Blackwood Gospel Quartet

The Blackwood name is legendary in the gospel music industry. The Blackwood Brothers Quartet was formed in 1934. Roy Blackwood, Doyle Blackwood, their youngest brother, James, along with Roy's oldest son R.W. Blackwood, comprised the original quartet that was based out of Choctaw County, MS.

The Blackwood Brothers performed at camp meetings and other church and community events throughout the 30s. In 1940, they moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where they had a live broadcast on the radio.

In 1954, they appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on CBS. They won first place and received a recording contract with RCA. They became the first gospel group to sell a million records. On June 30, 1954, the quartet loss two of it’s own as R. W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles, the bass singer, were killed in an airplane crash in Clanton, Alabama just before the Blackwoods were to perform in a concert with the Statesmen. Following the plane crash, the Blackwoods returned to the concert ministry with Cecil Blackwood singing baritone in his brother’s place and J. D. Sumner singing bass.

The Blackwood Brothers were the first group to travel by bus. A replica of the Blackwood Brothers original bus is on display at the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Pigeon Forge TN.

The Blackwood Brothers have recorded over 200 albums and toured in 47 countries. They have won eight Grammy Awards, 27 Dove Awards. There were inducted in the "Gospel Music Hall of Fame" by the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, TN a few years ago. Cecil Blackwood, James Blackwood and J. D. Sumner were the founders of the famous National Quartet Convention formerly held in Memphis, TN.

Cecil Blackwood passed away November 13, 2000. After Cecil’s passing, James Blackwood, who was at the time the only living original member of the Blackwood Brothers, decided to retire the name Blackwood Brothers. In February of 2002, James went to be with the Lord.

Mark Blackwood, now continues the legacy of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet through the Blackwood Gospel Quartet. Mark traveled with his dad, Cecil Blackwood, in the Blackwood Brothers Quartet for many years. The Blackwood Gospel Quartet does not take their heritage in gospel music lightly, nor the responsibility of integrity that goes with it. It is the sincere desire of the Blackwood Gospel Quartet that the people who hear them will be moved to a deep spiritual commitment and give all the glory to the Lord Jesus.