Dixie Melody Boys

The Dixie Melody Boys are an American Southern Gospel quartet from Kinston, North Carolina. They have been active for over 50 years.

"Ed O'Neal" redirects here. For people with similar name, see O'Neill.
Dixie Melody Boys
OriginKinston, North Carolina, United States
GenresSouthern gospel
Years active1961 (1961)–present
Websitewww.dixiemelodyboys.com
MembersEd O'Neal
Will Lane
Willie Sawrey
Derrick Boyd
Past membersSee complete listing below.

History

The group was founded in 1961 by Avis Adkins with Eugene Payne, Ralph Walker and Tony Brown on piano; Ed O'Neal, their bass singer, joined in 1963, and subsequently became the group's leader and manager. Under O'Neal, the group has discovered singers who have gone on to become prominent in Gospel music, including McCray Dove with the Dove Brothers, Rodney Griffin with Greater Vision, Bryan Walker, who went on to become a contestant on Season 9 of American Idol and then later joined The Perrys, and Devin McGlamery with Signature Sound. The group was nicknamed the "Ed O'Neal University" because of the impact that Ed O'Neal has had on the industry of Gospel music.

The group has had more than twenty hits in the Southern gospel field, including "Antioch Church Choir", "Double Dose", "Don't Point a Finger" and "Jesus In My Boat". The group has released a large number of albums and numerous VHS videos and DVDs. They have also won countless awards and even received a Grammy nomination.

Ed O'Neal has received the Marvin Norcross Award and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame in 2004.

The current group has re-established themselves as one of Gospel music's top groups. The Dixie Melody Boys released their 50th anniversary project The Call Is Still The Same and held their anniversary reunion celebration at the National Quartet Convention. The group added newcomer, Aaron Dishman, in June 2013 and the quartet veteran, Josh Garner, to their line up in September 2013, marking a new chapter in their history.[1] Tenor, Doug Pittman, joined the group at the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in September 2014 to create one of the most stellar line-ups in the group's 50+ year history.

In January 2013, the Dixie Melody Boys were honored in the Southern Gospel Music Fan awards.

  • Favorite Quartet: The Dixie Melody Boys
  • Favorite Bass: Ed O'Neal

The group also won the Favorite Male Quartet and Favorite Bass Singer awards in 2012.[2] On November 9, 2013 the Dixie Melody Boys were presented with the 2013 AMG Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award.[3]

Personnel

Current members
  • Ed O'Neal – bass (since 1961)
  • Will Lane - bass (since 2019)
  • Derrick Boyd - tenor (1987–1993; Since 2019)
  • Willie Sawrey – baritone (since 2016)

Past members
Bass
Baritone
  • Gene Payne 1961
  • Henry Daniels
  • Delmar Tillman
  • Tom Jones
  • Frank Sutton
  • Allen O'Neal 1984–1986
  • David DeLawder 1986–1987
  • Nathan Widenor 1987–1991
  • Bill Bass 1991–1992
  • Rodney Griffin 1992–1993
  • Jamie Bramlett 1994–1995
  • Dave Needham 1995–1997
  • Craig Singletary 1997–1998
  • Kenny Cook 1998
  • Derrick Selph 1998–2003
  • Jeremy Wilkerson 2003
  • Dustin Sweatman 2003–2004
  • Andrew King 2004–2007
  • Bryan Walker 2007
  • Steven Cooper 2007–2013
  • Aaron Dishman 2013–2016
Lead
  • Avis Adkins 1961
  • David Kimbrel
  • John Jarmen
  • Dewey Williams
  • Gary Wadell
  • Kent Humphries 1981–1986
  • McCray Dove 1986–1998
  • Jamie Caldwell 1998–2000
  • Devin McGlamery 2000–2004
  • Dustin Sweatman 2004–2006
  • Donald Moris 2006, 2009–2012
  • Bryan Walker 2006–2007
  • Rob Shelton 2007–2008
  • Joe Kitson 2008–2009
  • Mike Rogers 2012–2013
  • Josh Garner 2013-2019
Tenor
  • Ralph Walker 1961
  • Charles Forehand
  • Bobby Craft
  • Jimmy Jones
  • Phil Barker 1978, 1980–1984
  • Jamey Ragle 1978–1980
  • Ernie Haase 1984
  • Frank Sutton 1984– 1986
  • David Walker 1986–1987
  • Harold Reid 1993–2004
  • Dan Keeton 2004–2007
  • Jonathan Price 2007–2010
  • Matt Felts 2010–2014
  • Doug Pittman 2014–2017
  • Jerry Skaggs 2017-2019
Piano
  • Tony Brown 1962–1965
  • Greg Simpkins
  • Jerry Kelso 1978–1985
  • Bobby Ledford 1986–1988
  • Dwight Young 1988–89
  • Joe Lane 1989–1990
  • Steve Wood 1990–1992
  • Eric Ollis 1992–2004
  • Dustin Sweatman 2004–2006 (played and sang)
  • Aaron Dishman 2013–2016
Instrumentalist
  • Blake Jarmin
  • George Shambaugh
  • DJ Johns
  • JL Marslender 1974–1975
  • Larry DeLawder 1986–1995
  • Jeff Knight 1985–1986
  • George Shambaugh (guitar) 1986
  • Darren Humphrey (drummer) 1986–1988
  • Craig Hamm (lead guitar) 1983–1986
  • Olan Witt (drummer) 1983–1985

Discography
  • Jesus Use Me (1963)
  • Answering Requests (1964)
  • Listen (1965)
  • Favorite Instrumentals of the Dixie Melody Boys (1966)
  • Together (1973)
  • Alive (1974)
  • Unlimited (1974)
  • Refreshing Soounds (1975)
  • He Came Back (1975)
  • Refreshing (1976)
  • Are You Ready for Gospel (1977)
  • Sending Up Boards (1978)
  • Favorite Hymns (1978)
  • Campmeeting Gospel (1978)
  • The Sing-Sational (1979)
  • Sing Happy Gospel (1979)
  • Live! (1980)
  • Just As We Are (1981)
  • And Friends Live 1982
  • Antioch Church Choir (1982)
  • More Than Just Good Ole Boys (1983)
  • Too Much Thunder (1984)
  • Streetwise (Benson RO3899, 1985)
  • Run Little Brother (1986)
  • Back Home (1988)
  • Ridin' High (1989)
  • On Fire (1990)
  • Sing The Classics 1990
  • Dynamic (1991)
  • Gonna Praise the Lord Live (1992)
  • No Compromise (1993)
  • Masterpiece (1994)
  • Traditions & Harmony (1996)
  • Old Time Religion (1996)
  • 100% Pure Southern Gospel (1997)
  • Live in Music City (1998)
  • Heading Home (1999)
  • Something Old, Something New (2001)
  • Quartet Classics (2001)
  • Request Time (2001)
  • Vintage (2002)
  • A Seat in the Heavenly Choir (2004)
  • Like Never Before (2005)
  • Live at Pigeon Forge (2005)
  • Hymns (2006)
  • Traditions (2006)
  • Smooth and Easy (2006)
  • Serenade (2007)
  • Back to the Good Ole' Days (2007)
  • Singing the Classics (2009)
  • Hits Live (2010)
  • The Call Is Still the Same (2011)
  • Have You Heard (2013)
  • Revived (2015)

In 2004 and 2005, the group released seven compilation albums, entitled Historic Journey vols. 1–7.

Between 2011–2015, several compilations were released:, including Ed O'Neal University: EOU Alumni Vols 1–3, Sights of Heaven, Best of Ed O'Neal, Classic Live Performances, and Radio Hits.

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References
  1. Garner, Josh. "Garner Joins the DMB Group". Southern Gospel Journal. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  2. DMB. "Group Wins Top Honors". sogospelnews. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  3. "The Dixie Melody Boys are bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award". Artists Music Guild. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
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