A Visit With Ed Hill, Feature Article

Jul

2006

A Visit With Ed Hill

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Ed, tell us a little about the very first group you ever sang with, and where you went from there.

I sang tenor for my Dad's church quartet called "The Humble Hearts Quartet" in 1950. We were able to sing in Illinois with some of the famous groups at the time like the Jordanaires and the The Blackwood Brothers. After graduating High School in 1952 a year later my Dad started pastoring a Free WIll Baptist church in Elizabethton Tennessee. I met Big Lew Garrison and went to East Tn State College and we sang on the weekends with "Melody Men Quartet". I moved back to St. Louis Mo. and formed the "Kings Men Quartet" with Jay Berry until we formed the Prophets Quartet in January 1959.

The Prophets were a dynamic group. You were one of the founders of that group. What was your favorite combination of the Prophets? If you had to pick one song from the Prophets what one would be your favorite?

Big Lew, Roy McNeal, Joe Moscheo and Dave Rodgers was my favorite combination. The song I would pick as my favorite would be: "Teach Me Lord To Wait".

I have one record of the Prophets with Duane Allen singing Baritone, where were you during this time?

I got off the road for about 6 months and sold insurance. Duane said he was going to be drafted and they asked me back and I said yes.

What was the transition like from leaving the Prophets as owner, to going to sing with JD Sumner and the Stamps as a hired singer?

Singing with JD was like a part owner of the Stamps. He made everybody feel a part of it and at home. I never felt like a hired singer with JD Sumner. JD treated me as if I was part owner.

You have been left with the reputation of being the "VOICE" saying "Elvis has left he building". How did Elvis happen to choose you to make that nightly announcement? What was it like backing and working for Elvis Presley?

Al Davorin was working for John Denver and Elvis at the time and was head of concessions Mgr. for Elvis. He was double booked and chose to go do John Denver. Col. Parker's office called and asked JD if anyone could MC. JD volunteered me. I thought it was for only one tour but Col. Parker liked the way I handled it so he announced that I was the official Elvis Presley announcer.

After I got to know Elvis, he became more like a common man everyday. He loved Southern Gospel Music better than anything. It was a real honor for me to work and become a close friend of Elvis. I didn't realize he was such a good singer until I went to work with him.

For a short time now, you've been making another transition to singing as a Soloist. How is that different for you? What type of songs do you now sing as a soloist?

Since 1950 until March of 2005 I never sang by myself. It has been a blessed transition. The Lord has impressed on me that I was not finished with his work and I would have a great new life. I still sing the same songs I have my whole life, southern gospel music and I love it!

What is a typical service like with Ed Hill, the soloist?

Whatever the local pastor would like for me to do at the service. I sing Southern Gospel songs and give my testimony and some of my experiences of singing gospel music all my life.

Of all the songs you have sang, what song ministers to you the most?

The the song "This Time", it trully blesses me and tells what the Lord has done for me in my life and I thank him every night for what he has done for me.

You've had such a long successful career in Gospel Music. What's been the most rewarding thing about singing for the Lord all your life?

It's all been rewarding. The Lord has allowed me to do what I love the most which is sing for him all my life. I've met wonderful people over the years that have become very good friends and they are so supportive of my ministry. I suppose the most rewarding thing would be that the Lord allows me to tell his wonderful love and how he died to save us all.

If someone wanted to book Ed Hill, how would they go about that?

You can go to my website which is: http://www.edhill4u.com

Reader Comments

Ed,

My very first gospel concert, way back in the winter of 1961-62, was to see the Prophets and the Harvesters Quartets. I will always remember that first exposure to gospel music, for it grabbed my heart and I still love it. I loved the group with Jay Berry as your lead singer. Thanks for all the memories.....keep doing what you do best.

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 07/16/2006

I met Ed when he sang with JD. The Stamps helped me and my Children, Heather & Josh during a very difficult time in our lives.

First, Ed is a Christian. Beyond that he is a gentleman, class and professionalism. I always enjoyed talking with him everytime he sang for us in Centralia or when we met them on the road somewhere.

He was an important part of my families life and an exemplary model for my children. We will always remember Ed andwhat he has meant to us.

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 07/22/2006

Thanks SoGospelNews. Nice Interview. All the best to Ed Hill. I am sure his ministry will bless many souls. I hope the lurking Bobby Clark, another consummate SGM professional, is wrong and that the golden days of SGM are really just ahead. With all the many wonderful SGM soloists, trios, quartets and groups out promoting their hearts out, I see a bright future for this artform. Let's not forget that XM Radio added a Southern Gospel Music channel to its satellite lineup and the success of the Gaither Homecomings which indicates there is a demand for SGM if done right. It's not a mystery. If SGM is to succeed, we need to support our artists, get out for events being promoted, and most of all, buy the music we love the most. It took lots of folks to get XM Radio to add Channel 34 (EnLighten) but it will take lots more folks to keep calling them to tell them how much we appreciate XM-34 and to sign up for XM Radio. If there are Sirius Radio users out there, it'd be great to work on them to add a SGM channel too. At a time when we are losing SGM terrestrial stations because of realignments and consolidations, satellite and internet stations are one of the best ways to promote the artists and the music we love. Imagine being able to drive coast to coast and to be able to listen to "real" SGM anywhere. Owning a few internet SGM radio stations, I hear from listeners around the world who write to say they love the music. Some of them are American missionaries but most of them who write talk about their time in the states or someone in their family who has a collection of SGM that they grew up with. In other cases they are not altogether sure why they tuned it but they say they are happy to have found the music and they cannot envision life again without the music. The funny thing is that I know how they feel. I'm the same way. I'm sure Ed and Bobby know how much their ministries touch lives. SGM will always be around as long as we remember that and as long as it brings glory to God and encouragment and comfort to God's people.

Tony Partigianoni

http://www.ksgm.com/images/gospel.gif

Pure SGM & Quartet-Style Singing
http://www.ksgm.com

Commented by Tony On 07/30/2006

Bro. Ed and his precious wife, Sis. Sharon, are just as sincere in real life as they appear to be in public. They love the Lord and they love each other. They have been an inspiration to others in Southern Gospel music and they continue to be an inspiration to me and my family. I love them both dearly.

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 09/30/2006

knew Roy McNeal when he was with the Prophets and would like to see and/or talk to him again. He probably won't remember me but I would like to hear from him. Gail B.

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 03/25/2007

I used to work as a radio DJ back in the early to mid 1990's in the Jonesboro and Paragould Arkansas areas. The one thing I'll never forget is when I got to be the MC for J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet on three different occasions in Walnut Ridge Arkansas. J.D. knew that my mother and father were in the audience on one night in paticular. J.D. asked my mother to stand and she did. J.D. said, "I'm gonna sing this one for you darlin. J.D. sung, The American Trilogoly. I will never forget that. J.D., Ed Hill, Ed Enoch, & Rick Strickland at that time were the members of the Stamps Quartet. I can also remember J.D. refering to Ed Hill as Captian Kangaroo.These guys along with Ed Hill were the best in the business at what they done. Although J.D. has since gone home to be with the Lord, the Stamps Quartet has always been and always be my favorite group.

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 07/21/2007

ED, Old Quartet Men are like fine Wine, they just keep getting better with age. Another old Quartet Man. God Bless

SoundMan

Commented by spirit7productions On 06/18/2008

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