Chuck Wagon Gang

Kurt L Moore

In 1935 the depression was still in full swing and pneumonia was a very serious thing that often led to death. A member of the Carter family had become ill with pneumonia and there wasn't any money for a doctor.

Out of desperation, Dad Carter went to WBAP, a 50,000-watt clear channel station in Fort Worth, Texas, seeking a job singing on the radio.

Well, David Parker Carter, whom everyone called "Dad" Carter, was successful in getting the job and along with three of the Carter children, Rosa Lola, known as Rose, Effie, known in the quartet as Anna, and Dave's eldest child Ernest, given the stage name of Jim, began what they thought was a temporary stint at WBAP.

They started out at WBAP with a 15-minute slot during lunchtime and were known as the Carter Quartet. As a singing quartet in the 30s, they were paid $15.00 per week. That was not per person, but $15.00 per week period.

They sang whatever the station wanted them to sing and that meant every popular style of music of the era. eventually though, gospel was what the radio audience wanted, the gang gave them great gospel harmony and have been doing so ever since.

Eventually, because of a production change at the station, they would change their name to the Chuck Wagon Gang and remain with that name for their lifetime.

Let's move on to Branson and the Americana Theater 69 years later-the Chuck Wagon Gang takes the stage for their first ever Branson appearance. Unfortunately, there was a box-office mix-up and in this day of computer-do-everything, many people were told erroneously that the Gang had canceled their performance.

Personally, I would call that quite a bit more than simply a glitch. Plus the local radio station had advertised that their appearance was to be at 8 pm instead of the actual 2 pm show time. Consequentially only about a third of what would be considered a normal audience for the Gang showed up for the gospel fest.

That third of an audience got more than their money's worth of good old fashioned, solid gospel music, sang straight from the heart. Ronnie Page, now a Branson resident, is part of the Chuck Wagon Gang. I went to see them because Ronnie had called me asking if I would like to come.

I was not a big fan of gospel music but said yes to Ronnie because he was a good friend whom I had gotten to know over the past couple of years. Now I knew that Ronnie had a voice and had sang with several big groups over the years including the Oak Ridge Quartet, who, just as soon as Ronnie had left, changed their name to Oak Ridge Boys and the rest is history.

Ronnie, at the time, didn't think they were going anywhere, and at that particular time in the Oak's history they weren't, so he decided to move on. That is when he first joined the Chuck Wagon Gang and remained with them until 1980.

He then went on to still greener pastures only to complete the circle by re-joining the gang in 2003. After he re-joined the gang, I did not get to see him often because he was on the road, singing his way across the country. I missed him and his laid-back original and ornery Mississippi ways.

Now as I said, I did not have a feeling for gospel music. I can never say that again. When the gang started singing I was transported into an entirely new world of sight and sound. A world I had never visited before and one I want to re-visit soon.

The sounds emanating from the stage were the far-away sounds of the Appalachians. That oft-time whispering echo heard through tall scraggly pines, of porch and wood church harmonies that tell of saving, repentance, our Lord, brother, sister, mom and dad. Telling the story of glory that is to come, of families, troubles, woes and the life-saving answer to all questions and tribulations.

One of the two pretty ladies of the gang is a vivacious blonde, Melissa Kemper, their soprano. Melissa hails from Groveton, Texas and is a Christian woman raising two children along side her husband Jason. She grew up singing in a small country church in Texas.

Having joined the gang in 2001, Melissa is extremely proud to be a part of something so rich in history and grand in its sound. Melissa, I enjoyed your performance and look forward to The other pretty lady is Shaye Truax, the grand-daughter of the original Anna of the WBAP Carter Quartet, turned Chuck Wagon Gang.

She has a masters degree in voice and you can tell by listening to her that she indeed studied well. When she started singing a solo, I was carried beyond the theater into a place known only to thieves, liars, beggars and angels. A place, unnamed, known only to the ages and to those who have crossed the wide river.

She,along with the other members of the gang, had transcended me from a theater seat in Branson, to a place of which I knew not where; a place where time stood still. hearing you again soon, real soon.

Then there were four, with Dave Emery singing bass for the group. Dave had been a Branson entertainer, having performed in several different shows, honing his skills over the years.

Dave was perfect in his role of guitarist and bass voice. He had been carefully selected to be with the group, not only because of his voice and his talent, but also because of his love of gospel music. Dave also acts as the Bewley Flour spokesperson on the simulated radio program the gang does with great nostalgic effect.

Bewley Flour, part of the "Great Flour War" that took place in Fort Worth broadcasting during the 1930s, remained the Chuck Wagon Gang's sole sponsor throughout their radio career.

The Chuck Wagon Gang sings the songs that we have all heard and loved throughout the ages. One example that comes to mind is Alfred E. Brumley's, "I'll Fly Away," one of the most recorded songs in history.

The Chuck Wagon Gang was the very first group to record it and since that time it has been recorded over 700 times. The gang does what I would call the "recording session" sound of gospel. It is the purest form of music to be heard from any stage. That sound is so pure that if you were to listen to one of the gang's original recordings, you would not be able to distinguish between the live performance and the recorded version.

I told Ronnie Page that I knew he was good, but I certainly never dreamed he would be as good as he was the day the Chuck Wagon Gang came to Branson. Ronnie has the perfect voice to do the history of the gang between songs.

He revels in the history and lore surrounding the gang, both those present onstage and the spirits surrounding them. He gives the gang's history in bites throughout the show and you can sense his pride in telling it. Ronnie, my hat is off to you and the gang for a truly great performance.

I have said to them and I will say to you that I believe the gang should arrange to make appearances in Branson at least once per month. I know that if people knew the correct time and the place of their show, they would come. I know the next time I am anywhere close to where they are appearing, I will be there. I hope to see you there too.