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Gospel Music Legends: The Enduring Legacy of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet

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JEFF TURNER

One of my earliest memories of Gospel music growing up is the harmony of The Blackwood Brothers Quartet. The group, has been around for more than nine decades.

1956 Re-release of Favorite Gospel Songs and Spirituals ablum

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet was founded in 1934 during the Great Depression, emerging from a deeply musical Mississippi family. It started as the Choctaw County Jubilee Singers featuring brothers Roy, Doyle, and James Blackwood, along with Roy’s young son R.W. Their musical journey began with local performances and radio broadcasts, eventually expanding to national recognition.

The group experienced significant challenges, including a tragic airplane crash in 1954 that claimed the lives of R.W. Blackwood and bass singer Bill Lyles. Despite this devastating loss, the Blackwood Brothers continued, with family members and talented musicians stepping in to maintain the group’s musical legacy.

Throughout their career, the quartet traveled through every Canadian province, all fifty United States, and appearances throughout Great Britain, Europe, Africa, and Asia. They became a cornerstone of Gospel music, setting industry standards and innovating performance practices.

The Ultimate Blackwood Brothers: 80 Years – 80 Songs, released in 2015 by Daywind Records

Notable achievements include winning Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts competition, launching the National Quartet Convention, and pioneering tour bus customization for musical groups. They also made significant chart history, with their song “Learning To Lean” holding the number one spot on the Singing News chart for an unprecedented 15 months.

The group has seen multiple generational transitions. James Blackwood’s sons, Jimmy and Billy, have been instrumental in continuing the family’s musical tradition. Recent years have brought further changes, with new members like Jonathan Mattingly, Eric Walker, and Jim Rogers joining to keep the quartet’s spirit alive.

Despite periods of disbandment and reorganization, the Blackwood Brothers remain a respected name in Gospel music.

The latest makeup of the Blackwood Brothers include Billy Blackwood, Baritone; Jim Rogers, Tenor; Jonathan Mattingly, Lead; and Eric Walker, Bass.

Artist Spotlight: The Kingsmen

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SPECIAL CROSSROADS RECORDS

For more than half a century, no other group has secured such a far-reaching legacy as that of The Kingsmen Quartet. Since 1956, this group has risen from humble beginnings in the mountains of western North Carolina to become one of the most beloved and innovative groups in Christian music. Countless renowned artists have been a part of this great lineage, such as Eldridge Fox, “Big” Jim Hamill, Ray Dean Reese, Squire Parsons, Johnny Parrack, Anthony Burger, Ernie Phillips, Gary Sheppard, and a host of others. The momentum has not stopped as this group continues to help define the Southern Gospel genre for a whole new generation of music lovers, perhaps more so than any other group.

In the mid-fifties, brothers Raymond, Reese, and Louis McKinney formed a gospel group, traveling locally throughout the western part of the Carolinas and completing dozens of recordings by the late 60’s. By the early 70’s, area natives Eldridge Fox and Ray Dean Reese joined this emerging quartet and in 1974 released their first live recording, “Big & Live” consisting of Fox, Reese, Jim Hamill, and Johnny Parrack. This Dove award winning album brought to gospel music, fresh arrangements and catchy melodies that would later become southern gospel classics, such as “Glory Road,” “Look for Me At Jesus Feet,” and “Love Lifted Me.” This would be the start of many legendary live albums for the Kingsmen. Traveling with a live band, the Kingsmen became one of few groups during this era to be able to perform with three to five musicians, granting them individuality and innovation in the industry.

Always seeking to have a creative edge, they began introducing themselves as, “The Ton of Fun.” Through the late 1970’s and 80’s, more hits were churning from albums such as “Chattanooga Live,” “Live Naturally,” & “Live at The University of Alabama.” These albums combined with high energy and up-tempo music brought music lovers an exciting brand of showmanship. Songs like, “Old Ship of Zion,” “Shake Hands with a Poor Boy,” “Beautiful Home,” “Saints Will Rise,” and “Child, Child” became gospel music staples. In 1981, “Excuses” became the Kingsmen’s biggest hit of that era; it was steady at number one for 18 months, making it the longest running number one song in Southern Gospel Music history.

The successes of The Kingsmen have led to many prestigious opportunities. In 1977, The Kingsmen performed on the south lawn of the White House for President Jimmy Carter and in 1982 they performed at the opening ceremony of the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN which was broadcast on local and regional TV, with President Ronald Reagan present to open the fair. The Kingsmen was also the first group to film and record a live performance at the famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and in 2000 they were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame followed by the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2008. They’ve garnered multiple dove awards and numerous Singing News Fan awards including favorite bass vocalist, tenor, baritone, lead, instrumentalist, video, the 1992 favorite song “Wish You Were Here” as well as favorite album by the same name, male quartet of the year, and group of the year. The Kingsmen band was voted favorite band a record 17 times making this quartet one of the most awarded groups in Southern Gospel Music.

Iconic Booth Brothers Release New Album Celebrating Gospel Heritage

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JEFF TURNER

StowTown Records has announced a new album from one of Southern Gospel’s most loved groups, The Booth Brothers. This special recording, called Generations, brings together current members Ronnie and Michael Booth with their father, Ron Booth, Sr., and their late uncle, Charles Booth, thanks to the power of modern recording technology. The result is a unique collection of songs that showcases a rich family legacy in Gospel music.

Ronnie and Michael Booth have long been inspired by their father and uncle. “Ronnie and I are so blessed by the musical heritage our dad and uncle passed along to us,” said Michael Booth. He mentioned that this project has been a dream for a long time, and they are thrilled to make it a reality. When they were young, Ronnie and Michael looked up to their father and uncle, who were influential figures in Gospel music. The two younger Booths grew up watching them perform with some of the best quartets in the field.

For fans who remember the original Booth Brothers, Ron and Charles were known for their clear voices and incredible stage presence. Although Ronnie and Michael had the chance to sing with their father over the years, the chance to record with both the senior Booth Brothers was not possible until now.

With the help of 21st-century technology, the voices of Ron and Charles Booth have been carefully restored from old analog recordings. These were then blended with Ronnie and Michael’s current voices, making it possible for all four Booths to sing together for the first time. “This was a painstaking project,” shared Ronnie Booth, “but well worth the effort. It’s a dream come true for us and something that we will cherish forever.”

The new album includes well-loved Gospel classics, such as “In The Sweet Forever” and “Now I Have Everything.” It also features an emotional ballad called “He Showed His Love To Me,” written by Robert Blackstock. The song reflects on Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary, delivered in the signature Booth Brothers style.

Generations showcases the classic Booth Brothers harmony while highlighting the legacy of Gospel music within their family. It promises to be a recording that will be enjoyed by fans for years to come. StowTown Records President and CEO, Landon Beene, expressed his excitement, saying, “To say that our record label is excited to be bringing this one-of-a-kind recording to the public is a massive understatement. We can’t wait for listeners to experience the nostalgia and the joy of this new, yet classic, sound.”

The album is available on all digital platforms worldwide and is distributed exclusively by Provident/Sony. For Gospel music fans, Generations is a chance to hear the familiar Booth Brothers harmony in a fresh and meaningful way, celebrating a history of faith and song that spans decades.

Track List

  • In The Sweet Forever
  • Now I Have Everything
  • He Showed His Love To Me
  • Through It All
  • All Of Me
  • His Hands
  • King Jesus
  • Release Me (From My Sin)
  • What A Lovely Name
  • To Remember Calvary
  • Lead Me To That Rock

This album is a reminder of how Gospel music can connect generations, honoring the past while bringing joy to the present.

Artist Feature: The Erwins

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AMY TURNER

In the small town of Edgewood, Texas, a unique musical legacy continues through the harmonies of The Erwins, a Southern Gospel group composed of four siblings who have spent their entire lives on the road sharing their music.

Keith, Kody, Kris, and Katie Erwin grew up in a family where ministry and music were inseparable parts of daily life. Their father, a full-time evangelist for nearly five decades, brought his children along as he traveled across the United States, allowing them to develop their musical gifts from the moment they could speak.

For years, the three brothers performed as a trio until 2013, when their sister Katie joined them on stage, transforming The Erwins into a mixed group. Today, they maintain a demanding schedule of more than 270 performances annually at concerts, revivals, and conferences throughout the country.

Each member brings their own strengths to the group. Keith, who serves as the lead singer, balances his musical career with family life, having welcomed his son Landry Thomas in December 2020 with his wife Lindsey. When not performing, he finds time for fishing, golfing, and basketball.
Kody, married to Cayla and father to daughters Laney Brooke and Ivey Reign, handles the technical aspects of their performances, managing the sound system during shows. His off-stage interests mirror his brother’s, including fishing, golfing, and softball.

Kris, the group’s songwriter, wrote his first composition “Watch and See” in 2018. He creates the setlists for their performances and produces their lyric music videos. In his spare time, he enjoys movies, biking, and reading.

Katie, who married Logan Headrick in October 2022, manages the group’s social media presence. She maintains an interest in shopping and fashion trends when not traveling with her brothers.
“Singing is all we know and all we want to do,” Keith explains. “It’s our life and our joy to serve the Lord with the voices He has given us. We will gladly go through any door He chooses to open, no matter how big or small. We know the Lord doesn’t need us, but He chooses to use us, and for that we are thankful.”

This new generation of Southern Gospel performers from Edgewood continues to share their music, carrying forward a family tradition of ministry through song.

The Kingsmen’s Musical Journey: A Retrospective Collection

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JEFF TURNER

Southern Gospel fans have something special to explore with the release of Decades Vol. 3 & 4 by The Kingsmen. This new collection, released through Horizon Records, spans the group’s history, showcasing their musical journey and including reworked versions of classic songs.

Alan Kendall of The Kingsmen shared the group’s excitement over this new release, stating that the overwhelming response to their previous compilation, Decades Vol. 1 & 2, inspired them to dive back into their archives. The new volume covers decades of music and features both older recordings and updated renditions performed by the group’s current lineup, which includes Thomas Nalley, Cole Watson, Brady Jones, and Kendall himself.

Here’s a bit of the Kingsmen on Saints will Rise from earlier this year (Courtesy YouTube)

Three songs in the collection, “Saints Will Rise,” “So High,” and “The Judgement,” have been re-recorded by the current members. According to Kendall, these classic songs were chosen to be updated for a fresh 2024 sound while preserving their timeless quality. The Kingsmen, a group known for their long-lasting influence in Southern Gospel, are approaching their 70th anniversary, making this collection a reflection of both their past achievements and present vitality.

With nearly seven decades of history, The Kingsmen have become a well-known name in Gospel music, earning a reputation as a “school of Southern Gospel” due to the many talented singers who have been part of the group. The latest collection includes contributions from around two dozen Kingsmen alumni, highlighting their extensive impact. This set is intended to appeal to both long-time followers of the group and those new to their music.

The Cross has Won Again (Courtesy YouTube)

Kendall notes that Decades Vol. 3 & 4 holds a total of 39 tracks, featuring a mix of hits, rare recordings, and favorite selections from members of the group. Among these are some unique recordings, including a studio version of “The Cross Has Won Again” from 1992, which was previously released only to radio stations. Additionally, songs from The Kingsmen’s earliest albums from 1960 and 1961 are now available in digital format for the first time.

For fans of instrumental Gospel music, there is also a special 2007 recording of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” performed by Brandon Reese, Nick Succi, and Grant Barker. Previously, this track was only available on a limited-edition live album. Another rarity in the collection is a 1965 transcription of an appearance on Bob Poole’s Gospel Favorites, featuring a dialogue between the show’s host, Bob Poole, and long-time Kingsmen pianist, Ray Talley.

Kendall emphasizes the historical and musical value of the set, describing it as a must-have for those who appreciate the heritage of Southern Gospel music. For listeners, Decades Vol. 3 & 4 is not just a look back, but a reminder of the faith and talent that have sustained The Kingsmen’s music for nearly 70 years.