The Jordanaires
The Jordanaires are an American singing quartet that was founded in 1948 as a gospel group . The group was best known as a background group for Elvis Presley between 1956 and 1970 , but also worked with many other artists from the country and rock 'n' roll sectors.
history
The formation of the group can be traced back to the Foggy River Boys, which consisted of the brothers Bill, Monty, Jack and Matt Matthews, as far back as the early 1940s. In 1948, Matt and Jack left the group to become priests. Bob Hubbard, bass singer Culley Holt and pianist Gordon Stoker subsequently joined the rest of the group and founded "The Jordanaires" with them in 1948 in Springfield , Missouri .
The group performed in this line-up until 1952; then Hubbard was replaced by Hoyt Hawkins and the remaining brothers Monty and Bill Matthews left the group. Hawkins took on the baritone part , Neal Matthews Jr. was hired as lead singer and pianist Stoker took over the tenor part . In the early 1950s, Capitol Records signed the group and the Jordanaires began backing vocals for artists in Nashville , Tennessee . In 1954 Holt left the group and Hugh Jarrett took over the bass part until 1958 , when he was replaced by Ray Walker.
Background for Presley
After the group had made a name for themselves both as a gospel singer and as a background group, Elvis Presley saw them on a show with Eddy Arnold in Memphis in 1955 , looked them up backstage and told them, “If I ever get a record deal with a big one Record company, I want you to be my backing singers. "
When Presley made the first recordings for his new record company RCA in January 1956 , he asked them to hire the Jordanaires as a background singer. They supported him for almost every studio recording and every performance for the next 14 years. When they could not accompany him to his Las Vegas shows in 1969 due to scheduling reasons , they were replaced by The Imperials .
From the 1970s
The group's line-up, with Gordon Stoker, first tenor and manager, Neal Matthews, lead vocalist and second tenor, Hoyt Hawkins, baritone and Ray Walker as bass, was the group's most consistent line-up and lasted until 1982 when Hawkins died. He was replaced by Duane West; in this occupation, the group held for almost another two decades until West left the group in 1999 for health reasons. Louis Nunley succeeded him. The following year Neal Matthews also died, he was replaced by the new lead singer Curtis Young. Hugh Jarrett died in 2008 as a result of a car accident. Louis Nunley died on October 26, 2012. Ray Walker and Curtis Young are still musically active.
Musical collaboration and awards
The Jordanaires have worked with the following artists, among others: Julie Andrews , Eddy Arnold , Bobby Bare , Johnny Cash , Patsy Cline , Jimmy Dean , Red Foley , Tennessee Ernie Ford , Connie Francis , Johnny Hallyday , Johnny Horton , Engelbert , Ferlin Husky , Waylon Jennings , George Jones , Steve Lawrence , Ann-Margret , Willie Nelson , Ricky Nelson , Dolly Parton , Charley Pride , Jim Reeves , Jack Jersey , Kenny Rogers , Ringo Starr and Tammy Wynette .
The group has also toured frequently solo, has recorded numerous albums and has won a number of music awards. Among other things, she received Grammy Awards for four collaborations , was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Country , Gospel , Vocal Group and Rockabilly Hall of Fame .
Individual evidence
- ^ "If I ever get a recording contract with a major company, I want you guys to back me up.", Graham, Charlotte "The Jordanaires" (February 22, 2003), The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS), " Religion, "p. 1E
- ↑ cf. Ernst Mikael Jørgensen: Elvis Presley: A Life in Music. St. Martin's Press 1998, p. 283
- ↑ http://www.jordanaires.net/about/awards.htm