1. Ron, you and your brother, Winston, have been carrying on the Blackwood name for a long time. Give us a little history on your side of the Blackwood family.
Our Father was one of the founding members of the original BLACKWOOD BROTHERS QUARTET. My brother, RW and Ihave been singing since 1964.
2. When your Father and Bill Lyles were killed in that tragic plane crash it must have changed your life forever. How did losing your Dad effect the rest of your life. How did you and Winston handle it differently?
Losing Daddy when I was 13 yrs old was at a time when a teenage boy really needs his Daddy's strong influence. I was a very strong willed child and when Daddy died in the plane crash I hated the world and God. I was VERY angry at the world. Blamed God for taking my Daddy. It took many many years for me to find peace with this and to know that God loved me and had a reason for All things that he ALLOWED to happen. But! For many years I was a troubled young man.
3. You and Winston were involved in a little group called the Jr. Blackwoods. What was that like? How was it founded? Later, it was the Blackwood Singers, how did they come about?
RW (my bro) me, Jimmy Jr , Bill Lyles Jr. and Everette Reece sang in The Jr. Blackwood Brothers, It was founded by Uncle James . I didn't last long as I was still pretty wild and hard to deal with. Later My Brother his wife Donna and I formed The Blackwood Singers a mix group. The Blackwood Singers in the 60's and 70's played more Fairs than any Gospel had ever played about 3,000 fairs, and was the first group to take Gospel Music to the Major State fairs.
RW and myself were the founders and owners of "Century ll Promotions " and later brought Beckie and Sonny Simmons in with us. I either managed or booked Hank Williams Jr. Vern Gosdin, Jerry Wallace, Hee Haw;s Archie Campbell, Tanya Tucker, Ronnie McDowell, Billy Walker, The Imperials, Statesmen, Blackwood Brothers, Speer Family, Oak Ridge Boys and many others. Yet! Even at this time in my life I was still very angry with God about taking my Daddy.
4. Ron, you became a wayward soul for a while and ended up incarcerated. Can you share that part of your life with us? Does it have a happy ending?
In 1984 I was being checked by IRS and several of my "friends" and people who were in business with me became afraid and when IRS Agents interviewed them, they became scared and were threatened with being investigated by IRS and believe me you find out who your real friends are quick! Several told IRS what they WANTED TO HEAR! but let me be very very clear! I was GUILTY and made some mistakes that I should not have done. As J.D. Sumner said one time to a fellow Gospel Music Personality that asked J.D. about my situation? " what did Ron go to prison for?" J.D. said, what difference does it make! God Forgave Him and if IRS came after you and me like they did him we BOTH would be in prison for 300 years? The Gospel Music Friend hung his head and lowly said to J.D. "You are right" It makes no difference!
I plead guilty! to IRS tax charges and spent 4 years in a Federal Prison. This was the hardest time of my life, Embarrassed, Humiliated, and shamed my name. Yes! some people in Gospel music gloated over my failures, but I assure you people like Mark Lowry, J.D. Sumner, George Younce, Cecil Blackwood, Dottie Leonard Miller did not abandon me. They remained close and wrote me as well supported my family financially. I could write a book on this, but I will say this event turned my life around. I led 22 men to the Lord, including two Muslim's. I truly found a peace in knowing that God was in charge and it ain't over for Ron Blackwood.. J.D. Sumner still believed in me and thats why I'm here today where I am. ( J.D. GAVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE!) No matter how far you may go down GOD STILL LOVES YOU and NEVER GIVE UP!!!!! We have all failed and come short of the Glory of God!
5. Your current group sings at The Blackwood Morning Variety Show at the Black Bear Jamboree Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. Normally, Gospel groups sing at night, how is it different singing in the morning? Do you have to do anything special to prepare for always singing in the morning?
I have done a morning Show off and on for about 19 years and I like it and it has been very successful for us. The key is KNOWING how to adjust and knowing what to do marketing wise to get people to get up and pay money to hear The Blackwoods. I know how to do this and it is DIFFERENT than any other way to have a regular Gospel Concert.
6. Describe for us the type of sound that the Blackwoods have singing today?
The Blackwood Quartet has a sound alot like the Blackwoods in the 50's and 60's only with a little flair We do some of the Classic Blackwood songs with a lot of production and video screens. It is high tech!!!! but FIRST CLASS!
7. There are about three Blackwood groups in existence today. Can you separate them for us?
There are 3 Blackwood Groups The Blackwood Quartet which is ME! and then My Cousin Jimmy Blackwood & The Blackwood Brothers and Mark Blackwood. Mark is joining me after the first of the year and will no longer have his group. We are all Family and work well together. I do all I can to help Jimmy and Mark. They are my Cousins and I love them.
8. What can the fans expect to see when they come to a Blackwood Quartet concert? How can the Blackwoods be booked?
Anyone can Book The Blackwood Quartet by calling 865-397-0049 or email me direct ( .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) )
ONE CAN EXPECT AT A BLACKWOOD CONCERT TO BE HAPPY, LAUGH TILL YOU CAN'T LAUGH ANY MORE AND BE MIGHTLY BLESSED AND TOUCHED BY A TESTIMONY THAT GOD STILL CARES AND THERE IS HOPE NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU MAY GO DOWN. I'M LIVING PROOF OF THAT. I ALSO OWN "HALL OF FAME BOOKING AGENCY" AND BOOK THESE ARTIST! " THE FLORIDA BOYS, THE STAMPS QUARTET, THE CLASSIC IMPERIALS, THE CHUCK WAGON GANG! THESE ARE LIVING LEGENDS CONCERTS!!!
http://www.theblackwoods.com
"HALL OF FAME TOUR WEB SITE"
http://www.halloffameconcerts.com
http://www.blackwoodbrothersquartet.com
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 10/07/2008
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Comments: 4
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What a story...what a real testimony!
Editors note: Pertaining to question #7, while Mark Blackwood will be working some dates with Ron, he will not be abandoning his group, Blackwood Gospel Quartet. Mark will be honoring all Blackwood Gospel Quartet bookings, now and in the future.
Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog
Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown
This man is brilliant ! More managers should follow his lead in thinking outside the box!
ron which one of the blackwoods past away last year
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