The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues. The SGMA was formed in 1994, and states that its primary goal is "to preserve, protect and promote Southern Gospel Music, its history and heritage".
The Southern Gospel Music Association operates the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame in Pigeon Forge, a popular Tennessee tourist town, and also hosts the Southern Gospel Music Awards. The Hall of Fame and Museum was opened at the Dollywood theme park in 1999.
Leadership of the SGMA is vested in a 23-member board of directors. The SGMA is responsible for the nomination, selection, and induction into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
History The Gospel Music Association (GMA) was founded in 1964 to promote Gospel music. It was created as an extension of the National Quartet Convention, a convention devoted to Southern gospel that had been operating since 1956.Cusic, Don, ed. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock and Worship. ABC-CLIO, 2009, pp. 223-224. Its founding board included Don Butler, Cecil and James Blackwood, Vestal Goodman, Charlie Lamb, Don Light, and J.D. Sumner, and its first president was Tennessee Ernie Ford.W.K. McNeil, ed. Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music. Routledge, 2013, pp. 149-150. In its early years, it faced competition from the United States Gospel Music Association, a for-profit entity also focused on gospel music."Editorial Notes Differences in Gospel Music Assn. and GMA". Billboard, October 22, 1966. (Google Books)
In the 1970s and 1980s, tension and conflict emerged between Southern gospel and the newer developments of Jesus music and Contemporary Christian music.Cusic, Don. 2002. p. 377-380Goff, James R. 2002. p. 271-274 Southern Gospel conservatives had been resistant to racial integration, and even as they were slowly becoming more receptive to integration, the new developments in Christian music resulted in Southern Gospel becoming increasingly marginalized by music consumers and losing influence in the GMA. Many Southern conservatives, including members of the GMA, also disapproved of rock music and felt that the newer styles of Gospel music being promoted by the GMA indicated that the organization was essentially moving into an alliance with the "enemy".Goff, James R. 2002. p. 272 The Southern Gospel industry became disenchanted with the direction that the GMA was heading and a new organization, the Southern Gospel Music Association, was formed by Charles Waller.Cusic, Don. 2002. p. 379 However, in 1985, this organization was absorbed by the GMA. A new, independent Southern Gospel Music Association was formed in 1995.Cusic, Don. 2002. p. 380
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is a site operated in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association, at the Biblical Times Dinner Theater. It was established in 1997. The Hall of Fame is composed of pioneers in the field of Southern gospel music; members are selected by the SGMA annually, and are honored by a descriptive plaque and portrait in the Hall itself. The Museum contains thousands of items of memorabilia and a gift shop. Items on display include a replica of the Blackwood Brothers first bus, interactive video and sound clips, and bronze plaques of Hall of Fame inductees. It has been estimated that over one million people visit the facility annually.
Inductees 1990s Inductee YearBirth / Death NotesLee Roy Abernathy19971913 - 1993Musician/Singer/Songwriter; Homeland Harmony Quartet; Rangers Quartet; Happy TwoWendy Bagwell19971925 - 1996Singer/Songwriter/Comedian; Founder/Owner/Manager; Wendy Bagwell & the Sunliters (1954-1996)Clarice “Ma” Baxter19971898 - 1972Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing CompanyJ.R. Baxter19971887 - 1960Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing CompanyLes Beasley19971928 - 2018Singer/Songwriter/Producer; Owner/Manager of The Florida Boys (1959-2007);
Co-Producer & Host of The Gospel Singing Jubilee;
NQC Board of DirectorsJames Blackwood19971919 - 2002Singer/Concert Promoter; Owner/Manager of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet (1948-1981);
Masters V; James Blackwood Quartet; Co-Founder of National Quartet Convention Albert E Brumley19971905 - 1977SongwriterDP “Dad” Carter19971889 - 1965Singer/Musician; Founder/Owner/Manager of the Chuck Wagon Gang (1936-1955)Denver Crumpler19971912 - 1957Singer; Statesmen Quartet; Rangers QuartetJohn Daniel19971906 - 1961Singer; Founder/Owner/Manager of John Daniel Quartet (1930s-1961)Gov. Jimmie Davis19971899 - 2000Singer/Songwriter/Actor/PoliticianWally Fowler19971917 - 1994Singer/Songwriter/Concert Promoter/Radio & Television Personality;
Founder/Owner/Manager of the Oak Ridge Boys (1945-1959);
Founder of the All Nite SingBill Gaither19971936 -Singer/Songwriter/Publisher/Producer/Concert Promoter;
Founder/Owner/Manager Bill Gaither Trio (1959-1990s);
Founder/Owner/Manager of Gaither Vocal Band (1981–present);
Gaither Homecoming Video & Concert SeriesRusty Goodman19971933 - 1990Singer/Songwriter/Musician/
Producer; Happy Goodmans; PlainsmenConnor Hall19971916 - 1992Singer/Publisher; Owner/Manager of Homeland Harmony Quartet (1948-1989);
Founding Member of Tennessee Music & Printing CompanyHerman Harper19971938 - 1993Singer/Producer/Industry Exec; Oak Ridge Boys; Founder of Gospel Music Trust Fund; Founder of The Harper AgencyJake Hess19971927 - 2004Singer; Statesmen Quartet; Melody Masters; Masters V; Founder/Manager of The Imperials (1964-1967)Eva Mae LeFevre19971917 - 2008Singer/Musician; The LeFevresUrias LeFevre19971910 - 1979Singer/Musician; Owner/Manager/Founding member of The LeFevres (1934-1974)Hovie Lister19971926 - 2001Musician/Singer/Songwriter/Concert Promoter; Founder/Owner/Manager of the Statesmen Quartet (1948-2001); Homeland Harmony Quartet; The LeFevres; Rangers Quartet; Masters V; Palmetto State QuartetMosie Lister19971921 - 2015Songwriter/Singer/MusicianMarvin Norcross19971929 - 1980Producer; Founder of Canaan RecordsWB Nowlin19971905 - 1994Concert PromoterLloyd Orrell19971907 - 1983Concert PromoterO.A. Parris19971897 - 1966Songwriter/PublisherGlen Payne19971926 - 1999Singer; Founder/Owner/Manager of Cathedral Quartet (1963-1999);
Stamps Quartet; Weatherfords; NQC Board of DirectorsDottie Rambo19971934 - 2008Singer/Songwriter; The RambosG.T. “Dad” Speer19971891 - 1966Singer/Songwriter/Teacher; Founder/Owner/Manager of the Speer Family (1921-1963)Lena “Mom” Speer19971899 - 1967Singer; Matriarch of the Speer Family (1921-1967)Brock Speer19971920 - 1999Singer/Producer/Industry Exec; Owner/Manager of the Speer Family (1966-1998);
NQC Board of DirectorsFrank Stamps19971896 - 1965Singer/Publisher; Founder of Stamps Quartet Music CompanyV.O. Stamps19971892 - 1940Singer/Songwriter/Publisher/
Radio Pioneer; Founder of Stamps-Baxter Music & Printing CompanyJ.D. Sumner19971924 - 1998Singer/Songwriter/Concert Promoter/Innovator; Sunshine Boys; Blackwood Brothers; Masters V; Owner/Manager of the Stamps Quartet (1965-1998); Founding Director of the National Quartet Convention; Customized first entertainment coachJames D Vaughan19971864 - 1941Innovator/Publisher/Songwriter/Teacher/Radio Pioneer; Founder of Southern Gospel Music in 1910; Founder of the James D Vaughan Music Publishing Company, The Vaughan Quartet, and Vaughan School of Music; Founder of first southern radio station WOANKieffer Vaughan19971893 - 1969Singer/Songwriter/Teacher/Publisher; Manager of Vaughan Music Printing Company 1941-1960s; Manager of Vaughan Quartet“Big” Jim Waits19971899 - 1974Singer; Early “star” of gospel music; Vaughan Quartet; Stamps Quartet; John Daniel Quartet; The LeFevres; Homeland Harmony Quartet; The Revelaires; Rebels QuartetJames S. “Big Chief” Wetherington19971922 - 1973Singer/Songwriter; Statesmen Quartet; Melody MastersJ.G. Whitfield19971915 - 2006Singer/Producer/Concert Promoter/Radio & TV Personality; Founder/Owner/Manager of The Florida Boys (1947-1959); Founder/Owner/Manager of The Dixie Echoes (1960-1967); Founder of Singing News Magazine & Gospel Singing JubileeEldridge Fox19981936 - 2002Singer/Musician/Songwriter/Publisher/Producer; Owner/Manager of Kingsmen (1971-2001);
NQC Board of DirectorsBen Speer19981930 - 2017Singer/Musician/Publisher/Producer; Speer Family; Homeland QuartetGeorge Younce19981930 - 2005Singer/Songwriter; Cathedral Quartet; Blue Ridge Quartet; WeatherfordsSmitty Gatlin19991935 - 1972Singer/Songwriter; Owner/Manager of the Oak Ridge Boys (1957-1966);
Founder/Owner/Manager of the Smitty Gatlin Trio (1966-1972)Rex Nelon19991932 - 2000Singer/Songwriter/Publisher; Founder/Owner/Manager of The Nelons (1977-1998); The LeFevres; Homeland Harmony Quartet; NQC Board of DirectorsAdger M Pace19991882 - 1959Singer/Songwriter/Publisher/Teacher; Vaughan Radio QuartetRosie Rozell19991928 - 1995Singer/Songwriter; Statesmen Quartet; Tulsa Trumpeteers; Rosie Rozell & the Searchers; Masters VW.B. Walbert19991886 - 1959Singer/Musician/Songwriter/Publisher; James D Vaughan Music Company 2000s Inductee YearBirth / Death NotesE.M. Bartlett20001884 - 1941Songwriter/Teacher/PublisherJames Roy “Pop” Lewis20001905 - 2004Singer/Musician/Songwriter; Owner/Founder/Manager of The Lewis Family (1950-1980s)Doy Ott20001919 - 1986Singer/Musician/Songwriter;
Statesmen Quartet;
Stamps-Baxter Melody Boys;
Rangers Quartet;
Homeland Harmony QuartetA.J. Showalter20001858 - 1924Songwriter/Teacher/PublisherEarl Weatherford20001922 - 1992Singer/Musician; Founder/Owner/Manager of The Weatherfords (1947-1992)Lily Fern Weatherford20001928 -Singer; The WeatherfordsGlen Allred20011934 - 2021Singer/Songwriter/Musician;
Florida Boys; Oak Ridge QuartetCleavant Derricks20011910 - 1977Songwriter/Singer/EvangelistVep Ellis20011917 - 1988Songwriter/Singer/Musician/
EvangelistNaomi Sego Reader20011931 - 2017Singer; Sego Brothers & NaomiDale Shelnut20011935 - 1983Singer; Owner/Manager of The Dixie Echoes (1972-1983); Rhythm Masters Quartet; Tennesseans QuartetIra Stanphill20011914 - 1993Singer/Songwriter/EvangelistBuford Abner20021917 - 2011Singer/Songwriter;
Swanee River BoysRW Blackwood20021921 - 1954Singer; Blackwood Brothers QuartetJerry Goff20021935 - 2019Singer/Songwriter/Musician/
Evangelist/Concert Promoter;
Jerry & the Singing Goffs; Thrasher Brothers;
NQC Board of DirectorsVestal Goodman20021929 - 2003Singer; Happy Goodman FamilyAlphus LeFevre20021912 - 1988Singer/Songwriter/Musician;
Founding member of The LeFevresWilliam M. Ramsey20021872 - 1939Singer/Songwriter/TeacherR.E. Winsett20021876 - 1952Songwriter/Publisher/TeacherDwight Brock20031907 - 1988Musician/Songwriter/Teacher/
Publisher; Stamps Quartet; Vaughan Radio QuartetMartin Cook20031936 - 2022Musician; Founder/Owner/Manager of The Inspirations (1964-2017)Howard Goodman20031921 - 2002Singer/Songwriter/Musician/
Evangelist; Founder/Owner/Manager of the Happy Goodman FamilyJ.A. McClung20031891 - 1942Singer/Songwriter/
Publisher/TeacherOtis McCoy20031897 - 1995Singer/Songwriter/Publisher/
Teacher; Vaughan Radio Quartet; Vaughan Saxophone Quartet;
Homeland Harmony Quartet;
Founding Director of Tennessee Music & Printing CompanyFred C. Maples20031910 - 1987Singer; Founder/Owner/Manager of the Harmoneers Quartet (1943-1957);
Homeland Harmony Quartet;
Vaughan Victory QuartetJ. Bazzel Mull20031914 - 2006Radio & Television Personality;
Concert PromoterHomer Rodeheaver20031880 - 1955Singer/Songwriter/Evangelist/
Publisher/Radio PersonalityMarion Snider20031914 - 2010Musician/Songwriter/Singer;
Stamps Quartet; Blackwood Brothers Quartet; Rangers Quartet; Imperial QuartetBobby Strickland20031920 - 1953Singer; Founder/Owner/Manager of the Crusaders Quartet;
Statesmen Quartet;
Harmoneers Quartet;
Sand Mountain Quartet“Big” Jim Hamill20041934 - 2007Singer/Songwriter/Producer;