Singing Americans


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 Mark Flaker Ivan Parker, Danny Funderburk, Clayton Inman, David Sutton, Michael English, Mark Fain, Taylor Barnes, and Jeff 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

;Tenor
;Lead
;Baritone
;Bass
  • Norris Rife
  • Rick Lott
  • Danny Gallimore
  • Hovie Walker
  • Jerry Brown
  • Dwayne Burke
  • Larry Stewart
;Piano
;Bass Guitar
;Rhythm and Lead Guitar
  • Harvey Blackwelder
;Drums
  • Jon Mark Russell
;Trumpet
  • Jerry Hill
  • Gary Barnhart
;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
  • 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
  • 199?-The Devil Don't Want Us to Have a Revival
  • 199?-Singing Americans Featuring Buddy Burton
  • 199?-Singing For America
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