Happy Rhythm: A Biography of Hovie Lister & the Statesmen Quartet

In 1948, Hovie Lister organized a vocal group that would take gospel music by storm. In an amazingly short period of time, Hovie Lister & the Statesmen were enjoying commercial success with their recordings on the Capitol and RCA labels. Their winning appearance on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" television show on CBS propelled them to new heights of national popularity. Winning critical acclaim throughout their career, the Statesmen may well have been, as many experts in the gospel field have claimed, the "best quartet that gospel music has ever had." HAPPY RHYTHM: A Biography of Hovie Lister & the Statesmen Quartet chronicles their entire career through personal recollections of group members and their families, observations from gospel music insiders, photographs and other sources-all woven together with the literary talent and organizational expertise of author David L. Taylor, a gospel singer and minister of music in his own right. More than a review of the career of the Statesmen, this volume contains a historical synopsis of the Southern Gospel Music genre, from its humble beginnings in the South to the booming business that continues today. Renowned gospel composer, the late Mosie Lister, an original member of the Statesmen, wrote the hit song from which the title of this biography is taken. This book, he once said, is "an amazing collection of detail--including so many interwoven story lines. You have taken what was a very good book and turned it into a masterpiece." Although many of the Statesmen are now singing in the presence of the Lord, their story, recordings and videos of their television appearances continue to be a blessing!