The LeFevres
Encyclopedia
The LeFevres, or The Singing LeFevres, were an American Southern gospel
singing group, active for nearly 50 years in the middle of the twentieth century.
The LeFevres were a family from Smithville
, Tennessee
, and their singing group centered around brothers Urias (1910–1979) and Alphus (1912–1988). As children, they sang with their sister Maude until she married, then their sister Omega (Peggy) until she married; their career as an ensemble began in 1921. Both sang in quartets at the Bible Training School
in Cleveland, Tennessee
. Urias and Eva Mae Whittington (1917–2009) married in 1934; she became the pianist and alto in their newly formed trio.
They moved to Charleston
, South Carolina
in 1937 and then Atlanta in 1939, where they would remain for the rest of their professional career, aside from a short stint in Philadelphia in the middle of the 1950s. They won slots performing on WGST radio as The LeFevre Trio, but as they added other family members and accompanists, they decided to refer to themselves simply as The LeFevres.
Though they had previously recorded transcription discs, their first commercial recordings were made in the 1940s and released on Bibletone Records
. Later releases were issued on Word Records
and their own label, Sing Music Company. As the new medium of television became more popular, the group started appearing on local stations such as WAGA
and traveled to other regional stations to appear on their programs as well. In the 1960s, the group's Gospel Singing Caravan, a syndicated program, was aired nationwide. In addition to this, the group toured relentlessly in the U.S. and Canada, notching as many as 250 shows a year.
The LeFevres became instrumental in the gospel music industry in Atlanta
, Georgia; they owned and operated their own recording studio
, LeFevre Sound and also published sheet music
for the gospel market. Additionally, they produced syndicated television shows for gospel and country music
singers, and owned a booking agency that operated regionally.
The LeFevres retired in the 1970s, and sold off their interests to group member Rex Nelon
. Eva Mae and Urias LeFevre were inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame
in 1997; Alphus was inducted in 2002. Urias's youngest son, Mylon LeFevre
, went on to have a highly successful solo career.
Eva Mae LeFevre died on May 18, 2009 in Atlanta, at the age of 91.
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
singing group, active for nearly 50 years in the middle of the twentieth century.
The LeFevres were a family from Smithville
Smithville, Tennessee
Smithville is a city in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of De Kalb County.-Geography:...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and their singing group centered around brothers Urias (1910–1979) and Alphus (1912–1988). As children, they sang with their sister Maude until she married, then their sister Omega (Peggy) until she married; their career as an ensemble began in 1921. Both sang in quartets at the Bible Training School
Lee University
Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...
in Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
. Urias and Eva Mae Whittington (1917–2009) married in 1934; she became the pianist and alto in their newly formed trio.
They moved to Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, 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...
in 1937 and then Atlanta in 1939, where they would remain for the rest of their professional career, aside from a short stint in Philadelphia in the middle of the 1950s. They won slots performing on WGST radio as The LeFevre Trio, but as they added other family members and accompanists, they decided to refer to themselves simply as The LeFevres.
Though they had previously recorded transcription discs, their first commercial recordings were made in the 1940s and released on Bibletone Records
Bibletone Records
Bibletone Records was organized in 1942 in New York City by Arthur Becker.The company was the first all-gospel label to release 33 1/3 rpm albums of their releases...
. Later releases were issued on Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
and their own label, Sing Music Company. As the new medium of television became more popular, the group started appearing on local stations such as WAGA
Waga
Waga is an isolated small town in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Administrated by Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha , it is part of the Padukka Divisional Secretary's Division. The town can be reached on road from Colombo via A4 road, turning off at either Meepe near Padukka or at Kaluaggala near Hanwella...
and traveled to other regional stations to appear on their programs as well. In the 1960s, the group's Gospel Singing Caravan, a syndicated program, was aired nationwide. In addition to this, the group toured relentlessly in the U.S. and Canada, notching as many as 250 shows a year.
The LeFevres became instrumental in the gospel music industry in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia; they owned and operated their own recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, LeFevre Sound and also published sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
for the gospel market. Additionally, they produced syndicated television shows for gospel and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singers, and owned a booking agency that operated regionally.
The LeFevres retired in the 1970s, and sold off their interests to group member Rex Nelon
Rex Nelon
Rex Nelon was one of the senior statesmen in the field of Southern Gospel music. His career spanned over 40 years of singing gospel music, as well as being an outstanding music publisher.-Early life:...
. Eva Mae and Urias LeFevre were inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
150px|right|thumb|Entrance.The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is a site operated at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association. It was established in 1997...
in 1997; Alphus was inducted in 2002. Urias's youngest son, Mylon LeFevre
Mylon LeFevre
Mylon LeFevre is an American Christian music singer, who was the leader of the Grammy Award-winning band Mylon and Broken Heart. He is a member of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. He currently travels around the United States, ministering, teaching and singing...
, went on to have a highly successful solo career.
Eva Mae LeFevre died on May 18, 2009 in Atlanta, at the age of 91.
Discography
- 1957: Songs Of Happiness (Sing Records)
- 1958: Sing And Be Happy (Sing Records)
- 1959: Featuring Pierce LeFevre (Sing Records)
- 1960: Traveling With The Lefevres (Sing Records)
- 1960: The LeFevres In Stereo (Sing Records)
- 1961: Rainbow Of Love (Sing Records)
- 1962: He's Wonderful (Sing Records)
- 1963: The Lefevres Sing (Sing Records)
- 1964: Without Him (Sing Records)
- 1964: Lord It's Me Again (Sing Records)
- 1965: Sing the Gospel (Sing Records)
- 1966: You Need the Lord (Sing Records)
- 1967: A Visit With The LeFevres (Sing Records)
- 1968: A Man Who Is Wise (Sing Records)
- 1969: The Best is Yet to Come (Canaan Records)
- 1969: Play Gospel Music (Canaan Records)
- 1970: Moving Up (Canaan Records)
- 1970: The LeFevres, Vol. 1 & 2 (Bibletone)
- 1970: Pierce & Mylon (Canaan)
- 1971: Fifty Golden Years (Canaan)
- 1972: The New Sounds of The LeFevres (Canaan Records)
- 1972: Now and Always (Canaan Records)
- 1972: The Best of the LeFevres (Sing Records)
- 1973: Happiness Is Gospel (Canaan Records)
- 1974: Stepping on the Clouds (Canaan Records)
- 1975: Experience (Canaan Records)
- 1975: The LeFevres (Power Pak) (compilation)
- 1976: Gospel Music USA (Canaan Records)
- 1976: Whispering Hope (Pickwick)
- 1977: Singing 'Til He Comes (Canaan Records)
- 1977: 16 All-Time Favorites (Starday Records)
- 1983: Come Into The Light (Calvary)
- 1985: The Old Rugged Cross (Golden Circle Records)
- 2000: Echoes From the Forties (Bibletone Records)
External links
- The LeFevres, Georgia Encyclopedia.
- The LeFevres, Southern Gospel Music Association.
- Urias LeFevre, SGMA
- Alphus LeFever, SGMA