ROOTS of Country Music

The Jordanaires

The history of The Jordanaires can be traced back to the early 1940s and the original Foggy River Boys, which were made up of the Matthews brothers, Bill, Monty, Jack and Matt .

(Top L-R) Hoyt Hawkins, Gordon Stoker

(Bottom L-R) Neal Matthews, Hugh Jarrett

In 1948, Matt and Jack left to become full-time preachers and were replaced by Bob Hubbard, also a minister and bass singer, Culley Holt and pianist Bob Money. After three years Money was replaced as pianist by Gordon Stoker.

At that time, they formed the new group as the Melodizing Matthews, in Springfield, Missouri. However, they soon changed the name to The Jordanaires, taking the name from the Jordan Creek in Missouri. This lineup lasted until 1952; at that time, Bob Hubbard was drafted and was replaced by Hoyt Hawkins. Later that year, Monty and Bill Matthews left. Hawkins switched to baritone and new lead Neal Matthews was recruited. Don Bruce came in as a new first tenor; however, he was drafted the next year.

The group narrowed to a quartet, with Stoker taking over as first tenor. They recorded for Capitol Records in the early 1950s, and began providing vocal accompaniment behind solo singers in Nashville, Tennessee. The lineup changed again in 1954, with Cully Holt leaving and new bass Hugh Jarrett coming in. The Jordanaires became well known in the southern gospel realm and what made them stand out from other quartets of that time was how they would bring spirituals to a predominantly white audience.

While continuing to turn out gospel albums of their own, the group become better known for the signature background harmonies they have provided on dozens of secular records. Jarrett remained until 1958; at that time, he was replaced by Ray Walker.

In 1955, the Jordanaires played a show in Memphis with Eddy Arnold to publicize a new syndicated TV series, Eddy Arnold Time. They sang Peace In The Valley and when the show was over, a young man came backstage to meet them. He was Elvis Presley, a practically unheard of singer just getting his start in the area. Presley said, "If I ever get a recording contract with a major company, I want you guys to back me up." He was on Sun Records at that time.

In January, 1956, Presley recorded his first session for RCA with guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist Bill Black and drummer D. J. Fontana. That day, I Got A Woman, Heartbreak Hotel and Money Honey were recorded. True to his word, Presley asked his new label RCA Victor if The Jordanaires could appear on the recordings. The next day Gordon Stoker was called by Chet Atkins to do a session with Elvis. RCA had also just signed The Speer Family.

Chet asked Stoker to sing with Ben and Brock Speer so he could use them. On that day, I'm Counting on You and I Was The One, made history by being the first recording session that Presley did with vocal background. By April 1956, Heartbreak Hotel was No. 1.

After having done several more recording sessions in New York with Scotty, Bill and D. J., Presley flew to Nashville in early 1956, to record I Want You, I Need You, I Love You. Stoker was called again, to sing a vocal trio with Ben and Brock. After the session, Presley took Stoker aside and told him (not knowing, at the time, why all the Jordanaires were not there) that he had wanted the Jordanaires.

This time, Stoker saw to it and Presley used the Jordanaires on nearly every one of his recording sessions for the next 14 years. At a time when no backing musicians, producers, or engineers received a name recognition on any records, Presley insisted that he have "with the Jordanaires" on the label of his records. The reflected glory was enough to earn the Jordanaires Group of the Year awards well into the late 1960s. The quartet also appeared in some of Presley's movies and on many of his television appearances.

The lineup consisting of Gordon Stoker, first tenor and manager, Neal Matthews, second tenor and lead, Hoyt Hawkins, baritone and Ray Walker, bass, would be the group's most stable lineup, lasting throughout the 1960s and '70s. The group changed again in 1982, when Hoyt Hawkins died. His replacement was Duane West.

The lineup remained constant for another two decades, with West leaving due to illness in 1999. His replacement was Louis Nunley, formerly of the Anita Kerr Singers. Neal Matthews died the next year. He was replaced by new lead Curtis Young. Hugh Jarrett died in 2008, from injuries sustained in an auto accident.

• Bill Matthews (1948-51)
• Gordon Stoker (2nd Tenor) (1951-present)
• Don Bruce (1952-53)
• Bob Hubbard (1948-52)
• Neal Matthews (1953-2000)
• Curtis Young (2000-present)
• Monty Matthews (1948-52)
• Hoyt Hawkins (1952-82)
• Duane West (1982-99)
• Louis Nunley (1999-present)
• Culley Holt (1948-54)
• Hugh Jarrett (1954-58)
• Ray Walker (1958-present)
• Bob Money (1948-49; 1952)
• Gordon Stoker (1949-51)