Bill and Violet Marion

Bill was called Master of "the Wind." But his sweet wife never complained.

Richard Sterban

Hey, look...it's the Oaks' Richard Sterban getting ready to ride a tire swing that's impossibly small for him to fit into. Nice coat, though.

John & Barbara Wells

Yes, it is totally plausible that they would dress just alike and go stand out in the woods somewhere and put their arms on that tree limb like that, and then stare past one another. 

Looks completely natural. 

The Senators

They called themselves The Senators, I guess, because The Lawyers, The Tax Collectors and The Used Car Salesmen were already taken...?

Jim Kenniv

Jim just felt like something good was about to happen...then he lost it all...to find everything! (Life has always been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Jim.)

The Oaks Band

The singers get a Silver Eagle bus. The band gets this.

The Sterk Family

I just got a bad headache trying to imagine what a whole album of two saxophones and an accordion would sound like. 

New Kingdom Heirs

The combo of those drums and those jackets are the most 1974 thing ever. And these guys were a whole lot better than the old Kingdom Heirs...

The Kingdom Heirs

First of all, I can't tell if this is the Kingdom Heirs or a men's choir. Secondly...who gets their 8x10 glossies done at Olan Mills?!

Lanny and Marietta Wolfe

"Here, honey, you sit down. That hair has got to weigh 20 lbs. Take a load off."

Stamps, Oaks, Rebels & Statesmen

The Southern Gospel Music world was never known for understatement. Or humility. But they were really good. They had to be. Because when you are billed as famous, spectacular, outstanding and sensational...you'd better deliver. 

Eternity

When you want to go deer hunting and shoot an album cover at the same time...

[OK, in the interest of full disclosure...these boys came to my church a couple of times when I was a kid and they actually had a pretty strong influence on me. They were part of the Ken Gaub Evangelistic Ministry. Brothers Nathan and Dan Gaub and their cousin Mike, as I recall. Their Dad Ken was sort of half preacher/half stand-up comedian. They later called themselves Eternity Express and then Illustrator. That's Nathan in the tree. He must've drawn the short straw. That could not have been comfortable. Sadly, Dan (in ALL PLAID) got into financial trouble as an adult and either died in a motorcycle accident or committed suicide, depending on who/what you believe.] 

Sammy Hall Singers

"Hey Sammy, how are we gonna get down from here when this photo shoot is over?"

Bus-palooza! (Part 2)

Bus-palooza! (Part One)

No self-respectin' Gospel group worth their salt ever went anywhere without their trusty chariot...

Willeta Boren

...and other Petra favorites!

Stamps Ozark Quartet

"Yesiree-bob, us Ozark Stamps just happen to be standing next to this little beauty. We love this fine automobile, and we know you will, too."

How's that, O.Z.? Should we do it again? What would you like for us to sing tonight, O.Z.?

The Vic Williams Family

Looks like Mom and Dad had to literally hold onto the kids to keep them from escaping. "Ma and I will do whatever it takes to keep the group together," said Vic. "We've got gigs." 

The Journeymen and Kathleen

Shame on you, Kathleen...trying to pass the Biltmore Estate off as your house!

Unfortunate Album Titles, Volume I

The Telestials

"Hey, as long as we're singing at the State Fair, we might as well shoot an album cover!" 

Bonus points for creativity. This was a lot more creative than just standing in front of a bus.  

Dan Sheaffer 3

...featuring Dan Sheaffer's hellish sound effects!

The Pauleys

"If you're wondering about the hair...IT'S REAL!"

The Chuck Fulmore Trio

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof...

Crossmen

The Crossmen, taking home the trophy for Southern Gospel church softball team of the year...

The King's Gospelaires

Lovely hats, ladies.

Foggy River Boys

These boys have the look of a group that is deliriously happy with their new stage clothes.

Lucille and Dan King

Please tell me that's Dan's mother...

Foggy River Boys

Demonstrating that they were ahead of their time, the Foggy River Boys had their own fog machine, long before millennial worship leaders even conceived of such a thing.