Biography

Gospel quartet performer. Born September 4, 1924.

Interview Summary

1983 April 1
Printed transcript only. Audio recording not available.
F. M. Smith Jr. talks about the southern gospel quartet tradition and his experiences as a quartet performer during the 1940s and 1950s. Discussion includes his childhood and early music influences, including singing schools; the original Stamps Quartet; the Vaughn Quartet; memories of singing conventions; experiences as a quartet singer; description of annual “big sings” during the 1930s and 1940s; changes in quartet performances during the late 1940s; comments on gospel singing as entertainment; recording with the Tall Men Quartet; comments on professional quartets of the era, including the Blackwood Brothers and the Statesman Quartet; the relationship between quartet singing and the early singing schools; and comments on the popularity of quartet performances.