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.