I'll Be Home For Christmas

I'll Be Home For Christmas has been a powerful and moving Christmas song since World War II when it was written. I can't help but tear up each time I listen to Burl Strevel's version - which I've made into a video as my Christmas gift to all of my fellow Blue Ridge fans :-)

Scars In The Hands Of Jesus

"Scars In The Hands Of Jesus" is a gospel song written by Marijohn Wilkin, and made famous by several southern gospel groups. It speaks of the day when we will enter Heaven, and find that the only thing there made by man, will be the scars in Jesus' hands. It is only through those wounds in His hands, feet, and side, and the shedding of His blood, that we can be saved. Of the many versions of this song, I've always loved Donnie Seabolt's rendition. Enjoy it now, with this moving video :-)

God Bless America

The Blue Ridge were world famous for singing Southern Gospel music, showing their devotion to God. But they were also never afraid to show their love for their country. Enjoy their version of "God Bless America", set to an amazing fireworks display!

The Final Edition

In addition to all of the LP's I have available on CD, our friend Lewis Harrison has a project you should definitely read about!am excited to let you know the first in a series of historical CD's with "The Sweetest Singing This Side of Heaven" is now available. I don't want to go into great detail except to say that counting travel time, motel, days off from work and considerable time in several remasterings of two projects and a quick remaster of the others,there has been a big amount of expense.If the break even point is reached,IT WILL BE PLOWED BACK INTO FURTHER RESTORATION PROJECTS. They are coming from reel tapes 50 years old or older and require much patience and time. SO PLEASE DON'T COPY.
These are done with permission and come from my collection including tapes given to me by Elmo Fagg before his death.

THE FIRST PROJECT IS TITLED-'The Final Edition" and features a live concert with Elmo Fagg,Bill Crow,Kenny Gates,Ed Sprouse and George Younce. Also included is the first 78rpm recording of The Blue Ridge Qt. and my favorite 78rpm featuring Burl and Elmo; Thank you for interest,support and prayers in advance."

And this from Robbie Huber:

"I just want to say ... "What A Keepsake", this man was there when The BLUE RIDGE QUARTET, was in their infancy. and was given the title, "The Sweetest Singing This Side Of Heaven"...
What he is making available to us, is a Collectors Treasure !!!
This recording which, has NEVER been released or even heard in nearly 50 years, carries you back to a time and place when, Southern Gospel Quartet Music, was in it's purest form.
EVERY BLUE RIDGE QUARTET Fan MUST have at least one copy of this CD !!!
This is a First of several projects to come ...
Can I just say, "You Won't Be Disappointed" ...
THANK YOU MR. HARRISON ..."

To Order:
Lewis Harrison
P.O. Box 3515
Phenix, Al.
36868
You can message him on Facebook for the price. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004125515102&fref=ts
AGAIN, don't let this once in a lifetime opportunity, pass you by.

Spartanburg Music Trail

They say a picture is worth 1000 words.  So I'd like to tell the story behind this picture, at least the way I see it happening in my mind...

It is a beautiful Autumn day, and my friend Kenny is walking through the streets of downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina. He says "Hi" to people he passes, even stops to shake a hand of an old friend as he goes.  As he passes along North Dunbar Street, he sees a plaque mounted, and does a double take!

He stops, looks at the plaque, and sure enough, in a flashback from the early 1960's, he sees a familiar face smiling back at him.  A smile he sees in the mirror every morning. Yes, he is looking at a picture of himself, along with his friends Burl Strevel, Ed Sprouse, Elmo Fagg, and Bill Crowe! You see, my friend is Kenny Gates, who was the pianist for the Blue Ridge Quartet, a gospel singing group formed in 1946, which moved to Spartanburg in 1948, and which he joined a year later. He even sang baritone with the quartet for 6 years. They sang the "Sweetest Singing This Side Of Heaven" for almost 40 years, and in 2011, this plaque was erected on what is called the "Spartanburg Music Trail". It honors 13 singers and musicians who called Spartanburg home.

The plaque says "The Blue Ridge Quartet was a pioneering gospel group, rising to national prominence through it's syndicated television show 'Music For All America,'  which was filmed at Spartanburg's WSPA.  Founded in 1946 by Elmo Fagg, Ed Sprouse, Kenny Gates, and Burl Strevel, and later joined by Bill Crowe, the group would go on to record several hit songs and over 100 albums during the next four decades."
Kenny states "What an honor it was for us to be a part of that group along with the Marshall Tucker Band, The Sparkletones, Don Reno, Buck Trent and others."

Jim Wood

Jim Wood was born in Florida on October 23, 1952. He began his gospel music career with The Telestials.  He wrote and sang 2 songs which were nominated  for Dove Awards in 1976 and 1977 - "Here They Come" and "One Way Flight."

Jim left the Telestials in 1978, and sang briefly with the Southmen Quartet before joining the Blue Ridge Quartet as their lead singer, where he stayed until 1984. An EP was released shortly after he joined, with 4 songs - It's Worth It All, Leaning On The Everlasting Arms, Love Lifted Me, and How Great Thou Art.   He appeared on 4 gospel LP's with the Blue Ridge -  "Thank You, Mister DJ", "Here They Come", "The Battle For My Daddy's Soul", and "Those Cotton Pickin' Blue Ridge". He also appears as a backup singer on the Blue Ridge's Rodney Hoots solo LP "You Needed Me".  Rodney had high praise for Jim - "Jim was one of the best lead singers I myself have ever sang with and one of the best all around "Entertainers" in the business, Give him a guitar and he could entertain a crowd for hours by himself!!!!" 

Members of the Mark IV also spoke highly of him...  George Colley says "Jim was a jewel in every sense.", and Steve Boyd said Jim was "(The) Best lead singer I ever got the chance to work with, and call my friend. It was an honor to have him in our group." Jim passed away on March 11, 2006 at the age of 53. 

Blue Ridge Country Road Show

In the late 1970's, The Blue Ridge began adding more country songs to their Gospel repertoire.  After the passing of Burl Strevel in Nov. 1981, they shifted their focus entirely to country music, and became known as the Blue Ridge Country Road Show.

5 music videos of the Blue Ridge singing Country are now available on a DVD, along with a Blue Ridge Country Road Show TV appearance, complete with music and interviews.  Anyone who is interested may order a copy, along with any other Blue Ridge CD's or DVD's as shown on the right side of this blog.

LaVerne Tripp

LaVerne Tripp was born on April 11, 1944, in Chocowinity, North Carolina. It was at a camp meeting there that he first sang publicly, as a 2 1/2 year old.  For all of us, thankfully, his love of singing, and desire to sing has never faded! During his time as a student at Holmes College of the Bible, he sang as part of a trio at local churches. He also sang with the Rangers Quartet, Jubilee Quartet, Palmetto State Quartet, and Sierras before joining the Blue Ridge Quartet as their lead singer in 1969.

His youth and energy revitalized the quartet, as did his song writing.  He wrote and recorded 3 straight number one gospel songs - "I Know", "That Day Is Almost Here", and "After Calvary". Concerts were sold out weeks in advance, and record sales were through the roof. LaVerne was nominated 8 times for the Dove Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the Christina Music industry. In 1971, he was voted male vocalist of the year, and "I Know" was song of the year.

At the end of 1974, with the Blue Ridge's popularity at it's highest, LaVerne made the decision to leave the quartet, giving his life to God and became an evangelist. He has traveled for the last 40 years with his wife Edith, and his family, to churches all across America and around the world, singing and sharing the Gospel. LaVerne is still ministering today, and you can follow him at LaVerne Tripp Ministries

Ed Sprouse

Ed Sprouse was born on September 20, 1923, in Fernbank, Alabama.  His music career started in 1941 when he won first place in the Stamps-Baxter School of Music contest. Ed's first professional singing job was with the Smile Awhile Quartet of Macon, Georgia. He also sang with the Old Timers Quartet, but is best known for his work with the Blue Ridge Quartet.  Joining in November 1950, he sang tenor with the Blue Ridge until 1965. His unmistakable tenor voice can be heard on "No Disappointments In Heaven", and many other beautiful songs.

Ed went into the furniture business after leaving the Blue Ridge, but remained active in singing, and was music director at Central United Methodist Church in Columbus, Mississippi. In the 1980's, he sang with the Senators Quartet, and performed with Fred Daniel, Bill Crowe, Kenny Gates, and George Younce at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion Shows.  Ed passed away September 21, 2014, just one day after his 91st birthday.

The Mark Four

With the exception of 2 years in the late 1960's, the only live back-up to the Blue Ridge Quartet had been Kenny Gates at the piano.  In January 1971, they added drummer Jerry Browning, and bass guitarist Blaine Bucy, followed by steel guitar player Butch Peters in March 1971, and from this point forward, the band was known as The Mark Four.

 In June 1972, Larry Orr, a former studio musician on Blue Ridge recordings replaced Butch Peters on the steel.  Blaine Bucy left the band in 1973, and was replaced by George Colley.  George himself would leave the group for a few years, and Blaine returned.  Jerry Browning retired from the road in 1975, and Steve Boyd took over as the drummer, remaining with the group until they disbanded in 1986. 

The end of 1977 and beginning of 1978 saw a number of changes in the Mark Four band.  Kenny Gates retired, after almost 30 years behind the piano.  Pat Wright took over playing the electric keyboard.  Blaine Bucy again left the road, and George Colley returned. Larry Orr left the road and Allan Miller was added to the group, playing guitar and banjo. Pat Wright left, and Gary McGuaig was added as a steel guitar player. In 1979, George Colley left to join the Billy Crash Craddock show, and Brad Bailey joined the Mark Four. Allan Miller left, and was replaced by Steve Fortenberry. Gary McGuaig left, and was replaced by Bucky Baxter on the steel.  He, Steve Fortenberry, and Brad Bailey did not appear on any studio gospel recordings, the last LP released being "You Needed Me" featuring Rodney Hoots in 1978. Kenny Gates, Blaine Bucy, George Colley, Steve Boyd, and Pat Wright also added their vocal talents to Blue Ridge concerts and recordings.

Others who performed with the Mark Four were Tony Perkins, Mike McKelravey Jack Carchio Jr., and William "Tiger" Fitzhugh.

After the passing of Burl Strevel in November 1981, Bill Crowe took over the management of the group, and they changed the name to "The Blue Ridge Country Road Show", and focused mainly on country music until they disbanded in 1986.

Thank you to Steve Boyd and Jr. Wood for helping me with this post, If I have left any names off  this list, please let me know, accept my apologies, and I will make the correction!

Fred Daniel

Fred Daniel was born March 29, 1925, and began his career as a gospel singer on the steps of the Porterville Methodist Church.  After 2 years in the US Navy during World War II, he along with childhood friend, Wallace "Happy" Edwards, formed a gospel quartet called "The Happy Four".  Fred sang there for 3 years, before joining the Sunshine Boys. During his years there, he appeared with the group in the Charles Starrett B-Western, Prairie Roundup. The Sunshine Boys not only pioneered in recording and in movies, but they also pioneered in radio, performing on WSB Barn Dance in Atlanta and WWVA Wheeling Jamboree in the late 40s and early 50s. 

Although he spent more of his singing career with the Sunshine Boys, Fred will always be remembered and loved for his energy and enthusiasm singing tenor for 12 years with the Blue Ridge Quartet. He joined the group in 1965, reuniting with his friend and former Sunshine Boy member, Burl Strevel. Didn't we all just want to jump with him when he was singing "Somebody Touched Me" or "I Wanna Go There?"  After retiring from full-time singing in 1977, Fred put his electric personality to use in the insurance industry, working as district, regional and divisional sales manager for Mutual of Omaha. Still, he eagerly looked forward to reunion shows. He said his greatest joy was when he was in front of people singing - "That's when I felt I was at my best." Fred passed away November 6, 2007, just 2 weeks after the passing of Hilda Daniel, his wife of over 64 years, and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame on October 9, 2008.

Count Your Blessings

Enjoy this video I've compiled, with Burl reminding us to "Count Your Blessings". Such great advice, and a beautiful song. One of the greatest sins in the world today is that of ingratitude. Let us all try harder to be thankful for all we have been blessed with :-)

Music from Mark IV LP 1119 "Burl Strevel Sings Low And Easy"

Elmo Fagg

Although he wasn't an original member of the Blue Ridge Quartet when it was formed in February 1946, it is a pretty good bet that without Elmo Fagg, we wouldn't be still talking about and loving the group today.

Elmo was born June 28, 1919 in Alcoa Tennessee, and was a singer practically all of his life. After graduating from high school and business college, he served over 3 years in the United States Air Force. He was discharged in October 1945, and then joined the Lone Star Quartet in Raleigh, North Carolina. In June of 1946, he joined the Blue Ridge Quartet, and stayed there as their lead singer, and manager until his retirement in January 1969.

Under Elmo's leadership, along with Burl Strevel who joined the group in 1947, the quartet moved to Spartanburg South Carolina in June 1948, singing on WSPA radio,  In 1951, television was added, and the Blue Ridge became one of the first groups to appear regularly.  Because of the television exposure and Elmo's leadership, The Blue Ridge Quartet name spread far and wide. They were billed as "The Sweetest Singing This Side Of Heaven"  He was instrumental in founding the Gospel Singing Caravan, which along with the LeFevres, Johnson Sisters, and The Prophets, brought their music to an even larger audience.

Elmo passed away February 3, 1981, and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame on October 13, 2005.