Lee Roy Abernathy was a wonderful asset to the world of gospel music. He contributed to the growth of gospel music in many ways. He was a masterful writer, arranger, promoter, and teacher of gospel music. He was quite creative in his techniques and his writings.
He wrote a book in 1948 simply entitled "IT". "IT" is a grand collection of Lee Roy's songs and his commentaries about quartet life. It was designed to be a handbook for gospel musicians. It is a highly sought collector's item today.
In addition to all of his other areas of expertise, Lee Roy was gifted in the art of placing various voices together to give the best possible quartet sound. The Miracle Men was one such group.
Lee Roy played a major role in the growth of the Homeland Harmony Quartet in 1947. That version of the quartet consisted of Connor Hall, Carroll E. "Shorty" Bradford, James McCoy, Aycel D. Soward, and Lee Roy Abernathy. With the leadership of Connor Hall and the ideas of Lee Roy Abernathy, they quickly became one of the finest quartets in gospel music. They soon began recording for White Church Records, and set many sales records for that time frame. The group thrived for about a year before disbanding.
Shorty and Lee Roy went their separate ways apart from the other members of the Homeland Harmony Quartet and soon established themselves as "The Happy Two" They billed themselves as the world's only two man quartet. The Happy Two were quite an unusual "group". Not only were they excellent musicians, but their program focused on corny humor, which the two pulled off flawlessly.
The Happy Two drew from songs that had interesting parts which often intertwined with each other. When they sang, they sounded almost like a quartet. Both singers had extensive vocal ranges, and this added to their appeal. At one time, there was a $500 diamond ring offered to anyone that could sing as high or as low as Shorty Bradford. Although the Happy Two was a novelty act, their talents made them a major force in gospel music.
They claim to have recorded the first "live in concert" record with their version of "Jacob's Ladder". I'm not sure I agree, for it sounds like canned applause to me. Nevertheless, it was a great way to demonstrate their comedic prowess. They excelled at novelty tunes. One of their recordings, "Shorty's Banjo", features Shorty Bradford playing "Cripple Creek" on the piano. He makes the piano sound remarkably like a 5-string banjo.
The expertise of these two gentlemen led them to form a new quartet in the early 1950s called "The Miracle Men". The personnel was hand-picked by Lee Roy and Shorty to demonstrate excellence in musical ability. Their former comrade from the Homeland Harmony Quartet, Aycel Soward, joined the group as bass singer. Earl Terry was the first tenor and Idus Spivey filled out the quartet as the baritone.
This was an all star group in gospel music at the time. Earl Terry had sung tenor with some of the finest groups of the day. His resume includes stints with the LeFevres, the All American Quartet, and the Foggy River Boys. He even spent some time with the Statesmen Quartet while Hovie Lister was in the Army.
The baritone singer, Idus Spivey, is not a household name in the nationwide gospel music scene, but he was a fine vocalist. Idus, his brother Verly, and his sister-in-law Jewel had a wonderful trio called the Spivey Trio. They were quite active in the Georgia and Florida area. They were also a major force in gospel music promotion in the South. Idus had a tremendous vocal range and had the potential to sing tenor even though he usually sang baritone for the Miracle Men.
Aycel D. Soward was chosen to sing bass in this innovative quartet because of his versatility and vocal ability. Soward had previously sung with some of the finest quartets of the day, and was known as one of the finest bass singers ever to step upon a gospel stage. His previous employment with the Harmoneers, Homeland Harmony Quartet, Friendly Five, and the All American Quartet had made him a household word in the gospel singing industry. In fact, he was chosen by Hovie Lister to be the first bass singer in the Statesmen Quartet. His trained voice and ability to blend and sing rhythmically made him a natural for the Miracle Men.
Shorty Bradford and Lee Roy Abernathy had been a friends and singing cohorts for many years. They sang together in the Four Tones, Homeland Harmony Quartet, and they often performed as the "Happy Two". Shorty had a tremendous vocal range in addition to a very dry sense of humor. He and Lee Roy were best friends, and often showed up on recordings together. He was a natural to fill the role of lead singer in the quartet.
J.R. Marone was also a member of the group for a short time, but this writer knows very little about him. He did record one song with the quartet, "I'll Not Be Satisfied". On that number, Marone sang baritone and Idus Spivey sang lead.
The Miracle Men had a built in song machine in their manager, Lee Roy Abernathy. The group only released twelve songs for public sale. It wasn't by chance that they were all written by Lee Roy. They also recorded on the "Quartet" label, owned by . . . you guessed it! Lee Roy Abernathy! These rare recordings were only released on 78 rpm records, and they are quite sought after by collectors.
When the Miracle Men were on a program, you could rest assured that they would be singing songs that no other group on the program would sing. This was because of two factors:
#1. Lee Roy Abernathy was a proverbial well of new music. He was turning out hit songs almost every day.
#2. The Miracle Men had abilities that were better than most of the groups of that time. They could sing intricate Abernathy arrangements that most other groups could only marvel at. Often, the group would sing five-part music with Lee Roy adding the fifth part.
It's been said of several groups that "they were too good to stay together". The same could be said of the Miracle Men. They were well loved and well respected, but all of the members had a tendency to move from group to group. After about a year, the Miracle Men went their separate ways.
Shorty, Lee Roy, and Aycel returned to the Homeland Harmony Quartet for a short time, but it was indeed a very short time for Shorty and Lee Roy. They sang for a short time in a group called the Hi-Fi Quartet with Harmoneers bass singer Seals "Low Note" Hilton. Not many months later, the Harmoneers regrouped and Shorty and Seals found themselves together in the Harmoneers with Lee Roy in the background helping with their arranging and recording.
Aycel Soward remained with the Homeland Harmony Quartet until the effects of lung cancer took his life on Easter Sunday of 1956. This remarkable young man sang with some of the finest groups in gospel music and was well respected by all of his peers.
The Happy Two continued to perform on radio and television and often did concert tours. Prior to his death, Shorty spent time with his family singing in the Shorty Bradford Trio. His wife, Jean, was a noted songwriter. She was most famous for writing the song "Lord, I Need You Again Today".
Lee Roy continued to teach piano and voice lessons to many famous gospel musicians until his death in 1993.
In later years, he still traveled on a part time basis with various quartets filling the role of vocal coach and pianist. The SGMA Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame have recognized his achievements, and have inducted him into their respective halls. He was responsible for printing the first gospel sheet music and boasted of thousands of piano students taught with his "Modern Gospel Piano Course by Mail".
Although the Miracle Men have been almost forgotten by the world of gospel music, the standards they set for themselves as musicians can still be used as a standard for gospel quartets today.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 02/29/2004
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Category: SG History 101
Comments: 33
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John...
John,
Wow! Great job John. You're just full of information that I don't know!
Gone but not forgotten. Thanks to you. Everyone has heard of Lee Roy Abernathy. Who among us would even know about these others if it weren't for you. Thank you on behalf of them and their families.
:thumbsup: Thanks for another great history lesson, John. What a wealth of information you have! Thanks for sharing.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
John,
John,
I enjoyed your article on the Miracle Men. I appreciated you writing about groups that are a part of our heritage. Although Aycel Soward was the original bass singer, when I saw them, my good friend, London Paris, who LeRoy called the best bass he had ever heard, was singing for the Miracle Men.
Another golden nugget of knowledge, John. I have a "Happy Two" recording that I consider (almost) priceless. I read that Shorty had a 5 octave range. I have also heard that many, such as Brock Speer, studied under LeeRoy even in their later years. Thanks for the great information - I look forward to more great articles.
John:
Thank you for another great article about pioneers of Gospel Music. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of presentation.
One of the high points of my life was walking into the NQC as a new convention writer in 1984 with my one year old daughter in my arms. There stood Leroy and Cat Freeman. They took my baby out of my hands and played with her for quite awhile. She usually wanted back with daddy, but wouldn't come back to me that night. My girl didn't realize then, but she knows now they were two of my greatest heroes. Thanks for a wonderful article.
I took piano lessons by mail order from Lee Roy and enjoyed learning to play by chords I especially remember playing O Come Angel Band and wish I had that course of music lessons now
When I was a kid growing up in Oklahoma in the 1940's, we used to hear the Homeland Harmony Quartet on a radio station coming from Mexico. I thought they were the greatest thing I'd ever heard, and they still hold a place of honor in the annals of gospel music.
I am Lee Roy Abernathy's granddaughter. I live here in Canton, Georgia. It's hard to believe he has been gone for 11 years this May. It is wonderful to know that after all these years he stills inspires people from all over. He certainly inspired my. My grandmother, Louise , still lives in Canton and is doing well. I really enjoyed reading your article.
When I was a kid in Asheville, N.C. we knew some of the Friendly Five because Hilliard Brock worked out the Enka plant where my daddy worked. I think they had a radio program on WISE..Do you possibly know where I could get any of their old books, programs, or such?Thanks, Ed Brown R#1 Box332 Branford, Fl 32008 352-542-7775
Do you know where we can get a copy of the music for "Connect Me With My Lord"? We always sang it at our family reunions from memory, but no one has a copy of the music. We have not been able to locate it on the webb. Please respond by e-mail. The article was great. Thanks, Beverly Claudepierre
When I was A kid in Asheville NC (around the late 40s or early 50s) there was a group who sang on WISE that was called the Friendly Five...The only one I remember was Hilliard Brock who worked out at the plant where my dad did..Can anyone give me information on this group?? Thanks...Ed Brown
I AM E-MAILING FROM CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CMRRA IN CANADA TO RECEIVE LICENSING PERMISSION TO USE THE SONG "MOVING UP TO GLORYLAND' BY LEROY ABERNATHY. THIS IS ONE OF THE SONGS TO BE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF 100 DVD'S AND 100 VHS'S. CMRRA INDICATES THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE PUBLISHER. WE NEED TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER - LEE ROY ABERNATHY OF CANTON, GEORGIA. COULD YOU PLEASE DIRECT ME AS TO WHERE I NEED TO GO FOR THIS PERMISSION. THANK YOU, PAUL UNGLESS.
appreciate this news about my Uncle lee roy Abernathy, he was my mother's brother, We are planning a memorial program in Jan probably with the historical society of Aragon. Lee Roy lived in this small cottonmill village back in his heyday, and a lot of people didn't know this until I brought it to their attention. I still love to sing one of his songs, "the Big Boss" as he told me before he passed away, that this song was was inspired by one of his strawbosses in the old Aragon cotton mill
John: Good article on Leroy. When The Couriers were a quartet in the early 60's we spent hours at Leroys home. Leroy coached Dave Kyllonen in how to project his bass notes. Leroy played for us all the quartet men he had worked with.
John,
I am so proud of Lee Roy, He was my daddy's first cousin and we watched him on television when I was a child. Daddy said that Lee Roys mama, Aunt Clara was determined that he play the piano so she sent him on a train to Atlanta on Saturday to take his lesson when he was a child and have to come home on the 7:00 train at night. I think daddy said at the time they lived in Canton Ga. I have always wanted to know him but I really never saw him but one time when I was small. He never got to Ellijay I guess. I love to try to play his music on my piano, He wrote such beautiful music. I am glad that he will always be remembered with such high regard.
great music does anybody know where i can find the song i want to know more about my jesus by lee roy abernathy love his stuff thanks
My Uncle Earl terry sang tenor with Mr. Abernathy, I would love to be able to fond some recored songs from the Miracle men, or when Uncle Bud wa swith the Foggy River Boys...any help would be appreciated. Those songs, growing up are still in my heart today
I have enjoyed the Statesman since I was a teenager. I had a good friend who sang with the Assemblyman, in New Jersey in the 60's. I believe he went on to eventually sing with the Statesman and Hovie Lister. His name is Michael Loprinzi. Do you know if this is a fact or not. Blessings to all of Gospel Music it has always been a blessing to me.
My mother took lessons from Leroy, who was her first cousin. We had all of his sheet music, and numerous recordings of the "Happy Two",and the Miracle Men. The upright piano that he taught lessons on is now in my fathers home in Powder Springs Ga. I had the pleasure of meeting LeRoy when I was a little girl, and grew up playing and listening to his music. This was a wonderful articel, and one that I will pass on. Thanks!
I well remember Leroy Abernath and shorty Bradford from the all night sings at the old Municipal Auditorium now the Boutwell Auditorium in Bham Al.
I am so thankful that this history of Lee Roy Abernathy is on the internet. I am going to be singing with someone who was very close to Mr. Abernathy and this history has given me a new respect for this wonderful man of God who contributed so much the the music that I love and was raised on all of my life.
I had been searching for information on Earl Terry and Aycel D. Soward. I remember them both from the time they were with the Statesmen.
This was my first time on your site. I thought it was very good. Earl Terry was a personnal friend of mine. He formed a group which i was apart of called the Master's Quartet. In addition he gave me voice lessions. I would like to fined some albums if I could. Thank You
Regarding "J.R. Marone" of The Miracle
I grew up in Canton, Ga. in the 1930s to the 1950s era and Attended school with Leroy's children. I used to listen to him play the piano for hours on end. They lived for a short while next door to us. Hugh Abernathy [Leroy's son] was a good athlete and his daughter was a very trim and pretty girl. Mr. Abernathy sang at my grandfather's funeral in 1946 along with some other fine singers that lived in our neighborhood. I also knew Hovie Lister from Mt. Zion church on Powder Springs Rd. in Marietta, GA. I used to go to the all night singings at the City Auditorium in Atlanta, and help the performers sit up their equipment. Wally Fowler paid us well, and I got to be up close to all the performers as they sang and played their instruments.I currently reside in Marietta, GA about two miles from Mt. Zion Church. I never heard anyone that could play as well as Mr. Abernathy. He lived a long time at a place called sunny side in Canton, and when I heard the song "keep on the sunny side", I all ways thought about Mr. Abernathy. I would like to hear from some of his folks if they read this.
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