LCJ Broadcast Update; (1957 revisited)

[Lake Country Jubilee Updates]

                                   A TURNING POINT IN GOSPEL MUSIC HISTORY

in 1953, and 1954, when my late wife, Jean, and I were dating, we went to a number of gospel music concerts, particularly Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet, and Blackwood Brothers concerts! They were touring, nationwide, together.

 

A tragic automobile accident had, basically ended the career of the fabulous Rangers Quartet, freeing up their extremely talented tenor, Denver Crumpler. He was quickly recruited by Hovie Lister. His presence, along with Jake Hess, Doy Ott, and Jim "Big Chief" Wetherington,  created what many regard as the best gospel quartet - ever! That brought them to the attention of RCA Victor Record Company. In 1957, they recorded their first, and what turned out to be the only, RCA Victor album recorded with those 4 voices! Denver Crumpler suffered from diabetes, and passed away later in 1957.

The recording is historic, not only for the voices. It was "break-through gospel music album because it featured many musical instruments- no just the piano!

Jean, and I were married on July 3rd, 1954, and by 1957 we had purchased our first home, and our son Brad, was a year old. And, I had built a large HiFi sound system that few could match. We had, also, started the music collection that now numbers in the tens of thousands of songs! That first Statesmen Quartet album is the center-piece!!

THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH, I'M PLAYING SIDE 1 OF THAT HISTORIC RECORDING, FROM THE ACTUAL RECORD IN SECTION 3 OF THE PROGRAM!!! THERE WILL BE NO COMMENTARY- JUST THE MUSIC AS JEAN, BRAD,  AND I HEARD IT IN 1957!!

NEXT SUNDAY, I PLAN TO PLAY SIDE 2!!! DON'T MISS IT!! YOU MAY NEVER HAVE A ANOTHER CHANCE TO HEAR THIS HUGE PIECE OF GOSPEL MUSIC HISTORY!!!! IT WILL BE HEARD ON ALL OUR RADIO STATIONS, THE INTERNET, AND THE CLOUD!!! STAY TUNED IN FOR MORE GOSPEL LANDMARKS AS WE APPROACH THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL MUSIC'S ARRIVAL IN TEXAS!!!