Wally Fowler
Encyclopedia
John Wallace Fowler better known as Wally Fowler, was an American Southern gospel music
singer, manager, and music promoter and businessman. He founded the Oak Ridge Quartet, a gospel act that eventually became the Oak Ridge Boys; and popularized all-night gospel sings. An accomplished songwriter in both the country music
and gospel fields, Fowler's composition "Wasted Years" became a gospel music standard. He was known as The Man with a Million Friends and Mr. Gospel Music.
, Fowler's father was the cotton king of Bartow County, Georgia until the Great Depression left him broken both in health and financially. Fowler then worked in a florist shop to support the family. He began his professional career at age 18, singing baritone with the John Daniel Quartet from Alabama
. The group moved to Lubbock, Texas
, where he began to write songs and first sang his popular "I'm Sending You Red Roses" (a No. 2 hit for Jimmy Wakely
in 1944) in Dallas. In 1940, the quartet relocated to Nashville, Tennessee
, where they appeared on the Grand Ole Opry
on WSM-AM.
He then struck out on his own, forming a country music group, Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers, which included Chet Atkins
on lead guitar. They performed on WNOX-AM in Knoxville, Tennessee
and became regulars on Mid-day Merry Go Round. Fowler later formed his Harmony Quartet, which sang in weekly concerts for children at nearby Oak Ridge
, which led to Fowler renaming the group the Oak Ridge Quartet. The group consisted of himself, Lon "Deacon" Freeman, Curly Kinsey and Johnny New.
Fowler moved to Nashville, and from 1946-50 became a regular part of The Prince Albert Show segment of the Grand Ole Opry on NBC Radio. In 1948, he launched his first all-night gospel sing, popularizing a format that would blanket the South over the next two decades. Originating from Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium
and later taken to other major cities across the region, each show featured many of the day's premier Southern gospel quartets. Fowler's innate promotional genius took gospel music to a much larger audience than ever before.
In 1949, the other three men split from Fowler to form a new group; and he hired an existing group, the Calvary Quartet, to re-form the Oak Ridge Quartet. In 1957, Fowler sold the rights to the "Oak Ridge Quartet" name to group member Smitty Gatlin in exchange for forgiveness of a debt. In 1961, Gatlin formed The Oak Ridge Boys.
In the 1950s, he hosted a syndicated television program, The Wally Fowler Show, featuring Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters
, The Speers, The Statesmen and others. He recorded for several labels, but in later years, went into semi-retirement and tended to avoid publicity, although he continued to promote some gospel and variety shows in North Carolina. Among the songs he wrote were Eddy Arnold
's first million-selling record, "That's How Much I Love You", and "I Couldn't Believe it was True", recorded by Willie Nelson
in 1974.
Fowler was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
in 1988 and into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame in 1997.
On June 3, 1994, Fowler apparently suffered a heart attack while fishing from a dock on Dale Hollow Lake, northeast of Nashville, and his body was found floating in the water.
He was survived by his widow, Judy Moss Fowler, and daughters Faith McCoy and Hope Kimmer.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer, manager, and music promoter and businessman. He founded the Oak Ridge Quartet, a gospel act that eventually became the Oak Ridge Boys; and popularized all-night gospel sings. An accomplished songwriter in both the country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and gospel fields, Fowler's composition "Wasted Years" became a gospel music standard. He was known as The Man with a Million Friends and Mr. Gospel Music.
Biography
Born near Adairsville, GeorgiaAdairsville, Georgia
Adairsville is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,542 at the 2000 census. As of 2007 data Adairsville's population was 3,076: 1,414 males and 1,662 females. Adairsville is south of Calhoun, northeast of Rome and north of Atlanta.-Geography:Adairsville is an...
, Fowler's father was the cotton king of Bartow County, Georgia until the Great Depression left him broken both in health and financially. Fowler then worked in a florist shop to support the family. He began his professional career at age 18, singing baritone with the John Daniel Quartet from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The group moved to Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, where he began to write songs and first sang his popular "I'm Sending You Red Roses" (a No. 2 hit for Jimmy Wakely
Jimmy Wakely
James Clarence Wakeley , better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following World War II...
in 1944) in Dallas. In 1940, the quartet relocated to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, where they appeared on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
on WSM-AM.
He then struck out on his own, forming a country music group, Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers, which included Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
on lead guitar. They performed on WNOX-AM in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
and became regulars on Mid-day Merry Go Round. Fowler later formed his Harmony Quartet, which sang in weekly concerts for children at nearby Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
, which led to Fowler renaming the group the Oak Ridge Quartet. The group consisted of himself, Lon "Deacon" Freeman, Curly Kinsey and Johnny New.
Fowler moved to Nashville, and from 1946-50 became a regular part of The Prince Albert Show segment of the Grand Ole Opry on NBC Radio. In 1948, he launched his first all-night gospel sing, popularizing a format that would blanket the South over the next two decades. Originating from Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
and later taken to other major cities across the region, each show featured many of the day's premier Southern gospel quartets. Fowler's innate promotional genius took gospel music to a much larger audience than ever before.
In 1949, the other three men split from Fowler to form a new group; and he hired an existing group, the Calvary Quartet, to re-form the Oak Ridge Quartet. In 1957, Fowler sold the rights to the "Oak Ridge Quartet" name to group member Smitty Gatlin in exchange for forgiveness of a debt. In 1961, Gatlin formed The Oak Ridge Boys.
In the 1950s, he hosted a syndicated television program, The Wally Fowler Show, featuring Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters
Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters
Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters was a Southern gospel music and comedy trio that was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001...
, The Speers, The Statesmen and others. He recorded for several labels, but in later years, went into semi-retirement and tended to avoid publicity, although he continued to promote some gospel and variety shows in North Carolina. Among the songs he wrote were Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
's first million-selling record, "That's How Much I Love You", and "I Couldn't Believe it was True", recorded by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
in 1974.
Fowler was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...
in 1988 and into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame in 1997.
On June 3, 1994, Fowler apparently suffered a heart attack while fishing from a dock on Dale Hollow Lake, northeast of Nashville, and his body was found floating in the water.
He was survived by his widow, Judy Moss Fowler, and daughters Faith McCoy and Hope Kimmer.
Album discography
- Call Of The Cross 1960 (Decca)
- Gospel Song Festival 1960 (King)
- Wally Fowler's All Nite Singing Gospel Concert 1960 (Starday)
- More Wally Fowler All Nite Singing Gospel Concert 1964 (Starday)
- Victory Through Jesus 1965 (Pickwick/Hilltop)
- Gospel Sing 1967 (Vocalion)
- Pure Country Gospel 1976
- A Tribute To Elvis Presley 1977 (Dove)
- You Will Reap 1978 (Pickwick)
- A Tribute To Mother 1984 (Nashwood)
External links
- Listen to Wally Fowler and the Oak Ridge Quartet
- Watch The Wally Fowler Show