Considered by many to be the finest Southern Gospel bass singer of all time, James Stephen "Big Chief" Wetherington is best known for his many years as the bass singer for Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet, where he anchored what has been called "The Perfect Quartet", along with Denver Crumpler, Jake Hess, Doy Ott, and Hovie Lister.
James Wetherington was born in Ty Ty, Georgia. He started his professional singing career with the Sunny South Quartet in Tampa, Florida. In 1946, Wetherington left with two other members of the Sunny South to start the Melody Masters Quartet.
In 1949, Wetherington was asked by Hovie Lister to join the Statesmen. It was at this time he acquired the nickname "Big Chief", inspired by his Native-American heritage. The origin of the nickname has been variously attributed to Hovie Lister, Lee Roy Abernathy, and Wetherington himself.
Wetherington quickly became a crowd favorite. Always impeccably dressed, and with his smooth bass voice, he had an electrifying stage presence. On up-tempo songs, "Chief" would often shake his leg in rhythm to the music, a move that was copied by a young admirer, Elvis Presley.
Wetherington was also an accomplished music arranger and song writer, writing such songs as "Trying To Get A Glimpse", "Is Your Name Written There?" and "Our Debts Will Be Paid".
While known to his many fans as a great bass singer, Wetherington was also devoted to his family and his home church, where he spent many years as the choir director.
After nearly a quarter century with the Statesmen, James Wetherington died suddenly of a heart attack at the National Quartet Convention in 1973.
James Wetherington was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1977 and was in the initial set of inductees to the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
James Wetherington was born in Ty Ty, Georgia. He started his professional singing career with the Sunny South Quartet in Tampa, Florida. In 1946, Wetherington left with two other members of the Sunny South to start the Melody Masters Quartet.
In 1949, Wetherington was asked by Hovie Lister to join the Statesmen. It was at this time he acquired the nickname "Big Chief", inspired by his Native-American heritage. The origin of the nickname has been variously attributed to Hovie Lister, Lee Roy Abernathy, and Wetherington himself.
Wetherington quickly became a crowd favorite. Always impeccably dressed, and with his smooth bass voice, he had an electrifying stage presence. On up-tempo songs, "Chief" would often shake his leg in rhythm to the music, a move that was copied by a young admirer, Elvis Presley.
Wetherington was also an accomplished music arranger and song writer, writing such songs as "Trying To Get A Glimpse", "Is Your Name Written There?" and "Our Debts Will Be Paid".
While known to his many fans as a great bass singer, Wetherington was also devoted to his family and his home church, where he spent many years as the choir director.
After nearly a quarter century with the Statesmen, James Wetherington died suddenly of a heart attack at the National Quartet Convention in 1973.
James Wetherington was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1977 and was in the initial set of inductees to the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
Considered by many to be the finest Southern Gospel bass singer of all time, James Stephen "Big Chief" Wetherington is best known for his many years as the bass singer for Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet, where he anchored what has been called "The Perfect Quartet", along with Denver Crumpler, Jake Hess, Doy Ott, and Hovie Lister.
James Wetherington was born in Ty Ty, Georgia. He started his professional singing career with the Sunny South Quartet in Tampa, Florida. In 1946, Wetherington left with two other members of the Sunny South to start the Melody Masters Quartet.
In 1949, Wetherington was asked by Hovie Lister to join the Statesmen. It was at this time he acquired the nickname "Big Chief", inspired by his Native-American heritage. The origin of the nickname has been variously attributed to Hovie Lister, Lee Roy Abernathy, and Wetherington himself.
Wetherington quickly became a crowd favorite. Always impeccably dressed, and with his smooth bass voice, he had an electrifying stage presence. On up-tempo songs, "Chief" would often shake his leg in rhythm to the music, a move that was copied by a young admirer, Elvis Presley.
Wetherington was also an accomplished music arranger and song writer, writing such songs as "Trying To Get A Glimpse", "Is Your Name Written There?" and "Our Debts Will Be Paid".
While known to his many fans as a great bass singer, Wetherington was also devoted to his family and his home church, where he spent many years as the choir director.
After nearly a quarter century with the Statesmen, James Wetherington died suddenly of a heart attack at the National Quartet Convention in 1973.
James Wetherington was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1977 and was in the initial set of inductees to the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
James Wetherington was born in Ty Ty, Georgia. He started his professional singing career with the Sunny South Quartet in Tampa, Florida. In 1946, Wetherington left with two other members of the Sunny South to start the Melody Masters Quartet.
In 1949, Wetherington was asked by Hovie Lister to join the Statesmen. It was at this time he acquired the nickname "Big Chief", inspired by his Native-American heritage. The origin of the nickname has been variously attributed to Hovie Lister, Lee Roy Abernathy, and Wetherington himself.
Wetherington quickly became a crowd favorite. Always impeccably dressed, and with his smooth bass voice, he had an electrifying stage presence. On up-tempo songs, "Chief" would often shake his leg in rhythm to the music, a move that was copied by a young admirer, Elvis Presley.
Wetherington was also an accomplished music arranger and song writer, writing such songs as "Trying To Get A Glimpse", "Is Your Name Written There?" and "Our Debts Will Be Paid".
While known to his many fans as a great bass singer, Wetherington was also devoted to his family and his home church, where he spent many years as the choir director.
After nearly a quarter century with the Statesmen, James Wetherington died suddenly of a heart attack at the National Quartet Convention in 1973.
James Wetherington was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1977 and was in the initial set of inductees to the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
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