Ernie Couch

Biography

Ernie Couch started playing and singing at church and other local events at the age of ten. By twelve he was keeping up a busy schedule with his music and was soon appearing on a weekly television show for children hosted by Hiram Higsby. Couch studied piano with former Plainsmen pianist Easmon Napier in Wichita, KS at a music store and teaching studio owned by Napier. He soon recorded a four-song EP and began playing for a local group called the Chapelaires. He later became a regular guest on Napier's Sunday afternoon, live, gospel music radio program called the Singing Convention of the Air on KSIR radio and later on KFRM.

Couch eventually began teaching in Napier's studio. He also began playing piano for the Cliff Lawson Ozark Gospel Trio headquartered in Hutchison, Kansas, about fifty miles northwest of Wichita. While with this group, he recorded one album. He later worked with the Travelers Quartet based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Couch recorded his first full-length solo album, Ernie Couch Sings... He'll Be There in June of 1969 at Benson Sound in Oklahoma City. Within a year, Easmon Napier went back on the road with the Plainsmen and Couch began operating the music store. He also began opening up shows for the Plainsmen who soon recorded a song Couch had written. This led to other artists including Ann Downing recording his songs and Lou Hildreth publishing some of his music.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Couch studied broadcasting at Wichita State University and did some on-air work at the university’s KMUW-FM radio station. During this time, Couch performed for a while with the Telestials working out of South Georgia.

He relocated with his family to Nashville in 1974. While in Nashville, he served as a music director at a local church. In 1980, Couch penned and recorded the novelty song "Talkin' 'Bout J.R." in response to the national craze over the TV series Dallas.

Couch joined the Plainsmen in 1983 and played piano for them until 1990. His son Jason Couch also performed with the Plainsmen for a couple of years. In 1993, Couch and his son Jason formed the quartet Ernie Couch & Revival.

Solo Discography

1969 Ernie Couch Sings... He'll Be There