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.