Gospel music seems to have had their share of quartets that reached "legendary status" in various ways. Several have been hyped as "the best ever." Some of these groups seem to have taken the industry by storm, and were the groups from which legends were made. The Melody Masters Quartet fits this second description quite well, for they became the foundation of the Statesmen Quartet. There is very little recorded history to compare this group to groups of their era, but those that witnessed this group always speak of the quartet in the same breath as others taunted as the "best quartet ever." There are few around today that actually had the opportunity to hear this group perform, but according to eye witnesses, they were one of the finest groups to emerge from the mid 1940s.
The Melody Masters Quartet was formed like many groups of the day . . . members of one group got into a fuss and decide that the grass would be greener if they formed a new group! In late 1946, Jim Wetherington, Lee Kitchens, and Mosie Lister left the Sunny South Quartet in Tampa Florida to form the nucleus of the Melody Masters Quartet. They were joined in this endeavor by Alvin Tootle and Wally Varner. They seemed to delight in butting heads with the Sunny South Quartet. The stories of their antics have been recorded in other volumes, but they had a great time with "one-upsmanship" Not only were they rival quartets, but they worked for rival song book companies.
After a few months, Mosie Lister departed and was replaced by Calvin Newton. Jake Hess was originally chosen to replace Mosie, but Jake's arrival was delayed and the impatient Mr. Wetherington hired Newton instead. Jake did join the group soon thereafter. In the ensuing months, Lee Kitchens departed, Alvin Tootle moved from tenor to baritone, and Calvin Newton became the first tenor for the group. Jim Wetherington and Wally Varner remained constant with the group. After a few months, Cat Freeman joined the group, replacing Calvin Newton as tenor singer.
The quartet had a great sound, but they weren't making ends meet financially. The Tampa area was a bit small to support two full time quartets, so the Melody Masters Quartet soon left for greener pastures. Hovie Lister suggested that the group relocate to his hometown of Greenville, S.C. and they indeed moved there for a short while. Hovie was toying with the idea of forming the Statesmen Quartet, and the Melody Masters Quartet embodied many of the ideas he'd imagined for his quartet. If his greatest potential competition was several hours from Atlanta, his dream quartet may have a better shot of making it in the business.
Jake Hess has often told the story that the group had to "steal fruit" to keep from starving. The group continued to struggle, but kept the faith because of a great desire to sing. A short stay in Birmingham, Alabama didn't improve their fortunes, either.
The group finally found a home as paid musicians for KFAB radio station in Lincoln, Nebraska. They did three radio programs during the day and would do concert programs at night. Gospel music wasn't well known in Nebraska, so the Melody Masters Quartet was quite a novelty to those people. Their programs and stage antics were flawless, and they developed quite a following from the mid-Westerners. The quartet stepped outside the bounds of the normal quartets of the day, and the crowds loved them. Mosie Lister wrote several advanced arrangements, and the Melody Masters Quartet performed them well much to the delight of their audiences. The Melody Masters Quartet was arguably the first quartet to use modern harmony in their arrangements, often employing tight five-part harmonies in their presentations.
Although the group did some wonderful singing, The Melody Masters Quartet didn't leave much for us to remember them by in the recording studio. "Brudder Jonah" and "Moving Up to Glory" were the only songs the group ever recorded for sale. They were released on the White Church label. If these two songs are any indication, the group indeed lived up to its hype. I am aware of only four of their radio transcriptions also have survived the fifty five years since they were recorded.
Cat Freeman soon left the quartet and was replaced by Vernon Bright. Lane Shaw was also a member of the quartet during the years at KFAB radio. Both of these gentlemen were quartet veterans and were excellent singers.
Hovie not only liked the sound of the quartet, but he must have also coveted the members. Soon after forming the Statesmen Quartet, Hovie called Jake Hess and offered him a job. Jake accepted the call to relocate in Atlanta, Georgia and the gospel singing world has rejoiced ever since.
Ben Swett, Jim Wetherington's uncle, replaced Jake in the quartet, but the quartet soon disbanded. Hovie once again came calling, and Jim Wetherington began a 25-year tenure as bass singer of the Statesmen Quartet. Within a year, Hovie also had Cat Freeman singing in the Statesmen Quartet. This was 3/4 of the group singing on the Melody Masters Quartet's only recording!
In 1982, I was sitting backstage with Jake Hess and JD Sumner as they prepared to go on stage with the other Statesmen. JD was "holding court" as he talked about the Melody Masters Quartet. He took a puff on his cigarette and then smiled as he said, "I was glad the ole Melody Masters decided to leave Florida. They'd eat our sack lunch nearly every time we sang together. Those boys could ever more sing! And I don't mean just gospel music either. You ain't lived 'till you heard the ole Big Chief sing "Ole Buttermilk Sky." 'Course, he wasn't the "Big Chief" in those days. They were not only the finest gospel quartet in the country, but they were the best quartet of ANY kind. I sure wish you boys could have heard them. They could sing "Rag Mop," "Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette," "Ragtime Cowboy Joe," and then tear 'em up with an old hymn." Jake just smiled and nodded in agreement.
A few of the alumni of this group are still with us as of this writing including Lee Kitchens, Mosie Lister, Calvin Newton, and Wally Varner. These gentlemen would no doubt remember their time with the Melody Masters Quartet with a smile. The Melody Masters Quartet had a sound that was far ahead of their time. The paths they led helped to pave the way for the Statesmen Quartet. Although many have never actually heard the group, their influence is still recognized in gospel music today.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 08/01/2004
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Category: SG History 101
Comments: 12
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John...
John,
Thanks for another enlightening article concerning one of the "legendary" quartets. I've heard recordings and your comments (as were JD's) are right on target. Outstanding!
Dean
Hidee John,
A 1948 radio transcription of The Melody Masters was made available on CD a few years ago by Johnny Carter at Bibletone Records. The sound quality is not that great, unfortunately, but at least you can tell what this group was like in their golden years. The CD lineup is Hess, Toodle, Bright, Wetherington, and Varner. In the cover photo, Hess and Wetherington aren't sporting their trademark moustaches. You can buy the CD at: http://www.narecorp.com/southerngospel.htm
The current Melody Masters Quartet (1996-present) also had this product for sale at their events for a while . . . I don't know if they offer it now or not. They're just performing one or two concerts per month at the moment as reunion events, but if you happen to catch them in your area, you may happen to see it on their product table. See: http://www.themelodymastersquartet.com
“Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.”—-Mark Twain
Another great article in a great series. When is the book coming out?
Thanks for another great article. I too am waiting for the book. All your fans on here can help finance it. Sure. I find it interesting that Hovie was so influenced by the Melody Masters in building the Statesmen. Then 15 years later Jake, in forming the Imperials, was obviously greatly influenced by the Weatherfords, grabbing Henry Slaughter, Armond Morales and bunch of Weatherford arrangements.
Thank you all for your kind comments.
I had not noticed that about the photo before, John. Now that you mention it, though, his dress is significantly different from the other guys.
By the way, I wish they had not edited out the intros on those songs. It would flow a lot better if they had left that type of stuff in. There's some fade ins and fade outs in weird places. I had assumed that maybe the master was faulty in spots. If it was just them introducing songs, though, that would have added to the charm.
I love my old Abbott and Costello recordings that leave in the commercials and everything. I think old gospel shows complete with commercials, intros, etc. would be great. I hope some of those who own the old masters are reading this!
“Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.”—-Mark Twain
John, this is a facinating story about a great group of guys. I had the pleasure of knowing them all. Wally Varner and I were in the Homeland Harmony Quartet together. Later, Wally, Cat Freeman and I were members of The Revelaires Quartet. Jake Hess introduced me to my wife and I had many great hours with The Big Chief, Calvin Newton, and Lane Shaw, who ended up in Birmingham with his brother in a great quartet. I believe they were the Rythm Masters.
I enjoyed reading about the quartets - Statesmen the Melody Masters and Sunny South. I was interested in Big Chief Jim Wetherington since I am also a Bass singer and was in a quartet for a few years.
I've been blown away. I am the grandson of Alvin Tootle and I can't even believe this! I know nothing of my Grandfather; I've never even heard his music. Being a Musician myself, I ask a favor to any and all...If you have Pictures, Recordings, Stories, Anything at all that has to do with my Grandfather- Please share them with me. Please
Ben Swett was my best friend. When they asked me to join what was known as THE SOUTHERN QUARTET of Soul's Harbor television back in Minneapolis in the 50's, I had never heard of Southern Quartet music as a Northerner, but loved the black quartets I picked up on radio often driving from a date late at night up North. Ben introduced me to the Statesmen, and other groups, after he decided to travel solo and become a missionary in Jamaica. What a delight that man was, such a good friend. He and I recorded together and often sung together after we moved from Minnesota. I miss him, who was old enough to be my dad, as he was a quality guy with a voice very much like his nephew, BIG CHIEF who was six years younger than Ben, and was raised by Ben's mother in Tifton, Georgia, so they were more like brothers than uncle and nephew. The last year we were together, we hired a tenor from Memphis, and would learn that he went to high school with Elvis Presley, and in fact sang in a quartet with him back in their teens, along with Cecile Blackwood. He and I flagged down Elvin Limo after the King gave a concert at the old Minneapolis Auditorium, and we had to perform at Calvery Temple, Soul's Harbor at the same time. Later talking in front of Ben's house on the main drag going South of downtown Mpls., Jerry saw the Cadillac car with Tennessee license and we chased them down, and Jerry shouted over to them and identified himself, so the car stopped. I was too bashful to join him in the limo to meet Elvis, having never heard of him prior to that night. We traveled a lot with the then pastor, REV. GORDON K. PETERSON, and enjoyed each other a lot. Our baritone was Jack Haag who later went to the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Ohio, along with his wife, Nathalie, working there with the Cathedrals and others. Dale Lundgren
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