The Jordanaires
The Jordanaires are an American vocal quartet, founded in 1948 as a gospel group. The group became known as a backing group for Elvis Presley, especially 1956-1970, but also worked with many other artists from the country and rock 'n' roll area together.
History
The emergence of the group can be traced back to the early 1940s to the Foggy River Boys, which consisted of the brothers Bill, Monty, Jack and Matt Matthews. 1948 Matt and Jack left the group to become a priest. Bob Hubbard, bass singer Culley Holt and pianist Gordon Stoker came in consequence to the rest of the group and founded in 1948 in Springfield, Missouri with them "The Jordanaires ".
With this lineup, the group occurred until 1952; Hubbard then was replaced by Hoyt Hawkins and the remaining brothers Monty and Bill Matthews left the group. Hawkins took over the baritone role, Neal Matthews Jr. was hired as the lead singer and in the following years took pianist Stoker the tenor part. In the early 1950s, Capitol Records took the group under contract, and the Jordanaires began as a backing singer for artists in Nashville, Tennessee to work. 1954 Holt left the group and Hugh Jarrett took over until 1958 the bass voice, he was replaced by Ray Walker.
Background for Presley
After the group had made both as a gospel singer as well as a backing group a name, Elvis Presley saw her in 1955 in a show with Eddy Arnold in Memphis, she went to backstage and told them: "If I ever get a record deal with a large record company receive, I would like that you will be my background singers. "
As Presley made his first recordings for his new record label RCA in January 1956, he asked them to engage the Jordanaires as backup singers. They supported him the next 14 years at almost every studio recording and every performance. When they scheduling reasons could not accompany his Las Vegas shows him in 1969, they were replaced by The Imperials.
From the 1970s
The line-up of the group with Gordon Stoker, first tenor and manager, Neal Matthews, lead singer and second tenor, Hoyt Hawkins, baritone, and Ray Walker as the bass was the most constant occupation of the group and held until 1982, when Hawkins died. He was replaced by Duane West; in this lineup, the group held almost another two decades, until the West Group in 1999 left for health reasons. Louis Nunley became his successor. The following year, Neal Matthews died, he was replaced by the new lead singer Curtis Young. Hugh Jarrett died in 2008 as the result of a car accident. Louis Nunley died on 26 October 2012. Ray Walker and Curtis Young are still musically active.
Musical collaborations and awards
The Jordanaires have worked among others with the following artists: Julie Andrews, Eddy Arnold, Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Jimmy Dean, Red Foley, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Connie Francis, Johnny Hallyday, Johnny Horton, Engelbert, Ferlin Husky, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Steve Lawrence, Ann -Margret, Willie Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, Kenny Rogers, Ringo Starr and Tammy Wynette.
The group also went solo frequently on tour, has recorded numerous albums and has won a number of music awards. Among other things, she received four collaborations Grammy Awards, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was Country, Gospel, Vocal Group and Rockabilly Hall of Fame in the.