In the 'World of Gospel Music', the Blackwood Brothers remain unique; legends among their peers, successors, and fans alike.

No other Christian performers have advanced the gospel music cause so daringly or progressively than the Blackwood Brothers.

Today's thriving Christian music industry gospel-concert circuit, and the GMA are living legacies of their dedicated, enthusiastic, ground-breaking vision, persevering hard-work, and success! Commenced in 1934, with the late James Blackwood, the celebrated name of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet continued into the new Millennium under the shrewd leadership of the late Cecil Stamps Blackwood.

An early Sunday school buddy of Elvis Presley, Cecil took on the mantle of baritone when his brother R.W. Blackwood perished in the tragic aircrash of 1954.This inspiring story reads, amazingly at times, as if it were fiction.

It is a human tale full of passionate and heart-warming sentiment, spiritual idealism, and 'blood, sweat and tears!' The enthralling story has its balanced share of achievements and mistakes.

FOREWORD by Bill Gaither

I was fourteen years old when I first heard the Blackwood Brothers on record. I could not wait to get home from school in the evening to play them and I had dreams to one day be able to sing like that. I still have many of those old 78 rpm records over at my house.
As a boy, I can not begin to tell you the impression those records made on my young life!
I will never forget when my Dad and Mom took me to Nashville for the first time and I met James Blackwood, personally. What a thrill that was for this young, Indiana farm boy. That was many, many years ago!
Later when I was in College and our Bill Gather Trio had started singing, we sang on the same programme with the Blackwood Brothers in a Northern Indiana town. Afterwards, we went out to a restaurant to eat. I remember that James complimented us and said that he thought that we had possibilities and some very interesting new ideas. He encouraged us to continue on. That too was many, many years ago!
Now, although the personnel of the Blackwood Brothers' Quartet has changed from time to time, the group is still singing and thrilling audiences all over the country. I am so happy that they chose to sing so many of our songs. I am also happy that they are our friends.

BILL GAITHER



INTRODUCTION by George Beverly Shea

The saga of the Blackwood Brothers is an enthralling story that is worth telling and worth reading. So I am pleased that my friend, Paul Davis, decided to put pen to paper and ask me to do this introduction.
Throughout the Twentieth Century, the name of The Blackwood Brothers has been a long lasting institution in Christian Music. It is amazing to recount that they first began their ministry in 1934 and that it continues into the Third Millenium.
The Blackwood Brothers have during this time had countless opportunities to evangelize by singing the Gospel Message in untold, different locations to millions. That privilege, in itself, must have been, for them a wonderful blessing. Added to that, they have had the great joy of recording numerous albums of hymns and gospel songs that have reached the hearts and homes of so many millions more.
I remember well, with great affection, when we recorded our 1967 milestone album entitled 'Surely Goodness and Mercy' for RCA Victor. Inspired by King David's psalm, this title song, by John Peterson has proved to be so prophetic particularly with reference to our respective singing ministries.
'Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.' (Psalm 23:6)
I am convinced that often where preaching has failed, Christian music has still touched hearts for the Lord. A good Christian song can touch the soul of even the hardest of men. I sometimes say that music with a Christian message can reach the heart in a hurry!
I know that when the message of Jesus Christ is lifted up in a song (particularly when sung by a singer who has experienced the One of whom he or she sings about), then hearts are made ready to receive The Word.
The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God'.
What a great privilege it has been for the Blackwood Brothers to have been used by God as instruments in helping to inspire faith in the hearts of so many, many men and women.
My prayer is that the Blackwood Brothers example may inspire many others in years to come to follow in the gospel-music, ministry tracks that they have so diligently laid down over many decades.
GEORGE BEVERLY SHEA