The Fairfield Four

Best Roots Gospel Album

A Nashville gospel institution, this a capella quartet was founded in 1921 at Fairfield Baptist Church.

Late gospel great Sam McCrary joined the a cappella group in 1935 and, during the post-World War II years, assumed leadership of the Fairfield Four as they recorded dozens of sides for Dot Records, Bullet, Nashboro and other labels. Those records would go on to influence doo-wop acts of the 1950s such as The Clovers.

When a cappella gospel music declined in popularity and McCrary was called to the ministry, the Fairfield Four went on hiatus for about 20 years before reuniting in the '80s. In the years since, they have been named National Heritage Fellows, appeared in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and sung with Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, John Fogerty and more.

The group won its first Grammy award in 1998.

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