Blackwood Brothers Quartet

about

The 'Blackwood Brothers Quartet' is a American gospel music singing group. They formed in 1934 in the midst of the Great Depression when preacher Roy Blackwood moved his family back home to Mississippi. His brothers Doyle and James (only 15 at the time) already had some experience singing with Vardaman Ray and Gene Catledge. Adding Roy's 13-year-old son R. W. Blackwood to sing baritone, the brothers began to travel and sing locally. By 1940, they were affiliated with Stamp-Baxter to sell songbooks and were appearing on 50,000-watt radio station KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa. The quartet relocated to Memphis, TN in 1950. The move would proved to be profitable for the group as they began to appear on television station WMCT in coming years. On June 14, 1954, the Blackwood Brothers lineup of Bill Shaw-tenor, James Blackwood - lead, R.W. Blackwood - baritone, Bill Lyles - bass, and Jackie Marshall - piano, won the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts competition on national television with their rendition of Have You Talked To The Man Upstairs? The excitement was short lived however, when a fatal plane crash in Clanton, Alabama just 16 days later claimed the lives of R. W. Blackwood and bass singer Bill Lyles, along with a local friend from Clanton, Johnny Ogburn. Bill Shaw, James Blackwood and Jackie Marshall soldiered on. R.W.'s little brother Cecil took over as baritone and J. D. Sumner replaced Lyles at the bass position. In the following years, he and James Blackwood put a number of

top songs

albums

Paradise Island

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The Ultimate Blackwood Brothers: 80 Years - 80 Songs

75 Years: The Song Will Go On

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Rock Of Ages

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Forever: 80th Anniversary Recording

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Southern Gospel Radio Shows 1935-1955

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Classics: Volume One

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Rock Of Ages- Hymns Of The Faith

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Bibletone: Blackwood Brothers, August Live

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1953, Volume One

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Bibletone: Blackwood Brothers Quartet 1953 Vol. 1

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Sweet Songs About Heaven

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