Jim Hamill passes away
According to a friend of the family, Southern Gospel legend Jim Hamill passed away at 5:30 this morning. He had been in steadily declining health for months.
Hamill’s debut in Southern Gospel was with the Weatherfords in the 1950s. After a stint with the Blue Ridge Quartet, he also performed for some time with the Oak Ridge Quartet and the Rebels before 1971, when he landed the job that would make him a legend, singing lead for the Kingsmen Quartet. During his time with the Kingsmen Quartet, he helped introduce and define for the fans many of the performers that have shaped Southern Gospel in the years since–among them Anthony Burger, Ray Dean Reese, Ernie Phillips, Mark Trammell, and Arthur Rice.
With the possible exception of George Younce, no other master of ceremonies has had as much impact on today’s Southern Gospel performers, who seek to capture just a fraction of his stage presence. Hamill was one of that tiny handful of singers who defined exactly what it means to be a Southern Gospel performer.
Comment by Aaron Swain (November 29, 2007, 11:08 am)
Another legend has gone home…. My respects to the Hamill family.
Comment by Paul (November 29, 2007, 11:38 am)
We knew it was coming but still…WOW what a loss. Hope the Kingsmen put together some type of a tribute.
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (November 29, 2007, 11:44 am)
Now there is a top-notch idea. They’ve been talking about re-doing the 50th Anniversary concert; if they put it together as a tribute to Jim Hamill and got all the Kingsmen legends of the past together to share memories and sing his songs (with Arthur Rice, Mark Trammell, and others sharing the lead duties), that would be quite the concert. Then if they recorded a CD/DVD and donated some of the proceeds to help the family cover his medical bills, that would be one of the nicest gestures a group could offer to the family of the person who put them on the map.
Comment by Paul (November 29, 2007, 12:52 pm)
Daniel…I must admit, it really moved me the way you “talked that idea up.” I too hope this will happen maybe the “sparked” idea from this blog will help. Let’s get the word to the right people.
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (November 29, 2007, 12:53 pm)
Well, honestly, the idea inspires me.
Comment by Dean Adkins (November 29, 2007, 12:56 pm)
I think that Hamill’s debut in Gospel Music was as a teenager with Cecil Blackwood in the Songfellows Qt. I have a 78 of that group.
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (November 29, 2007, 12:56 pm)
Yes, I do remember hearing about that. I had forgotten about it this morning.
Comment by Tim Smith (November 29, 2007, 1:01 pm)
It is sad to hear of Jim’s Passing…… I had known him through traveling thoughout the years with several groups. He was a very kind and honest man. He knew talent but he also knew how to develop talented singers into showmen. He lived in my hometown and I even went to school with his son. He definately has left a mark on Southern Gospel that influenced many many singers and fans of southern gospel. I know he is in heaven with FOXY and all the other great singers we have lost singing praises to Jesus. My thoughts are with his family.
Comment by John (November 29, 2007, 1:26 pm)
I think Hamill was a legend long before he joined the Kingsmen.
Comment by Larry Bedford (November 29, 2007, 10:14 pm)
I was fortunate enough to see the Kingsmen many times years ago and I’m glad I did. Jim Hamill will be greatly missed. My prayers are with his family. I do hope somebody does a tribute to him,he deserves it.
Comment by MOLLY (November 29, 2007, 10:51 pm)
My deepest sympthy to Big Jim Hamil’s family. You had a true blue gospel singer in your family that everyone loved in every state of the United Statesl He will be greatly missed.
Comment by Adam Wallace (December 1, 2007, 12:05 am)
I’m praying for his family.
Comment by Doug Pike (March 23, 2008, 9:09 pm)
I have a book co-written by JD Sumner, and it states in the book that back in the early fifties, Jim Hamill was an Assembly of God Minister in Memphis and was the Presley’s family Pastor. He remembers Elvis when Elvis was a young man.
I knew Jim, much like I knew Jake, and JD. Between the “Coming Home” video by Larry Gatlin, and all the other Gaither videos…….I can just imagine what that heavenly choir must sound like………James, Hovie, Howard, Vestal, George, Glenn, Jake, JD, Fox,and now Big Jim……….there are others…………….all the ledgens are gone………..Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!