Palmetto State Quartet

The Palmetto State Quartet is a professional Southern gospel singing quartet that originated in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1946. In 1988 they received at a Singing News Fan Awards ceremony the Marvin Norcross Award for contributions to Southern Gospel over their career.

Personnel history

Tenor

• Leon Sutherland (1946–1949)
• Clarence Owens (1949–1960)
• Claude Hunter (1960–1963, 1970–1985)
• Jerry Hovis (1963–1970)
• Eddie Broome (1985–1993) (also known for Dixie Echoes and the second incarnation of the Florida Boys)
• Brion Carter (1993–2002)
• John Rulapaugh (2002–2006) (also known for groups like The Dove Brothers, Freedom Trio/Quartet, and most recently The Inspirationals Quartet of Texas)
• Wesley Smith (2006–2008, 2011) (went on to things like Dixie Echoes and Dailey & Vincent)
• Jeremy Calloway (2008–2009)
• Robert Fulton (2009–2011) (went on to Gold City)
• Jeremy Easley (2011-2013) (previously of The LeFevre Quartet)
• Anthony Roberts (2025-present)

Lead

• Woodrow Pittman (1946–1954)
• Jack Pittman (1954-1960?) (at some point Pittman & Bagwell switched parts)
• Jack Bagwell (1960?–1968, 1970-1997) (d. 2025)
• Harold Schronce (1968–70)
• Kerry Beatty (1997–2009)
• Paul Lancaster (2009-2013) (also sang with Karen Peck, The Nelons, The Greenes, and recently The Booth Brothers)
• David Staton (2013) (previously of The LeFevre Quartet)
• Brian Beatty (2025–present)

Baritone

• Malone Thomason (1946–1952)
• Jack Bagwell (1952-1960?) (at some point Pittman & Bagwell switched parts)
• Jack Pittman (1960?–1967, 1970–1997) (d. 2013)
• Laverne Tripp (1967–68) (went on to Blue Ridge Quartet)
• Jerome Bush (1968–69) (went on to Pine Ridge Boys)
• Milton Sigmon (1969–70)
• Tony Peace (1997–2004) (went on to things like The Kingsmen Quartet and The Dove Brothers)
• Rick Fair (2004–2008, 2025–present) (previously of The Statesmen Quartet)
• Brian Beatty (2008–2009)
• David Darst (2009–2012)
• David Staton (2012-2013)
• DaRon Maughon (2013)

Bass

• Paul Burroughs (1946–1955)
• Ellison Jenkins (1955–1961)
• Ken Turner (1961–1968) (went on to Dixie Echoes and The Blackwood Brothers)
• Joe Divine (1968-1969)
• Chuck Bright (1969-1970)
• Cliff King (1970–1976) (previously of the Couriers)
• Jerry Trotter (1976–1979)
• Joel Duncan (1979–1994) (previously sang with Rosie Rozell)
• Harold Gilley (1994–1997) (previously of Statesmen Quartet)
• Jeff Pearles (1997–2003) (went on to The King's Heralds)
• Jason Brooks (2003)
• Aaron McCune (2003–2006) (went on to things like Gold City, Dailey & Vincent, and Oak Ridge Boys)
• Burman Porter (2006–2008) (known for The Dove Brothers and Freedom Trio/Quartet)
• Larry Strickland (2008–2013) (husband of Naomi Judd; previously sang with JD Sumner)
• Mike Allen (2013) (Gaither Homecoming regular)

Piano

• Jamie Dill (1946–1968, 1970–d.1987)
• Charles Abee (1968–1969) (known for The Kingsmen Quartet and The Pine Ridge Boys)
• Carroll Melvin (1970)
• David McAbee (1987–1989)
• Hovie Lister (1989–1991) (brought back his signature Statesmen Quartet the following year) (d. 2001)
• Woody Beatty (1989–1999, 2025–present) (previously played with Rosie Rozell)
• Jerry Kelso (1999–2001) (also played with The Dove Brothers, Dixie Melody Boys, and JD Sumner)
• Andrew Ishee (2001–2006) (also known for The Kingsmen Quartet, Dixie Echoes, and most recently Oak Ridge Boys)
• Bryan Elliott (2006–2008) (went on to things like The Perrys, Gold City, and The LeFevre Quartet)
• KC Martin (2008–2009) (2010-2013)
• Mark Carman (2009–2010)
• Mark Willett (2010) (previously of The Perrys)

Various

• Charles Waller (1983–1997, manager/promoter)
• Eddie Broome (1984–1985, bass guitar/vocals)
• Louie Sprouse (1986, Bass guitar)
• J.J. Jennings (1987, bass guitar)
• Michael W. Carman (2008-2011, road manager)

References