Jordanaires' Neal Matthews dies at 70
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Neal Matthews Jr., 70, a member of the internationally acclaimed
Nashville quartet The Jordanaires, died Friday night at his
Brentwood home after an apparent heart attack.
"Neal was very instrumental in creating the 'Nashville sound'
in that he developed the numbering system for chords," said
Gordon Stoker, who had been a member of The Jordanaires for
four years when Mr. Matthews joined the group in 1953.
"It was a shorthand version for the chords," Stoker added.
"You assign a chord a number, and if you change the key,
it doesn't matter.
"We were using it a few years before everybody else found out
about it and started using it. Years later, we were in Germany,
and they were using it over there, too."
For more than 40 years, The Jordanaires have been known worldwide
as one of the most versatile vocal quartets in music.
Their background harmony style became an integral part of hit
recordings by Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Ricky Nelson and
countless other great stars.
Mr. Matthews joined the quartet as second tenor after serving
in the U.S. Army from 1951-53. He served some of that time in
Korea and was awarded a Bronze Star.
Most recently, the quartet had been performing in Las Vegas.
Mr. Matthews had returned home on April 4 and was scheduled
to return to Las Vegas on May 8. He had been in seemingly good
health since suffering a stroke five years ago.
Mr. Matthews was a native of Nashville and a son of Evelyn Walker
Matthews of Nashville, and the late Neal Matthews Sr.
He was a graduate of Hume-Fogg High School and then attended
Belmont College until The Jordanaires began traveling with
Elvis Presley in 1956.
In February 1957, Mr. Matthews married the former Charlsie
Stewart of Nashville. She survives.
"He was truly one of the most kind and compassionate men
I have ever known," said Lisa Matthews Doster, Mr. Matthews' daughter,
who also lives in Nashville. "He was a wonderful father and husband.
"He treated Mom with the utmost respect and love."
Donna Hilley, president and CEO, Sony/ATV Tree Music Publishing,
said Mr. Matthews' creation of the chord numbering system made
it possible for people who were session players to learn a song more quickly.
"Neal always had a kind word for everybody and was never too busy
to talk to someone who was interested in getting into the music industry,"
Hilley said.
Services for Mr. Matthews will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Immanuel
Baptist Church at 222 Belle Meade Blvd.
Burial will be in Woodlawm Memorial Park. Brentwood Funeral Home
is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, mother and daughter, include a son,
Greg Matthews; a brother, Roger Matthews; a sister, Judy Matthews
Taylor, all of Nashville, and two grandchildren.
(The Nashville Tennessean, 4/23/00)
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