Spartanburg Music Trail

Blue Ridge Quartet

Blue Ridge Quartet

Blue Ridge Quartet
Audio Samples


Green Green Grass of Home

His Name Is Wonderful

When We See Our Blessed Savior

Audio Tour: Blue Ridge Quartet

The Blue Ridge Quartet was a pioneering gospel group known for its massive output of recordings and for a nationally syndicated television show.

Formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1946 by Elmo Fagg, the group later relocated to North Carolina, regularly touring the East Coast. By 1958 they had settled permanently in Spartanburg, where they developed a television show for the newly opened WSPA TV in downtown Spartanburg. Dubbing it "Music for All America," the show was syndicated by twenty-six stations across the country. The group soon launched a radio show for WWVA-AM, one of the most powerful broadcasters in the country with a listening range that spanned from Canada to the Caribbean.

The Blue Ridge Quartet became one of the most popular and prolific gospel groups of their era, recording over 100 albums and with sales topping 6 million units. The group underwent several line-up and management changes during their nearly four-decade history, ultimately disbanding in 1985. Leader Elmo Fagg was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

—Peter Cooper, author, professor, award-winning journalist, and Grammy-nominated artist

—Steve Shanafelt, freelance journalist, editor and music writer


Interesting Fact

The Blue Ridge Quartet was the first white gospel group to record for Decca records. They were also the first professional gospel group to perform in a Catholic church.

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