[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 86 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HOVIE LISTER

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a man whose 
name has become synonymous with gospel music, Mr. Hovie Lister. On July 
19, 1997, a group of Georgians will recognize his contributions to the 
music field at the Civic Center in Atlanta.
  Hovie was born into music. At the age of 6, he began studying the 
piano and later attended the Stamps Baxter School of Music. He often 
accompanied his family group, the Lister Brothers Quartet, around the 
piano.
  His professional career began when he joined the famous Rangers 
Quartet and later the popular LeFevre Trio. In 1945, he came to Georgia 
and was the pianist for the Homeland Harmony Quartet heard over WAGA 
and WGST Radio in Atlanta.
  In 1948, he organized the world famous Statesmen Quartet. The 
Statesmen steadily rose in popularity and became the premier gospel 
group in the nation. Hovie, as the group's manager and pianist, soon 
emerged as the chief spokesman and head of the rapidly growing gospel 
music industry.
  Hovie was also an accomplished director and producer of radio and 
television shows. He became the first gospel artist to sign a national 
television contract and successfully directed and produced syndicated 
television shows for Nabisco, as well as scripted and starred in the 
company's commercials.
  In the early 1980's, Hovie brought together five performers who came 
from the top four groups in gospel music to form the Masters V. In 
1982, this group won the prestigious Grammy Award and in 1986, Hovie 
was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
  Mr. President, I ask that you and all our colleagues recognize Hovie 
Lister, not just for the contributions he has made to the music 
industry and my own State of Georgia, but for bringing gospel music to 
the attention of all Americans.

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