The Chuck Wagon Gang

The Chuck Wagon Gang
Chuck Wagon Gang performing for the Christian Music Hall of Fame awards
Background information
Origin	Lubbock, Texas United States
Genres	Country Bluegrass Southern Gospel
Years active	1936-Present
Labels	Columbia Records
Website	www.thechuckwagongang.net
Members
Jeremy Stephens- Bass, Emcee, Guitar, Manger/Owner Shaye Smith- Alto, Julie Hudson-Soprano Stan Hill- Tenor Joe Rotten-Bass Guitar

The Chuck Wagon Gang is a multi-award–winning Southern Gospel musical group that was formed in 1936 by founding member D.P. (Dad) Carter with his son Jim(Ernest) and daughters Rose(Lola) and Anna(Effie). The "Gang" signed with Columbia Records and remained with them for 39 years, At one point they were Columbia's number one selling group with excess of over 39 million in record sales.

By the late 1970s, the group was still touring but felt a lack of support from the label they had recorded for during the previous forty-one years. Columbia had stopped servicing their songs to radio; thus airplay had become non-existent. Roy and Ruth Ellen Carter talked about it. They asked each other the question: “What can we do to rebuild what Daddy started?” That became the aim: not to make money, but to truly dedicate themselves to rebuilding the group to the strongest position it had enjoyed in years past. It was at this point starting in 1979 that they began recording for Copperfield Records for several years.

The Chuck Wagon Gang has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Grand Ole Opry. The group has been elected to the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian Institution's classic American recordings.

Current members

Shaye Smith

Shaye Smith was born Nashville, TN and grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. She lived in Ft. Worth TX for eleven years, has lived in NC for the past five years. Shaye sings the alto for the Chuck Wagon Gang and is the granddaughter of the Gang's original alto, Anna Carter Gordon Davis and Howard Gordon, who was the group's guitarist for many years. She and husband Andy Smith and make their home in Hertford, NC. They have two sons, Ben and Noah.

Shaye holds two Bachelor's Degrees in Music (Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting) and she arranges many of the Gang's new songs in preparation for recordings. Shaye was involved in many musicals and operas in college as well as choral and theater projects, and so feels completely at home on stage.

Shaye joined her Uncle Roy and the Chuck Wagon Gang in 1993 as soprano. She sang with the Gang until the Wagon was parked in 1996. In 1999, she helped get the group back on the road, eventually moving to her current position of alto. Of all her musical experiences, singing with the Chuck Wagon Gang is what she enjoys most, especially since she has the opportunity to continue the legacy that her grandmother and family began over seventy-four years ago. Shaye says the most important decision she ever made was on August 15, 1983, when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. "Becoming a Christian gave my love for music a purpose. I devoted my life to Jesus and dedicated my voice to singing Gospel Music. I can't imagine being involved in music in any other form or fashion. The Lord has truly blessed me."

Julie Hudson

Julie Hudson was born and reared in Bedford, Indiana, and was graduated from Olivet Nazarene University. She obtained a degree in nursing in 1987. She has been an operating room nurse for 18 years.

Hudson moved to High Point, North Carolina, where she became a music minister at her church. She was a member of concert and a cappella choirs and played the flute.

She resides in High Point, North Carolina, with her husband John, to whom she has been married for 18 years, and their 16-year-old daughter Brittany.

Stan Hill

Stan Hill was born and brought up in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hill makes the list of tenors for the Chuck Wagon Gang. His voice and blend have helped to maintain the standards first taught by Dad Carter.

In addition to singing with the Chuck Wagon Gang, Hill sings with his wife and performs with other local groups and theaters in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Hill has been married to his wife Kathy for 25 years, and they have three children: Chris, 22; Brad,16; Rebekah,15.

Jeremy Stephens

Jeremy Stephens was born in Lynchburg, VA and raised in Danville, VA. Having fallen in love with traditional bluegrass and old time music at an early age, he began playing fiddle and banjo at age 5, and sometime later picked up the guitar. He began playing with a bluegrass band at age 10. For years, banjo has been Jeremy's primary instrument. He has played banjo with several bluegrass groups over the last 17 years.

Jeremy graduated from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, but has chosen to pursue music, his lifelong passion.

Jeremy first heard the Chuck Wagon Gang at age 12 when the started to his grandparents' gospel records, and he has been in love with their music ever since. Being a blue grasser at the core, his favorite version of the Gang is the original group: Rose, Anna, Dad, and Jim. One of his biggest hobbies is record collecting, and one of his main record collections is The Chuck Wagon Gang. Jeremy also loves the guitar playing of Howard Gordon, Anna's husband who played for the Gang in the 50s and 60s. He tried to incorporate some of Howard's style into his playing to fit the sound of the Gang today.

Jeremy says, "I am so excited to be singing bass and playing guitar for my favorite gospel group. I have loved their music for years, and I'm so thankful to God for putting me here at this place in my life." Jeremy currently lives in Nashville, TN.

Joe Rotten

Joe Rotton was born and raised in Union Springs, AL. All of his family including a daughter, son-in-law, and six 6 grandchildren still live in the area. In the mid 80’s he moved to Spartanburg, SC with his job at Bonnie Plant Farm. He is semi-retired from Bonnie Plants and continues to work for them during the spring planting season.

He grew up listening to Southern Gospel and singing in the choir at Macedonia Baptist Church. The main group he remembers hearing on the radio was The Chuck Wagon Gang. The first time he was able to see the Gang was in the mid-50’s at the Wally Fowler All-Nite Singings in Montgomery, AL. He attended many of these with his grandmother and uncle. Later in high school he picked up the guitar and played with the FFA band and other local groups for several years.

Joe continued to follow the Gang as a fan through the years. In the early 90’s Pat McKeehen was having back problems and Joe was asked to help Harold Timmons with the bus driving duties. Several years later, in 2004, the group relocated the headquarters from Ft. Worth, TX to Nashville, TN. It was then that Joe began driving to Nashville to again help drive the bus. Someone in the group mentioned it would be nice to have a bass player. Joe offered to learn and a few weeks later started playing with the gang.

Joe says, “This is like a dream come true to be playing with the group that I have been a fan of all my life.” “My only hobbies are The Chuck Wagon Gang and SEC football (in that order).”

Original Members

D.P. (Dad) Carter- Tenor
Rose(Lola) Carter Karnes- Soprano
Anna(Effie) Carter Gordon- Alto
Jim(Ernest) Carter- Bass, Guitar

The Family Connection

Shaye Smith (Member 1994-2007, 2010–present)

Shaye Smith is the granddaughter of the Gang's original alto, Mrs. Anna (Carter) Davis. Shaye has two bachelor's degrees in music and taught choir at Kings Mountain High School, close to her home in Shelby, North Carolina for several years, till she rejoined the Gang in early 2010.

Shaye participated in musicals and operas while in college as well as choral and theater projects.

Former members

D.P. (Dad) Carter
Rose Carter Karnes
Anna (Carter) Gordon Davis
Jim Carter
Jim Waits
Haskel "Hi-Pockets" Mitchell
Roy Carter
Eddie Carter
Howard Gordon
Ronnie Crittenden
Pat McKeehan
Greg Gordon
Vickie Gordon (Owens)
Ronnie Page
Bettye Goodwin
Ruth Ellen Yates
Shirley Carter
Patricia Neighbors
Harold Timmons
Debby Trusty
Anita Saylor
Kathy Watson
Renee' Martin
Darrell Morris
Jim Wesson
Rick Karnes
Melissa Kemper
Ronnie Page
Allen Thompkins
Penny Greene
Kelly Jennings
Dave Emery
Source 'CWG 70th Ann. CD Cover'

External links

• www.thechuckwagongang.net The Chuck Wagon Gang's Website

• (http://www.copperfieldmusic.com Former Record Label For Chuck Wagon Gang and additional info/product)

• (http://www.chuckwagongang.com/) Historical Page For Chuck Wagon Gang