Statesmen Quartet History | James Wetherington "Big Chief" | Part 2 of 3

Statesmen Quartet History | James Wetherington "Big Chief" | Part 2 of 3 | On the Couch With Fouch

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PART 2/3
For the first time I sat down with a child of a popular artist in gospel music history. One of the most popular groups in gospel music was the Statesmen. So many people remember Hovie Lister and his amazing quartet. They were innovators and were truly stars! For over two decades the bass singer for that group was James "Big Chief" Wetherington. In this episode I get the opportunity to sit down with Diana Helton, Chief's daughter. She shares stories about Chief and the Statesmen. She also shows me several memorabilia pieces that are in her home. You'll love this piece of gospel music history. This interview was so long that I had to break it down into 3 parts.
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Пікірлер: 23

@ddintucson7898 3 жыл бұрын

I remember seeing them so many times in the 70’s when I was a kid. Loved them.

@debbeasher-k4764 2 ай бұрын

Enjoying this. ❤

@MattFouch 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching.

@randybock82 4 жыл бұрын

Great interview! Neat to see family of Big Chief. Thanks Mat.

@alexgfer123 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent work sir, go on doing these kind of interviews, thanks

@BullDarrell 4 жыл бұрын

This is such a good and informative set of interviews.

@kathyhall5073 4 жыл бұрын

Hope you can do more interviews like this again, Matt. I’ve really enjoyed every second! Than you so much!

@mrtraumaboyy4098 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this. Currently re-reading The Music Men by Bob Terrell. I do recommend this book to any fan of southern gospel music. Fantastic video Mr. Fouch.

@JefferyHunt 3 жыл бұрын

This is a fascinating interview. I’m distantly kin to Jake Hess and my 3 month old son’s name is Hovie. Big fan here.

@db90990 Жыл бұрын

Elvis Presley seen em Live in concert in Memphis February 1954 then he attended the Oral Roberts crusade in May the same year also in Memphis ✝️

@Djm8520 7 ай бұрын

JD Sumner was unquestionably the lowest bass singer, but ‘The Big Chief’ was the best bass singer! I’ll share a ‘Big Chief’ story. In 1967, when I was 13, my family drove down from Northern Virginia to an outdoor venue in Western Virginia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jack Toney was singing lead. The Statesmen had a new album out ‘Showers of Blessing,’ and we loved this song. At the intermission, my Dad asked Hovie if they would sing that song, and Hovie being Hovie, agreed if my Dad bought an album. The deal done, and the second half began. We were sitting about 3 rows off the stage. The 2nd song up, Hovie announced he had gotten a request for the next song and they launched into ‘Showers of Blessing.’ Well, obviously Hovie had told ‘The Big Chief’ who had requested the song, as he came to the front of the stage, slowed it down, and sang the song directly to us!

@MattFouch 7 ай бұрын

That’s a great story! How cool!

@Djm8520 7 ай бұрын

@@MattFouch 🫡

@dilnecarvalho6675 4 жыл бұрын

Alguém ponha legenda nesta entrevista. Gostaria de saber tudo sobre o Big chief.

@geraldritchey6382 4 жыл бұрын

I think another factor in the decline of the big concerts is that church people today partake in many more forms of entertainment that back then were frowned upon. Back then gospel singings were the entertainment for Christians, since many churches preached against movie theaters, bowling alleys, and even some preached against television. Nowadays "Christians" do things that used to be considered worldly entertainment, and gospel music doesn't hold the excitement it used to.

@dilnecarvalho6675 4 жыл бұрын

why never honor Doy ott, the beste voice baritone of quartet?

@debbeasher-k4764 2 ай бұрын

It’s also very expensive too.

@daniellehoyte1820 2 жыл бұрын

I think I missed what she was 10 years off about? I heard her say Chief was with Melody Masters prior to joining the Statesmen in 1959. Did she mean the 1949 date? If so, didn't he join the Statesmen in 1949? There is a vid on KZfaq of him singing Newborn feeling with the group in 1949. And Crumpler died 1957.

@mattmorrissr3571 Жыл бұрын

My son just walked in the door with the SOLO ALBUM. I was in shock. Have you ever heard it?

@MattFouch Жыл бұрын

I have not. I need to get find a copy

@rewincwulff6388 4 жыл бұрын

How did he get the nickname “big chief”?

@j.r.5130 4 жыл бұрын

Hovie Lister decided Big Chief needed a nickname, so they worked together to come up with one, and Big Chief ended up choosing it because of his American Indian heritage.

@dilnecarvalho6675 4 жыл бұрын

Dou ott . I woud Like be about Doy ott.