Newton Gresham “Gene” Lowery (1906-1971)

Biography

Gene Lowery was born in Clanton, Alabama. He was educated at Howard College and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, majoring in music. He became a church music director and a radio announcer.

In 1938 he organized the Dixie Four Quartet in Jackson, Mississippi and moved the quartet to Memphis in 1940. He joined the US Navy in 1942. Upon his return from service, he reorganized the Dixie Four and moved them to Indianapolis in 1946. He was also the lead singer for the Dixie Four. He published several song books which included songs and recitations performed by the Dixie Four.

In the late 1940s, while in Indianapolis, Gene organized Lowery Enterprises, which operated a record company with the “Gospel” label. In 1950, he formed a new “Hoosier” record company. He was also a promoter of gospel concerts in the region.

In the early 1950s Lowery transitioned out of his singing role with the Dixie Four. During this period he organized the Southland Quartet in Olney, Illinois, and managed the Pathfinders.

By 1957, he had a group called the Gene Lowery Singers which performed as backup singers at Sun Studios in Memphis for Sun recording artists such as Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. In his later years he organized and managed the Gene Lowery Quartet.