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.
I am a young Statesmen Quartet fan and I just adore them all. The Chief's bass just rolls and Denver's high voice just soars. You just gotta love it!!
@irishmary24 If he used his talent for the Lord, why would he want to be a rock star? It seems that we have a pretty pathetic society and Lost America if the epitome of musical success is being a rock star. No wonder people called a pathetic child molester the king of pop.
I'm a young gospel singer, only 27, but I love just about anything southern gospel. It's so pure in it's message. I can't wait til we get to heaven with all the great voices that were down here and gather round that throne and sing praises to the Lamb!
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.
My brother used to love to sing Hide Me Rock of Ages. I think he could sing bass and tenor too, It depended on who gathered around the piano as to what we sang if we could sing.
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.
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.
I can't stop watching these guy's. The very best
RonsVideoKeepers 1 month ago
Praise God!
larmoe542 1 month ago
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.
minralb 5 months ago
Big Chief. period.
Shinelikestarsnet 6 months ago 2
Wish we had singers that dedicated to Christ! The y out Him first!
BradyTheBaptist 7 months ago
I don't see any close microphones here.....the fact that Big Chief is able to project this well is astounding!
GamingDrummer89 11 months ago
first time hearing big cheif...awesome!
voyieb 1 year ago
I am a young Statesmen Quartet fan and I just adore them all. The Chief's bass just rolls and Denver's high voice just soars. You just gotta love it!!
ShallCatsAdore 1 year ago 4
I have never posted and I am not sure if this went out but ....Can someone post "Message In the Sky"? Thank you
msdoditc 1 year ago
Wetherington > Sumner
somebody6307 1 year ago
lol , its funny reminds me of fallout 3
but still good music
xXxSineaterxXx 2 years ago
hahahahah The Pianists face on the 52 second mark is Hularious!!
payuk31 2 years ago
That is Hovie Lister.
morriswilburn 1 year ago
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!
irishmary24 2 years ago 19
@irishmary24 If he used his talent for the Lord, why would he want to be a rock star? It seems that we have a pretty pathetic society and Lost America if the epitome of musical success is being a rock star. No wonder people called a pathetic child molester the king of pop.
Azishome 1 week ago
I LOVE THIS VIDEO/ SONG!
tannerz6 2 years ago 2
I'm a young gospel singer, only 27, but I love just about anything southern gospel. It's so pure in it's message. I can't wait til we get to heaven with all the great voices that were down here and gather round that throne and sing praises to the Lamb!
dphillips81 2 years ago 2
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.
minralb 2 years ago
Gotta love the Big Chief.
archiefan997 2 years ago
It great to see old friends singing once again. I hope that we can find all of our favorites someday.
rjhwb 2 years ago
Just keep listening for that Trumpet. We'll find them then.
Azishome 2 years ago
My brother used to love to sing Hide Me Rock of Ages. I think he could sing bass and tenor too, It depended on who gathered around the piano as to what we sang if we could sing.
rjhwb 2 years ago
These guys put all of the other "great pretenders" to shame! The best!
thebigfist 2 years ago
Absolutely,the best I`ve ever heard.
thebigfist 2 years ago
at 0:52 its creepy
kingsokka 3 years ago
Yes, the best Statement combination.
chowman007 3 years ago 3
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 !!!<3
HCFan39 3 years ago
The Statesmen at their best! And, one of the prime examples of Hovie's piano virtuosity. What a blessing!
hogwild72024 3 years ago 3
This particular group of the Statesmen is my favorite. Crumpler, Jake, Doy and Big Chief are just the best ever.
militarychief 3 years ago
The greatest gospel quartet of all time
rwb345 3 years ago
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.
minralb 3 years ago 2
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.
statesmenfan 2 years ago
Sorry but Armond Morales (Imperials/Weatherford Quartet) was known as the smoothest bass singer.
musdan77 2 years ago
@musdan77 Please don't bring controversy here. People simply want to praise the Lord.
Azishome 1 year ago 8
I love this song. Thanks so much for posting it. God bless you and yours.
AKJBevangelist 3 years ago
I love this song. Thank you for the great video.
militarychief 3 years ago
Just love these old groups and the songs they sing.
anneja25 3 years ago