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Stamps-Ozark Quartet (1947-1956)
There was a part-time mixed group known as the Ozark Stamps Quartet based in Siloam Springs, Arkansas that was affiliated with the Stamps Quartet Music Company. After they disbanded in 1946, the Stamps-Baxter company placed a new full-time quartet in the same area. In early 1947, the new Stamps-Baxter Ozark Quartet began singing on KUOA radio. The original group included Ancil Baker (tenor), Melvin Noakes (lead), Henry Slaughter (baritone), Arlie Brumley (bass and manager), and Dale Dennis (pianist).
After approximately six months, there were some changes in the lineup. Henry Slaughter became the quartet’s pianist at this point. They moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas in early 1948. Ford Keith became the manager, lead singer and emcee. After a short time, they relocated to Wichita Falls, Texas, where they joined the music staff of KWFT radio. By that point, they had left Stamps-Baxter and joined the with the Stamps Quartet Music Company. Although they were not on the company's payroll, they were allowed to use the Stamps name because they sold Stamps songbooks at their performances and by mail order to their radio audiences.
In 1951, Ford Keith died at 27 years of age. He was replaced by Glen Payne who had also sung with the Stamps All-Star Quartet. The complete lineup at that time included Pat Garner (tenor), Glen Payne (lead), Charles Bartlett (baritone), Fred Bennett (bass) and Henry Slaughter (pianist).
Slaughter left in 1952, but he returned two and a half years later to do double duty as baritone and pianist. He then left in early 1956 to join the Tulsa Trumpeteers. Some of the other pianists who played for the Stamps Ozark Quartet during Slaughter’s absences include Gordon Woodley, Livy Freeman and Cecil Pollock.
By the mid-1950s, the business model was shifting away from the music of the singing conventions that had been dominant for decades. Quartet life of the late 1940s had consisted of performing on live daily radio broadcasts and traveling relatively short distances to sing and peddle songbooks. As the late 1950s rolled around, groups had begun to venture far outside their broadcast area and participate in extended tours and "all-night" singings. The Stamps Ozark Quartet chose to continue with the old business model and avoided venturing into the larger arena. After they lost their radio sponsor in late 1956, the group members decided to disband the quartet.
Some of the group members retired, but the group's legacy was carried on by its two most popular alumni, Glen Payne and Henry Slaughter. Payne would join the Weatherford Quartet, and then subsequently organize what would ultimately become the famous Cathedral Quartet. Slaughter would also spend some time with the Weatherford Quartet before leaving to help Jake Hess organize the Imperials.
The Stamps Ozark Quartet recorded on the White Church label and the Ozark Records label from Radio Station KWFT in Wichita Falls, Texas.