John Wallace "Wally" Fowler (February 15, 1917 – June 3, 1994) was an American Southern gospel music singer, manager, and music promoter and businessman. He founded the Oak Ridge Quartet, a gospel act that eventually became the Oak Ridge Boys; and popularized all-night gospel sings. An accomplished songwriter in both the country music and gospel fields, Fowler's composition "Wasted Years" became a gospel music standard.[1] He was known as The Man with a Million Friends and Mr. Gospel Music.[2]
Born near Adairsville, Georgia, Fowler's father was the cotton king of Bartow County, Georgia until the Great Depression left him broken both in health and financially.[3]
He then struck out on his own, forming a country music group, Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers,[4] which included Chet Atkins on lead guitar. They performed on WNOX-AM in Knoxville, Tennessee and became regulars on Mid-day Merry Go Round. Fowler later formed his Harmony Quartet, which sang in weekly concerts for children at nearby Oak Ridge, which led to Fowler renaming the group the Oak Ridge Quartet.[5] The group consisted of himself, Lon "Deacon" Freeman, Curly Kinsey and Johnny New.[6]
Fowler moved to Nashville, and from 1946 to 1950 became a regular part of The Prince Albert Show segment of the Grand Ole Opry on NBC Radio. In 1948, he launched his first all-night gospel sing, popularizing a format that would blanket the South over the next two decades. Originating from Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium and later taken to other major cities across the region, each show featured many of the day's premier Southern gospel quartets.[7]
In the 1950s, he hosted a syndicated television program, The Wally Fowler Show, featuring Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters, The Speers, The Statesmen and others. He recorded for several labels, but in later years, went into semi-retirement and tended to avoid publicity, although he continued to promote some gospel and variety shows in North Carolina.[8]
Death and legacy
On June 3, 1994, Fowler apparently suffered a heart attack while fishing from a dock on Dale Hollow Lake, northeast of Nashville, and his body was found floating in the water.[9] He was survived by his widow, Judy Moss Fowler, and daughters Faith McCoy and Hope Kimmer.[10]
Notes
^"John Wallace Fowler". Southern Gospel Music Association. 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
^"Wally Fowler, Gospel Songwriter, 77" (June 7, 1994), Obituaries, The New York Times, p. B-7
^"Wally Fowler". Muse UK Ltd. 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
^"Wally Fowler, Gospel Songwriter, 77" (June 7, 1994), Obituaries, The New York Times, p. B-7
^"Wally Fowler". Muse UK Ltd. 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
^"John Wallace Fowler". Southern Gospel Music Association. 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
^"John Wallace Fowler". Southern Gospel Music Association. 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
^"Wally Fowler". Muse UK Ltd. 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
^"Wally Fowler, Gospel Songwriter, 77" (June 7, 1994), Obituaries, The New York Times, p. B-7
^"Wally Fowler, Gospel Songwriter, 77" (June 7, 1994), Obituaries, The New York Times, p. B-7
References
"John Wallace Fowler". Southern Gospel Music Association. 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
"Wally Fowler, Gospel Songwriter, 77" (June 7, 1994), Obituaries, The New York Times, p. B-7
The Associated Press, "Wally Fowler, `Mr. Gospel Music'" obit (June 4, 1994), The Seattle Times
"Wally Fowler". Muse UK Ltd. 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
Southern Gospel History: Wally Fowler
External links
Listen to Wally Fowler and the Oak Ridge Quartet
WatchThe Wally Fowler Show
May 18, 2023
wally, fowler, john, wallace, wally, fowler, february, 1917, june, 1994, american, southern, gospel, music, singer, manager, music, promoter, businessman, founded, ridge, quartet, gospel, that, eventually, became, ridge, boys, popularized, night, gospel, sings. John Wallace Wally Fowler February 15 1917 June 3 1994 was an American Southern gospel music singer manager and music promoter and businessman He founded the Oak Ridge Quartet a gospel act that eventually became the Oak Ridge Boys and popularized all night gospel sings An accomplished songwriter in both the country music and gospel fields Fowler s composition Wasted Years became a gospel music standard 1 He was known as The Man with a Million Friends and Mr Gospel Music 2 Wally FowlerBirth nameJohn Wallace FowlerAlso known asThe Man with a Million FriendsBorn 1917 02 15 February 15 1917OriginAdairsville Georgia USDiedJune 3 1994 1994 06 03 aged 77 GenresGospel countryOccupation s singer songwriterYears active1935 1985Labels4 Star Records Decca Starday Pickwick Dove King Nashwood Contents 1 Personal life 2 Death and legacy 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksPersonal life EditBorn near Adairsville Georgia Fowler s father was the cotton king of Bartow County Georgia until the Great Depression left him broken both in health and financially 3 He then struck out on his own forming a country music group Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers 4 which included Chet Atkins on lead guitar They performed on WNOX AM in Knoxville Tennessee and became regulars on Mid day Merry Go Round Fowler later formed his Harmony Quartet which sang in weekly concerts for children at nearby Oak Ridge which led to Fowler renaming the group the Oak Ridge Quartet 5 The group consisted of himself Lon Deacon Freeman Curly Kinsey and Johnny New 6 Fowler moved to Nashville and from 1946 to 1950 became a regular part of The Prince Albert Show segment of the Grand Ole Opry on NBC Radio In 1948 he launched his first all night gospel sing popularizing a format that would blanket the South over the next two decades Originating from Nashville s historic Ryman Auditorium and later taken to other major cities across the region each show featured many of the day s premier Southern gospel quartets 7 In the 1950s he hosted a syndicated television program The Wally Fowler Show featuring Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters The Speers The Statesmen and others He recorded for several labels but in later years went into semi retirement and tended to avoid publicity although he continued to promote some gospel and variety shows in North Carolina 8 Death and legacy EditOn June 3 1994 Fowler apparently suffered a heart attack while fishing from a dock on Dale Hollow Lake northeast of Nashville and his body was found floating in the water 9 He was survived by his widow Judy Moss Fowler and daughters Faith McCoy and Hope Kimmer 10 Notes Edit John Wallace Fowler Southern Gospel Music Association 2008 Retrieved June 12 2009 Wally Fowler Gospel Songwriter 77 June 7 1994 Obituaries The New York Times p B 7 Wally Fowler Muse UK Ltd 2008 Retrieved June 13 2009 Wally Fowler Gospel Songwriter 77 June 7 1994 Obituaries The New York Times p B 7 Wally Fowler Muse UK Ltd 2008 Retrieved June 13 2009 John Wallace Fowler Southern Gospel Music Association 2008 Retrieved June 12 2009 John Wallace Fowler Southern Gospel Music Association 2008 Retrieved June 12 2009 Wally Fowler Muse UK Ltd 2008 Retrieved June 13 2009 Wally Fowler Gospel Songwriter 77 June 7 1994 Obituaries The New York Times p B 7 Wally Fowler Gospel Songwriter 77 June 7 1994 Obituaries The New York Times p B 7References Edit John Wallace Fowler Southern Gospel Music Association 2008 Retrieved June 12 2009 Wally Fowler Gospel Songwriter 77 June 7 1994 Obituaries The New York Times p B 7 The Associated Press Wally Fowler Mr Gospel Music obit June 4 1994 The Seattle Times Wally Fowler Muse UK Ltd 2008 Retrieved June 13 2009 Southern Gospel History Wally FowlerExternal links EditListen to Wally Fowler and the Oak Ridge Quartet Watch The Wally Fowler Show Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wally Fowler amp oldid 1084316701, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
