Comments on: Destroying the masters

By: Bones

Bones — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:55:57 +0000

The Keystones were copycats of the Oaks. I don’t think the Benson masters have been destroyed, just moved to a different warehose. I have some Calvery masters at my house.

By: CVH

CVH — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:42:49 +0000

quartet-man,

The buzz going around at the time was that the Keys wanted to go with a more contemporary sound and they didn’t think they could do that with a four-part sound. Hard to believe it was 35 years ago. No matter what happened, it worked out pretty well for all of them.

By: quartet-man

quartet-man — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:21:52 +0000

#32, the Keystones did not kick Richard out. He left to joined the Stamps (why wouldn’t he?)Joe Bonsall tried out several basses, never found one that suited him, so decided to hire a band instead. Not only was (and still is) Joe good friends with Richard, but he loves his voice too.

By: CVH

CVH — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:27:42 +0000

Irishlad - right, and I believe that’s the quartet you’re thinking of that Danny was a part of for a few years.

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:34:40 +0000

CVH…thanks for the info,it’s good to get the perspective from someone who experienced a group 1st hand.The northern group i was thinking about was the Golden Keys quartet from Porstmouth Ohio. Jim Hill stayed for years until he joined the Stamps and Danny G until circa. ‘66.

By: CVH

CVH — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:39:55 +0000

Irishlad…he’s dead? JK

Danny was never with the Keystones; they were based in Buffalo NY and one of the few northern quartets; they started regional and got bigger by the early 70’s when they got tied in with Duane Allen and by the mid 70’s began working with the Oaks. Yeah, I saw them live many times and they had a ton of energy; Garland Craft (who has never received as much praise as he deserves) played keys for them. They were a great show. Recorded on a small indie label out of NJ called Majestic Records for awhile then went with Superior (Duane Allen’s imprint) when they began to work with the Oaks. Not sure about Hill but I don’t think he was ever a part of their early years either.

On the dates, they actually put out two albums with Benson (HeartWarming) in ‘71; the “Live in Nashville” project (which had a cool cover shot that was the precursor for the Oaks “Light” and “Street Gospel” by Bill Grine and Bob McConnell) and a quick studio record called “Top of the Stamps”. That one had them all sitting out in a grassy field. Not sure about ‘72, would have to look it up. Last I knew, Tony Brown was big in A&R in country, don’t know about all the others.

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:14:49 +0000

#37 I meant notches.That’s what i get for speaking ill of the dead.lol

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:08:57 +0000

#34 Haha CVH,probaby more noches on his bedpost than Warren Beattie.

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:53:39 +0000

#35 CHV, you seemed to have your dates down to pat,although i thought’Live in Nashville was a wee bit later,maybe’72 just after they joined Elvis. Looking at the album cover, and i mean the original,there are some interesting faces there like Tony’tarzan’Brown and Kenny Hicks,maybe Duke Dumas too,wonder where those guys are now?Getting back to the Keystones, was that the Northern quartet Danny Gaither and Jim(’ what a day that will be’)Hill sang with?.Did you hear them live? Also,was Ed Hill with them before the Prophets? Sorry for so many questions,just being inquisitive

By: CVH

CVH — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:44:04 +0000

Irishlad - forgot to mention, “Live in Nashville” came out in ‘71; I’ve got a copy of it still in shrinkwrap; I believe “Murray State” came out in ‘74 or ‘75. It definitely was the class live quartet album of that era, especially being a double disc which wasn’t as common at the time.

By: CVH

CVH — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:42:07 +0000

Irishlad - Sterban at the time was the best singer in the group the Keystones. He had the rich smoothness of Armond Morales but the ability to cut through; he had great control and wasn’t just one of those ‘cup the mic and vomit’ basses like a lot of the well-known bass singers of that era. Definitely a cut above.

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:54:25 +0000

#31 CVH. I sound confusing. I first got ‘The Stamps Live in Nashville’ ft RS on vinyl circa 1976,the recording was made around ‘74. After that i heard about JD&TheStamps live at Murray State, and was obvisously intent on getting it, which, subsequently i did achieve a few years back at NQC. Sadly Richard S had left the Stamps at this stage,and it was maybe just before Larry Strickland, btw,how did he sound,because i don’t have him down from those days,however,i know he was/is with the PSQ.

By: CVH

CVH — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:22:59 +0000

Irishlad - yeah, Sterban’s always impressed me too. I first knew him back in the early 70s in a band out of Buffalo called The Keystones. That’s where Garland and Bonsall and David Will (Imps) came from. They kicked him out because they wanted to go as a power trio minus the bass part. Funny how their paths crossed a few years later.

Yeah, I doubt anyone is southern gospel had more conquest stories and dirty jokes than J.D.

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:59:36 +0000

#25CVH. Know something,i was just glad to get my hands on it, i wasn’t overly concerned about the quality,alough it turned out to be fine(apart from the cover).I first got the proper Album of JD&the Stamps Live in Nasville when i was about 14( circa 1974) and i was totally blown away by Richard S. Hence my awe at getting said tape,also it was great.However,i think JD,apart from being very very funny was, very very….hic A classic nontheless.

By: 1 old fan

1 old fan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:21:57 +0000

irishlad — #27 — You’re right. The part we call baritone in today’s s/g is primarily carried by what used to have been considered a 2nd tenor, and most lead singers have to be 1st tenor (as does the “tenor”).