Atlanta in October, 1948.
From 1948 to 1952, the group underwent several personnel changes. In 1953, Lister's vision of the premiere lineup was realized with the addition of Denver Crumpler as tenor. Crumpler joined Jake Hess
(lead), Doy Ott (baritone), and James 'Big Chief' Wetherington (bass), with Lister on piano and master of ceremonies. During the next years, The Statesmen Quartet achieved fame as one of the premiere groups of Southern Gospel music.
Quartet. The "Stateswood" team would dominate Southern Gospel music for the next two decades.
The popular Cat Freeman, a native of Fyffe, Alabama
was replaced by the great Irish tenor Denver Crumpler. With this lineup, the Statesmen began recording for RCA Victor and began starring in the Nabisco Hour national TV show. Popular songs of this period include "Get Away Jordan" and "Happy Rhythm". As early as 1950, the Statesmen used the phrase "Rockin' and rollin'" in a song, and Hovie Lister's frantic boogie woogie piano, piano bench acrobatics, and hair shaken down in his eyes predated Jerry Lee Lewis
' use of the same tricks by a good five years.
During this period, the quartet had offices at the Briarcliff Hotel
at Ponce and N. Highland in Virginia Highland, Atlanta. Business manager Don Butler and tenor Roland "Rosie" Rozell partnered to open the King & Prince Restaurant inside the hotel.
On 4 July 1955, the Blackwood/Statesmen team traveled to Texas for an engagement that would feature several secular artists on the same program. Among them was Elvis Presley. Elvis was planning to sing his rock hits, but refrained out of respect of his gospel idols, the Statesmen and Blackwoods. The Statesmen exerted a powerful influence on young Elvis Presley
, who idolized and imitated Jake Hess' vocal stylings and Big Chief's leg shaking. In an interview with songwriter Bill Gaither, Hess remembered seeing young Elvis coming to Statesmen shows in Tupelo
when Presley was only nine or ten. Hess said that the serious young Elvis would ask him, "How do you make a record?" or "How many suits you got?" On the Gaither Homecoming
video "Oh My Glory", Jake Hess tells about Elvis coming to Statesmen concerts and being invited up onstage to sing lead in place of Jake on a song or two.
In 1963, Jake Hess left the Statesmen to form his own quartet, Jake Hess and The Imperials
.
Hovie tapped young, debonair Jack Toney from Boaz, Alabama to replace Hess. Before long, Toney's movie-idol looks and powerful voice helped the Statesmen to soldier on without missing a beat. Ironically, Jack Toney would replace Jake Hess on five different occasions in three different decades with the Statesmen and the Masters V.
Bass singer "Big Chief" Wetherington died of a massive heart attack on October 3, 1973, while attending the National Quartet Convention in Nashville. He is buried in a small cemetery just outside Atlanta, Georgia.
was the birth of the Masters V Quartet, which would include, in its classic lineup, Rosie Rozell, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J.D. Sumner, and Hovie Lister. The Statesmen's influence lives on in some of today's most popular quartets, such as The Dove Brothers, and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.
Hovie Lister died on December 27, 2001, at the age of 75. He is buried in Decatur Georgia.
Tenors:
Leads:
Baritones:
Basses:
Hovie Lister
Hovie Franklin Lister was an American gospel pianist.Lister was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and learned piano from age six. He accompanied a singing group composed of his father and three of his uncles at 14, and toured with Mordecai Ham at the same age...
. Along with the Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen Quartet was considered the most successful and influential gospel quartet of the 1950s.
During the first years, the group underwent several member changes, and included singers like James 'Big Chief' Wetherington, Denver Crumpler, Jake Hess
Jake Hess
Jake Hess was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.-Life:Hess was born Manchild Hess December 24, 1927, in Limestone County, Alabama...
, Doy Ott, Hovie Lister, 'Rosie' Rozell, Jack Toney.
Their hits spanned many decades, they were the first Gospel artist to receive endorsement deals, they made television commercials, appeared on TV shows and they were signed to RCA Victor before launching their own label with the Blackwood Brothers.
Early years
The Statesmen Quartet was founded in 1948 in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
by piano player Hovie Lister
Hovie Lister
Hovie Franklin Lister was an American gospel pianist.Lister was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and learned piano from age six. He accompanied a singing group composed of his father and three of his uncles at 14, and toured with Mordecai Ham at the same age...
, a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister and convention-style piano player with a flair for showmanship. Lister constructed the quartet as a hand-picked group of the best singing voices in order to secure a prime time-slot on the new WCON
WCON (AM)
WCON is a radio station broadcasting a format. Licensed to Cornelia, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Habersham Broadcasting Company....
radio station. The initial line-up included lead singer Hovie Lister
Hovie Lister
Hovie Franklin Lister was an American gospel pianist.Lister was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and learned piano from age six. He accompanied a singing group composed of his father and three of his uncles at 14, and toured with Mordecai Ham at the same age...
from Atlanta, Gordon Hill on bass, Bervin Kendrick from Birmingham singing baritone and Bobby Strickland of Albertiville singing the tenor. The group's name was lifted from the title of a newsletter published by Herman Talmadge
Herman Talmadge
Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served as governor of Georgia briefly in 1947 and again from 1948 to 1955. His term was marked by his segregationist policies. After leaving office Talmadge was elected to the U.S...
, Governor of Georgia, with Talmadge's permission. The quartet made their debut on WCON in Atlanta in October, 1948.
From 1948 to 1952, the group underwent several personnel changes. In 1953, Lister's vision of the premiere lineup was realized with the addition of Denver Crumpler as tenor. Crumpler joined Jake Hess
Jake Hess
Jake Hess was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.-Life:Hess was born Manchild Hess December 24, 1927, in Limestone County, Alabama...
(lead), Doy Ott (baritone), and James 'Big Chief' Wetherington (bass), with Lister on piano and master of ceremonies. During the next years, The Statesmen Quartet achieved fame as one of the premiere groups of Southern Gospel music.
The glory years
In 1952, the Statesmen entered into a business partnership with The Blackwood BrothersThe Blackwood Brothers
The Blackwood Brothers Quartet are an eight-time Grammy award-winning American Southern Gospel group. They have been around for 76 years, and were pioneers in the Christian music industry.-Musical career:...
Quartet. The "Stateswood" team would dominate Southern Gospel music for the next two decades.
The popular Cat Freeman, a native of Fyffe, Alabama
Fyffe, Alabama
Fyffe is a town in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 1,018. Fyffe is located on top of Sand Mountain....
was replaced by the great Irish tenor Denver Crumpler. With this lineup, the Statesmen began recording for RCA Victor and began starring in the Nabisco Hour national TV show. Popular songs of this period include "Get Away Jordan" and "Happy Rhythm". As early as 1950, the Statesmen used the phrase "Rockin' and rollin'" in a song, and Hovie Lister's frantic boogie woogie piano, piano bench acrobatics, and hair shaken down in his eyes predated Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
' use of the same tricks by a good five years.
During this period, the quartet had offices at the Briarcliff Hotel
Briarcliff Hotel
The Briarcliff Hotel, now the Briarcliff Summit, is located at 1050 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia....
at Ponce and N. Highland in Virginia Highland, Atlanta. Business manager Don Butler and tenor Roland "Rosie" Rozell partnered to open the King & Prince Restaurant inside the hotel.
On 4 July 1955, the Blackwood/Statesmen team traveled to Texas for an engagement that would feature several secular artists on the same program. Among them was Elvis Presley. Elvis was planning to sing his rock hits, but refrained out of respect of his gospel idols, the Statesmen and Blackwoods. The Statesmen exerted a powerful influence on young Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, who idolized and imitated Jake Hess' vocal stylings and Big Chief's leg shaking. In an interview with songwriter Bill Gaither, Hess remembered seeing young Elvis coming to Statesmen shows in Tupelo
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
when Presley was only nine or ten. Hess said that the serious young Elvis would ask him, "How do you make a record?" or "How many suits you got?" On the Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither...
video "Oh My Glory", Jake Hess tells about Elvis coming to Statesmen concerts and being invited up onstage to sing lead in place of Jake on a song or two.
Tragedy and triumphs
In 1957, Denver Crumpler died in diabetic shock when his symptoms were misdiagnosed as a heart attack. Cat Freeman came back briefly, followed by lyric tenor Roland 'Rosie' Rozell, a soulful singer and former policeman from Oklahoma. The Rosie-Hess-Ott-Chief lineup recorded such classics as "Faith Unlocks The Door" and Rosie's signature tune "Oh What A Savior" and "There's Room at the Cross"In 1963, Jake Hess left the Statesmen to form his own quartet, Jake Hess and The Imperials
The Imperials
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been around for over 45 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles...
.
Hovie tapped young, debonair Jack Toney from Boaz, Alabama to replace Hess. Before long, Toney's movie-idol looks and powerful voice helped the Statesmen to soldier on without missing a beat. Ironically, Jack Toney would replace Jake Hess on five different occasions in three different decades with the Statesmen and the Masters V.
Bass singer "Big Chief" Wetherington died of a massive heart attack on October 3, 1973, while attending the National Quartet Convention in Nashville. He is buried in a small cemetery just outside Atlanta, Georgia.
The later years
Later incarnations of the Statesmen would include tenors Sherrill 'Shaun' Nielson, Willie Wynn, and Johnny Cook; lead singers Roy McNeil and Jim Hill; baritones Chris Hess (Jake's son), Biney English and Rick Fair; and bass singers Ray Burdette, Bob Caldwell and Doug Young. Over the years, Jake Hess, Jack Toney, Doy Ott and Rosie Rozell would rejoin the Statesmen at various times, most notably a couple years after Chief's death when Lister brought back Rozell, Jake Hess, and Doy Ott as "The Statesmen" sans bass. A comical pairing of this classic Statesmen "trio" with longtime Blackwood Brothers/Stamps Quartet bass singer J.D. Sumner at the 1977 National Quartet Convention in NashvilleNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
was the birth of the Masters V Quartet, which would include, in its classic lineup, Rosie Rozell, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J.D. Sumner, and Hovie Lister. The Statesmen's influence lives on in some of today's most popular quartets, such as The Dove Brothers, and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.
Hovie Lister died on December 27, 2001, at the age of 75. He is buried in Decatur Georgia.
Members
Pianist and owner:- Hovie Lister (died in 2001)
Tenors:
- Bobby Strickland (1948–51)
- Earl Terry (1951)
- Cat Freeman (1951–53, 1957–58) (died in March 1989 at the age of 67)
- Denver Crumpler (1953–57)
- Rosie Rozell (1958–69, 1973, 1977–81) (died in 1994 at the age of 68)
- Shaun Neilsen (1969–73, 1975)
- Willie Wynn (1973–75)
- Johnny Cook (1992–93)
- Tank Tackett (1993)
- Steve Warren (1994)
- Gene Miller (1994)
- Wallace Nelms (1994–01)
Leads:
- Mosie Lister (1948)
- Jake HessJake HessJake Hess was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.-Life:Hess was born Manchild Hess December 24, 1927, in Limestone County, Alabama...
(1948–53, 1953–63, 1975, 1977–79, 1992–93) (died January 4, 2004 at the age of 76) - Gary McSpadden (filled in for Jake Hess)
- Les Roberson (1953)
- Jack Toney (1963–66, 1967–68, 1979, 1994–01) (died April 15, 2004 at the age of 70)
- Roy McNeal (1966–67)
- Jim Hill (1968–71)
- Gary Timbs (1971–73)
- Elmer Cole (1973–74)
- David Will (1975)
- Buddy Burton (1979–81, 1993–94)
- Wayne Little (1993)
Baritones:
- Bervin Kendrick (1948–51)
- Troy Posey (1951)
- Doy Ott (1951–78) (died in 1986 at the age of 67)
- Chris Hess (1978–79)
- Ed Hill (1979–80)
- Richard Coletrane (1981)
- Biney English (1992-1993)
- Scooter Simmons (1993)
- Mike Loprinzi (1994–98)
- Rick Fair (1998–01)
Basses:
- Gordon Hill (1948)
- A. D. Soward (1949)
- Jim "Big Chief" Wetherington (1949–73) (died in 1973)
- Ray Burdette (1973–75)
- Tommy Thompson (1979–80)
- J. D. SumnerJ. D. SumnerJohn Daniel "J. D." Sumner was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his extremely deep bass voice, his use of the vocal technique known as vocal fry, and his associations with Elvis Presley....
(1981) (died November 16, 1998) - Bob Caldwell (1992–1993)
- Stacy Bragg (1993)
- Nick Val (1993)
- Roy Pauley (1993)
- Doug Young (1994–01)
Discography
- 1957: The Statesmen Quartet with Hovie Lister
- 1958: The Statesmen Quartet Sings with Hovie Lister
- 1958: The Bible Told Me So (RCA LPM 1683)
- 1959: Hymns
- 1959: I’ll Meet You By the River (RCA LSP 2065)
- 1959: Get Away Jordan
- 1960: Mansion Over the Hilltop (RCA LSP 2127)
- 1960: On Stage (RCA LSP 2188)
- 1960: Something To Shout About
- 1960: Encores
- 1960: Peace, O Lord
- 1960: Statesmen Blackwood Favorites
- 1961: Out West (RCA LSP 2281)
- 1961: Through the States (RCA LSP 2351)
- 1962: Stop, Look & Listen for the Lord
- 1962: Camp-Meeting Hymns (RCA LSP 2440)
- 1962: Singing Time in Dixie (Skylight SRLP 6000)
- 1963: The Mystery of His Way (RCA LSP 2546)
- 1963: Message in the Sky (RCA Camden CAL-743)
- 1963: A Gospel Concert
- 1964: Hovie Lister Sings with His Famous Statesmen Qt. (RCA LSP 2790)
- 1964: Hovie Lister Spotlights Doy Ott (RCA LSP 2864)
- 1964: Songs Of Faith (RCA Camden CAL 843)
- 1965: The Best Of (RCA LSP-2933)
- 1964: Doris Akers & The Statesmen Sing for You
- 1965: The Sensational Statesmen Quartet (RCA LSP 2989)
- 1965: Sings the Golden Gospel Songs (RCA LSP 3392)
- 1965: All Day Sing & Dinner on the Ground
- 1966: The Happy Sound (RCA LSP 3494)
- 1966: Sings the Gospel Gems
- 1967: In Gospel Country (RCA LSP 3703)
- 1967: My God is Real (RCA Camden CAL/CAS 2151)
- 1967: Showers of Blessing (RCA LSP 3815)
- 1968: Sing Brother Sing (RCA LSP 3888)
- 1968: Hits of the Decade
- 1968: Happy Land
- 1968: The Best of the Statesmen Volume 2 (RCA SLP 3925)
- 1968: God Loves American People (Skylite SLP 6070)
- 1968: Standing on the Promises
- 1969: Taller Than Trees (RCA Camden CAS 2314)
- 1969: Thanks to Calvary (Skylite SLP 6080)
- 1969: New Sounds Today (Skylite SLP 6090)
- 1970: No Greater Love (RCA Camden CAS 2419)
- 1970: Featuring…
- 1970: The Common Man
- 1971: Put Your Hand in the Hand (Skylite SLP 6110)
- 1972: Keep On Smiling
- 1972: Hits of the Decade
- 1972: Hits of the Decade Vol. 2 (Chime 605, Artistic 20711)
- 1972: They That Sow (Skylite SLP 6120)
- 1973: I Believe in Jesus
- 1973: In Memory Of “Big Chief” Jim Wetherington & Denver “Crump” Crumpler (Lord, I Want to Go to Heaven) (CAM LPS-1407)
- 1973: Time to Remember
- 1974: Ain’t That What It’s All About
- 1974: Precious Memories
- 1974: Feature Doy Ott
- 1977: The Legendary Statesmen Return
- 1977: Gospel Songs Elvis Loved
- 1977: Get Away Jordan
- 1978: His Love Put a Song in My Heart
- 1978: Oh What a Savior (Skylite SLP 6190)
- 1979: Gospel Gems (Skylite SLP 6200)
- 1979: Hovie Lister & The Sensational Statesmen
- 1980: He is Here (Skylite SLP 6235)
- 1981: Sweet Beulah Land
- 1992: I Surrender All
- 1992: The Bible Told Me So
- 1992: Get Away Jordan
- 1992: Jubilee’s A Coming
- 1992: Revival
- 1992: O What a Savior
- 1993: O My Lord What a Time
- 1996: Saints Don't You Know
- 1997: Hovie Lister & The Statesmen
- 1998: Still Sensational
- 1999: You Can't Shake the Rock
- 2000: Even So Come
- Unknown Year Precious Old Book (Temple 8503)
- Unknown Year Faith Unlocks the Door (Temple 8522)
- Unknown Year How Great Thou Art (Skylite 6294)
External links
- "The Statesmen Quartet" Music History Grand Ole Gospel Reunion
- "Statesmen Photos"