The Florida Boys--Gospel Quartet Singing at Its Best

Having spent the last two days or so covering the Katherine Harris campaign in Florida, I am constantly reminded of the charm of the South. My time spent writing about the Nall campaign for Governor of Alabama and other issues related to that state, plus being here in Florida following the campaign trail from afar, has given me a new appreciation for the culture, manners, speech, and preferences of the great citizens who live here.

For this reason I will depart briefly from my usual fare on this blog. I wish to turn my attention to a phenomenon that was born and bred in the South and has spread throughout the nation and to other parts of the world. It is affectionately known here as 'quartet music,' or 'Gospel quartet singing,' or as aficionados prefer to call it today, 'Southern Gospel Music.'

On any given weekend, usually Thursday through Sunday, one can find numerous Southern Gospel groups criss-crossing the land performing at large paid concerts as well as smaller church concerts. One of the groups at the forefront of this cultural phenomenon is The Florida Boys from Pensacola, Florida. My short stay here in Florida has introduced me to the large following that these Gospel troubadours have garnered through the years. They are practically household names both here and across the country.

The Florida Boys trace their beginnings back to 1948 when they were known as the 'Gospel Melody Quartet.' But because of promoters who introduced them to the stage as 'those boys from Florida with sand in their shoes and a song in their hearts,' they changed their name to 'The Florida Boys Quartet' in the early 1950s. From there their popularity simply went up, up, and up.

This quartet was one of the very first Gospel groups to appear on television when the medium was still in its infancy. They produced and hosted a weekly TV program called, 'The Gospel Song Shop,' which was seen in many markets all over the South. Then, in 1964 their big break came when a national sponsor tapped the Florida Boys to host its Gospel Music showcase called 'The Gospel Singing Jubilee.' For 18 years each Sunday morning the Jubilee could be seen on every single major television market in the United States, giving the Florida Boys instant national recognition.

That recognition paid off, for the group appeared in the very first Gospel concert held at New York City's Carnegie Hall in the early 60s.

While the personnel has changed somewhat through the years, the Florida Boys still consist of three members whose tenure with the group dates back to the 1950s. Les Beasley, manager, and Glen Allred, baritone vocalist, have been together in the group for 53 years--a record in the Southern Gospel field. Derrell Stewart, pianist, has been with the group for nearly 50 years. Rounding out the group today are Gene McDonald, bass vocalist, who is touted as the best in the business, Josh Garner, lead vocalist, who is viewed by industry insiders as one of the greatest leads ever, and tenor Harold Reed, who is one of the best high tenors singing Gospel music today.

The Florida Boys sing at roughly 250 personal appearances each year, from the largest arenas in the country to the smallest churches in the most rural parts of the South. The reason for their popularity is not far to find. They are good...very good. Those who are not familiar with professional, four-part male harmony would do well to listen to this group to see how it's done. These guys are real pros in every sense of the word.

But the Florida Boys are not the only Southern Gospel group out there creating excitement. Countless other groups, both pro and semi-pro, hit the road each week doing the same thing. Some of the biggest names are the Gold City Quartet, the Dove Brothers, Signature Sound Quartet, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Isaacs, the Kingsmen, Brian Free and Assurance, the Hoppers, and the Inspirations. Each of these groups follow in the grand tradition started by groups such as Hovie Lister and the Statesmen, the Blackwood Brothers, the Cathedral Quartet, and many other groups that are no longer with us.

The Southern Gospel Music business is supported by a rather large network of publications, Internet sites, record companies, talent agencies, radio promotions, and the like. Some of the more popular names include The Singing News, Southern Gospel News, U.S. Gospel News, all of which have publications and websites geared toward Southern Gospel fans. Southern Gospel Music even has its own radio airplay charts, complete with the latest hits from the top groups as they are played on radio stations that feature this form of music.

Part of the charm of the South is this form of music, which one cannot find anywhere else in the world. It was born and bred right here in the Deep South. This is part of Americana at its very finest.

By the way, if you are interested in news about the Florida Boys, their itinerary, and their CDs, DVDs, videos, and the like, you can visit their website at www.floridaboys.com. In addition, their music can be found at sites such as Amazon.com.

You may not necessarily be a fan of Christian music, but any music lover won't be disappointed in listening to a uniquely American art form as performed by the very best--The Florida Boys.

NOTICE! This edited post contains a correction to the earlier website address for the Florida Boys, which was in error. The correct web address is www.floridaboys.com.