Masters V

Group Members

Tenor
Rosie Rozell (1980-82)
Shaun Neilsen (1982-84, 1986-88)
Steve Warren (1984-86, 1988)

Lead
Jake Hess (1980-86; alternated with James Blackwood)
James Blackwood (1980-87; alternated with Jake Hess)
Jack Toney (1986-88)

Baritone
Jake Hess (1980-86; alternated with James Blackwood)
James Blackwood (1980-87; alternated with Jake Hess)
Richard Coltrane (sporadically filled in for James Blackwood 1980-86)
Charles Yates (1987)
Chris Hess (1987)
Buddy Burton (1987)
Ed Hill (1987-88)

Bass
J D Sumner (1980-88)

Piano & Emcee
Hovie Lister (1980-88)

Masters V (1980-1988)

History

The original Masters V consisted of Rosie Rozell singing tenor, James Blackwood and Jake Hess alternating between lead and baritone, JD Sumner singing bass, and master emcee and pianist Hovie Lister rounding out the group. Their first tour was quite successful and these masters of their trade had a great sound from the beginning.

The Masters V’s first self titled album won a Grammy Award for best traditional Gospel performance. Most of the songs from this Skylite album were songs formerly associated with either the Statesmen Quartet or Blackwood Brothers. As subsequent recordings were released, most of the quartet's songs fit this same mold. The Masters V had some very successful recordings on Skylite records. An album of hymns was extremely popular as were two records that featured hits of the Statesmen Quartet and the Blackwood Brothers. They also released a recording for the RiverSong label. The Masters V was on the circuit just as vinyl recordings began their demise. Their last two recordings were available only on cassette and are quite rare.

Even though there were a few personal changes through the years, the Masters V had a very successful eight-year run in gospel music. Shaun Nielsen replaced Rosie Rozell at tenor and was followed by Steve Warren. Nielsen later returned for a second stint. After the departures of Jake Hess and James Blackwood, several individuals filled in before the group settled again with former Stamps baritone Ed Hill and former Statesmen lead singer Jack Toney. In 1988, J D Sumner hired Steve Warren to replace Shaun Nielsen and debuted his newly formed Stamps Quartet at the 1988 National Quartet Convention. Hill and Toney also made the transition to the Stamps.

Discography

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1981 The Masters V (Skylite Records/SLP-6256): When Morning Comes; When He Blessed My Soul; First Day In Heaven; The Keys To The Kingdom; His Eye Is On The Sparrow; How Great Thou Art; Hide Thou Me; You And Me, Jesus; I've Got To Walk That Lonesome Road; Faith Unlocks The Door (Re-issued in 1988 as How Great Thou Art on Temple Records/SLP-8554) (Rosie Rozell, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1982 O What a Savior (Skylite Records/SLP-6265): There's Gonna Be A Great Day; The Touch Of His Hand; Closer To Thee; Just A Little Talk With Jesus; I'm Climbing Higher And Higher; Oh, What A Savior; Medley: No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus/Jesus Is All The World To Me/Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know/Standing Somewhere In The Shadows/Jesus Is The One (Rosie Rozell, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1982 The Legendary Masters V (Skylite Records/SLP-6282): We'll Understand It Better Bye And Bye; There Is A Light; Sweet Beulah Land; Jesus Loves Me; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; Glory, Glory, Clear The Road; It's Not All Over; He's Not Disappointed In Me Anymore; The Uncloudy Day; It Is Finished (Rosie Rozell, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1983 Featuring…(Skylite Records/SLP-6288): Happy Am I; I Found It All In Jesus; Contented; I Believe In The Old Time Way; Little Is Much; Walk With Me; God Made A Way; To Remember Calvary; How Long Will It Take; Worthy The Lamb (Re-issued in 1987 as God Made A Way on Skylite Records/SSC-6377 and in 1991 as The Masters V on Highland Music HCD-454) (Shaun Neilsen, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1983 Live at the Joyful Noise (Skylite Records/SLP-6303): Goodbye, World, Goodbye; How About Your Heart; Introduction of Masters and Walking And Talking With My Lord; Gonna Shout Hallelujah; The Old Country Church; Happy Rhythm; I'll Fly Away; His Amazing Love; He's A Personal Savior; God And Country Medley (Shaun Neilsen, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1984 Thru The Years (Skylite Records/SLP-6315): Thru The Years; Safe In The Arms Of Jesus; Walking And Talking With My Lord; I've Got Leavin' On My Mind; More Than Wonderful; I Am A Pilgrim; He'll Be To You; You Have Not; Then Came The Morning; Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1984 Good Things (Skylite Records/SLP-6333): Everyday; No More; The Battle Was Won In Gethsemene; That's What Jesus Means To Me; He Means All The World To Me; Think On Good Things; What Can I Do; He Rose Again; You Sho Do Need Him Now; Beyond The Starry Sky (Re-issued in 1995 on Highland Music/HCD-430) (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1985 The Master's Hymns (Skylite Records/SLP-6339): The Old Rugged Cross; I Must Tell Jesus; Farther Along; The Heaven Of Rest; Never Alone; Victory In Jesus; In The Garden; I Need Thee Every Hour; It Is Well With My Soul; Amazing Grace (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1985 Sing Sensational Statesmen Hits (Skylite Records/SLP-6345): I'm Saved; What Love; I Shall Not Be Moved; If God Didn't Care; Until You Find The Lord; My Heart Is A Chapel; Stand By Me; Sweeter As The Days Go By; Taller Than Trees; How Many Times (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1985 Sing Fabulous Blackwood Brothers Hits (Skylite Records/SLP-6352): Learning To Lean; His Eye Is On The Sparrow; The Stranger Of Galilee; It Is Well With My Soul; The Heaven Of Rest; Worthy The Lamb; I Wanna Rest; The Holy City; Angels Watches Over Me; The Man Upstairs (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1986 Classics of Yesteryear (Skylite Records/SLP-6363): A Wonderful Time Up There; Something Within; Where The Soul Never Dies; On The Jericho Road; Give The World A Smile; Roll On Jordan; That's Enough; A Beautiful Life; Old Campmeeting Days; Rainbow Of Love (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1986 Have A Little Faith (Merinet Records/MMS-1-1003): Because He Lives; He Touched Me; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Medley: There's A Light At The End Of The Darkness/He Was There All The Time; Why Me; Have A Little Faith; Peace In The Valley; If We Never Meet Again; One Day At A Time; Medley: I'll Meet You In The Morning/On Jordan's Stormy Banks (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1987 Sing Me a Song About Jesus (Riversong Records/R-2390): When We Sing Around The Throne Eternal; In The Sweet Forever; Do Right; On And On We Walk Together; Hand In Hand With Jesus; Sing Me A Song About Jesus; I'll Meet You By The River; Crown Him King; God Shall Wipe Away All Tears; Standing By The River (Steve Warren, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1988 James Blackwood With The Masters V (Skylite Records/SSC-6384): It Is Finished; More Than Wonderful; I Can Feel The Touch Of His Hand; His Eye Is On The Sparrow; The Battle Was Won In Gethsemene; It Is Well With My Soul; The Haven Of Rest: Worthy The Lamb; His Amazing Love; The Holy City. (Compilation of previous Skylite masters featuring James Blackwood).

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1988 The Legend Lives On (Skylite Records/MSC-8802): Resurrection Morning; It's All In The Blood; This Little Light Of Mine; Walk With Me; My Savior Knows; Never Grow Old; Gonna Shout Hallelujah; Beyond The Gates; Life Is Worth Living; Little Is Much (Re-issued in 1988 as Today on Masters Records/MSC-8814 and attributed to J.D. Sumner and the Stamps, with "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus" from 1984's Thru The Years replacing "Life Is Worth Living") (Shaun Nielsen, Jack Toney, Ed Hill, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1988 Sing The Award Winning Songs Of JD Sumner (Skylite Records/MSC-8803): Rolling Along; Lord, Use Me; Somebody Prayed For Me; A Soul Such As I; I'm Gonna Serve The Lord Today; I Do Dear Jesus, I Believe; Something Took Hold Of Me; Turn To The Lord; Keep Me; A Million Years From Now (Shaun Nielsen, Jack Toney, Ed Hill, J D Sumner, Hovie Lister).

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1991 Live In Concert (Masters Records/446): Jesus Loves Me; Unclouded Day; Keys To The Kingdom; There's A Light; First Day In Heaven; I'm Gonna Keep On Singing; Just A Little Talk With Jesus; Thanks To Calvary; It Is Finished; His Eye Is On The Sparrow - I Want To Be More Like Jesus; Walk That Lonesome Road; You And Me Jesus; Happy Rhythm; My Home; When He Blessed My Soul; Faith Unlocks The Door; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; Beulah Land; Statesmen Testimonial (Only issued on cassette).

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1994 Doris Akers And The Gospel Choir (Manna Music Inc): You And Me Jesus; Sho' Do Need Him Now; The Old Country Church; The Masters V Introduction: How About Your Heart; Just A Little Talk With Jesus; 50 Years Is Gospel Music - James Blackwood: Joy, Joy, Joy; Hovie Lister Preaches, "Satan's Trap": Thanks To Calvary; How Great Thou Art; His Eye Is On The Sparrow - Doris Akers; I Can Not Fail The Lord; Jesus Gettin' Us Ready; Sweet, Sweet Spirit; His Eye Is On The Sparrow - James Blackwood; I Want To Be More Like Jesus; 'I'll Meet You In The Morning; He's A Personal Saviour; There Is A Light; Through The Years; Faith Unlocks The Door.

1995 Great Voices In Gospel Music (Manna Music Inc) (3 tape set of Masters V in concert from 1984 with Doris Akers)

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1998 The Original Masters Five (Live) (Bibletone Records/BCD-10142): I'll Meet You In The Morning; Climbing Higher And Higher; I Can Feel The Touch Of His Hand; What A Saviour; His Eye Is On The Sparrow; I Want To Be More Like Jesus; Lord I Want To Go To Heaven; Closer To Thee; Great Day; Just A Little Talk With Jesus; Jesus Loves Me (1998 issue from the Blackwood Brothers TV shows; also on video).
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