The Speer Family was a

Southern gospel Southern gospel music is a genre of Christian music. Its name comes from its origins in the southeastern United States. Its lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as ...

family musical group. It was founded in 1921 by George Thomas ("Dad") Speer (1891–1966), his wife, Lena Darling ("Mom") Speer (née Brock; 1899–1967), and his sister and brother-in-law, Pearl Claborn (1902–1979) and Logan Claborn (William Logan Claborn; 1896–1981). Harold Lane was also member of this group

Early years

Both George Thomas and Lena came from musical families. G.T. and Lena began the group to supplement their income, which otherwise came from farming. Before them, almost all gospel groups were made up solely of men. The Speer Family are considered pioneers in featuring women singers. Within two years, the group had become so successful that G.T. Speer decided to make the group full-time. In the late 1920s, the group established a working relationship with the

James David Vaughan James David Vaughan (December 14, 1864 – February 9, 1941) was an American music teacher, composer, song book publisher, the founder of the Vaughan Conservatory of Music and the James D. Vaughan Publishing Company. Biography Vaughan was b ...

Music Company, selling songbooks. However, the group's success proved to be insufficient to support two families' budgets. In 1925, Logan and Pearl Claborn left the group; Logan returned to his job as a carpenter. To fill the void, "Dad" Speer enlisted 5-year-old

Brock Speer Brock Speer (December 28, 1920 – March 29, 1999) sang bass for the Speer Family Southern Gospel musical group and was a leader in Southern Gospel music. One might say that Southern Gospel music was Speer's life. David Liverett's book, ''This Is ...

and 3-year-old

Rosa Nell Speer Rosa Nell Powell (née Speer; September 22, 1922 – May 16, 2017) was an American southern gospel singer who sang with the well-known Speer Family. She was born in Double Springs, Alabama, the second child (and oldest daughter) of George Tho ...

to sing with him and his wife. The group's concerts featured several duet songs by "Dad" and "Mom" Speer, and several songs with Brock singing alto and Rosa Nell singing lead. In 1934, "Dad" Speer accepted a full-time job with the Vaughan Music Company. This position afforded greater financial security for the family. Also in the 1930s, two more siblings, Mary Tom Speer (1925-2014) and

Ben Speer Ben Lacy Speer (June 26, 1930 – April 7, 2017) was a singer, musician, music publisher, and record company executive. He sang for The Speer Family for most of his career. Speer later became the music director of the Gaither Homecoming programs ...

(1930-2017), joined the group. In 1941, James Vaughan died, and the Speer family left his company. During his time at the Vaughan Company, "Dad" Speer wrote or co-wrote more than 600 songs. After leaving, they joined the Stamps-Baxter company, a Vaughan competitor, and also became a regular performer on the WSFA radio station.

Later years/deaths

George Thomas "Dad" Speer died in 1966 and Lena "Mom" Speer died in 1967. Pearl and Logan Claborn died in 1979 and 1981 respectively. The group, led by brothers Brock (died March 29, 1999 at age 78) and

Ben Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett or Benson, and is also a given name in its own right. Ben (in he, בֶּן, ''son of'') forms part of Hebrew surnames, e.g. Abraham ben Abraham ( he, ...

, underwent various configurations over the next several decades. Ben retired from the group in 1993 although he did appear on occasion with the group until Brock officially retired the Speer Family at the 1998 National Quartet Convention.

continued to be involved in Southern Gospel music as the Music Director of the Gaither Homecoming Series, and as owner of Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music, a Southern Gospel singing school, up until his death in 2017. Ben, Mary Tom, and Rosa Nell continued to make appearances in Gaither Homecoming videos. The group was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame in 1998, following individual inductions for "Dad" Speer (1971); "Mom" Speer (1972);

(1975); and

(1995). The Speer Family was the first group to receive the

Gospel Music Association The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...

's Lifetime Achievement Award. Other recognition for the Speers included inclusion in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, receiving the Southern Gospel Music Guild's Heritage Award, and receiving 14

Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...

. The group's recording of "I'm Standing on the Solid Rock" has the distinction of having the longest tenure as the top song on the Singing News chart of popular

Southern Gospel Southern gospel music is a genre of Christian music. Its name comes from its origins in the southeastern United States. Its lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as ...

recordings. Mary Tom Speer-Reid died on September 16, 2014, aged 89. Ben Speer died on April 7, 2017 at age 86. A month later, Rosa Nell Speer-Powell, who was the last survivor of the original Speer Family, died on May 16, 2017 at the age of 94.

Discography (incomplete)

* 1949: ''Especially Warm'' (

Heart Warming Heart Warming was a gospel record label started by John T. Benson Jr. Heart Warming and their chief rival Canaan Records (owned by Word Records) were arguably the two biggest and best gospel labels in their time. The Oak Ridge Boys, Jd Sumner an ...

) * 1951: ''Happy Harmonies'' (Vista) * 1953: ''The Speer Family Sings Songs You Requested'' (Skylite) * 1955: ''The Speer Family Album'' (

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

) * 1958: ''"Dad" Speer's Golden Anniversary In Gospel Music'' (Sing LP 701) * 1959: ''Because Of Him'' (Skylite) * 1960: ''The Singing Speers'' (Skylite) * 1961: ''All-Night Singing: Speer Family Style'' (Starday) * 1961: ''Family Favorites'' (Skylite) * 1963: ''The Speer Family Sacred Hour'' (RCA Camden) * 1964: ''Garden Of Melody'' (Skylite) * 1964: ''Old-Time Family Religion'' (Speer Family, Johnson Family, Carter Family) (RCA Camden) * 1965: ''A Singing Heritage'' (Heart Warming) * 1965: ''On Concert Tour!'' (Heart Warming) * 1965: ''The Happy Jubilee'' (Heart Warming) * 1965: ''Won't We Be Happy'' (Skylite) * 1966: ''Rejoicing With Mom'' (Heart Warming) * 1966: ''The Gospel In Song'' (RCA Victor) * 1967: ''"Dad" Speer's Greatest Hits'' (Skylite) * 1967: ''Hymns Of Joy And Peace'' (Heart Warming) * 1968: ''Big Singing Day'' (Heart Warming) * 1969: ''Heavy On Ben'' (Heart Warming) * 1970: ''The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference'' (Heart Warming) * 1971: ''The King Is Coming'' (Heart Warming) * 1972: ''A Family Affair'' (Heart Warming) * 1972: ''The Speers In Concert'' (Heart Warming) * 1973: ''Friendship with Jesus'' (Vista) * 1973: ''Happy Harmonies'' (Vista) * 1973: ''He Touched Me'' (Vista) * 1973: ''Touring That City'' (Heart Warming) * 1974: ''A Tribute - The Songs Of Bill and Gloria Gaither'' (Heart Warming) * 1974: ''God Gave The Song'' (Heart Warming) * 1975: ''

Doug Oldham Doug Oldham (November 30, 1930 – July 21, 2010) was an American Southern Gospel singer and a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Early years Oldham was the son of Dr. Dale Oldham, a minister in the Church of God. His grandfather was also a ...

and the Speers'' (Heart Warming) * 1975: ''Especially Warm'' (Heart Warming) * 1975: ''Something Good Is About To Happen'' (Heart Warming) * 1975: ''The Best of the Best'' (A/The Speers, B/The Imperials) (Heart Warming) * 1975: ''The King Is Coming" (Heart Warming) * 1976: ''Between The Cross and Heaven'' (Heart Warming) * 1977: ''Cornerstone'' (Heart Warming) * 1978: ''Promises to Keep'' (Heart Warming) * 1978: ''The Songs Live on'' (Heart Warming) * 1980: ''Interceding'' (Heart Warming) * 1981: ''60th Anniversary Celebration'' (Heart Warming) * 1981: ''Celebrating 60th Anniversary Featuring Mom & Dad'' (Skylite) * 1982: ''Hallelujah'' (Heart Warming) * 1982: ''Tribute'' (Heart Warming) * 1983: ''Keep a Happy Heart'' (Skylite) * 1983: ''The Speers Live'' (Featuring The Speer Sisters) (Heart Warming) * 1984: ''Sunday Morning Singing'' (RiverSong) * 1985: ''Family Reunion'' (RiverSong) * 1985: ''Rejoicing'' (Riversong) * 1985: ''The Speer Family'' (GreatComm) * 1986: ''Stepping Out in Faith'' (RiverSong) * 1987: ''Celebration At Sea'' (Live) (Riversong) * 1988: ''Saved To The Uttermost'' (Homeland) * 1989: ''He's Still In The Fire'' (Homeland) * 1990: ''Best of the Best...Songs You Keep Asking For'' (Homeland) * 1990: ''Hallelujah Time'' (Homeland) * 1991: ''The Speers 70th Anniversary Celebration'' (Homeland) * 1992: ''He Still Reigns'' (Homeland)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Speer Family, The American Christian musical groups Musical groups established in 1921 Family musical groups Musical groups from Nashville, Tennessee Southern gospel performers RCA Victor artists