This group was ahead of their time. It's amazing how many of their songs are still popular today. This was songwriting at its best.

I love the old gospel song performances. The Statesmen are one of the best groups...

This is just great, I love Big Chief, that's what can be called quality

...the Statesmen set the bar very high for everyone that has followed after... Cutter & Ms C

I saw the statesmen in 1963 at a concert in san,bernardino,ca, and after the concert i got them to autograft there albums.they have always been my favorite. no wonder elvis love them

My favorite lineup of the Statesmen

I wish I was a little older to remember the Big Chief.

What a delightful ham Hovie was!!!

I always love this singing! Is it just me, or can you tell when a person is singin' with a smile? Cause I can see that smile on Jake Hess whenever I hear him singing!

If this didn't start Rock n Roll before Elvis I don't know what did.

i keep coming back to this video every few months for the last 10 years, still love it

you got to love the chief he was a great bass and agreat man i use to love and talk to him when they came to ST.LOUIS every month

This is a real quartet singing. Even with just a piano, they are all with each and not going off tempo. Some quartets seem to do now a days with just a piano

Just watched Ernie H. and his early guys singing this. Love this one just as much.

Yes...they are very good.......I listen they's song every day........

Hovie was a hoot!

0:57 that note!!!! Perfect pitch. Not 1 group today could come close to that

CHIEF AT HIS BEST

sing it Big Chief!

These brothers could really swing!

New favorite song!

The Statesmen were the first Rock n Rollers!

RIP to all! Rock on!

I've been around music for years. Loved both tenors; they just had different styles.

Thanks so very much I am truly blessed by the statesmen.

Just too good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now this was music 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵

The only song that gets stuck in my head. 🙃🙃🙃🙃

Thanks.. I've been looking for this for a long time.

This is boogie music style, it's nice.

Now, which came first, the term " Rockk N Roll" for pop music, or this song? Big Chief was good looking and talented enough to be a secular singer in his day! He chose to honor God! I have been getting to know the Statesmen on KZfaq!

Jake is as much fun to watch as he is to listen to. He sure loved his music, didn't he? I wonder if he ever felt left out without one of those classy thin moustaches like the others had.

Fantastic beautiful singing

thank you, that is one of my favorite songs!!! wish jake sang the second verse by himself tho!

Crumpler is the best tenor. As much as I liked Rosie, Crumpler just couldn't be beat.

Beyond the Gates

Hovie Min 0:51 AHAHHAHAHA.... Love him

I would have thought a 19 year old Metallica fan would also appreciate this!

Denver Crumptler, Jake Hess, Doy Ott, Big Chief Wetherington, Hovie Lister on piano.

Denver Crumpler replaced Cat Freeman, Vestal Goodman's brother, in the early 50s. He was with the Statesmen until 1957, when he died suddenly from diabetic shock misdiagnosed as a heart problem. Cat Freeman came back, and was an able tenor, but he liked to be the comic relief of the group. That wasn't what Nabisco signed up for, so they cancelled the sponsorship soon after. I believe about a year later Rosie Rosell signed on.

Big Chief looks like the "white" Cab Calloway.

Howdy All ; Thanks for the great info......::)

I won't turn back no more is the title....I won't turn back no more till I reach heaven's shore. My Lord is walking with me, I know he is talking with me, He said he'd hold my hand till I reached the promised land. etc...

@LABOURSUPPORTER Hard to judge because of the difference in the time periods and stylings. But Big Chief OWNED this bass part.

I'm not sure why all the Tenor comparisons on this song, it is CLEARLY the Big Chief's song, not Denver's nor Rosie's!!!

there's no doug young in this video.... just hovie lister/ denver crumpler / jake hess/ doy ott/big chief jim weatherington

you can understand every word cheif sings and hovie could flat play that piano

great, Dixie Melody Boys have an equal version featuring ED Oneal it takes a legend to match a legend

Code...Denver was the original Tenor with the Statesmen, not sure how long he sang with them.

@LABOURSUPPORTER I wont turn back is the name of the song.

I stand corrected - in this video Doy has no lip warmer. He did, however, have one in other videos leaving Jess with the only shiny lip. See 44KrrHvR2gY ("Where No One Stands Alone") also posted by our good friend Statesmenfan.

Could you post the song that starts at the end?

I couldn't agree with you any more than I do. Mr. Denver Crumpler was an amazing tenor who was taken from us decades too soon. However, I've never really liked Rosie all that much. Denver always sounded more comfortable on the high notes.

Is there any footage w/Cat Freeman and/or Bobby Strickland.(just curious)

What is the song that they started singing at the end? Can anyone tell me?

Thanks Zag.....Did he sing long with the Statesmen or just fill in . I dont think I ever heard of him.

I don't think George Younce ruined the Cathedrals when he did this song.

Nothing so original than the old style quartet. Their hair and mustache are not imitable.

what is the name of this song they sing at the end?

Who's the Statesman on the extreme left ?

Where did I get "Jess"?? Umm... would ya believe Jake Hess? Sorry 'bout the bad typo!

Anyone know what the name of the song this leads to on the clip. I know I've herd it before, but can't remember the name.