The Weatherfords
Encyclopedia
The Weatherfords are an American Gospel
ensemble.
The Weatherfords are husband and wife Earl and Lily Weatherford, who first began singing together in the mid-1940s in California after their marriage in 1945. Earl had founded the group prior to this as an all-male troupe, and Lily began filling in on the tenor parts in 1948, eventually becoming the group's most visible member. They moved several times over the next few decades, to Fort Wayne, Indiana
, Akron, Ohio
, and Paoli, Oklahoma
.
The ensemble sang on California radio stations in the 1940s, and was offered a full-time spot on radio station WOWO
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
in 1949. In the 1950s they recorded for RCA Victor, and worked in collaboration with evangelist
Rex Humbard
. The group's other key members at this time were Glen Payne
, Armond Morales, and Henry Slaughter
(the last on piano).
Slaughter and Morales left the group to join The Imperials
in 1963, and Slaughter continued working with Humbard and later joined the Cathedral Quartet
; Earl and Lily found new members to fill out the ensemble. They continued recording and performing for the next several decades. Earl Weatherford died in 1992; in 1999, Lily published an autobiography, With All My Heart. She continues to perform under the name The Weatherfords with new members.
+James M. Clark
+Fulton Nash
+Glenn Couch (b.1935)
+David Ingles (b.1934)
+Bob Thacker
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....
ensemble.
The Weatherfords are husband and wife Earl and Lily Weatherford, who first began singing together in the mid-1940s in California after their marriage in 1945. Earl had founded the group prior to this as an all-male troupe, and Lily began filling in on the tenor parts in 1948, eventually becoming the group's most visible member. They moved several times over the next few decades, to Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, and Paoli, Oklahoma
Paoli, Oklahoma
Paoli is a town in Garvin County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census. It was named after Paoli, an unincorporated community outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where most of the railroad workers that basically built the town were from.-Geography:Paoli is located...
.
The ensemble sang on California radio stations in the 1940s, and was offered a full-time spot on radio station WOWO
WOWO
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, WOWO is an independent news/talk radio station transmitting on 1190 kHz at 50,000 watts during the daylight hours and 9,800 watts during the nighttime hours. An application is on file with the Federal Communications Commission to add a fourth tower to the three...
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
in 1949. In the 1950s they recorded for RCA Victor, and worked in collaboration with evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Rex Humbard
Rex Humbard
Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard was a well-known American television evangelist whose Cathedral of Tomorrow show was shown on over 600 stations at the peak of its popularity....
. The group's other key members at this time were Glen Payne
Glen Payne
Glen Payne served more than 50 years as a gospel music's singer. At age 17 in 1944, Glen joined the Stamps-Baxter Quartet. He was also a member of the Lester Stamps Quartet, The Stamps All-Stars, and The Stamps-Ozark Quartet...
, Armond Morales, and Henry Slaughter
Henry Slaughter
Henry Thaxton Slaughter is an American southern gospel singer and piano player.-Biography:Five-time Dove Award-winning keyboardist, singer and songwriter has captivated countless audiences since the 1940s with such memorable groups as the Stamps-Ozark Quartet, The Weatherford Quartet, The...
(the last on piano).
Slaughter and Morales left the group to join 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...
in 1963, and Slaughter continued working with Humbard and later joined 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....
; Earl and Lily found new members to fill out the ensemble. They continued recording and performing for the next several decades. Earl Weatherford died in 1992; in 1999, Lily published an autobiography, With All My Heart. She continues to perform under the name The Weatherfords with new members.
Members
- Earl Henderson Weatherford (1922–1992)
- Lily Fern Goble Weatherford (b. 1928)
- Glen Weldon PayneGlen PayneGlen Payne served more than 50 years as a gospel music's singer. At age 17 in 1944, Glen joined the Stamps-Baxter Quartet. He was also a member of the Lester Stamps Quartet, The Stamps All-Stars, and The Stamps-Ozark Quartet...
(1926–1999) - Armond Morales (b. 1932)
- Henry T. Slaughter (b. 1927)
- Steve Weatherford (b. 1961)
- Kelly Looper
- George YounceGeorge YounceGeorge Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...
- James Hopkins
- James Hamill
- Tracy Dartt (b.1944)
- Billy Brisendine
- Haskell Cooley
+James M. Clark
+Fulton Nash
+Glenn Couch (b.1935)
+David Ingles (b.1934)
+Bob Thacker