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.