![]() We packed up instruments while Karl reminded listeners they could send in their cards and letters with requests and he’d make sure The Joneses got them before next week’s show. A brief devotion from Daddy, short and sweet and gentle, like the blessing before a meal, then out with the theme, which Kousin Karl, the deejay on duty, faded as he resumed regular programming. The four of us sang that one then a few more songs from all of us and sometimes a guest, like Brother Gene Thompson, an Arkansas evangelist who came to visit and heated up the airwaves with his guitar solos. Each show opened with a theme song with Daddy on guitar and Mother on piano or accordion. ![]() Pine Tree Inn weren’t even members of our denomination, but they were fans of Southern Gospel. It was a surprise though, when our first sponsor at WHXY turned out to be “The Beautiful Pine Tree Inn,” the very building where the radio station was housed. Since we traveled constantly, The Joneses had built up a good fan base. ![]() But a live show could be had if you’d bring in enough fans and if you came in fully sponsored. When we stopped in Louisiana to pastor a church, the station Daddy chose was playing only country music records. That way he could promote any nearby Singings or tent revivals or concerts where we’d be performing through the weekend. Here is the original version by the Homeland Harmony Quartet with all the verses and in all of it’s controversial glory.įinally, like all of my articles in The Originals series, I will close with a list from showing many of the artists who have recorded the song over the years.As soon as our family landed in a town, top of Daddy’s list of things to do was to find a radio station for our show. Boone left out two of the verses, and most groups that have recorded it since follow his arrangement. ![]() Some years later, Pat Boone would record “A Wonderful Time Up There” and make it a pop hit. The controversy just made the song that much more popular which probably explains why it’s still popular enough to be recorded by groups today. If you’ve ever heard it, you know the arrangement does not disappoint when it comes to the “boogie” part of the the alternate title, and of course, that sort of rhythm did not sit well with conservative church leaders in 1947. The Homeland Harmony Quartet was the first group to record Abernathy’s “A Wonderful Time Up There” which was also known as “Gospel Boogie.” The song became so popular, one title wasn’t enough to describe it sufficiently. Songwriting was on his list of musical gifts. In 1947, the line-up happened to include long-time collaborators Lee Roy Abernathy and Shorty Bradford along with Aycel “A D” Soward singing bass.Ībernathy was one of those individuals who could do a lot of things and do them all well. Many young singers and pianists pulled short stints with the Homeland Harmony Quartet before going on to other groups. The other positions were more like revolving doors. Connor Hall covered the tenor part, and James McCoy was on the baritone part. The tenor and baritone positions in the Homeland Harmony Quartet were as stable as any fan could wish. By 1957, the Homeland Harmony Quartet had more than ten years experience introducing songs that would go on to become classics. A few days ago, I told you about the very first recording of “What A Day That Will Be” by the Homeland Harmony Quartet in 1957.
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