Popular gospel quartet slated to perform at local church

The gospel music group The Blackwood Brothers Quartet will perfom at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 at First United Methodist Church, 301 S. National, Fort Scott.

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet was formed in 1934 with brothers Roy, Doyle and James along with Roy's son, R.W., who was killed in an airplane accident in 1954. Roy and Doyle retired from the road in the late 40s. James continued to lead the group, making it the best-known name in gospel quartet history.

James, the last surviving member of the original quartet, died in 2002, but his son James Blackwood Jr. (Jimmy) brought the name out of retirement and continues the 75-year family tradition of gospel singing.

The group today consists of Jimmy, Wayne Little, Billy Blackwood and pianist Mike Hammontree.

Anchoring the Blackwood sound is the lead voice of Jimmy. Jimmy started singing with the Junior Blackwood Brothers in the early 60s and then sang baritone with J.D. Sumner in the Stamps Quartet from 1965-69. He joined the Blackwood Brothers Quartet in 1969. Both the Stamps Quartet and the Blackwood Brothers Quartet have been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

While with the Blackwood Brothers in the 70s and 80s, Jimmy won numerous Dove Awards and five Grammy Awards. In 1979, he received the Singing News fan award for Favorite Second Tenor. The remarks heard most often are how much he looks like and sounds like his famous father.

Jimmy and his wife Mona live in Memphis, Tenn. They have two daughters, Dana and Debbie, and five grandchildren.

Little is one of the best tenors to ever sing a gospel song. Little formed the Crystal River Boys Quartet and later sang with the New Millennium Quartet. He was a featured singer at the Pentagon for a 9/11 memorial service with the Rev. Franklin Graham.

Little and his wife Gina live in Elizabethton, Tenn., and have two sons, Micah and Maison.

Billy, James' youngest son, sings baritone and is the music arranger for the quartet. Billy played drums for J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet at age 14. He also played for the Blackwood Brothers, Gordon Jensen and Sunrise, Andrus/Blackwood and Company and toured with Voice, the opening act for the Elvis Presley show. He has traveled in solo ministry and has worked in youth and pastoral ministry.

Billy has four daughters and one son. His wife's name is Cherry.

Butch Owens is the newest member of the group, but is no stranger to gospel music. He sang bass with an earlier version of the Stamps Quartet and most recently with Bob Jones and the Songfellows Quartet. He is a retired law enforcement officer. His son, Ian sings bass for Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. Butch is from Spring Hill, Tenn.

Hammontree is the pianist for the quartet. Hammontree started playing the piano at age 5 in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. His early life was influenced by the great gospel piano players from the 1950s and 60s such as Jack Marshall and Wally Varner.

Hammontree and his wife, Dana have two sons Chad and Chase, and they also have an inspiring and uplifting family ministry.

Submitted to the Tribune by Don Tucker