The Singing Americans were started in 1968 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (by Lemar and Sims) and was owned by Homer Wadford. In 1973 when the Oak Ridge Boys were beginning to make their transition from gospel to country, The Singing Americans were signed by the prestigious Lou Wills Hildreth Agency in Nashville. In an article announcing the signing, The Singing News predicted that based on their sound and popularity, that The Singing Americans would take the Oak Ridge Boys spot as the number one quartet in gospel music. Unfortunately, their owner, Homer Wadford had a different sound in mind, and wanted to see the group move in a different direction stylistically. In 1980, the group was sold to Charles Burke, who later went on to own the Kingsmen Quartet name for a few years, and obtained all new personnel with Mark Flaker singing tenor, Charles Surratt singing baritone, Ed Crawford singing Lead, and Charles Burke's son, Dwayne, singing bass. Mark Flaker left later that year and was replaced by Danny Funderburk. Ed Crwaford left and was replaced by Michael English, who would leave for a couple years and be replaced by Ivan Parker, and then Clayton Inman. Also, in 1982, Surrat would leave and be replaced by Southern Gospel legend, Ed Hill. When Michael English left for the second time in 1985, he was replaced again by Clayton Inman, who would replace Hill in 1987 in the baritone spot, leaving the lead open for Scott Whitener. The 1990s started a decline in the popularity of the Singing Americans, but it did not mean they still weren't capable of producing popular singers. David Sutton and Taylor Barnes passed through the group during this time. Finally, in 1993, the Singing Americans produced their final album, "Live from Chicago", before retiring in 1994. In August 1996, promoter/historian Charles Waller reunited English with Ed Hill, Rick Strickland, Dwayne Burke and Milton Smith as the Singing Americans, before an audience of over 4,000 gospel music fans at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion. and in 2010 at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY at a showcase commemorating the 100th anniversary of Southern Gospel music.
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This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Singing Americans news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Singing Americans were a Southern Gospel group based in Maiden North Carolina They are best known for being a stepping stone to popular singers such as Mark Flaker Florida Boys Ivan Parker Gold City Danny Funderburk the Cathedrals Clayton Inman Kingdom Heirs Won By One and Triumphant Quartet David Sutton Kingdom Heirs and Triumphant Quartet Michael English Gaither Vocal Band Mark Fain Gold City and Ricky Skaggs amp Kentucky Thunder Taylor Barnes Gold City and Jeff Easter Jeff and Sheri Easter The group was popular throughout the 1980s and early 1990s The Singing AmericansOriginWinston Salem North CarolinaGenresSouthern Gospel Contemporary ChristianYears active1968 1968 1994 1994 Contents 1 History 2 Members 2 1 Lineups 3 DiscographyHistory editThe Singing Americans were started in 1968 in Winston Salem North Carolina by Lemar and Sims and was owned by Homer Wadford In 1973 when the Oak Ridge Boys were beginning to make their transition from gospel to country The Singing Americans were signed by the prestigious Lou Wills Hildreth Agency in Nashville In an article announcing the signing The Singing News predicted that based on their sound and popularity that The Singing Americans would take the Oak Ridge Boys spot as the number one quartet in gospel music Unfortunately their owner Homer Wadford had a different sound in mind and wanted to see the group move in a different direction stylistically In 1980 the group was sold to Charles Burke who later went on to own the Kingsmen Quartet name for a few years and obtained all new personnel with Mark Flaker singing tenor Charles Surratt singing baritone Ed Crawford singing Lead and Charles Burke s son Dwayne singing bass Mark Flaker left later that year and was replaced by Danny Funderburk Ed Crwaford left and was replaced by Michael English who would leave for a couple years and be replaced by Ivan Parker and then Clayton Inman Also in 1982 Surrat would leave and be replaced by Southern Gospel legend Ed Hill When Michael English left for the second time in 1985 he was replaced again by Clayton Inman who would replace Hill in 1987 in the baritone spot leaving the lead open for Scott Whitener The 1990s started a decline in the popularity of the Singing Americans but it did not mean they still weren t capable of producing popular singers David Sutton and Taylor Barnes passed through the group during this time Finally in 1993 the Singing Americans produced their final album Live from Chicago before retiring in 1994 In August 1996 promoter historian Charles Waller reunited English with Ed Hill Rick Strickland Dwayne Burke and Milton Smith as the Singing Americans before an audience of over 4 000 gospel music fans at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion and in 2010 at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville KY at a showcase commemorating the 100th anniversary of Southern Gospel music Members editLineups edit 1968 1971 Under the Name Singing Americans 1971 1972 1972 1973Bob Sims tenor Preston Yates lead Bob Lemar baritone piano Norris Rife bass Bob Sims tenor Preston Yates lead Bob Lemar baritone piano Rick Lott bass Rodney Hoots tenor Bob Lemar lead piano Mickey Blackwelder baritone Danny Gallimore bass Joel Harris piano1973 1974 1974 1979 1979 1980Rodney Hoots tenor Bob Lemar lead piano Glenn Dye lead Mickey Blackwelder baritone Hovie Walker bass Jimmy Taylor piano Rodney Hoots tenor Wayne Maynard baritone Jerry Brown bass Rodney Hoots tenor Ed Crawford lead Jerry Brown bass1980 1980 1981 1981 1982Mark Flaker tenor Ed Crawford lead Charles Surratt baritone Dwayne Burke bass Danny Funderburk tenor Ed Crawford lead Charles Surratt baritone Dwayne Burke bass Danny Funderburk tenor Mike English lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Jerry Hatley piano1982 1983 1983 1983 1984Danny Funderburk tenor Ivan Parker lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Jerry Hatley piano Danny Funderburk tenor Clayton Inman lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Jerry Hatley piano Martin Gureasko piano Danny Funderburk tenor Mike English lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Martin Gureasko piano1984 1985 1985 1986 1986 1987Rick Strickland tenor Mike English lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Martin Guraesko piano Rick Strickland tenor Clayton Inman lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Milton Smith piano Phil Barker tenor Clayton Inman lead Ed Hill baritone Dwayne Burke bass Phil Huffman piano1987 1988 1988 1989 1989 1990Phil Barker tenor Scott Whitener lead Clayton Inman baritone Dwayne Burke bass James Rainey piano Greg Shockley tenor Scott Whitener lead Clayton Inman baritone Dwayne Burke bass James Rainey piano Greg Shockley tenor Scott Whitener lead David Jenkins baritone Dwayne Burke bass James Rainey piano1990 1992 1992 1992 1993David Walker tenor Scott Whitener lead David Harvell baritone Larry Stewart bass Keith Denson piano David Sutton tenor Scott Whitener lead Buddy Burton baritone Larry Stewart bass Jerry Kelso piano David Sutton tenor Scott Whitener lead Buddy Burton baritone Larry Stewart bass Joe Lane piano1993 1993 1994 1994David Sutton tenor Scott Whitener lead Buddy Burton baritone Larry Stewart bass Randy Matthews piano David Sutton tenor Scott Whitener lead Buddy Burton baritone Larry Stewart bass Joe Lane piano Greg Bentley tenor Loren Harris lead Buddy Burton baritone Larry Stewart bass Chuck Trivett pianoTenorBob Sims 1968 1971 Rodney Hoots 1972 197 Mark Flaker 1980 Danny Funderburk 1980 1983 Rick Strickland 1984 1986 Phil Barker 1986 1988 Greg Shockley 1988 1990 David Walker 1990 1992 David Sutton 1992 1994 Greg Bentley 1994 LeadPreston Yates 1968 1971 Bob Lemar 1972 1974 moved from baritone also played piano and managed Glenn Dye 1973 1974 swapped lead parts with Lemar Ed Crawford 1979 1981 Michael English 1981 1982 1983 1985 Ivan Parker 1982 1983 Clayton Inman 1983 1985 1987 moved to baritone Scott Whitener 1987 1992 Dale Forbes 1992 1994 David Hill 1994 Loren Harris 1994 BaritoneBob Lemar 1968 1971 moved to lead also played piano and managed Mickey Blackwelder 1972 1974 Wayne Maynard 1974 1979 Charles Surratt 1980 1981 Ed Hill 1981 1987 Surratt and Mike Lefevre filled in for Hill several months after he was injured in a bus wreck Clayton Inman 1987 1989 moved from lead David Jenkins 1989 1990 David Harvell 1990 1992 Buddy Burton 1992 1994 BassNorris Rife 1968 1971 Rick Lott 1971 1972 Danny Gallimore 1972 1973 Hovie Walker 1973 197 Jerry Brown 197 19 Dwayne Burke 1980 1990 Larry Stewart 1990 94 PianoBob Lemar 1968 1972 piano also sang lead Joel Harris 1972 1973 Jimmy Taylor 1973 1974 Jerry Hatley 1981 1983 Martin Gureasko 1983 1985 Milton Smith 1985 1986 Phil Huffman 1986 1987 James Rainey 1987 1990 Keith Denson 1990 1992 Jerry Kelso 1992 Joe Lane 1992 1993 1993 94 Randy Matthews 1993 Chuck Trivett 1994 Bass GuitarEuclid Huella 1968 1971 Tony Buttler 1971 Jeff Easter 198 1987 Mark Fain 1987 1988 Taylor Barnes 1988 1993 Jason Clark 1993 94 Rhythm and Lead GuitarHarvey Blackwelder DrumsJon Mark Russell 19 197 TrumpetJerry Hill 1972 Gary Barnhart 1972 Musicians Unknown PositionsBenny Goins Jason Clark Roger Fortner Rory Rigdon Discography edit1973 Our Tribute To God And Country 1975 Wanted Live 1977 The Singing Americans 1980 Tell the Angels 1981 The Exciting Sounds of the Singing Americans 1981 Hymntime 1981 Gospel Favorites Vol 2 1982 Sensational Singing Americans 1982 Sing Gospel Hits Volume 1 1982 Sing Gospel Hits Volume 2 1982 Sing Gospel Hits Volume 3 1982 Sing Gospel Hits Volume 4 1983 Everybody Ought to Praise His Name 1984 Gospel Favorites 1984 Something Old Something New 1984 Live and Alive 1985 Black and White 1986 Hearts of Praise Songs of Majesty 1987 Homecoming Live 1988 Chartbreakers 1988 Sing Out 1988 We re Blessed 1989 Angels on Board 1989 Songs We Salute 1990 Watch amp Pray 1990 Greatest Hits 10th Anniversary Collection Compilation 1991 Live amp Well 1991 Revival 1992 On Stage 1993 Live from Chicago 1993 Golden Hits 1993 Song of Praise 1994 Sing the Old Songs 1996 20 Favorites By The Singing Americans Compilation 199 The Devil Don t Want Us to Have a Revival 199 Singing Americans Featuring Buddy Burton 199 Singing For America Compilation Top 20 Songs Something New Home Over There People Need The Lord Lamb Of Glory Black And White Welcome To Heaven God Is Greater They Can t Take That Away I d Still Want To Go I Want To Make Heaven My Home More Than Enough Love M I A Leaning On The Rock Bridegroom Cometh Put Your Dreams Where Your Heart Is Jesus Got A Hold Of Me Past to Presence After A While God Be With You Till We Meet Again nbsp This article on a band or other musical ensemble is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Singing Americans amp oldid 1173468322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
