This page is dedicated to spotlighting the people in SGM and people we have met on our journeys.
We want you to know more about them also.
BOB JONES
Our good friend and mentor, Bob Jones Sr., passed away on July 27. Nancy and I were privileged to attend his funeral in Bloomington
on July 30, where I delivered a eulogy.
Bob was a giant in our field of music. He came to California from his home state of Texas in the 1930's and helped to establish singing
conventions and organized his own quartet--The Stamps Melody Boys. During the 1940's he introduced a young Earl Weatherford to Gospel
Music. In 1947, he started a radio program on KIMJ in Fresno, which was later taken over by Don Smith, when Bob moved back to Texas to
work with the famous Stamps Quartet.
In the 1950's, Bob returned to California and in 1954 went on the mutual Radio network with his quartet, The Songfellows. In the years to
come, the Songfellows would establish themselves as the premier Gospel Quartet on the West Coast.
In 1989, after a number of years of inactivity, the Songfellows were re-organized with Bob and his son Bobby joining together once again, to
sing side by side. Since then, we have been blest by this wonderful quartet with their rich sounds and sincere hearts.
Two years ago Bob stepped down from the group, as Bobby had to move to Tennessee with his job. The Songfellows continue to sing back east
on a limited basis. We will greatly miss Bob, who was a wonderful friend and inspiration to us all. We will be paying tribute to Bob's life and
career on our August 12th radio program. Be sure to tune in.
Herb Henry
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