Gospel Artist

Blackwood Brothers

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, a pioneering Southern gospel group, was formed in 1934 in Choctaw County, Mississippi. Original members included brothers R...

Songs: 19
Albums: 0

About Blackwood Brothers

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, a pioneering Southern gospel group, was formed in 1934 in Choctaw County, Mississippi. Original members included brothers Roy, Doyle, and James Blackwood, along with Roy’s son, R.W. Blackwood. The group quickly established itself as a pioneer in the Southern gospel music industry. In 1952, they became among the first gospel quartets to sign with a major record label, RCA Victor.

The Blackwood Brothers gained national attention in 1954 by winning first place on the television show Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. That same year, the group endured tragedy when two members, R.W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles, died in a plane crash in Clanton, Alabama. Despite this loss, the group continued its ministry. James Blackwood, Cecil Blackwood, and J.D. Sumner were instrumental in founding the National Quartet Convention in 1956.

Over the years, the Blackwood Brothers have released numerous albums, including Favorite Gospel Songs and Spirituals, Grand Old Gospel, More Grand Old Gospel, In Gospel Country, L-O-V-E, and Release Me (From My Sin). Their catalog includes songs such as “The Man Upstairs” and “Learning To Lean.” The group has won eight Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and the Southern Gospel Music Association Museum and Hall of Fame.