When Jake and Chris Hess left the Statesmen rather abruptly to join Gene Scott's ministry in California, Hovie had to get someone to replace them.

Chris' replacement lasted a couple of years, but there were several who filled the lead spot prior to Buddy Burton coming on board.

Who were these temporary replacements?

I know of two singers, but I've been told there were three that filled in the gap.

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Ed Hill and Gary Timbs

That's correct, James.

There was one and possibly two others that filled in as lead singer. Any other guesses?

Boy! I thought I knew quite a bit about The Statesmen, but you sure have me beat John, did Mike LoPrinzi or Rick Fair ever sing lead with the Statesmen Trio?
How about David Will?

Not that I'm aware of, James. David Will was with the Statesmen for a few weeks prior to their first disbanding.

Actually, when these other gentlemen I'm referring to were with the Statesmen, they had hired Tommy Thompson and were singing as a quartet again.

Would Richard Coltrane be the other person?

Good guess, but Richard filled in with the Statesmen at a later time.

In an article in SN (9/1/79) there is an article about the Statesmen - Hovie discusses the new members: Ed Hill, Buddy Burton, Tommy Thompson, Rosie Rozell. In the article he states that prior to hiring Buddy Burton,"...we swapped Gary Timbs and Jack Toney on lead. They'd sung with the Statesmen before."

Dean

I don`t think Wallace Nelms ever sang lead with The Statesmen, I know Elmer Cole did.

:blink:

Dean, you're right.

I saw Gary with them about a week after Tommy and Ed had joined the quartet. I never saw Jack with that version, but I do have this picture.

I've also heard that Elmer Cole did some dates in that time frame, but I've seen nothing to substantiate it.