Chestnut Grove Quartet

From the Chestnut Grove Methodist Church in the mountains of southwest Virginia, this legendary (but little heard outside the region where they live) a cappella quartet has had a profound effect on gospel a cappella singing that far outstrips their local renown, influencing such local luminaries as Ralph Stanley, Doyle Lawson, and Ricky Skaggs, both in repertoire and performance style. These selections are drawn from albums made by the group during the 60s, 70s, and 80s to capitalize on the enormous popularity of their local radio broadcasts and personal appearances in the mountainous areas of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Stylistically, the quartet springs from the shape note singing schools of their youth and the Stamps-Baxter shape note hymnals so omnipresent in white Protestant churches of rural areas; their four part harmonies and parts singing is as old as the churches where they learned to sing.

Discography

The Legendary Chestnut Grove Quartet

Children's Medley That's All Right Julie, Tosie Darling Rosie Spirituals Medley - Way Over in Beaulahland Wade in the Water, Run Mary Run Job, Job Down the Line Arwhoolie God's Gonna Set This World on Fire Lord, Don't Leave Me Here Better Farther On Where No Cabins Fall The Light On The River That's The Reason Who'll Sing For Me I've A Mansion Over In Glory Where The Roses Never Fade The Great Beyond

More people have heard about the Chestnut Grove Quartet than have actually heard them, for they influenced the world of a cappella music tremendously. The quartet was created by friends who had sung together in childhood in Washington County, Virginia where they learned shape note singing from itinerant instructors. After returning from WW II, they started singing together once again but just didn't feel the need for instruments and became one of those rare mountain groups who sang their hymnody a cappella. In the mid '50s they started singing on newly opened WBBI in Abington. From 2:00 to 2:30 each Sunday, for thirty years, they had a show, paid for by the sale of songbooks and LP's.(Their first album was recorded in less than an hour!!!) After the death of his brother and singing partner, Carter Stanley, Ralph moved back home and became a great fan of the quartet. He was so influenced that, in 1971, he began singing quartet style a cappella in his shows. It was a hit. Now most bluegrass groups put down their instruments for a moment of gospel harmonizing. This music is major part of the reason why that happens.

3447 CD $14.98

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