Blackwood Brothers - He Bought My Soul. 1951

[bet762]

I enjoyed Big Chief....met him in a restaurant while they were in our town for a performance way back when ......love the Blackwoods

[34Packardphaeton]

This is one of the very best early songs that they recorded.

[mastertrainer2843]

Not even the later versions could touch this bill lyles set the bar tat ever bass since has tried to meet and rw had the smoothest voice in the business

[dyreavenue5]

How have I lived for so long and never heard these divine heavenly sounds.  Thank you.

[EmilieSagae]

This just made me cry, and I never cry!

[rhimesen123]

across all america J.D. Sumner was the best bass singer

[ronapoolescott]

Awesome video. I appreciate it more than you know. James Blackwood is/was my mom's first cousin. Bill Lyles and another member of the quartet (I believe another Blackwood) were killed in a plane crash in Alabama long ago. I have lots of albums but this is the first video I've seen of the original quartet. My mom died a few years ago but I sent my Dad, who thinks Bill Lyles was the greatest bass singer EVER, a link to this video.

[metanoeo1]

@ronapoolescott Yes, it was Bill Lyles and R.W. Blackwood, next to Lyles in this video, that were killed in the crash.

[jontheundertaker]

Beautiful!!



[jontheundertaker]

Beautiful!!

[DavesNotHere56]

Wow what a great rare video. Thanks for sharing. It IS a shame that R. W.. and Bill Lyles were taken so young, but God has His plan. Great share!

[CPGThree]

This video brings back some wonderful memories. I have been a Blackwood Brothers fan since I first heard them as a child in 1948, a few years before the plane crash. I remember listening to their music on the old 78 recordings. My Dad would take me to their concerts at Metropolitan Bible Church in Denver, and later during the John Hall and JD Sumner years, at Calvary Temple in Denver. It is truly great to have this video available. Thanks for the memories

[sheltv100]

That must have been a humble beginning.

[bfafan1]

wow they have strange accents!

[kyldy]

@bfafan1 the accent is a southern one. RW had thought they should tone them down but james said they should play them up. well they won the author godfrey hour. this is as far as I know the only filming of the group all gone now.

[oSetimoLeao]

Excelente quarteto!! Deus seja louvado!!!

[Bassclef50]

I think Nic Val was the best ever Bass singer with the Blackwoods

[fpoasec]

This is a good song to show the similarities between RWs and Cecils voices.

This is a rare recording, since Tenor Dan Huskey was with the Blackwoods for such a brief time.

[uforoswellnm]

I used to play their song I Just can't make it by myself every morning before going to high school -I graduated in 1961 and still listen to their music

[beatapt5]

Man. You had to be a TENOR to sing with these guys.

[Raughwe]

I am just getting to know them and their great work. I do know that Elvis and James Brown loved and idolized them (in a good way).

[raponte1955]

London was not still in the group?

[beatapt5]

London joined the group about 17 or 18 yrs. later. (Appx.)

[CadillacL]

R.W.'s Voice is SO smoothe on this. I've heard this is one of very little footage of the original group.

[barbiebchilds]

R.W. - sounding like winston, and cecil.

[raptor712]

I love the older blackwood brothers. They just never were the same with out bill lyles.

[calinmarton]

I love this quartet and this song....Thanks for posting.....God blessyou!!!!!!!

[calinmarton]

1:39

[greendogwood]

I love this song and the blackwoods.I grew up listening to this group.Thanks for posting this!!!

[GospelPhil]

My favorite is Bill Lyles!

[gospelmusiclover48]

R.W. Is my favorite in this one.

[GospelPhil]

Just sit back and listen is what I do...I still love the old groups....wish we had more footage of them all.

[kd5hms63]

"Each drop of blood bought me a million years" ...what a powerful message in song brought by a legendary quartet of men. The "Blackwood Brothers" have left us a rich treasure of Southern Gospel music that will stir a slumbering soul back to life!!

[miltmonkey]

Videos of this magnitude clearly reinforce why the Blackwood Bros. name has withstood the test of time. They were and still are the measuring stick that any good quartet is judged by....appearance, delivery and character. There are The Blackwoods and then there are the rest or the also ran. So it is!

[kyldy]

Is this the only video recording of the Blackwoods with Bill Lyles his Bass was wonderful. A very young James Blackwood and love the accent. I sure like Dan Huskey is a great tenor. Dear RW was so good. His boys have done him proud as Jimmy has done his Dad.

Would love to find some old recordings if nothing else of the orignal group

[joyr36]

They all have great voices, but R.W. Blackwood's is as smooth as velvet.

[GospelPhil]

My dad thought that Bill Lyles was the bestest bass singer in the world and second was Arnold Hyles! Low Note Hilton was third pick!

[BillVol]

They were good, but no less an autority than J.D. Sumner said that Jim "Big Chief" Wetherington was the best.

[Nike5265]

Chief was perhaps the best showman of all the classic bass singers. He could work an audience! He was also a very fine singer. Bill Lyles was smoother and lower; John Hall and Arnold Hyles had stronger voices; London Parris & Low Note Hilton, were superb. But the all time greatest quartet bass was J. D. Sumner. He was a great songwriter, singer, innovator and a mesmerizing force on stage. I miss them all. Thank God for old LPs and Adkinsda! (Big John is still singing, last I heard.)

[CadillacL]

@BillVol Now that IS big authority.

[Nike5265]

This video is astounding. It shines the spotlight on each member in turn, revealing virtuosity and range at every point. It doesnt get any better! No less an authority than James Blackwood said Bill Lyles had the best bass voice of anyone. Lyles was smoother than any other bass that could sing as low. And few could sing as low or as well.

[BillVol]

When it comes to singing bass, I trust J.D.'s opinion over even that of Mr. Southern Gospel. Just barely!

[CadillacL]

To been able to go back in time to this era. Blackwoods & Statesmen set the standard, way back then, of how Southern Gospel Quartets should sing.

[GospelPhil]

There are three or more that haven't been placed on this site....I have some black and white of them doing various songs. Note that these folks don't get near the mikes and sing from afar....old mikes would shock the dickens out of you!

[CadillacL]

I think i heard this is the ONLY footage of the original group.

[toddehill]

THIS is the real thing...As great as the Blackwoods later groups were, they never had the musical sophistication these groups had before the crash. Jackie Marshall (at the piano) apparently had a lot to do with the general musical direction of the group with modulations, and timbre changes. There are several more selection fron that concert extant...

[wyliesnyder]

Anyone watching this is good people. My dad used to play for a gospel quartet. He is a minister. He lost his voice to cancer a few years back. Anyone like to explain that to me?

[Jaybird1103]

On June 30, 1954, 16 days after the Blackwood Quartet performed on the Arthur Godfrey Show, R. W. Blackwood (second from right) and Bill Lyles (far right) were killed when their plane crashed while practicing take-offs and landings. Cecil Blackwood replaced R. W. and J. D. Sumner (later to form the Stamps Quartet) replaced Lyles.

[dagwood387]

GREAT video (and you're other posts too!)

What's the name of the high tenor singer? Is he still living? I know the others have unfortunately all left us.

[adkinsda]

DAn Huskey was the tenor.

[dagwood387]

Thanks- I wasn't sure of his name- I can't find any info about him tho- is he still living?

[kyldy]

@dagwood387 Dan Husky is also gone now. as for basses after Bill Lyle big chief was the best. did not growl.

[Sandraz1634]

I owe you an apology. You are so right. I never did check our the profile until now. Let me ask you a question? With your logo being MoJoPiano, you must have an interest in piano. Let me know what you thought of Anthny Burger???

[MoJoPiano]

Sandraz1634, Definitely no apology necessary. Trust me, I often get these folks who post gospel vids mixed up! Yes, I have played gospel piano for almost 43 years. Anthony Burger was an incredible musician; unlike myself, who is pretty much limited to playing gospel, Anthony could play it ALL, gospel, classical, pop, show tunes, broadway musicals, you name it. Of course he was classicaly trained by the best, plus he was blessed with a GOD-GIVEN talent from the start. THANKS! MoJoPiano

[Sandraz1634]

Thanks for your reply. Another GOD-GIVEN talent has bless this young 18 year old name Wil. He also loves the music Anthony Burger played. You must listen to him play. You tube type in pianistfishermanguy. Read his comments. Let me know what you think? Thanks

[MoJoPiano]

Sandraz1634, I have noted his YouTube account name and I will surely check him out in a day or so and I will reply. Thanks so much and may God bless you! MoJoPiano

[lilwildkatgurl]

WOW!!!

[MoJoPiano]

Thank you so much Dean for posting this great old classic clip of the famous Blackwood Brothers. What beautiful "high pitched" harmony. I think this may be my favorite song that the Blackwood ever sang. Thanks again! It made my day! God Bless You! MoJoPiano

[Sandraz1634]

Dean Haskins didn't post this one. You need to give the thanks to adkinsda. But I also agree this is a wonderful classic. You have really posted alot of goodies. Thank you adkinsda.

[MoJoPiano]

Thanks so much Sandraz1634 for setting me straight. I need to learn to READ! LOL! Yes, it is a beautiful song and what a message! MoJoPiano

[MoJoPiano]

Sandraz1634, I'm confused (which is not unusual for the old man here)!  I see on adkinsda profile that is name is "Dean", thus I called him "Dean". What am I missing? THANKS! MoJoPiano

[nancycarollo]

Another good one Dean!

[arvinwynn]

This is truly a classic number ...thank you so much for the posting...