Stamps Quartet News (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, April 1, 1960 Page: 4 of 15
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Spring Blossoms
By Mrs. W. D. Powers
Not having had anything to Report
for sometime, I just didn’t write. I
did attend a good afternoon singing
in Childress on the third Sunday in
February but did not want to take
up space to report
one singing, even
though it was a
good one.
On the night of
March 18th I at-
tended the annual
“Whing Ding” that
Joe Reeves holds
in the garage at
ihis home near
Lockney, Texas.
Joe has a good
thing of that and
he just lives from one session to the
next. He has his large double garage
floored and seated, a piano in it, a
kitchenette and lobby or living room.
Sometimes singers from three states
are there. Don’t think anyone from
Colorado was there this time, but they
were there from New Mexico and
Oklahoma. Many were there whose
names do not appear in this list, and
to save space we will just name the
singers and leave off their non-sing-
ing companions. We will mention the
following: Lawrence Deavers, Snyder;
Mrs. R. W. Mitchell, Lamesa; Mr. &
Mrs. Bill Bailey, Levelland; Curtis
Surtleff, Colorado City; Roy Patrick,
Oklahoma; Hugh Bell, Vernon; Netta
Studdard, Vernon; Geo. Faulks, Ama-
rillo; Mr. & Mrs. Arch Gibson, Plain-
view; Mr. & Mrs Ben Bates, Amarillo;
Mrs. Andrew Carroll, Paducah; Mrs.
Thava Crawford, Amarillo; The fam-
ous Campbell Quartet, Lubbock; Mr.
& Mrs. D. B. Clifton, Afton; Walter
Craft, Roaring Springs; Burl Cook,
Tulia; Lee Davenport, Silverton; Mr.
& Mrs. Thurman Davis, Lockney;
Earl Garrison, Levelland; Mr. & Mrs.
Sam Green, Floydada; Mr. & Mrs.
Fay Hart, Floydada; Ike Johnson,
Lockney; Mrs. Maywood Kelley, Lub-
bock; Mr. & Mrs. Buck Lancaster,
Plainview; Herman Marshall, Mata-
dor; M. H. McEachern, Lubbock; Bill
Morris, Tulia; Norvelle Raper, Lock-
ney; Miss Martha Surtliff and quar-
tet, Plainview; Mr. & Mrs. Jim Sisk
and quartet, Levelland; J. P. Senter,
Plainview; Charlie Sumner, Lubbock;
Mrs. Sikes, San Angelo; John Wilson,
South Plains; Mrs. Rene Yeary and
Jackie, Floydada; Luther Fowler,
Lockney; Mr. & Mrs. G. A. Me Ada,
Lockney. The above may not be a
complete list but the best I can do.
If we had a few more such singings
over the country, I believe we would
;have a better interest in gospel sing-
ing over this part of the country. My
hat is off to Joe Reeves for his ef-
forts to promote gospel singing.
I attended the Jones County Con-
vention at Anson and it was good.
They have two presidents: Fred Ben-
nett and Gail Baize. They are both
good and go all out to have good sing-
ings. Singers were there from as far
away as Ft. Worth. Good old Pat
Garner was there. He and Fred
Page (4)
teamed up and rendered some nice
numbers together. The Gospelaires
Quartet from Abilene did some good
work, also the Ellerd Children of
Petersburg, with Eulalie Sanders
helping form a quartet and they did
nice work. Other good singers were
there, all helping to make a good
singing. Not once did I hear the color
of the book mentioned. But at Child-
ress in February it was terrible. One
would have thought those song books
had no name. Another thing I notice
that I would like to pick a quarrel
about: It seems there is a trend over
the country to learn just a certain
few songs in the book and the dif-
ferent leaders sing those same songs
over and over. That causes the sing-
ing to become monotonous. Also, many
good songs go unsung.
Then I have this to say: If I can
get a building in Paducah that is
already seated, I will make an effort
to hold my singing again this year.
But one would think gospel singing
was contaminated with smallpox, the
way it is shunned in this town. I will
have more to say about the singing
when I know more.
The Grim Reaper has really taken
a toll among the singers and we feel
the effects. When we arrived at the
Joe Reeves singing on the night of
March 18th we were met with the
news that Austin Williams had passed
away that morning. Austin was well
known in this section, having lived
here most of his life. And there is
Mr. Pace, Mr. Walbert, Mr. Baxter,
Harley Lester, Bob Vaughan and a
number of others who have crossed
over. One good thing, we will all
have a great singing one day, and
it won’t be interfered with by death.
I’ve enjoyed the last two issues of
the News and here’s hoping all is
well with you.
-o- _
Benicia, California
By Clarence Tidwell
On the fourth Sunday of March we
drove over to Petaluma for the after-
noon singing, which was held in the
Free Will Baptist Church. Our good
friend Rev. C. K. Young is pastor. I
have watched this church grow for
the last few years and know that God
is blessing Bro. Young and his good
people. Mr. H. G. Walker is president
of the singing and does a fine job of
keeping the program moving along.
He has made a lot of friends among
the singing people of this area.
On April 3rd we went to Napa for
the afternoon singing and found our
good friends Mr. & Mrs. James Camp-
bell there. Mr. Campbell is president
of the Napa County Convention, but
he had put the vice president, Mrs.
Joseph Law, in charge and we had a
fine singing and one I’m sure every-
one enjoyed.
We have a new quartet out our
way, The Good News Quartet. Mrs.
Lucy Dangburg sings the soprano,
Mrs. Joseph Law alto; Mr. Law, bass
and I sing tenor. Mrs. James Camp-
bell plays the piano for us. I know
we will enjoy working together. Every
April, 1960
member of the group is a Christian
and we are singing gospel songs to
help others.
Mr. Stamps, I received the LP al-
bum you mailed and am certainly en-
joying it. I know heaven will be filled
with fine singers like the Chuck
Wagon Gang. I plan to be among
that number when the call comes for
me to cross over.
I would enjoy attending the Texas
State Convention this time but it is
impossible this year. I am telling the
folks out this way about the Stamps
Quartet School in Dallas and we hope
some of the folks from this section
will attend. ^
-o-
Are You a
Hitchhiker or
Worker in Your
Church
By Henry G. Riser
TO EVERY MOTORIST who drives
the nation’s roads, the figure by the
side of the road with his hand up-
raised and his thumb pointing the
direction he wants
to go is a familiar
sight. His name is
“hitchhiker”! And
his number is le-
gion.
The hitchhiker is
an interesting per-
son. There are
doubtless many ex-
ceptions, but the i
behavior of most
of them indicates a
beggarly philoso-
phy of life.
Consider. He wants a free ride. He
assumes no responsibility for the
funds needed to purchase the car, the
gas to run it or the cost of mainten-
ance. He expects a comfortable ride
and adequate safety. He assumes the
driver has insurance covering him in
the event of accident. He thinks noth-
ing of requesting that he be taken
to a specific place even though it en-
tails increased mileage or inconven-
ience to his “host.” He has been
known to spurn a ride because the car
has no radio.
There is a situation even worse.
Consider the person who demands all
the benefits and privileges of the
church without feeling the slightest ^
responsibility for its support in mon-
ey, time or service. And if he does
not get all he thinks is his by some
natural right, he is usually most de-
manding and critical.
He too is a “hitchhiker.” He too is
looking for a “free ride.” And his
number too, I am sorry to say, is
legion.
What can the church do about it?
Little, probably, except possess our
souls in patience and pray that God
will open his eyes to see the wealth
of good things he is missing by being
a “taker” rather than a “giver.”
And before we declaim too loudly,
let’s look at ourselves to make sure
that we are not one of them!
STAMPS QUARTET NEWS
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Stamps, Mrs. Frank. Stamps Quartet News (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, April 1, 1960, periodical, April 1, 1960; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth785610/m1/4/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .