Category: Passings

R.I.P. Robert Holland of Doc McKenzie & the Hi-Lites

Robert Holland has died

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Robert Holland, longtime member of Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites, has died after battling health issues for several years.

Holland said in a recent interview that he’s been a member of the Hi-Lites for 19 years. During his tenure, fans have enjoyed hearing him deliver the songs “Love One Another,” “Down the Road,” “Born by the River,” and “One Touch.” Despite his physical ailments, he continued to sing with the group as long as his health permitted.

At one time or another, Holland also had tenures with the Fantastic Goldenaires, Bill Pinkney and the Original Drifters, and Robert Holland and the Chosen Brothers.

Holland’s voice, which drew comparisons to Sam Cooke, will certainly be both remembered and missed. Our condolences are extended to his family, friends, fans, and Doc McKenzie and the Hi-Lites.

Update (12/7/15): Homegoing arrangements have been posted by the funeral home as follows:

Friday, December 11, 2015
Visitation and Viewing
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Musical Celebration of Life
6:30 – 8:30 PM

Red Budd Holy Church
637 Cleveland St.
Rocky Mount, NC

Saturday, December 12, 2015
Funeral Service
12 PM
L.N. Forbes Tabernacle
1800 Lane St. Ext.
Wilson, NC

Interment
Homestead Memorial Gardens
Greenville, NC

Eddie Williams, pianist for the Caravans, passes on

Eddie Williams of the Caravans

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF is sad to learn of the passing of Eddie Williams, songwriter and pianist with the Caravans from 1957 to 1962 (with a hiatus in 1960).  Bob Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music reported the news yesterday (Nov. 30), and information will be added there as it becomes available.

Eddie Williams was the writer of one of the Caravans’ best known songs, “Lord Keep Me Day by Day.” 

Upon hearing of his passing, Rev. James Herndon, who became the famed group’s pianist and a primary songwriter after Williams’ departure, spoke with GMF about the caliber of his contributions to the Caravans:

Eddie was one of the most profound writers of gospel music as well as an accomplished musician. He wrote the timeless classic “Lord Keep Me Day By Day,” which as you know is still being sung today. It has never grown old to me. He also wrote “Hallelujah ‘Tis Done,” “I’m Glad I Counted Up the Cost,” and many more. He will live forever through the great music he gave the world.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the Williams family in their hour of bereavement.

R.I.P. Elder James Bellamy

Homegoing services were held recently in Rocky Mount, NC for singer, songwriter, and musician Elder James Bellamy, Jr., who passed September 5.  He was 49 years old. 

Elder Bellamy led a talented camp of singers and musicians who ministered as James Bellamy and T.C. (Triumphant in Christ).  Among the group’s recordings are Let Your Spirit Fill This Place EP (1999), All For Him (2002) and Triumphant – Live! (2007), each recorded with Masterpiece Christian Records. 

Elder Bellamy is remembered by his family, many friends, and colleagues as a radical praiser, devout worshipper, and gifted minstrel. 

Homegoing arrangements set for Samuel Barnes, brother of Luther Barnes

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Samuel Barnes, brother of gospel singer and pastor Luther Barnes and son of the late Bishop F.C. Barnes (of “Rough Side of the Mountain” fame) passed August 22.  He was 66 years old.  


GMF extends condolences to the Barnes family.


Arrangements are entrusted to Hunter-Odom Funeral Service and a homegoing service will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, August 29, at Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount, NC.


Read the obituary notice here.

Swanee Quintet’s Percy Griffin dies

The Swanees with Percy Griffin (fourth from left)     Photo Credit | Facebook

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Bob Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music informed GMF that Percy Griffin, longtime member of The Swanee Quintet, passed on (see RIP Percy Griffin – Member of the Swanee Quintet).

Griffin joined the Augusta, GA group more than 50 years ago and was one of its lead singers.  Down through the years, The Swanees left audiences reeling with songs like “Eternal Life” and “Dr. Jesus.”  The quartet frontman once told The Augusta Chronicle that being a great gospel singer was always his primary aspiration. 

Griffin shared a longstanding friendship with the Godfather of Soul, the late James Brown, and occasionally sang at the soul singer’s Thanksgiving turkey giveaways in Augusta.

Both Griffin and his father were elders in the United House of Prayer for All People, whose founder, Daddy Grace, used to stay in their home, Griffin once shared.

Among Griffin’s last recordings are The Swanee Quintet’s The Legacy Continues Phase II and Malaco’s An Evening with the Legends of Quartet (LIVE).  Griffin does some tag-teaming with his first cousin Willie Rogers of The Soul Stirrers on the latter project.

Please join GMF in keeping Griffin’s family, friends, fans, and the Swanees lifted in prayer.

Read the obituary here.

An earlier version of this story contained an error in the caption. Thanks to Anthony Smith for catching it and alerting GMF.

Rev. James Herndon remembers former Herndon singer Nathan Murphy

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel singer Nathan Murphy, former member of the James Herndon Singers and organizer of the Nathan Murphy Singers, passed Monday, August 17, reported JGM’s Bob Marovich for the Journal of Gospel Music.

Rev. James Herndon, who departed the famous Caravans in the late 1960s and formed the James Herndon Singers, spoke with GMF about Murphy, fondly remembering him as a dedicated member of the group.  He was a blessing on and off stage, helping to coordinate everything from reliable transportation to the singers’ stage attire; the latter task he shared with fellow member Roxie Bibbs.  Murphy was also instrumental in the selection of his aunt, Wilma Strickland, becoming a member of the group.

“Nathan was never one to be out front, but he supported everyone else in leading songs,” Herndon tells GMF.  “He saw the James Herndon Singers as a fulfillment of a lifelong dream.”

Rev. Herndon also recalls Murphy’s commitment to education and self-improvement.  He attended school to become a respiratory therapist and after his eventual departure from the James Herndon Singers, he pursued a law degree.  He also established his own group, the Nathan Murphy Singers, whom Herndon says “were quite popular in the Los Angeles area and [did] some out of state performances.”

“But he never let these accomplishments sway his faith in God.”

GMF sends prayers up for the family, friends, and fans of Nathan Murphy.

Read more at the Journal of Gospel Music: RIP Nathan Murphy: Sang with James Herndon, Had Own Group

Songwriter, worship leader DeVaughn Murphy passes

Photo | Vaughn’s Fb profile

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF extends condolences to the Murphy family in the passing of DeVaughn Murphy, son of Bishop William Murphy, Jr. and brother of Pastor William Murphy, III.

An anointed songwriter, musician, and worship leader, tunes from DeVaughn’s pen include “Chasing After You” and “Lord, You Are Awesome,” “Like Never Before,” and “Let Us See Jesus.”

Please join GMF in lifting his wife, daughter, and other family members and friends in prayer. 


Gregory Gay of GOSPELflava has shared information regarding the services.  Livestream information is below:

 

Evangelist Maggie Ingram makes transition

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF is sad to report that Evangelist Maggie Ingram, likely the oldest active female singer on the gospel quartet circuit, has passed from labor to reward, less than two weeks shy of her 85th birthday (July 4).  Radio announcer Grace Rhodes of Rhodes Productions passed along the news earlier this evening (Tuesday, June 23). 

Evangelist Ingram was the matriarch and lead singer of The Ingramettes, a group that initially consisted of her five children John, Lucious, Tommie, Almeta, and Christine, whom she taught to harmonize.  Her husband and the children’s father, Thomas Jefferson Ingram, was a young preacher and their musical gifts were a help to his ministry. 

Among Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes’ classic recordings are “Family Prayer,” “Like A Ship,” “Miami Riot,” and “The Richmond Flood.”  The group’s current release, Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes: Live in Richmond, was recorded in 2011 and was billed as their final “live” recording.

Despite humble beginnings and no formal musical training, Evangelist Ingram emerged as one of the most beloved female quartet singers along the East Coast with multiple performances at The Kennedy Center, The Richmond Folk Festival, and regular ministry outreach to incarcerated individuals and their families.  And despite having earned the equivalent of a third grade education, she served as guest lecturer along with her daughter Almeta at the University of Virginia in 2010; was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Virginia Triumphant College and Seminary in 2011; and conducted a master class along with the Ingramettes at The College of William and Mary in 2013.

Please join GMF in lifting Evangelist Ingram’s family, friends, the Ingramettes, and the gospel quartet community in prayer.  You may visit Wilson & Associates’ Funeral Service, Inc. for homegoing information.

R.I.P. Edward "Eddie" Huffman, formerly of the Soul Stirrers

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF is sad to learn of the recent passing of Edward “Eddie” Huffman, Sr., former frontman for the Soul Stirrers. Huffman died May 13, at age 71.

Huffman joined the Soul Stirrers in 1973 and led some of the group’s popular numbers, including “Lord, Remember Me.” In 2000, he co-organized a quartet called the Soul Savers. A later reorganization of the group led to the release of the traditional gospel quartet album, Testimony, in 2004.

A homegoing service was held May 28, at Divine Mortuary in Lithonia, GA.  Our condolences are extended to the Huffman family during this difficult time.

Photo Credit | Facebook Profile of Edward Huffman, Sr.

Evelyn Starks Hardy, founding member of the Original Gospel Harmonettes, has died

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

One by one, our gospel veterans are exchanging labor for rest.

Bob
Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music informed GMF this morning that Evelyn Starks Hardy, singer,
arranger, and accompanist for the Original Gospel Harmonettes, passed
today (April 2). We extend our condolences to her family and friends.

Hardy was born in 1922 in Birmingham, AL, and grew up in the church. She began playing for her church when she was nine and later cited Roberta Martin as one of her musical influences.

Marovich highlights Hardy’s career in music as well as education here: Evelyn Starks Hardy Dies; Member of the Original Gospel Harmonettes 

Photo Credit | Professor Nathaniel Frederick, II