Chuck wagon gang’s history and career:
The Chuck Wagon Gang began as a radio group, hosting a show and recording for many years. From 1936 through 1975, they were signed with Columbia Records. Part of the group didn’t join in travelling for touring at this time, instead they continued to record for the label. This is the reason for the lack of members in their records.
The Chuck Wagon Gang is known as the oldest recording mixed gospel group that is still active until now (by their inherited generations). In 1935 the Carters family founded their own singing group in Lubbock, Texas. But with the humble beginning their budget couldn’t afford to buy medicine for Effie, the sick child. Then Dave Carter and his other childrens had to go to KFYO (a radio station operating on 790 kHz AM) to ask for a live singing job on radio, and landed it. After about a year their radio show became almost a phenomenon, setting the stage for the Carter family to move to Fort Worth, Texas. After going to the audition they got a big deal with WBAP (50,000 watt station) sponsored by Bewley Mills the owner of the flour company. Then of course what they did is advertising for flour and hot biscuit from the company.
After heard The Chuck Wagon Gangs, two British record producers, Don Law and Art Satherly signed them to an exclusive recording contract. On November 25 and 26, 1936 they started recording their first studio recording session in San Antonio, Texas. They completely change to record Gospel music only after their Gospel records blow up. Then they hit another big step when Columbia Records purchased their contract and also all their recordings. This contract lasted thirty nine years and contained 480 masters at the time it available. After became national popularity Gospel singing group, they moved from Texas to Knoxville.
Their careers are associated with the mass media programs like Radio show and TV show. At first the radio play enhanced their popularity. Then in early 1960s they co-hosted a TV show called The Gospel Roundup with Ranger Trio. Also in these years they made a number of black and white video clips for The Wally Fowler Show and Mull’s Singing Convention.
Their music:
According to Shaye Smith (Chuck wagon gang heritor group’s owner, manager, and alto singer):
“When the group first started they actually sang Cowboy songs, Western ballads, and folk heart songs. All of this repertoire was wholesome, but not sacred in genre. The group would, though, sing one sacred song or hymn once a week. As the radio listeners heard the encouraging lyrics of the old hymns and sacred songs they began to write in to WBAP Radio and request that the Chuck Wagon Gang sing more sacred pieces.
As time went on the sacred songs and hymns were overwhelmingly desired and as a result the Gang stopped singing the Cowboy tunes and shifted to sacred songs only. It was clear that God’s desire for the Gang was to minister through song. And so sacred tunes became the integral part of our music early on and has remained the focus of our music.”
Their gospel music defined as the mix of Ballads, folk and western. In early years of their career most of chuck wagon gang’s songs use only one instrument, which is guitar or sometimes piano resonance. After they signed by record labels and turned famous their music has added a lot of other sounds like percussion or harp synths. However, one thing that makes their music stand out is the use of harmony layers that very complexity and also they use it throughout the whole song.
These are 3 of their biggest hits and also their most covered songs
Work cites:
The Chuck Wagon Gang: Bios, https://thechuckwagongang.net/bio.
JubileeCast. “Chuck Wagon Gang Brings Us Back to the ‘Radio Days’ & How They Still Impact Us Today.” JubileeCast, 26 Aug. 2021, https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/26720/20210825/chuck-wagon-gang-brings-us-back-to-radio-days-how-they-still-impact-us-today.htm.
Southern Gospel History – Chuck Wagon Gang, http://sghistory.com/index.php?n=C.ChuckWagonGang.
