SouthernGospelBlog.com

A few weeks back, I posted that Dan Keeton was joining Charlie Waller’s New Florida Boys. This afternoon, Ed Crawford of the Mystery Men Quartet stopped by the post and commented. It’s worth promoting to the main page, since the Keeton post is old enough that few will notice it:

I have said both to his face and to anyone i talked to, Dan Keeton is the best tenor in southern gospel music. He and I sung together in the beginning of the mysterymen and he may be the best i have ever heard, including david phelps. I wish the very best for the new group. They also hired the long term bass singer from the mystery men Chip Cooper. He has without a doubt, one of the smoothest bass voices in the business and will be a trmendous asset to the new group. We hated to see him go but we wish him the very best. Good luck guys!

Here’s a bio on Cooper, and here’s are some sound clips that appear to feature him.

(There’s no word yet on what happened to Buddy Burton, the original intended bass singer.) [EDIT: John, below, points out that Buddy Burton was actually set to be the baritone. So with Ed Crawford's post yesterday, and John's post below, the complete lineup is now public.]

Pioneer televangelist Rex Humbard passed away about a week ago. Media coverage mentioned that the Gatlin Brothers provided music for Humbard’s funeral last Sunday. One thing they did not mention–but can be clearly seen in this AP photo–was that two other singers were also on stage, Bill Gaither singing bass and Ernie Haase singing tenor.

Of course, Haase has the geographic advantage of being the only former Cathedrals member still living in Stowe. (Note: I think 1970s pianist Lorne Matthews might still live in northern Ohio as well.) But, geographic advantage or no geographic advantage, I find it interesting that he was apparently the only former Cathedral involved in the funeral service of the man who put the Cathedrals together in the first place.