The Singing Americans were a Southern Gospel group based Asheville, NC, until 1980, then in Maiden, North Carolina. They brought about popular singers, such as Wayne Maynard (Kingsmen)Mark Flaker (Florida Boys) Ivan Parker (Gold City), Danny Funderburk (the Cathedrals), Clayton Inman (Kingdom Heirs, Won By One, and Triumphant Quartet), David Sutton (Kingdom Heirs and Triumphant Quartet), Michael English (Gaither Vocal Band), Mark Fain (Gold City and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder), Taylor Barnes (Gold City), and Jeff Easter (Jeff and Sheri Easter). The group was popular throughout the late 70’s to early 1990s.

History The Singing Americans were started in 1968 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by Lemar and Sims.The group was then owned by Homer Wadford and based out of Raleigh, NC. In 1973 when the Oak Ridge Boys were beginning to make their transition from gospel to country, The Singing Americans were signed by the Lou Wills Hildreth Agency in Nashville. In an article announcing the signing, The Singing News predicted that based on their sound and popularity, that The Singing Americans would take the Oak Ridge Boys spot as the number one quartet in gospel music.

The group was owned by Homer Wadford who moved the group to Asheville, NC in 1977. Wadford started a flooring business with Eldredge Fox of the Kingsmen Quartet. The Singing Americans were Rodney Hoots singing tenor, Gary Herron, then Ed Crawford singing lead, Wayne Maynard singing baritone and Hovie Walker singing bass. This was the original Singing Americans that began to travel the country as a full time gospel group.

In 1980, the group was taken over by Charles Burke. Personnel was Ed Crawford singing Lead, and Charles Burke's son, Dwayne, singing bass. Danny Funderburk sang Tenor,Ed Crwaford left and was replaced by Michael English, who would leave for a couple years and be replaced by Ivan Parker, and then Clayton Inman. Also, in 1982, Surrat would leave and be replaced by Southern Gospel legend, Ed Hill. When Michael English left for the second time in 1985, he was replaced again by Clayton Inman, who would replace Hill in 1987 in the baritone spot, leaving the lead open for Scott Whitener. The 1990s started a decline in the popularity of the Singing Americans, but it did not mean they still weren't capable of producing popular singers. David Sutton and Taylor Barnes passed through the group during this time. Finally, in 1993, the Singing Americans produced their final album, "Live from Chicago", before retiring in 1994.

In 1995, Good Ol' Gospel, an album featuring Singing Americans as well as the Cathedral Quartet, the Kingsmen, the Speer Family, J.D. Sumner & the Stamps Quartet, and Crystal Sea, was nominated for the 26th Dove Awards in the Southern Gospel Album category.

In August 1996, promoter/historian Charles Waller reunited English with Ed Hill, Rick Strickland, Dwayne Burke and Milton Smith as the Singing Americans, before an audience of over 4,000 gospel music fans at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion, and in 2010 at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY at a showcase commemorating the 100th anniversary of Southern Gospel music.

Members Lineups 1968–1971 (Under the Name "Singing Americans") 1971-1972 1972-1973Bob Sims – tenor Preston Yates – lead Bob Lemar – baritone, piano Norris Rife - bassBob Sims – tenor Preston Yates – lead Bob Lemar – baritone, piano Rick Lott - bassRodney Hoots – tenor Bob Lemar – lead, piano Mickey Blackwelder – baritone Danny Gallimore - bass Joel Harris - piano 1973-1974 1974-1979 1979-1980Rodney Hoots – tenor Bob Lemar – lead, piano Glenn Dye – lead Mickey Blackwelder – baritone Hovie Walker - bass Jimmy Taylor - pianoRodney Hoots – tenor Wayne Maynard – baritone Jerry Brown - bassRodney Hoots – tenor Ed Crawford – lead Jerry Brown - bass mid 1980 1980-1981 1981-1982Mark Flaker – tenor Ed Crawford – lead Charles Surratt – baritone Dwayne Burke - bassDanny Funderburk – tenor Ed Crawford – lead Charles Surratt – baritone Dwayne Burke - bassDanny Funderburk – tenor Mike English – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Jerry Hatley - piano 1982-1983 mid 1983 1983-1984Danny Funderburk – tenor Ivan Parker – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Jerry Hatley - pianoDanny Funderburk – tenor Clayton Inman – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Jerry Hatley - piano Martin Gureasko - pianoDanny Funderburk – tenor Mike English – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Martin Gureasko - piano 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987Rick Strickland – tenor Mike English – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Martin Guraesko - pianoRick Strickland – tenor Clayton Inman – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Milton Smith - pianoPhil Barker – tenor Clayton Inman – lead Ed Hill – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass Phil Huffman - piano 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990Phil Barker – tenor Scott Whitener – lead Clayton Inman – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass James Rainey - pianoGreg Shockley – tenor Scott Whitener – lead Clayton Inman – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass James Rainey - pianoGreg Shockley – tenor Scott Whitener – lead David Jenkins – baritone Dwayne Burke - bass James Rainey - piano 1990-1992 mid 1992 1992-1993David Walker – tenor Scott Whitener – lead David Harvell – baritone Larry Stewart - bass Keith Denson - pianoDavid Sutton – tenor Scott Whitener – lead Buddy Burton – baritone Larry Stewart - bass Jerry Kelso - pianoDavid Sutton – tenor Scott Whitener – lead Buddy Burton – baritone Larry Stewart - bass Joe Lane - piano mid 1993 1993-1994 1994David Sutton – tenor Scott Whitener – lead Buddy Burton – baritone Larry Stewart - bass Randy Matthews - pianoDavid Sutton – tenor Scott Whitener – lead Buddy Burton – baritone Larry Stewart - bass Joe Lane - pianoGreg Bentley – tenor Loren Harris – lead Buddy Burton – baritone Larry Stewart - bass Chuck Trivett - piano

Tenor

Bob Sims (1968-1971) Rodney Hoots (1972-1979) Mark Flaker (1980) Danny Funderburk (1980-1983) Rick Strickland (1984-1986) Phil Barker (1986-1988) Greg Shockley (1988-1990) David Walker (1990-1992) David Sutton (1992-1994) Greg Bentley (1994)

Lead

Preston Yates (1968-1971) Bob Lemar (1972-1974) (moved from baritone; also played piano and managed) Glenn Dye (1973-1974) Ed Crawford (1979-1981) Michael English (1981-1982, 1983-1985) Ivan Parker (1982-1983) Clayton Inman (1983, 1985-1987) (moved to baritone) Scott Whitener (1987-1992) Dale Forbes (1992-1994) David Hill (1994) Loren Harris (1994)

Baritone

Bob Lemar (1968-1971) (moved to lead; also played piano and managed) Mickey Blackwelder (1972-1974) Wayne Maynard (1974-1979) Charles Surratt (1980-1981) Ed Hill (1981-1987) (Surratt and Mike Lefevre filled in for Hill several months after he was injured in a bus wreck.) Clayton Inman (1987-1989) (moved from lead) David Jenkins (1989-1990) David Harvell (1990-1992) Buddy Burton (1992-1994)

Bass

Norris Rife (1968-1971) Rick Lott (1971-1972) Danny Gallimore (1972-1973) Hovie Walker (1973-1979) Jerry Brown (1979-1980) Dwayne Burke (1980-1990) Larry Stewart (1990–94)

Piano

Bob Lemar (1968-1972) (piano, also sang lead) Joel Harris (1972-1973) Jimmy Taylor (1973-1974) Jerry Hatley (1981-1983) Martin Gureasko (1983-1985) Milton Smith (1985-1986) Phil Huffman (1986-1987) James Rainey (1987-1990) Keith Denson (1990-1992) Jerry Kelso (1992) Joe Lane (1992-1993, 1993–94) Randy Matthews (1993) Chuck Trivett (1994)

Bass Guitar

Euclid Huella (1968-1971) Tony Buttler (1971) Jeff Easter (198?-1987) Mark Fain (1987-1988) Taylor Barnes (1988-1993) Jason Clark (1993–94)

Rhythm and Lead Guitar Harvey Blackwelder

Drums Jon Mark Russell (19??-197?)

Trumpet Jerry Hill (1972-????) Gary Barnhart (1972-????)

Musicians Unknown Positions Benny Goins Jason Clark Roger Fortner Rory Rigdon

Discography

1973-Our Tribute To God And Country 1975-Wanted Live 1977-The Singing Americans 1980-Tell the Angels 1981-The Exciting Sounds of the Singing Americans 1981-Hymntime 1981-Gospel Favorites Vol. 2 1982-Sensational Singing Americans 1982-Sing Gospel Hits Volume 1 1982-Sing Gospel Hits Volume 2 1982-Sing Gospel Hits Volume 3 1982-Sing Gospel Hits Volume 4 1983-Everybody Ought to Praise His Name 1984-Gospel Favorites 1984-Something Old, Something New 1984-Live and Alive 1985-Black and White 1986-Hearts of Praise, Songs of Majesty 1987-Homecoming Live 1988-Chartbreakers 1988-Sing Out 1988-We're Blessed 1989-Angels on Board 1989-Songs We Salute 1990-Watch & Pray 1990-Greatest Hits: 10th Anniversary Collection (Compilation) 1991-Live & Well 1991-Revival 1992-On Stage 1993-Live from Chicago 1993-Golden Hits 1993-Song of Praise 1994-Sing the Old Songs 1996-20 Favorites By The Singing Americans (Compilation) 199?-The Devil Don't Want Us to Have a Revival 199?-Singing Americans Featuring Buddy Burton 199?-Singing For America (Compilation)

Top 20 Songs:

Something New Home Over There People Need The Lord Lamb Of Glory Black And White Welcome To Heaven God Is Greater They Can't Take That Away I'd Still Want To Go I Want To Make Heaven My Home More Than Enough Love M.I.A. Leaning On The Rock Bridegroom Cometh Put Your Dreams Where Your Heart Is Jesus Got A Hold Of Me Past to Presence After A While God Be With You Till We Meet Again

References