Big Chief...what a voice!

This is probably the group that Elvis saw. Elvis was a HUGE fan of the Gospel quartets of that time. He loved the bass singers, but if I am not mistaken Jake Hess was Elvis's favorite singer. When you have "The Big Chief" James Wetherington, Jake Hess, Doy Ott, Denver Crumpler and Hovie Lister on the piano, well you won't get much better than that. These guys sing Gospel music the way it is supposed to be sung, with power and conviction, maybe that is one reason they are so GREAT.

You got that right, the best ever. If this number doesn't convince you that James Wetherington was the smoothest and overall best bass singer ever in gospel music I don't know what would. I saw and heard him perform live in several gospel concerts way back in the 1950s, and even as young as I was back then I knew he was something very special and that there had never been another gospel music bass singer like him before. I was right, and there has never been another like him since.

In God We Trust 🇰🇪

I saw and heard James Wetherington at a gospel sing in a high school auditorium in FL when he was still singing with the Sunny South quartet from Tampa. That was probably about 1946 or 47 and I was 9 or 10 years old. My uncle was a gospel quartet singer himself but was getting old and had lost his voice. He said he had never heard a bass singer anywhere near that good in his 40 + years in gospel music. Big Chief only got better with age and was still the best bass singer when he died in1974.

You also gotta love Hovie Lister's facial expressions! Nobody and I mean nobody can sing this bass part like Big Chief. He doesn't even have a mic. The Statesmen were one of the best gospel groups of all time. In my opinion.

BIG CHIEF WAS THE BEST HE SET THE STANDARD FOR BASS SINGER I KNOW I HAD A GOSPEL GROUP FOR 40 YEARS AND SING BASS CAPITAL CITY FROM ATLANTA

@sgtBilko75

3 жыл бұрын

I guess you were in charge of the caps lock key in that group?

@alfredomurrellsmall450

Жыл бұрын

LEAD OUT OF BONDICH

I had forgotten just how good the Statesmen were. Can Big Chief sing bass or what? WOW

There have been many great gospel quartets over the last hundred years, but in my humble opinion these guys were the BEST!!!!!

This particular group of the Statesmen is my favorite. Crumpler, Jake, Doy and Big Chief are just the best ever.

The Statesmen set the bar way high beyond their time. Probably one of the best quartets of all times for the glory of God.

The greatest gospel quartet of all time

@morriswilburn9858

3 жыл бұрын

Hovie Lister on piano.

hahahahah The Pianists face on the 52 second mark is Hularious!!

@joben4977

3 жыл бұрын

0:51

Now that is what I call real Quartet singing. Love those Statesmen. Simply the best!

I still sing their songs and I will until Jesus calls me home. I Know He Heard My Earnest Prayer: The Forth Man Walking .

Just keep listening for that Trumpet. We'll find them then.

Big Chief had the best sense of rythm of ANY bass singer and that includes JD and George!!!

@godschozen1000

Жыл бұрын

Jd didn’t have any sense of Rhythm.

@Sheltonsolomon

Жыл бұрын

Last few months iam hearing jd voice wow wow and now his voice.. Legend's always be a legend 🙏🏾

@RockinEd

11 ай бұрын

where do you think Elvis got it

When I was a young boy in the late '40s my parents took me to gospel music concerts in FL when Big Chief was singing with Horace Floyd's Sunny South quartet. He was just starting out in gospel music and soon moved on to another quartet, I don't remember which one but probably the Statesman. My uncle usually went with us. He had been a singer himself with another FL based quartet. He said then that Big Chief was the best bass he had ever heard and would have a great future in gospel music.

@joestewart2220

6 жыл бұрын

You don' hear quartets like that anymote

Crumpler one of the best tenors ever. Hovie Lister the piano player is so funny.

The group that inspired the King, Elvis used to watch these as a young boy, who would have thought that as a gospel quartet they would play a part in changing music forever!

@rodrickwatson747

5 жыл бұрын

And he also got his leg shaking from The Big Chief Himself and he love Bass Singers

Yes, the best Statement combination.

So magnificient their voice is. So devoted singers. I can give up listending to this music, a music of all time.

As a kid I saw and heard Big Chief at a gospel quartet concert in 1949 when he was a young bass singer for the Sunny South quartet. My uncle studied at the Stamps Baxter music school in the 1930s and sang bass in several gospel quartets of that era, and that night he said that Wetherington was the best bass he had ever heard and he was going to have a great future in gospel music. I can still remember riding home late that night with everyone in the car raving about him and his great bass voice.

Big Chief could have been a Rock Star! He is so cool! He used his gift for God- so did the rest of these guys! Great job!

Yep. Big Chief could belt out the low notes with such ease and clarity, then turn around and sing a high bass lead like no other. To see true skill check out Him singing How Great Thou Art. He was the statesmen, it's sad that he left us so early, but he's at home with Jesus.

Not the only quartet to become prominent, but probably the definitive quartet from the golden age of the quartets in the 1950's and early 1960's. Probably the most to have crossover appeal because their songs were so upbeat and musically complex. The secular music that branched out during this time period (rockabilly, jump blues) owed a lot to the fast rhythms of the quartets.

@stevengrant8668

6 ай бұрын

Almost as good as The Blackwood Brothers...not quite... But the next best thing to them.

These guys put all of the other "great pretenders" to shame! The best!

Just love these old groups and the songs they sing.

I can't stop watching these guy's. The very best

@martiwest4341

6 жыл бұрын

Awesome

J. D. Sumner only wished that he could sing bass as well as Big Chief Jim Wetherington, Arnold Hyles, Rex Nelon, Brock Speer, or London Paris.

@BluevesPL

5 жыл бұрын

Exactly, you named probable the finest bass singers ever. Every had his own style.

The chief was so funny...he had a dry humor, but he would walk you into it in a minute. What wonderful memories.

Absolutely,the best I`ve ever heard.

The Statesmen at their best! And, one of the prime examples of Hovie's piano virtuosity. What a blessing!

I love this song. Thank you for the great video.

INCREIBLE

I don't see any close microphones here.....the fact that Big Chief is able to project this well is astounding!

@ajssmallenginegarage1143

6 жыл бұрын

Matt W during this time audio was not recorded live believe it or not. It was over dubbed off a 78 RPM record more than likely which was basically the industry standard for the time.

What a wonderful song that is, even for some - one who did not grow up in that time. And so beautifuly sung. Thanks a lot for that too !!!

Incredible to see how they have fun playing it (I love Tennessee Ernie Ford's voice)

I never saw this video before and from a distance. I thought it was JD! I read something years ago with Elvis and Mr. Wetherington shaking hands! Elvis loved his bass singers as well!

Esse baixo e voz de trovão, que entoa voz de bariton, e 1 tenor e 2 tenor, que bonito louvor😃Jesus!

dios mio INCREIBLE

Best version 💖💖💖

Praise God!

@Azishome love your comment ! Be Blessed wherever you are!!!

Love the Gathers

My top ten Bass singers: 1) George Younce, Jd Sumner, London parris, Big chief, Richard Sterban, Tim Riley,2).....3)...,....,10)...

@grembar2863

4 жыл бұрын

Don't forget , Val , Jeff Chapman , Tennessee Ernie Ford , just to name a few more .

@joaopedrooliveira410

2 жыл бұрын

@@grembar2863 Arnold Hyles, Rex Nelon. . .

@no-is1pi

4 ай бұрын

George younce is some hot doo doo

I've always loved Jd Sumner but I must say he has nothing on big chief. He had much more clarity and tone then Jd when hitting them low notes.

Wow

Jim Wetherington, the bass singer was also known as "Big Chief." It's interesting that a former police CHIEF (and Mayor) of Columbus, GA, was also named Jim Wetherington. According to Police Chief Wetherington, they were not related.

@musdan77 Please don't bring controversy here. People simply want to praise the Lord.

big chief ftw

Walt Disney look alike contest.

@caricatureparty

4 жыл бұрын

Knott Reel hahahahah

Does anyone know what year the Statesmen recorded this song?

That is Hovie Lister.

Sorry but Armond Morales (Imperials/Weatherford Quartet) was known as the smoothest bass singer.

I’m the only black person here?

James "Big Chief" Hetherington-Easily the best Bass singer for that time period-bar none!!! If I was the owner of a Gospel group, & was looking for a great (& qualified) bass singer, & the narrowing-down process had come down to Big Chief or J. D. Sumner, it'd be no contest...Big Chief would be in the group, & J. D. would have to go. I say this for 2 reasons. 1:Big Chief didn't have the lowest voice, but he sounded way better than J. D. in terms of clarity, being able to hold the right note without having to wobble his voice around, and Big Chief, that I know of, didn't do a bunch of clowning around. J. D. had his good points, musically speaking, but he didn't have the bass timbre in his voice that Big Chief had. 2:Ever do a background check into J. D.s life? He was a drunk, as well also being a womanizer!!! He nearly destroyed his marriage, as well as himself. Enough said!!! Big Chief was THE MAN!!!!!!

@gospellover

10 жыл бұрын

I guess Sumner was the only "drinker" I all of Gospel Music. I guess he was the only "woman chaser" in Gospel music. You have to be very sheltered to believe that. Pitiful that you are just here to pick on someone after they are dead and gone. Can you name even one Gospel singer that you of that was perfect? I bet you even have a vice or two. Lets talk about those.

@gospellover

10 жыл бұрын

***** You even spell Big Chief's last name wrong too.

@ronaldshank8695

10 жыл бұрын

I NEVER said that was perfect, & yes, I do have a vice or two. You're right-I guess I should have been silent on the subject. But if I must admit to imperfections, then so must you! You say that I misspelled Mr. Weatherington's name wrong. This time I spelled it right. IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU????? You found someone that screwed up, & picked a fight with him!!! I admit that I shouldn't have picked on someone that's dead & gone, but, whereas I admit that I did wrong, SO DID YOU!! You showed no mercy to me-none!!! Don't call yourself a Christian if all you can do is call me names, & continually pick, pick, pick!!!!!

@gospellover

10 жыл бұрын

You are mighty right. I am imperfect and I realize it. I am not like some high hatted people and like to make others feel low caliber just to lift up myself like some do and I sure like to let others know they are imperfect too. Just remember YOU and I are imperfect before you pick on someone else.

@ronaldshank8695

10 жыл бұрын

O.k., now we're getting somewhere! I need to remember to follow the Bible's advice about being polite. You know, when I think about it, I admit to being out of line. I'll do my best not to let that happen again. Have a great night!

Big Chief was good but not the superb talent that J.D.Sumner was. He could hew the wood and tote the the bucket to J.D.'s house and that's about it !