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A Fan Remembers The Laymen Quartet

Back in April of this year, John Schiedeman wrote a History Article about The Gospel Harmony Boys Quartet. We received this letter after this young lady read the article. It is so interesting, I thought that all of our readers would enjoy reading it. It is used with her permission.

Boy. That article about the Gospel Harmony Boys was fun to read. I wish someone would write an article about the Laymen Quartet Of Columbus Ohio. George Curnutte The bass and founder is with the Lord these last fifteen years but he certainly made his mark in Gospel Music. He helped start along with Sonny Simmons the big All-night New years eve sing in Charleston. He was a big promoter in Columbus when we had the groups at Vets Memorial and The Lauche building at the Ohio state fair grounds. He help start the West-fall sing in Ohio where they sing in 2 auditoriums simultaneously. Half of the men mentioned with singing with the Gospel Harmony boys got their start with the Laymen. Greg Tingler, Dennis Chapman, Asbury Adkins, And of late, Elliott McCoy baritone and manager of Three Bridges.

George's wife, Dottie Curnutte had many dealings with the quartets. She made some of the most beautiful table covers. Of course they are all silk screened and machine embroidered now, But she hand stitched them for the Rebels, The Blackwood Brothers, Several for them and my personal favorite beautiful Oak Leaves with the Oak Ridge boys pictures in them. They had to all have them made for the Quartet convention. In Nashville, and in Memphis when it was held there. She was always sewing on buttons on the jackets of singers, Rusty Goodman, George Younce. She gave Danny Gaither a 21st birthday party at the Columbus shrine Temple. His mom and Dad even came over from Indiana. Also Jake Hess and Jim Murray and Armond Morales Talked to her and told her to be praying for them as they were going to start a new group, The Imperials. Jim Hamill and London Paris were at her house and stayed the night and Jim Backed out of the driveway and ran right in to the garage door.

The Laymen Quartet were the host gospel group every night at the Country music cavalcade at the Great Southern Hotel In Columbus. They sang with Roy Clark and Estelle Parton. They booked groups for the frontier park in Columbus. They had the Oaks many times and Conway Twitty and the Tweety Birds. Dottie was always mistaken for Eve Mae Lefevre. Mylon even called her momma. The Laymen sang at the Cathedral of tomorrow with Rex Humbard and The Cathedral quartet. George and Dottie's daughter was taken up to the stage by George Younce and she sat on his lap and he sang the Bumble Bee song to her when she was 9 years old. And she loved George ever since. She even talked to him before he died on the phone.

I know all these things and more because I sang with the Laymen Quartet when I was 18 years old. I sang on one of their albums. In 1972 I talked my Dad into letting me quit school and going to Memphis to work with Bock Productions promoting Elvis and setting up his concerts. I only did that for about 6 months until my Dad, George Curnutte called me and needed me to come home to sing with him as he just lost a singer. So I did. I sang with them for three years until I got married. After that The Laymen had a lot of talented men singing with them. There is so much more but I don't want to bore you. I was so happy for my mother as last year she went to the Quartet convention for the first time in 30 years. She was in all her glory. She is 82 years young and planning to go again this year. I wish there were special honors for such unknowns as her. Even though she never sang a lick she has a wonderful history in Gospel Music and she will certainly leave a legacy when she meets the Lord. Thanks for the chance to sound off.

Deb Chuvalas
Columbus Ohio