June 2022 SGN Scoops Magazine

Page 35

Gospel Harmony Boys

The year was 1952 -- seventy years ago.

by Robert York

In Huntington, West Virginia, a young man by the name of Harold Lane got some men together and formed a group. The name of the group? The Gospel Harmony Boys. Leonard Adams would sing tenor for the group, Harold the lead, Jon Embry the baritone and J. B. Short would sing bass. In 1953, they added Martha Ramey on the piano. The Gospel Harmony Boys were also pioneers in producing gospel recordings, releasing their first 78 and 45 rmp in 1953 and then they recorded their first LP in 1963. They were the first gospel quartet to appear on a live network tv show as guest of Dave Garroway on The Today Show. Lane left the group in 1967, joining the Speer Family and remaining there until 1989. Harold Lane was honored in 2009 as he was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. During his career he was blessed to write numerous songs like “I’m Standing on the Solid Rock” and “Touring That City.” Lane arranged songs for many gospel groups during his career. Down through the years the group has seen many changes in their line-up, and in 1971, Dr. Clacy Williams joined the group. “A friend heard that the Cathedrals were looking for a tenor singer and talked me into calling Glen Payne. Glen told me he had just hired Roger Horne from the Gospel Harmony Boys, and he was sure they were looking. I called Homer Fry who arranged an audition and subsequently hired me on July 4th, 1971,” Williams stated. He is from Flat Top, West Virginia, and currently lives in Charleston, West Virginia, where the group currently calls home. He first started a group at the age of 18 called The Kinsmen. Vietnam came along and the group had to break up. Later he sang with a regional group gaining some wonderful experiences and from there he became part of The Gospel Harmony Boys where he has been a part of for fifty years. Clacy stated, “There have been


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