The Primitive Quartet’s Stay Their Arms out now on digital platforms

CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (March 17, 2023) — Even the most storied performing career must eventually come to an end, and for The Primitive Quartet â€” for more than half a century, faithful practitioners of an acoustic musical ministry rooted in the traditional sounds of Appalachian mountain churches and communities — that time has finally come.  

As a farewell to their many fans â€” and in addition to Through The Years, their remarkable digital multi-volume retrospective series for Mountain Home Music Company  â€” the group has released their last set of studio recordings, Stay Their Arms to digital platforms. The collection reveals a group as musically compelling and spiritually powerful as they were at their founding in 1973.

Hewing to the sturdy, down-to-earth approach that has characterized their music since the beginning, Stay Their Arms maintains a resolute focus on heartfelt originals that retell timeless truths in ways that inspire and comfort — although, as if to reaffirm their place in tradition one last time, the Quartet includes two of the best-loved songs from the canon in Albert E. Brumley’s “If We Never Meet Again” and R. E. Winsett’s “Will You Meet Me Over Yonder.” Yet new or old, each song glows with the warmth of wood and wire — mandolin, guitar, dobro, fiddle and bass — and the simple, straightforward tones of the human voice, sincere and unadorned, exemplifying the deep appeal that earned the group the devotion of countless audiences over their many years.

“After 50 years of music ministry, our touring days are coming to an end,” says The Primitive Quartet. “We hope our music will live on and be a blessing by way of our recorded songs. We’ve released Stay Their Arms, the final recording that we made, to all digital platforms. Thanks to all who have loved and supported us these many years. We love you all!”

BLUEGRASS: The Primitive Quartet releases Through The Years Volume 5

SPECIAL MOUNTAIN HOME MUSIC COMPANY

Arden, North Carolina (August 12, 2022) — Last year, The Primitive Quartet and Mountain Home Music Company began the Through The Years series, which is bringing the beloved gospel group’s music to new generations of listeners through streaming services and digital sales platforms for the first time. These releases continue the group’s long legacy as a bluegrass gospel artist that started in 1973.

Following Volumes 1-4 and a Christmas collection, Through The Years Volume 5 features “If I Could Telephone Heaven,” written by Reagan Riddle; “Walking In The Highway,” written by Calvin Copeley; and “He Did A Surgery In My Heart” written by Mike Riddle. It also includes two a capella tunes, both written by Reagan Riddle: “The Fruits Of The Spirit” and “He’s The Same God.”

When completed, the series — curated by the Crossroads Label Group’s Greg Bentley and The Primitive Quartet’s Mike Riddle — will encompass eight volumes covering nearly 40 years of historic releases, including a Christmas collection and a compilation of songs from the several live albums the group has released over the years. Rarely has such an archival exploration been directed exclusively at digital platforms, and the combination of historical interest and forward-looking accessibility serves to guarantee that not only will long-time fans of the storied group have their favorites close at hand, but that the vital musical ministry of the Primitive Quartet will be available for discovery by generations of fans yet to come.

About The Primitive Quartet
The Primitive Quartet began in 1973, when two sets of Western North Carolina brothers, Reagan and Larry Riddle and Furman and Norman Wilson, carried a guitar and mandolin with them on a fishing trip, where they discovered a love and a gift for harmony singing. With the encouragement of their parents and pastor, they began to sing together at area churches as the Riddle-Wilson Quartet. In 1978, with the decision to devote themselves to a full-time musical ministry, the group said goodbye to Furman Wilson, welcomed Reagan and Larry’s brother, Mike, into the group and renamed themselves as The Primitive Quartet. As their career developed, the Quartet added Indiana-born singer and instrumentalist Randy Fox in 1986 and, a decade later, another North Carolinian, Jeff Tolbert — first as an instrumentalist and then, with the passing of Norman Wilson in 2014, as a singer. Over the years, The Primitive Quartet has toured across the United States and overseas, recorded scores of albums, released more than a dozen videos and DVDs, and made their “Hominy Valley Singing Grounds” in Candler, North Carolina, into a popular home for gospel singing events.

Listen to songs from Through The Years Volume 5 throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!

The Primitive Quartet releasesThrough The Years Volume 4

SPECIAL: CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (May 6, 2022) — In October, The Primitive Quartet and Mountain Home Music Company began the groundbreaking Through The Years series that is bringing the beloved gospel group’s music to new generations of listeners through streaming services and digital sales platforms for the first time. These releases continue the group’s long legacy as a bluegrass gospel artist that started in 1973.

Now, the series continues with Volume 4, which features an a capella tune (“I Wonder What They’re Doing In Heaven”) and an instrumental (“I’ve Got That Old Time Religion In My Heart”), as well as three popular songs: “No Longer An Orphan” and “I Can’t But God Can, written by Reagan Riddle, and “Yes He Can,” written by Mike Riddle

When completed, the series — curated by the Crossroads Label Group’s Greg Bentley and The Primitive Quartet’s Mike Riddle — will encompass eight volumes covering nearly 40 years of historic releases, including a Christmas collection and a compilation of songs from the several live albums the group has released over the years. Rarely has such an archival exploration been directed exclusively at digital platforms, and the combination of historical interest and forward-looking accessibility serves to guarantee that not only will long-time fans of the storied group have their favorites close at hand, but that the vital musical ministry of the Primitive Quartet will be available for discovery by generations of fans yet to come.  

Listen for music from the Primitive Quartet on Texas Gospel Canada!