This veteran US gospel group was originally formed in the 30s by brothers R.W. Blackwood (d. 30 June 1954), Roy Blackwood, Doyle Blackwood (b. 22 August 1911, Choctaw County, Mississippi, USA) and James Webre Blackwood (b. 4 August 1919, Choctaw County, Mississippi, USA). They had grown up in a sharecropping family in the Mississippi clay hills, singing together in local churches until they were discovered by V.O. Stamps, a music publisher. They subsequently appeared on a variety of local music stations in the region, before exporting their expertly constructed devotional harmonies to Iowa and Tennessee. Doyle then became a record distributor in Memphis, while another brother, R.W., and the group's bass singer Bill Lyles, were killed in a plane crash on 30 June 1954. Lyles was replaced by the Blackwood's youngest brother, Cecil Stamps Blackwood (b. 28 October 1934, Ackermann, Mississippi, USA), who had formerly attended Sunday School with Elvis Presley. A sequence of singles for RCA Records such as 'The Man Upstairs' and 'Keys To The Kingdom' followed during the late 50s, along with numerous albums. They also appeared on sessions for artists including Presley, Hank Snow and Porter Wagoner. Highlights of their broadcast work included winning appearances on the Arthur Godfrey talent show (in 1954, and following the death of Lyles and Blackwood, in 1956), while their albums also attracted the approval of Grammy judges in 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1974. In 1973 and 1974 they also won the Dove Award. In 1978 they were chosen as the musical entertainment for the 1978 Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., which was attended by president Jimmy Carter. By this time James Blackwood was the only remaining original member, with other noted contributors including Pat Hoffmaster, Ken Turner and pianist Tommy Fairchild. James Blackwood's son, Jimmy Blackwood Jnr. (b. 31 July 1943, San Diego, California, USA) also earned notoriety as leader of the successful Stamps Quartet under his father's supervision. By the 90s the combined sales of the Blackwood Brothers' extensive discography added up to nearly 20 million albums - making them the best-selling group in gospel history.

Selected albums: The Amazing Blackwood Brothers (Camden 50s), Beautiful Isle (Camden 50s), Father's Prayer (Sky 50s), Featuring Cecil Blackwood (Sky 60s), Hallelujah Meetin' (Sky 60s), Hallelujah To The King (Sky 60s), How Great Thou Art (Camden 60s), Hymns Of Gold (Sky 60s), It's Worth It All (Sky 60s), Learning To Lean (Sky 60s), Live From Nashville (Sky 60s), Lord We Praise You (Sky 70s), Blackwood Brothers On Tour (Camden 70s), Put Your Hand In The Hand (Camden 70s), Release Me (From My Sin) (Sky 70s), Sheltered In Arms Of God (Camden 70s), Blackwood Brothers Sing Bill Gaither (Sky 70s), There He Goes (Sky 70s), Touch Of Country (Sky 70s), What A Beautiful Day (Sky 70s).

Compilations: The Best Of (RCA 70s), 16 All-Time Favorites (Starday 70s).

Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 1998

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