Group Members


Tenor
Bill Hefner (1954-1965; 1968-19??)
Earl Brewer (1974-1976)
Phil Barker (1977- 1978?)
Gene Player (1980?-1982?)
Benny Blackburn (2004-2005)
Howard Chandler (1998?-2003; 2005?-2010)
Phillip Hughes (2003-2004; 2010-2015)
Tommy Young (2015-Present)

Lead
Buddy Parker (1954-1965)
Jack Bryson (1968-197?)
Don Norman (197?)
Bill Ferguson (1974-1976?)
Richard Lee (1977?-1979?)
Donald Link (1980?-1982?)
Danny Parker (????-2019) (also sang baritone)
Brendan Parker (2019-present)

Baritone
Pat Patterson (1954-1958)
Don Norman (1958-1965)
Richard Coltrane (1968-1972?; 1974-1976?)
Bill Ferguson (1974-1979)
C B McClain Jr (1980-1982?)
Allen Hunter (198?-2019)
Danny Parker (2019-present) (also sang lead)

Bass
Hershel Wooten (1954-1958)
Fred Rose (1958-1959)
Jay Simmons (1959-1962)
Bob Thacker (1962-1964; 1968; 1974-1982?)
Noel Fox (1964-1965)
Bill Starling (1996-2002)
Jim Collins (2002-2015)
Mark Hoggard (????-Present)

Piano
David Reece (1954-1957?)
Gary Trussler (1957?-1958)
Phil Ross (1958)
Jack Clark (1958-1965)
Earl Brewer ( 1968; 1974-2005?; )(also sang tenor)
G W Southard (????-2014)

Harvesters Quartet (1954-Present)

In 1954, Bill Hefner (tenor), Buddy Parker (lead), and Hershel Wooten (bass), all former members of Bobby Strickland’s Crusaders Quartet, joined with former Oak Ridge Quartet member Pat Patterson and former Rangers Quartet pianist, David Reece, to form the Harvesters Quartet in Charlotte, NC. Patterson was the emcee and manager until he left the group in 1958. Both roles were then assumed by Bill Hefner.

The Harvesters were affiliated with station WBTV in Charlotte. By late 1958 the Harvesters Quartet consisted of Hefner, Parker, Don Norman (baritone), Fred Rose (bass), and Jack Clark (pianist). All of these members except for Rose remained with the quartet until they disbanded in 1965. After Rose, the bass slot was filled by Jay Simmons, Bob Thacker, and Noel Fox. During the first half of the 1960s they appeared regularly on WBTV and on several nationally-syndicated programs. The Harvesters Quartet was considered one of the top gospel quartets in the country.

In early 1966, with the blessings of Bill Hefner, a group consisting Ron Blackwood, R.W. Blackwood, Jr., Dean Brown, Ike Hall, and Everett Reece began calling themselves The New Harvesters Quartet. This arrangement lasted approximately two years.

In 1968, Bill Hefner put together a version of the Harvesters Quartet that included Jack Bryson, Richard Coltrane, Bob Thacker, and Earl Brewer. This version of the group stayed together until 1972.

In 1973, Bill Hefner transferred the name of the Harvesters to the owner of the Tar Heel State Quartet. That group changed its name to the Harvesters Quartet for a short time.

In 1974 Bill Hefner was elected to the US Congress, and former bass Bob Thacker and pianist Earl Brewer re-formed the Harvesters Quartet into a solid group that traveled mainly on a part-time basis until around 1982. At the beginning of this arrangement, Earl Brewer pulled double duty as the quartet’s pianist and tenor, followed at tenor by Phil Barker and others.

After Bob Thacker left the quartet, Earl Brewer carried on and after many years, turned the quartet over to his lead singer, Danny Parker. Danny now continues the tradition with the current Harvesters Quartet based in Sanford, NC, serving as the manager and lead singer. Other group members in recent years have included Phillip Hughes (tenor), Allen Hunter(baritone), Jim Collins(bass), and G.W. Southard (pianist).

Discography

78s & 45s

1955 (Columbia Records 21457): Let God Abide; I Just Telephone Upstairs (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece) (78 RPM; also 45 released as Columbia 4-21457) (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

1955 (Columbia Records 21495): I Want To Be More Like Jesus; When I'm Alone (78 RPM; also 45 released as Columbia 4-21495) (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

1956 (Columbia Records 21511): He’s Everywhere; Jacob's Ladder (78 RPM; also 45 released as Columbia 4-21511) (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

1956 (Columbia Records 4-40793): The Touch Of His Hand; You Are The Finger Of God (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

1957 (Columbia Records 4-40897): That Will Be A Great Day; These Are The Things That Matter (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

1957 (Columbia Records 4-41074): I Shall Not Be Moved; Closer Than A Brother (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

19?? (StatesWood Records 1901): The Shadow Of The Cross; Just For Today.

19?? (Sing Records 30004): River Of Life; Savior, Gently Take Me Home.

19?? (Harvesters Records 1000): In The House Of The Lord; I Just Telephone Upstairs.

19?? (Harvesters Records 1001): Let God Abide; I Want To Be More Like Jesus. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

19?? (Harvesters Records 1002): I Was There When It Happened; Stop And Pray. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, David Reece).

19?? (Minute Man Recordings TSRC 1857): Jesus Christ Solid Rock; That's Just Like Jesus. (Phil Barker, Richard Lee, Bill Ferguson, Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer).


45 EPs

19?? (Sing Records EP-302): A Wonderful Time Up There; Not My Will; He's Got The Whole World In His Hands; When I Inherit My Mansion. (also released as Stateswood EP-302).

19?? (Sing Records EP-411/412): How Great Thou Art; I Want To Know; My Lord Will Lead Me Home; One By One.

19?? (Sing Records EP-6001/6002): Room At The Cross; Listen To The Bells; Do Unto Others; I Want To Be More Like Jesus. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Jack Clark).

19?? (Sing Records EP-561): God Made A Way; I'm Bound For That City; I Can’t Stand Up Alone; Do You Know My Jesus. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Jack Clark) (Also released as Harvesters EP 561/562).

19?? (Harvesters Records EP 672-3): Silent Night; The Night Before Christmas; Jingle Bells; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Jack Clark).


LPs

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1959 Harvest Time (Sing Music Co/L.P. 901): The Old Gospel Ship; That Will Be A Great Day; I Have A Desire; God Is God; Coming Home; I'll Be A Friend To Jesus; Every Hour And Every Day; Let God Abide; I Just Telephone Upstairs; I Shall Not Be Moved; Closer Than A Brother; Up Above My Head (The back cover says that the group members are Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Fred Rose, and Jack Clark; however, some of the songs were by the lineup of Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Pat Patterson, Hershel Wooten, and David Reece) (The same songs and same album title were released as StatesWood Records/SW-901).

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1959 Room At The Cross (Sing Music Co/L.P. 902): Room At The Cross; Do Unto Others; Listen To The Bells; I'm Counting Ev'ry Mile; I Want To Be More Like Jesus; Where Shall I Be; Rock Of Ages; I'm Living In Canaan Now; Farther Along; What A Day That Will Be; I Want To Know; Wait Upon The Lord (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Jack Clark).

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1960 The Harvesters (Sing Music Co/L.P. 903/S-93): Born Again; To Me It's So Wonderful; Amazing Grace; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Peace In The Valley; He's Everything To Me; Redeemed; I Am The Man; There Is Power In The Blood; How Great Thou Art; Just A Little Talk With Jesus; River Of Life (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Jack Clark).

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1960 God Is My Shepherd (Skylite Records/SRLP/SSLP-5973): Listen; Wonderful Savior; Wonderful Love; God Made A Way; I'll Leave It All Behind; God Will Bless You All; God Is My Shepherd; I Dreamed I Searched Heaven For You; What A Happy Day; Until You Find The Lord; When I'm Alone; Do You Know Jesus (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Jack Clark).

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1962 I Saw A Man (Sing Music Co/L.P. 904): The Fourth Man; I Saw A Man; I've Been With Jesus; He's Everywhere; Just For Today; Not My Will; All Aboard; It's Different Now; Fling Wide The Gates; Where Could I Go; Walk In Jerusalem; We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles And Trials. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Jay Simmons, Bob Thacker, Jack Clark; Jay Simmons on songs 1-6; Bob Thacker on songs 7-12).

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1962 TV Request (Sing Music Co/L.P. 905): Child Of The King; Bend Away Down Low; This Old House; I'll Be Somewhere Listening; I'm Winging My Way Back Home; Lord Build Me A Cabin; Wings Of A Dove; I Feel Like Traveling On; Going Home; I Can Tell You The Time; Land Where Living Waters Flow; Rainbow Of Love (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Bob Thacker, Jack Clark) (Also released on Power Pak PG-725 as "Harvesters Quartet" in Gospel Masters series by Digital Music Works International in 2005).

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1962 Festival Of Song (Skylite Records/SRLP/SSLP-5993): How Beautiful Heaven Must Be; Sweet Peace; He'll Pilot Me; The Farmer And The Lord; What A Precious Friend Is He; Thank God I'm Reborn; Show Me The Way Oh Lord; Hang A Light In The Window Of Your Heart; Dear Jesus Abide With Me; Somebody Knows; I Shall Not Be Moved; He Whispers Sweet Peace To Me. (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Bob Thacker, Jack Clark).

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1963 At Home (Tarheel Recordings/TLP 3703-1): I'll Fly Away; Down On My Knees; Over The Moon; Mama Sang A Song; Surely I Will, Lord; Everytime I Feel The Spirit?; My Nonstop Flight To Glory; Bill's Airplane Ride; Lift Me Up Above The Shadows; I Walk With His Hand In Mine (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Bob Thacker, Jack Clark).

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1963 Harvest Of Hymns (Tarheel Recordings/TLP 3704): Whispering Hope; Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus; Sweeter Each Day; Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus; I Have A Desire; No Not One; Ivory Palaces; O Come Angel Band; Leaning On The Everlasting Arms; At The Cross; In The Sweet By And By; Let The Lower Lights Be Burning (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Noel Fox, Jack Clark).

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1963 Charlotte's Harvesters (Skylite Records/SRLP/SSLP-6008): Lift Me Up Above The Shadows; Lord Teach Me How To Pray; The Answer Came; I Stand Amazed; Walk, Talk, Sing; I'll Be Ready To Go; If Jesus Is There; Just Ahead Lies The Jordan; The Land Of Perfect Day; Ain't Nobody Knows; Closer To Thee; Mama Sang A Song (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Bob Thacker, Jack Clark).

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1964 Together (Festival Records/High Fidelity FLP-6401/Stereo SFLP-6401): Harvesters: Come All Ye Children Of The Lord; Jesus Hold My Hand; Hide Me, Rock Of Ages; I've Been Changed; Standing By The River; Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All (Harvesters and Oak Ridge Boys); Oak Ridge Boys: Is My Lord Satisfied With Me; Without Him; His Eye Is On The Sparrow; Rainbow Of Love; How Long Has It Been; Gettin' Ready To Leave This World (Harvesters and Oak Ridge Boys) (Also released on (Canaan Records/CA-4625-LP/CAS-9625 in 1967 and (Canaan Records/CAS-9732 in 1972 and Sacred LPS-4511) (Harvesters-Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Noel Fox/Oak Ridge Boys-Willie Wynn, Smitty Gatlin, Jim Hamill, Herman Harper, Tommy Fairchild).

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1964 The Family Bible (Festival Records/High Fidelity FLP-6402/Stereo SFLP-6402): The Family Bible; I Would Not Be Denied; Close To The Master; I Love The Name Of Jesus; Beyond Compare; I'll Never Know; Gotta Go; Without Him; You Must Be Born Again; Sweet Jesus; Each Step I Take; Crystal River (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Noel Fox, Jack Clark).

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1964 With A Song On My Lips And A Prayer In My Heart (Festival Records/High Fidelity FLP-6404/Stereo SFLP-6404): With A Song On My Lips; I Wouldn’t Take Nothin' For My Journey Now; For Thy Will I Pray; That Heavenly Home; The Answer’s On The Way; There Is A Change; Take The Hand Of The Lord; I’m Too Near Home; There’s A Light Guiding Me; When I Inherit My Mansion; Savior, Gently Take Me Home; When Morning Comes (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Noel Fox, Jack Clark).

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1965 Born To Serve The Lord (Canaan Records/CA-4609/CAS-9609): Born To Serve The Lord; I Will Follow Thee; More About Jesus; Because Jesus Said It; I Just Telephone Upstairs; Where We'll Never Grow Old; I Was There When It Happened; Way Out Yonder; Jesus Use Me; You Gotta Walk That Lonesome Road; Jehovah, My Jesus; Someday (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Noel Fox, Jack Clark).

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1966 So Many Reasons (Canaan Records/CA-4626/CAS-9626): So Many Reasons; Just Over In The Gloryland; My Heart Is Reserved For The Lord; Walk With Me; My Lord's So Good To Me; I'll Be Satisfied; Talk About Jesus; The Gypsy Boy; The Old Rugged Cross; I Shall Be At Home With Jesus; The Homecoming Week; I Will Lean On His Arm (Bill Hefner, Buddy Parker, Don Norman, Noel Fox, Jack Clark).

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1968 Presenting The Harvesters (Cherokee Records/Calp101): Jesus Is Coming Soon; After All; Where Will You Be; Old Doc Brown; Jesus Paid It All; When The Redeemed Are Gathering In; Happy Tracks; Miracles Will Happen On That Day; Let God Abide; Just Over In The Glory Land; Jesus Hold My Hand; We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles And Trials (Bill Hefner, Jack Bryson, Richard Coltrane, Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer)

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1976 Thanks For Loving Me (Tri State Recording Company/TSRC-7512493): Thanks For Loving Me; Glory Road; Ready To Leave; Jesus, Have Mercy On Me; He Rolled My Burdens Away; There’ll Be No Peace; What A Lovely Name; There's Something About That Name; One Day At A Time; Because He Lives (Bill Ferguson, Richard Coltrane, Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer).


1977 Jesus Christ Solid Rock (Minuteman Records/MM 1977): Jesus Christ Solid Rock; Oh What A Savior; It's All Right; Man From Galilee; Father's Table Grace; I'll Sail Away Home; That's Just Like Jesus; A New Born Feeling; Well Done, My Child; I Am The Man (Phil Barker, Richard Lee, Bill Ferguson, Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer).

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1978 Streets Of Gold (Minuteman Records/MM 1978): The Streets Of Gold; I'm Winging My Way Back Home; No Tears In Heaven; I'll Be Somewhere Listening; He Loves Me; That's When He's The Nearest To Me; I'm Getting Ready To Leave This World; How Great Thou Art; I'm Standing On The Solid Rock; Rainbow Of Love (Phil Barker, Richard Lee, Bill Ferguson, Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer).

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1980 Spend 33:04 (Minuteman Records/MNLP 1980): Jesus Come On In; Walk With Me; Jesus Is Right; More About Jesus; The Old Rugged Cross; I Want To Be More Like My Lord; I’ve Never Been Sorry; Sweet Beulah Land; The Prodigal Son; The Other Side Of Jordan (Gene Player, Donald Link, C.B. McClain Jr., Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer).

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1982 Take 5 (Minuteman Records/MM 1982): Worth It All; What Love; Canaan Land; Glory Land; Leaving On My Mind; We Are Those Children; I'll Stand For Jesus; He's A Personal Savior; Farther Along; Recitation:God Will Take Care Of You (Gene Player, Donald Link, C.B. McClain, Jr, Bob Thacker, Earl Brewer).

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2011 Love Held Him To A Cross (Harvesters Records/TH9247): Give Your Life To Jesus; I Dropped The Hammer; Lifeline; It's A Nice Place To Visit; Why Me Lord; Someday We Shall See Jesus; Somebody Headed Somewhere; Living Water; Wonderful Time; Love Held Him To A Cross (Phillip Hughes, Danny Parker, Allen Hunter, Jim Collins, G W Southard).

2013 Get Ready (Harvesters Records): I'll Live For Him; Mountain Of Grace; I Mean To Be There; Standing On Holy Ground; Jesus Is Coming Get Ready; I Love The Gospel; Sweet Heaven Awaits; It's My Desire; Somebody Left The Door Wide Open; Put Your Hand In The Hand (Phillip Hughes, Danny Parker, Allen Hunter, Jim Collins, G W Southard).

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???? The Harvesters Quartet Favorites (Custom Records/8816): Living In Canaan; After A While; Ole Convention Song; Hallelujah Square; Old Gospel Ship; I Want To See Jesus; Supper Time; There Is A River; I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now; In God We Still Trust (Howard Chandler, Danny Parker, Allen Hunter, Jim Collins, G.W. Southard).

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