Louisiana’s Own Southern Plainsmen

Staff writer Chris Becker sat down with tenor and only original member of the Southern Plainsmen - Marcelle Slaughter - for a fun and introspective interview.

Chris Becker: Hi, Marcelle. The Southern Plainsmen Quartet has been around since 1978, and you're the ONLY tenor they've ever had. Only one tenor. Tell me the truth... were you just trying to make the Florida Boys jealous?

Marcelle Slaughter (Southern Plainsmen): Hi, Chris, thanks for having me today! Yes, I am the only “survivor” of the original four from 1978; not literally, only one of our original members is deceased, but I am the only one still traveling with a gospel music ministry. The original lead singer, Joe Chance, was a pastor and passed away last year, the original baritone, Johnny Garrett, pastors a church in Tennessee and the original bass singer, Muriel (Merle) Mitchell, still sings some and pastors a little rural church locally.

My longevity with our ministry is only a God thing! We all felt led to start this group but had no idea, no clue, no plan what to do or how to do it. We just started…that’s all and God made us fairly busy from the beginning. I’ve just held on and didn’t give up. God opened the doors, sent the personnel and provided a way, I’m just a piece of furniture. I’m Thankful and Blessed to have been given this opportunity to do what I love for over 33 years.

And, no, I wasn’t trying to make Les or the Florida Boys ‘jealous’! I always sympathize with any group going through personnel changes, it’s not easy, often emotional, but most of the time a good thing. I love Les, Derrell, and Glen…Lord knows Les had some experience with tenors, he’s an awesome guy and still sane after all those crazy tenor singers! I consider Glen Allred a friend and mentor, an example of what a TRUE quartet man IS! He was a solid rock in that group; I miss our annual chats at NQC!

CB: What about the name... The Southern Plainsmen? Was the name originally a nod to the original Plainsmen?

MS: Yes and No…the other three guys were already settled on the name “Plainsmen Quartet” when they called me, by CB radio – some trivia for you – to meet to discuss forming the group. At that time, the original Plainsmen were inactive; we were naïve and green, so we just used the name. We were at Continental Trailways in Dallas, dreaming of buses almost two years into our ministry, when we saw the original guys had just bought a bus and were back on the road. We quickly sought some advice and added “Southern” to our name.

It is ironic though, that some of the ‘other’ Plainsmen over the years have become friends and that they spent some time here in Louisiana with our then Governor and well-known Gospel artist, Jimmie Davis. We explain to the curious frequently, that we are not directly connected to those guys.

CB: In 1998, which was the Southern Plainsmen's 20th year in the ministry, you were named Louisiana's Goodwill Ambassadors by the Governor of Louisiana, which puts you in the same category as the Statesmen Quartet, who were Georgia's Goodwill Ambassadors. How cool is that?

That was an awesome honor and that was my first thought when we received the news…we certainly aren’t worthy to be compared to The Statesmen, but it was nice to know our State’s then Governor Mike Foster, was willing to make a Southern Gospel Artist, Louisiana’s Ambassadors of Goodwill! The commitment was renewed at our 30th Anniversary by sitting Governor Bobby Jindal through the efforts of our State Representative, Frank Howard, who is from Hornbeck.

We try to bring good tidings to venues we visit outside our State and try to bring a little Louisiana humor and friendly hospitality along with us! We brag on our people and beautiful land that is so diverse from north to south! We are from the sandy, pine-covered hills, but it’s not far to river bottoms, lakes, cypress knees, swamps and the Gulf of Mexico. Our food is THE BEST and we are blessed! I hope we have been good spokesmen for Louisiana!

CB: Speaking of the Statesmen, your work as a 1st tenor actually reminds me of Denver Crumpler and Sherill Nielsen. Who were you tenor singing heroes and models?

MS: Thanks, Chris, that’s good company! Randy Shelnut and Buddy Burton have likened me to Coy Cook, I like that too! There are many tenors that I enjoy…to say I try to emulate any particular one would not be true. In the beginning, I just did what came naturally and tried to learn along the way. My favorite groups early on were the LeFevres, Happy Goodmans , The Statesmen and The Florida Boys, probably because they were most visible due to The Gospel Singing Caravan and The Gospel Singing Jubilee.

The first LP I ever owned was a Christmas present from “Santa” when I about 8 years old…it was “The Statesmen Quartet…All Day Singing and Dinner on the Ground”, so Rosie Rozelle would probably be my FIRST hero tenor, but I loved all those guys, Hovie, Doy, Jack Toney and Big Chief!

I will say, I have never been a fan of a “screamer” that couldn’t really sing…high is fine, if it’s melodic and correctly done, but ripping your cords for the sake of show and not really contributing to the harmony or message is just not for me! I think Pat Hoffmaster was one of the finest, smooth, easy to listen to tenors of all time and Lilly Fern Weatherford’s alto, is simply something God sent us from Heaven to just get a little taste!

I’m also glad Eric Phillips is back with Mark Trammell Quartet…Eric is an awesome tenor and great guy and, then, Chris Allman with Greater Vision, they are probably my favorite active tenors! They don’t scream and they sing correctly!

CB: Who is in the group right now? Tell us a little about each member.

We have been in a transition period of late and it’s exciting! Our baritone is Allen Doyle from LeBlanc, Louisiana, he has been with us 5 ½ years and everyone loves him wherever we go. He is naturally a clown, has a solid voice and sincere delivery. He was chosen Group Male Vocalist of 2011 by The South Texas Gospel Music Association, so we are proud of Allen!
Presently, we have an interim lead singer, our soundman, Aaron Allen from Ruby, Louisiana. Aaron has been with us over 5 years, as well, he started with us the week of his 16th birthday, so he is the youngest, and to have very little stage experience; fans are loving him. He is doing a great job keeping us on the road while we search for the right fit in a lead singer. If he keeps up, we might just hire a soundman!

We have a brand new bass singer…Rusty McRight of Bridge City, Texas. Rusty is very smooth, has a great solo voice and is going to be a great addition to our sound and our ministry. He has been music director at FBC in his home town for quite some time, so coming on the road is a big step for him. His official start date was December 18, but he had made several appearances with us beginning in August.

We have a very part-time roadie that deserves some recognition too…he is 17 years old now, has been traveling with us sporadically since he was 14 and does a great job just doing the grunt work. He is Spencer Fisher from Katy, Texas. Another behind the scenes guy that we love is Terry Foster, our webmaster (southernplainsmen.com) and computer guru…he traveled with us in the 1990’s as a young man, he lives in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

I’m still keeping us from having a good tenor and that’s all the guys…

CB: Your website makes it clear that you're not so much entertainers as ministers of the Gospel. Do you have any cool stories about audience members being touched by God during your times of ministry?

MS: Wow! That would take a book! NO CREDIT to us…God just uses us and we are proof He can use ANYONE!

Two quick stories come to mind….we were in Texas City, Texas about 4 years ago…a young man walked in after the Sunday morning concert had started. He kind of stood out due to his attire, hair style, body art, etc. During the service our lead singer at that time, Tim Crosby, did a song that we still do now and then, that he wrote…”Take His Hand”. The song tells of a prisoner on death row to whom the warden witnesses just prior to his execution, the prisoner gives his life to Christ and ‘though he died in the room that night, all of Heaven’s Angels met him at God’s throne!’ Well, the young man who had slipped into the service that morning had been in prison for 17 years for murder…he gave his life to Christ that morning because that song ministered to him! Still gives us chill bumps to tell the story!

Another incident happened in Palmdale, California. We were at a little Pentecostal Holiness Church there and had a great service, the Spirit was heavy in the place and though several people prayed at the altar, there were no reports of Salvation, re-dedication or surrender to a Call. We just felt something had to have happened, it was just too Good! But we, bowing the Human side, left a bit disappointed because we didn’t SEE ‘results’. Two weeks passed, we were back home in Louisiana when the pastor called to share that TWO young ladies, as a result of that service, had come to know the Lord! She wanted us to know because she felt in her Spirit that we needed to hear! WOW! God is Good!
Those were just the first two to pop in my head…I’m sooooo thankful that God has allowed to see countless people either come to know the Lord or come back to Him. Man cannot do that…but God can use the “least of these” and He has done that with us!

CB: What's your newest CD? And what are your plans for future CDs?

MS: Our latest CD is “Simply Faith”…It includes the song I just spoke of, “Take His Hand”, as well as, Rodney Griffin’s “Faces” that Allen does tremendously well, a song folk love that our former bass singer, Eric Crochet wrote, “Good Morning Jesus”, some classics like The Tennesseeans, “My Friends” and “The Devil and His Old Suitcase”, “Touring that City” and Neil Enloe's "From a Star to Stripes" is a concert favorite.

We are anxious to get in the studio, we are way past due! We are considering a look back at some good material from projects we did in the 90’s to get something out quickly, then we have been discussing a project with Shane Roark at Chapel Valley, we are praying that comes to fruition. I’ve also had a project on the back burner for a long time that was special to me; I wanted to work with my buddy Eddie Crook, so we might do that too.

CB: Tell me the truth: Have you ever worn matching pink three-piece suits onstage?

MS: “I dunno what you talkin’ ‘bout Willis!” LOL Uh…well, not three piece…no! Back in 1989 or 90, our bass singer, Charlie Ellis and lead singer, Roy Baker, came up a “bargain” in a mall in Natchez, Mississippi. Neither of them could even spell “GQ”…anyway, they came dragging out these pink blazers that were a sale item…go figure! We could have been ice cream men, but yeah, we did wear those blazers with grey or black slacks for a couple of years! People are supposed to forget that stuff!

CB: Have you ever employed any multi-talented bass singers named "Chris Becker?"

MS: No, I hear he is a slacker! I was told he could carry a tune though…tears it all to pieces getting it out, but can carry it!

CH: I still may have a pink quartet suit somewhere...

MS: Hmmmm….uh…well, submit your resume to James Blackwood and J D Sumner for me. When I hear from them, I’ll let you know! I hear Wally Fowler has something coming up, you might get in on that!

CH: What would you like for readers to know about the SPQ?

MS: I suppose first and foremost, we Love the Lord and we love what we do! It’s NOT about us! I do not deal well with guys that are stuck on themselves, think they are indispensible and who want to be a “star”…that’s not what we are about. We hope that we can present our gospel in song in a way that hearts are touched. We like people to know you can be a Christian, serve the Lord, still have fun, laugh a lot and your face will not break, even in church, and that ALL of THEM have a talent and a work to do! We want to encouragers!

I’d like you to tell everyone how to get hold of us and that we would be honored to minister in their church. We travel wherever God opens a door and provides a way!
(Southern Plainsmen Quartet, 7841 Plainview Road, Hornbeck, LA 71439 http://www.southernplainsmen.com Facebook – “The Southern Plainsmen” email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) phone 318-663-4812 or 318-586-4812 FAX 318-586-3711)

Also…it has been a TOUGH year…we need your prayers! We need financial support! Folk can visit our web site and hit the “Donate” button…we NEED them to!

CH: Any closing words?

MS: Chris, we have been Blessed…I cannot say that enough! When we started in 1978, you couldn’t have convinced any of us we’d still be around, that we would have safely traveled the miles we have in the pieces of junk called buses that we have…no heat in the winter, no air in the summer, no brakes anytime…spent more time under them than in them, too many miles between dates overnight, flat tires, blown head gaskets, overheated radiators, personnel problems, sore throats, sour notes, disappointments and no money, but friendships and Spiritual Blessings that would fill volumes, I’ve worked with some of the finest singers/musicians in Southern Gospel Music and have had the honor of calling several Legends “my friend”….it’s all been worth it…I wouldn’t trade!

CH: Thank you!

MS: Thank you, Chris, for listening to me…I’ll be listening for feedback on that resume!