Rock My Soul: Barbershop's Gospel Roots

14 Facts About Fairfield Four

14 Facts About Fairfield Four

Since 1925, the Fairfield Four have won three Grammys, been inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and won two lifetime achievements awards.

Oct 13, 2017 by Evan Feist
14 Facts About Fairfield Four

Since their founding in 1925, the Fairfield Four have won three Grammys, been inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (along with Take 6), and received two lifetime achievements awards.

Here are 14 fun facts about the Fairfield Four before the group performs at Rock My Soul this Saturday in Alexandria, VA.


Watch the Fairfield Four LIVE on FloVoice


1. The group is founded at Nashville's Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church in 1921 as a trio before becoming a quartet in 1925. The original quartet was John Battle, Harold Carrethers, William Malone, and Rufus Carrethers.



2. The Fairfield Four's first Grammy came in 1997 in the Best Traditional Gospel Recording category for their album "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray."



3.  1942 was a big year for the Fairfield Four. They won a contest held by the Colonial Coffee Company that included a spot on CBS affiliate radio station WLAC. Their show was so popular that WLAC kept them on the air five days a week for almost a decade!



4. The Fairfield Four were prominently featured in the 2000 film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" They earned their second Grammy for appearing on the movie's award-winning soundtrack.


"The Lonesome Valley"


5. In 1999, the Fairfield Four were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.


"Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round"


6. After their first Grammy win, they performed with Elvis Costello on Letterman.


"Day is Done" feat. Elvis Costello


7. Also in 1997, the Fairfield Four were featured on John Fogerty's album "Blue Moon Swamp."


"A Hundred and Ten in the Shade"


8. Just like many groups today, the Fairfield Four came to a point in their career (in the late 1940s and early '50s) when they had to decide between having an aggressive touring schedule and one that was more laid-back. To help keep everyone happy, the group created its own bylaws.


9. The Fairfield Four invested in their own business, the Fairfield Four Funeral Home, in the 1940s. It was on Lafayette Street in Nashville, close to the Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church, but shut down in 1950.



10.  Before she sang with Pentatonix, Dolly Parton had the Fairfield Four on her 2003 album "For God and Country."


"There Will Be Peace In The Valley For Me"


11. The Fairfield Four won their third Grammy in 2015 for their album "Still Rockin' My Soul!"


"Don't Let Nobody Turn You 'Round" feat. Tasha Cobbs


12. In 2016, the Fairfield Four were named Honorary Life Members of the Barbershop Harmony Society


Fairfield Four @ BHS HQ


13. The Fairfield Four have received not one but two lifetime achievement awards: the Tennessee Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994 and the Nashville Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.


14. Gospel groups such as the Howard University Gospel Choir and barbershop groups such as the Alexandria Harmonizers formed from the tradition established by the Fairfield Four almost 100 years ago.


This Saturday, the Fairfield Four are performing with both groups at Rock My Soul, a celebration of barbershop's gospel roots that's streaming LIVE on FloVoice.


Rock My Soul

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