Tag: Chuck Wagon Gang

Chuck Wagon Gang Honoured by Louisiana on 90th Anniversary

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AMY TURNER

May 20th proved to be a landmark day in the long story of The Chuck Wagon Gang, as the State of Louisiana formally recognised the country gospel group’s nine decades of contributions to American Gospel music and their enduring connection to the state.

The Chuck Wagon Gang has roots stretching back to 1935, when patriarch David P. Carter founded the group alongside his eldest son Ernest and two eldest daughters, Lola and Effie. Within a year, the family ensemble had secured their first radio opportunity, performing as sponsored singers for Bewley Flour in 1936, a modest beginning that would grow into one of the most sustained careers in gospel music history.

On May 20th, members of the group received commendations from Governor Jeff Landry and were honoured during a ceremony hosted by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, marking the occasion as a formal recognition of the group’s place in the state’s cultural memory.

The day’s most vivid moment came when The Chuck Wagon Gang was invited onto the floor of the Louisiana State Senate to perform. The group delivered a medley of “I’ll Fly Away” and “You Are My Sunshine” before receiving an official Senate Proclamation commemorating their 90th anniversary and musical legacy.

The celebrations did not end there. A few days later, while continuing on tour, the group received the Key to the City of Many, Louisiana , another formal tribute marking the same milestone anniversary.

Taken together, the recognitions amount to a rare moment of institutional acknowledgment for a group that has spent 90 years at the intersection of faith, family, and American folk tradition. For The Chuck Wagon Gang, Louisiana’s tribute was both a homecoming and a testament to the staying power of gospel music rooted in sincerity and simplicity.

The Chuck Wagon Gang Welcomes New Bass Player Ronnie Parker

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JEFF TURNER

The Chuck Wagon Gang, one of gospel music’s longest-running groups, has announced a new addition to their band. Ronnie Parker has joined as their new upright bass player. Many talented musicians applied for the role, but Ronnie’s skills and experience made him stand out.

Ronnie Parker was raised in a musical family and picked up the upright bass at just ten years old. By the age of 13, he was already playing professionally with the bluegrass gospel band, New Highway. His early start and deep roots in gospel and bluegrass music made him a perfect fit for The Chuck Wagon Gang.

The group is working on a new project. Shaye Smith spoke about the special sound that fans have come to love and how it’s created both on stage and in the studio.

“Well, when we come into the studio, we still keep the acoustic guitar and the upright bass, which we use on stage when we sing live,” Smith explained. “But when we come in the studio, there are other instruments added that add to the thickness of the sound.”

She shared how subtle additions bring a new depth to their recordings. “There’s a little mandolin on a few of them, a little bit of fiddle. There’s a couple of songs with a little banjo on them, so that that gives a thicker texture, kind of helps pick it up a little bit.”

With Ronnie Parker joining the line-up and a fresh project in the works, The Chuck Wagon Gang continues to honour their rich history while adding new layers to their sound.