The Inspirations Quartet
The Inspirations Quartet is an American Southern Gospel Quartet
Origin: Bryson City, North Carolina
Genres: Christian, Southern Gospel
Years Active: 1964-present
Website: theinspirationsquartet.com
About
Martin Cook, a chemistry teacher at Swain High School in Bryson City, NC, formed the Inspirations in 1964 with several of his teenage students: Archie Watkins, Ronnie Hutchins, Jack Laws and Dean Robinson. The Inspirations became a full-time group in 1969, shortly after hosting their first “Singing In The Smokies” event. This event was the held the largest crowds of any event in Southern Gospel Music for many years.
The 1970s saw the Inspirations rise to national attention with a host of number one hit songs. Their sound was defined by the piercing tenor vocals of Archie Watkins and the booming bass of Mike Holcomb. The group was also invited to be part of the regular cast on the Gospel Singing Jubilee television program. They had the very first number one song on the Singing News chart in January of 1970 with “Jesus Is Coming Soon.” Beginning in November of 1973, the group had the top song for 12 months in a row. “Touring That City” held the position through February 1974 and “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More” was the most popular song for the next seven months. “Jesus Is Mine” was also a number one song for the group in 1976.
The Inspirations continued to present concerts with a traditional style and a conservative image in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Songs like “I’ll Not Turn My Back On Him Now” and “We Need To Thank God” resounded strongly with Christian conservatives and fans of traditional gospel music. For most of the 2000s, the members of the Inspirations were Archie Watkins, Matt Dibler, Melton Campbell, Mike Holcomb, Martin Cook and Myron Cook. The Inspirations returned to the top position on the Singing News chart in 2002 after a 26-year absence with “I’ll Not Turn My Back On Him Now.” "I Have Not Forgotten" (April 2007) and "If You Only Knew" (November 2007) were also number one songs for the Inspirations during the 2000s.
In 2009, original tenor Archie Watkins left the group after a 45-year run. Daron Osborne, Dallas Rogers, Jodi Hosterman, and Mark Clark pulled stints in the tenor position with the Inspirations until Harold Reed joined in 2015. In the meantime, Archie Watkins formed Smoky Mountain Reunion with former Inspirations members Marlin Shubert, Jack Laws, Troy Burns and Eddie Deitz.
Long-time bass singer Mike Holcomb left the Inspirations in 2013 after a 41-year tenure. Jon Epley moved from baritone to fill the bass spot, opening the way for the return of former baritone Melton Campbell. In 2015, Epley was replaced by former Diplomats bass singer, Joe Brown.
In early 2017, original pianist, manager, emcee, and co-owner Martin Cook retired from the Inspirations. Cook's stint with the group spanned some 53 years. Bass singer Joe Brown departed at the same time as Cook. Original Inspirations tenor Archie Watkins became the new owner and manager of the group. The other members of Watkins' group, Smoky Mountain Reunion (all former Inspirations), were blended with the current group giving them seven singers in total. Utility musician Luke Vaught assumed piano duties.
After the departure of lead singer Matt Dibler in 2018, Roland Kesterson moved back to a primary singing role filling the lead position. Around the same time, former Chuck Wagon Gang bass singer Wyatt Austin was hired to play bass guitar and occasionally be featured on bass vocals.
In mid-2020 after several months not touring due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Inspirations announced the older group members (Archie Watkins, Eddie Dietz, and Marlin Shubert) would remain off the road until a vaccine was developed. The younger group members (Luke Vaught, Roland Kesterson, and Wyatt Austin) resumed traveling with the addition of Isaac Moore to sing tenor, and play bass guitar occasionally. Vaught began singing the baritone part for Dietz in addition to playing the piano, while Austin moved into Shubert's spot as full time bass vocalist.
Current members
Archie Watkins
Eddie Dietz
Marlin Shubert
Lucas Vaught
Roland Kesterson
Wyatt Austin
Isaac Moore
Members
Tenor
Archie Watkins (1964-2009; 2017-present)
Daron Osborne (2005-2015) (filled in various times)
Dallas Rogers (2009-2010) (2014)
Jodi Hosterman (2010-2012)
Mark Clark (2013-2014)
Harold Reed (2015-2016)
Casey Johnson (2016-2017)
Isaac Moore (2020-present)
Lead
Ronnie Hutchins (1964-1969; 1971-1973) (later returned to sing baritone)
Troy Burns (1974-1991) (had various roles at different times)
Eddie Dietz (1969-1971; 1991-99)
Matt Dibler (1999-2008; 2013-2018)
David Ragan (2008-2013)
Steve Srein (2013)
Roland Kesterson (2018-present) (previously sang baritone and played bass guitar)
Baritone
Jack Laws (1964-1971, 1980-1985?, 1999-2008 (part time 1999-2008) (switched to upright bass guitar in 1972)
Eddie Dietz (1969-1979; 2017-present)
Ronnie Hutchins (1986-1988, 1992-1997)
Chris Smith (1988-1990)
Melton Campbell (1999-200?, 200?-2010; 2014-2015)
Jonathan Epley (2010-2013) (switched to bass vocals)
Roland Kesterson (2015-2017)
Luke Vaught (2020-present) (filled in for Eddie Dietz) (also plays piano among other instruments)
Bass (Vocals)
Troy Burns (1964-1970) (switched to Bass Guitar then Lead)
Marlin Schubert (1970-1972) (2017-present)
Mike Holcomb (1972-2013)
Jonathan Epley (2013-2015) (previously sang baritone)
Joe Brown (2015-2017)
Wyatt Austin (2018-present)
Musicians
Martin Cook (1964-2017)
Jack Laws: Upright Bass; Rhythm Bass; Rhythm Guitar
Roger Fortner: Lead Guitar (1973-1980)
Dale Jones: Steel Guitar (1976-1980)
C D Burns: Rhythm Guitar (1976)
Troy Burns: Bass Guitar (1970-1973)
Lyndon Childers: Bass Guitar (1979-19??)
Myron Cook: Upright Bass Guitar (1982-2015)
Luke Vaught: Steel Guitar, Piano and other various instruments (2010-2017) (switched to piano primarily in 2017) (also featured occasionally on vocals)
Casey Johnson: Rhythm Guitar (2017; also sang tenor on featured songs)
Roland Kesterson: Bass Guitar (2017-2018) (also sang)
Wyatt Austin: Bass Guitar (2018-present)
Isaac Moore: Bass Guitar (2020-present)
Awards
editSinging News Fan Awards
Favorite Group (1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)
Favorite Traditional Male Quartet (2005, 2006)
Album of the Year (2004 - The Journey Ahead)
Song Of The Year (1974 - Touring That City, 1976 - Jesus Is Mine, 2002 I'll Not Turn My Back On Him Now, 2003 - We Need To Thank God, 2007 - I Have Not Forgotten)
References