The Back Porch Majority
Encyclopedia
The Back Porch Majority was an American
folk music
group founded by Randy Sparks
in 1963. It was intended to be a rehearsal space for The New Christy Minstrels, another group Sparks had established in 1961, but it ended up becoming successful on its own. The group released five albums, appeared on several TV shows and was chosen to provide entertainment at the White House
in 1965.
formed The New Christy Minstrels, a ten-piece folk music
group that made over 20 albums and had several hits. In May 1963 Sparks stopped touring with the group to devote his attention to a club he had established in Los Angeles called Ledbetters. While Sparks remained in charge of The New Christy Minstrels, he passed his role of director and arranger of the group's live performances onto singer/guitarist Barry McGuire
, who had become the "star" of the group after singing on their hit, "Green, Green". In protest to being overlooked for the position of director/arranger, singer Dolan Ellis
left the group and Sparks replaced him with Gene Clark
from a trio called the Surf Riders. To find a new group for the remaining members of the Surf Riders, Jim Glover
and Mike Crumm, Sparks created The Back Porch Majority.
Sparks intended The Back Porch Majority to be a performing group similar to, but a little smaller than The New Christy Minstrels, and a group that The New Christy Minstrels could draw new members from. The Back Porch Majority would be a "training ground", or a "minor league farm team" for The New Christy Minstrels. But The Back Porch Majority did better than Sparks expected, and appeared on Hullabaloo
and other musical variety show
s. In August 1965 it was selected, along with The Brothers Four
, The Bitter End Singers and others, by Life magazine
to entertain US President Lyndon B. Johnson
and his guests at the White House
. The group's success secured it a record deal with Columbia Records
's Epic Records
, which resulted in five albums being released between 1965 and 1967, including a live album recorded at Ledbetters.
Sparks promoted several Back Porch Majority members to The New Christy Minstrels, including Paul Potash, who replaced Clark when he left the Christys, and Mike Settle
. The Back Porch Majority also launched the musical careers of some of its members, including singer/guitarist Kin Vassy
, who went on to record with Kenny Rogers
, Lionel Richie
, Dolly Parton
and Frank Zappa
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group founded by Randy Sparks
Randy Sparks
Randy Sparks is a musician, singer-songwriter and founder of The New Christy Minstrels and The Back Porch Majority. Prior to that, in the late 1950s he had a solo career and released two albums under the Verve label, a self-titled album in 1958 and Walking the Low Road in 1959...
in 1963. It was intended to be a rehearsal space for The New Christy Minstrels, another group Sparks had established in 1961, but it ended up becoming successful on its own. The group released five albums, appeared on several TV shows and was chosen to provide entertainment at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in 1965.
History
In 1961 singer/guitarist Randy SparksRandy Sparks
Randy Sparks is a musician, singer-songwriter and founder of The New Christy Minstrels and The Back Porch Majority. Prior to that, in the late 1950s he had a solo career and released two albums under the Verve label, a self-titled album in 1958 and Walking the Low Road in 1959...
formed The New Christy Minstrels, a ten-piece folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group that made over 20 albums and had several hits. In May 1963 Sparks stopped touring with the group to devote his attention to a club he had established in Los Angeles called Ledbetters. While Sparks remained in charge of The New Christy Minstrels, he passed his role of director and arranger of the group's live performances onto singer/guitarist Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire is an American singer-songwriter best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music.-Early life:...
, who had become the "star" of the group after singing on their hit, "Green, Green". In protest to being overlooked for the position of director/arranger, singer Dolan Ellis
Dolan Ellis
Francis Dolan Ellis has been Arizona's Official State Balladeer since 1966, as appointed by ten consecutive governors. Governor Sam Goddard made the first appointment. Since then, official balladeers have been appointed in other states.In his role as Balladeer, Dolan has written more than 300...
left the group and Sparks replaced him with Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
from a trio called the Surf Riders. To find a new group for the remaining members of the Surf Riders, Jim Glover
Jim Glover
Jim R. Glover is a long-time peace activist and folk singer from Cleveland, Ohio, who currently lives in Brandon, Florida.-Relationship with Phil Ochs:...
and Mike Crumm, Sparks created The Back Porch Majority.
Sparks intended The Back Porch Majority to be a performing group similar to, but a little smaller than The New Christy Minstrels, and a group that The New Christy Minstrels could draw new members from. The Back Porch Majority would be a "training ground", or a "minor league farm team" for The New Christy Minstrels. But The Back Porch Majority did better than Sparks expected, and appeared on Hullabaloo
Hullabaloo (TV series)
Hullabaloo is an American musical variety series that ran on NBC from January 12, 1965 through August 29, 1966. Similar to Shindig! it ran in prime time in contrast to ABC's American Bandstand.-Overview:...
and other musical variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s. In August 1965 it was selected, along with The Brothers Four
The Brothers Four
The Brothers Four are an American folk singing group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, known for their 1960 hit song "Greenfields".-History:...
, The Bitter End Singers and others, by Life magazine
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
to entertain US President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and his guests at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. The group's success secured it a record deal with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
's Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, which resulted in five albums being released between 1965 and 1967, including a live album recorded at Ledbetters.
Sparks promoted several Back Porch Majority members to The New Christy Minstrels, including Paul Potash, who replaced Clark when he left the Christys, and Mike Settle
Mike Settle
Mike Settle, is an American songwriter, journalist, broadcaster and singer. He is most famous for being a member of the Rock band Kenny Rogers & The First Edition between 1967 and 1970...
. The Back Porch Majority also launched the musical careers of some of its members, including singer/guitarist Kin Vassy
Kin Vassy
Charles Kindred "Kin" Vassy was a singer-songwriter who in addition to his solo recordings also recorded with other artists, most notably Kenny Rogers, Frank Zappa and Elvis Presley....
, who went on to record with Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
.
Discography
- Live from Ledbetters (1965)
- Meet The Back Porch Majority (1965)
- Riverboat Days (1965)
- That's the Way It's Gonna Be (1966)
- Willy Nilly Wonder of Illusion (1967)