[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE DELTA BIG FOUR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an 
extraordinary gospel group, The Delta Big Four of Lambert, Mississippi. 
A group that believes in praising God in song.
  The members of the Delta Big Four were nurtured in a Christian home 
and taught the word of God. Their parents, the late Willie, Sr. and 
Daisy Nobel McCray, had sixteen children and family time and music were 
important in the home. Most evenings the family composed and sang 
spiritual songs. The family used the old washboard for music.
  In the 1950s, the group was called the Delta Big Four because the 
group originally began with four members: Ollie, Sr. and Melissa, James 
Lee, and Alberta. Although other members were added, the name remained. 
Rosie joined the group as one of the leads; she also could write and 
arrange. Because of her ability to write songs to fit the group, the 
group developed a uniqueness of their own.
  At the ages of four and five, the original members travelled to 
various churches, towns, and states praising God. Years later, they 
were blessed to appear on the radio stations with the likes of Theo 
``Bless My Bones'' Wade of WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee and Early Wright 
of WROX in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the first African-American Radio 
Personalities in the South and on WQMA with James Figgs and James 
Wilson. The exposure truly benefited this young and talented group of 
singers. They soon had their own radio programs on both WROX and WQMA. 
The group was featured regularly on Early Wright's Gospel 
Extravaganzas. Major recording artists touring the Delta and the Mid 
South sought them out as an opening act, including the Mighty Cloud of 
Joy, Staple Singers, Pilgrim Jubilee, Swam Silvertones, Dixie 
Hummingbirds, and the list goes on.
  In the early 1960s, the Delta Big Four was one of the first local 
Quartet gospel groups to introduce musical instruments to their 
performances. They recruited a young but talented high school student, 
Larry Sims, as guitarist. Prior to that time, most local artists sang 
acappella. Although many churches were not accustomed to instruments 
other than pianos, it turned out to be one of the best decisions they 
would ever make. Very soon, groups from all over were following their 
lead. Larry trained Ollie and James Lee to play the lead and bass 
guitars, respectively, before leaving the group.
  They got the attention of Oris May, a Memphis television personality 
that hosted a gospel singing show on WMC-TV Channel 5 and a producer 
for Peacock Records. In 1967, the group recorded its first record, 
``Story of the Blind Man.'' Later came ``Lord, Guide Me''; ``Lord Why 
I'm Traveling''; ``Me and the Devil Had a Wrestle, But I Won''; 
``Standing on a Solid Rock''; and ``Lord If I am Too High, Bring Me 
Down''.
  Other family members were added throughout the years: Ruthie Ann, 
Ollie, Jr. and Andrew, the sons of Ollie, Sr. and Melissa replaced 
Ollie, Sr. and James Lee on the guitars. The group decided to add James 
Edward because his voice and style fit most of the songs Rosie wrote. 
This also proved to be a wise move for the group. Ollie, Jr. soon 
thereafter entered the ministry and left the group. Fortunately for the 
group, James Edward was an accomplished guitarist. The group added 
another musician, Quincy Twilley on drums. Every member sang lead and 
chorus, the mix they were seeking, the catalog of songs and the 
personnel to meet the demand of the group. The group has spent more 
than fifty years performing traditional quartet gospel music. Today, 
most of their time is spent in the choir at Sykes Chapel Missionary 
Baptist Church and working with the next generation of the Delta Big 
Four, led by Tiffany Griffin and Larry Strickland, Jr., who are the 
great grandchildren of the original members.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Delta 
Big Four as an inspirational gospel group.

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