2003

SG History 101 - The Plainsmen Quartet

If the world of gospel music had a dictionary and you looked up the words "modern quartet harmony", no doubt a picture of the Plainsmen Quartet would accompany the definition. The Plainsmen Quartet may not have invented "modern quartet harmony", but they certainly perfected the technique. Imaginative arrangements, creative dynamics, and precision singing became trademarks of this outstanding gospel quartet.

The voices of the original Plainsmen were associated with the Stamps Music Company located in Dallas, Texas. Many of the original members of the Plainsmen recorded for Columbia Records as the Stamps Quartet.

In August of 1956, the quartet left the Stamps organization to work independently. The group at the time consisted of Howard Welborn (tenor), Jack Mainord (lead), Bill Randall (baritone), Joe B. Davis (bass), and Easmon Napier (pianist and emcee). The group maintained the "heavy" sound associated with the Stamps organization until their first personnel change when Rusty Goodman joined the group as the baritone singer in December of 1957 replacing Bill Randall.

Although his vocal range was more in the baritone range, Rusty soon replaced Joe B. Davis in the bass slot, and identical twins Ermon and Thurman Bunch joined the Plainsmen. The Bunch twins came from the Jubilaires Quartet. Although many people aren't aware of them, The Jubliaires were pace setters in the modern harmony department. You may remember their pianist, Wally Varner. When Wally left the Jubilaires, he joined the Blackwood Brothers.

The Bunch twins brought many of their unique arrangements to the Plainsmen. With Rusty Goodman singing bass and the extraordinary range of the Bunch twins, the harmonies were superb. That particular group only released one album: "Songs and Hymns by the Plainsmen Quartet". It is one of the most collectable records in gospel music. It's often referred to as "The Red Album" for most of the copies were pressed on red vinyl.

Ermon Bunch didn't stay with the group for long, and Howard Welborn returned to the baritone slot instead of the tenor slot that he'd earlier vacated. That particular version of the Plainsmen featured some dramatic ranges among the singers. The bass singer (Rusty Goodman) could sing well into the second tenor range, and the baritone singer (Howard Welborn) was the former first tenor for the group. High, unusual harmonies prevailed as pianist Easmon Napier stretched the limits of the vocalists with his magnificent style.

Governor Jimmie Davis saw the potential in this quartet, and took them on the campaign trail with him as he sought reelection in 1958. Larry Denim soon replaced Easmon Napier, and the Plainsmen moved their home base to Baton Rouge, La. During this time, the Plainsmen also sang secular music. Listen closely and you can hear them on your oldies radio station as they back up Johnny Horton on his hit song "North to Alaska". They became one of the only gospel music artists to record secular music on an ongoing basis.

Rusty Goodman left the group in 1963 to join his family group, the Happy Goodmans. Long time Harmoneers Quartet bass singer Seals "Low Note" Hilton joined the group for a short time upon the retirement of the Hamoneers. At his departure, two North Carolinians joined the group: Jay Simmons and David Reece. Jay remained bass singer for the Plainsmen for many years, but Reece was quickly replaced by Eddie Crook as pianist. The personnel of Thurman Bunch, Jack Mainord, Howard Welborn, Jay Simmons, and Eddie Crook remained intact for a couple of years, and this group recorded many gospel music classics showcasing their varied talents.

Personnel changes in the Plainsmen continued as Jerry Redd replaced Thurman Bunch. In the changing world of gospel music, several members of the current Plainsmen moved to Wichita, Kansas and reunited with former pianist Easmon Napier to form the Marksmen Quartet. The Marksmen continued the Plainsmen sound singing both gospel and country music. Thurman Bunch, Ermon Bunch, Easmon Napier, Jay Simmons, and Jerry Menshall traveled as the Marksmen performing on country music shows and on several radio stations owned by Mack Sanders in the Midwest.

Howard Welborn, Jack Mainord, and Eddie Crook remained in Baton Rouge, and enlisted the services of Gerald Williams as bass singer. Gerald had sung for many years with the Melody Boys Quartet, and was an excellent vocalist and quartet man. Gerald brought dignity and class to the Plainsmen performances. Bobby Edwards was selected as the tenor singer for the group.

In the ensuing years, the personnel of the Marksmen and Plainsmen reunited. For several years, the Plainsmen consisted of Thurman Bunch, Jack Mainord, Dwight Hicks, Jay Simmons, and Easmon Napier. This group headlined many country music shows and continued to promote radio stations owned by Mack Sanders much like the Marksmen.

After a few years, Gerald Williams once again joined the Plainsmen replacing Jay Simmons. The group continued the flourish, as they sang across the country. They were headliners at the Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas showcasing a program that consisted of country, pop, standards, as well as gospel music.

The Plainsmen went though a time of singing as a trio, and had numerous changes in personnel. Some former Plainsmen members not previously mentioned that you may recognize include Sherrill Nielsen, Gene McDonald, Jerry Venable, Laddie Cain, Jerry Trammell, Steve Warren, Brad Harris, Tommy Randall, Newman Miller, Roy McNeill, Jonathan Sawrie, Tank Tackett, Jim Garstang, Butch Sanders, and Mike Loprinzi. This is by no means a complete list of former Plainsmen, but some of the more recognizable names in gospel music history.

The music of the Plainsmen was not only ahead of its time, but it is timeless.

John Crenshaw
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Original Plainsmen, 1957 Clockwise from top right: Joe B. Davis, Howard Welborn, Easmon Napier, Jack Mainord, Bill Randall	Casual picture: Larry Denim, Rusty Goodman, Howard Welborn, Thurman Bunch, Jack Mainord
Plainsmen 1959: Erman Bunch, Thurman Bunch, Easmon Napier, Jack Mainord, Rusty Goodman Picture taken from the program of the 1959 National Qt. Convention	Plainsmen Quartet circa 1965: Clockwise from top right: Jerry Redd, Howard Welborn, Jay Simmons, Eddie Crook, Jack Mainord
Plainsmen 1974: Gerald Williams, Thurman Bunch, Easmon Napier, Dwight Hicks, Jack Mainord	Marksmen Quartet: Thurman Bunch, Jerry Menshall, Ermon Bunch, Easmon Napier, Jay Simmons

SG History 101 - The Harvesters

One of the most underrated groups of the 1950's and 1960's was the Harvesters Quartet from Charlotte, NC. The alumni of the group includes a Minister of Music, a top gospel music talent agency executive, an insurance salesman, a florist, a barber, a professional comedy writer, a session pianist, a featured soloist for the Jerry Falwell ministries, a country music artist, and a Congressman.

The group was originally formed from remnants of the Crusaders Quartet. As a little history lesson, Bobby Strickland formed the Crusaders Quartet shortly after leaving the Statesmen Quartet. Former members of that group included Strickland, Buddy Parker, Bervin Kendricks, Bob Prater, Hershell Wooten, and Dickie Matthews among others. This quartet was a major factor in gospel music until a car accident took the life of Mr.Strickland. Bill Hefner replaced Strickland as the tenor of the group, but it soon disbanded.

In the mean time, WBT radio of Charlotte, NC was looking for a gospel quartet, and several members of the defunct Crusaders came to Charlotte to form the Harvesters Quartet. Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker and Hershell Wooten of the Crusaders joined forces with David Reece and Pat Patterson and the Harvesters Quartet was born.

Unlike most groups, the Harvesters had very few personnel changes throughout their professional career. Bill Hefner and Buddy Parker set the foundation for the group at the tenor and lead slots, and remained there for their entire professional career. Through the years, the only change in baritones was made in 1958 when Pat Patterson was replaced by Don Norman. The treble parts had little change, but the bass part did change on occasion as the original bass singer, Hershell Wooten, was followed by Fred Rose, Jay Simmons, Bob Thacker, and Noel Fox.

The Harvesters have boasted one the finest trio of pianists of any group in the history of gospel music with David Reece, Jack Clark, and Earl Brewer among the alumni of the keyboards. Phil Ross and Gary Trussler also had short stints with the Harvesters at the piano.

The quartet retired in the mid 1960's as one of the finest quartets in gospel music. They had tight harmony, great arrangements, and were fine entertainers. Bill Hefner had a fine tenor voice, and his emcee techniques kept the audience laughing as soon as he began speaking. Buddy Parker had a wonderful lead voice with the range of a first tenor. Don Norman had a lovely baritone voice, and all of the Harvesters bass singers were solid contributors to the sound of the group. Jack Clark had a great piano style that complimented the group without overshadowing their singing.

Few groups retire when they are at the top of the pack. The Harvesters did so. After their retirement, the Harvesters continued to sing in local concerts promoted by Mr.Hefner throughout the North Carolina area. This arrangement lasted for several years until politics came to call on Mr. Hefner. Jack Bryson, Richard Coletrain, Richard Lee, Joe Ferguson, Gene Player, Danny Parker, CR McClain Jr., and Phil Barker were all among the "part-time" Harvesters which also included Earl Brewer and Bob Thacker.

The Harvesters continue to perform now. Their current group is quite active and maintains the solid quartet sound made famous in the 1950's by the Harvesters. Danny Parker (Ivan's brother) is the manager of the group.

Time has been a bit kinder to the Harvesters than many other groups, and the current Harvesters have done their part to pay homage to their roots. Recently, the Harvesters had a reunion concert featuring four of the former members of the group: Bill Hefner, Don Norman, Hershell Wooten, and Jack Clark. Danny Parker filled the vocal part of Buddy Parker as the "Old Harvesters" thrilled the audience singing songs from their career. Although Hershell Wooten is not in the best of health, his voice filled the rafters as he sang with his old comrades. The Harvesters' current bass singer, Jim Collins, sang some with the "old guys" to give Hershell a break.

Be sure to check out the current Harvesters at their web site at [url=http://www.harvestersquartet.com]http://www.harvestersquartet.com[/url]