Tommy Fairchild was the pianist for the Oak Ridge Quartet/Boys for many years. However, he took a brief hiatus from the quartet in the early 1960s.

Who replaced Tommy in the Oak Ridge Quartet when he left in 1961?

For extra credit, what group did Tommy join when he left the Oaks?
© CMG SGMRadio.com 2006

Gary Trusler is pictured as the Oaks pianist on the album Go Out to the Program so maybe he replaced Fairchild.

Have no idea to which group Fairchild went but will guess the Harvesters.

Gary Trusler is correct, Norm.

Tommy didn't leave the Oaks to join the Harvesters, but Trusler joined the Oaks after leaving the Harvesters. :o

I'll guess the Blackwood Brothers, although 1961 is probably too early for his arrival.

Tommy Fairchild was with The Oaks 1956-1961, and didn`t join The Blackwoods until 1971 so after leaving The Oaks in 61 he probably didn`t join anyone when he took a brief haitus, then Gary Trussler joined awhile and Tommy Fairchild re-joined The Oak Ridge.

Actually, Tommy DID join another group for a few months after leaving the Oaks in 1961, but this was many years before his Blackwood days.

I will guess and give the answer "The Stamps Quartet." However, I am probably wrong. I figure this is like the ACT test with no penalty for guessing.

Guess you're right, Mike! It is like the ACT.

Here are a couple of hints:

The quartet was from "way down South".
It was the only gospel quartet that I know of that released a recording on the typically secular ACE label.

. . . more hints to come if necessary.

Sunshine Boys? Rebels?

[Note: ACT Score remains the same.]

I agree with News that it must be the Sunshine Boys.

Nope. . .

Next clue:

Dale Shelnut was the lead singer

A site on the net says it is the Rhythm Masters. If that is right, then amazingly I got both parts of this question after lots of clues from John. By the way, the site was a gospel history thread that John used to run on another message board. The information on the Ace recording was provided by someone who used the name "vinylman."

I got the first part (Gary Trusler) by looking at my gospel album collection. I've been thinking of getting rid ot it for space reasons (after putting the best stuff on CD) but might have to reconsider if I want to have a chance at answering some of John's questions.

Thanks for the hint that Dale Shelnut was in the quartet-I NEEDED THAT-LOL, Now I`ll say The Tennesseans Quartet

Norm got it right! The correct answer was the Rhythm Masters from Birmingham, Alabama.

Although Dale sang with the Tennesseans, Tommy didn't play for them.