Category Archives: Inductees

This is where the TGMHFM inductee pages are.

Gary McSpadden

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Gary McSpadden & LouGary McSpadden began his gospel music ministry in Lubbock, Texas, as son of the pastors of the Assembly Of God Church, Reverend and Mrs. Boyd McSpadden. His first professional singing was with Bob Wills & The Inspirationals of Fort Worth, a popular Texas male quartet. Gary’s next move up the gospel quartet ladder was as a member of the famous Statesmen Quartet. Gary married his Texas sweetheart, Carol,on the stage of the National Quartet Convention with Reverend Hovie Lister officiating. Gary was a member of the Oak Ridge Boys for a few years. When Jake Hess formed his “all-star” Imperials in 1963, Gary McSpadden was part of this legendary quartet.

Gary had returned to Fort Worth to co-pastor a church with his father, when the call came from Bill Gaither to join the Gaither Trio. In the years Gary sang with Bill and Gloria Gaither, and also as an original member of the Gaither Vocal Band, this Texas gentleman’s popularity rose to enormous new heights in Christian music. Later in life, Gary hosted television shows seen on TBN, FamilyNet, and other networks. He died on April 15, 2020.

Larry Ford

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Larry Ford Ind2From Levelland, Texas, Larry Ford made his first recording at age fifteen on Sword & Shield Records owned by the Wills Family of Arlington. His fabulous tenor voice was already gaining him prominence in Texas circles. Gospel music legendary promoter, J. G. Whitfield, hired Larry to sing tenor with the Dixie Echoes of Pensacola, Florida. From the quartet circuit, Larry Ford, emerged as a nationally known evangelist, and was a church pastor for awhile. A few years ago, Larry sang tenor for the James Blackwood Quartet. When Bill Gaither began his Homecoming video series and concerts, he remembered the extraordinary tenor voice of Larry Ford. Larry is a featured soloist on many of the Gaither Homecoming videos, and his recorded projects are in demand worldwide. This Texas tenor has performed in more countries than perhaps any other singer of gospel music. Larry and his wife, Sherryl, are the parents of six children, and currently reside in Fort Myers, Florida.

Jane Ellis

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For over twenty-five years Jane Robin Ellis directed one of the most well-known high school choral departments in Texas. Her tenure at Arlington High School through three decades allowed for several members of the Wills family to sing under her direction in the award winning Choraliers Choir. As a gifted educator she went on to serve as Vice Principal for Bowie High School and in 1989, Ellis Elementary School was named in her honor. She directed her church choir for most of those years and was a big supporter of all styles of Gospel music. Miss Ellis happened to be the last Inductee that Calvin inducted in August 2002 before his passing in October.

J. R. “Pap” Baxter

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Inducted 1985

J. R. “Pap” Baxter [1887 – 1960] was truly a pioneer in the development of Southern Gospel Music. Individually and through his partnership with V.O. Stamps, his impact on the growth of gospel music was far reaching. After an early career with the A. J. Showalter Company, he joined forces with fellow entrepreneur V. O. Stamps in 1926 and the pair created one of the most successful companies in the gospel music: the Stamps-Baxter Music Company in Dallas (Oak Cliff) Texas. The annualStamps-Baxter School of Music trained several generations of young people throughout the South in the fundamentals of composing and performing gospel music. Baxter helped to popularize gospel music across the country through the publication of shaped-note songbooks and by sponsoring Stamps-Baxter Quartets in many Southern states.

Tom Ellis

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Tom Ellis receives his award from Lou Wills Hildreth and Randy Wills

The gospel music career of Founder, Tom Ellis will soon span five decades. His love for Southern Gospel Music began when he was ten years old. While other school mates were listening to so called modern “Rock & Roll”, Tom was being drawn to the smooth vocal stylings of the popular gospel quartets. His father and uncles started the first Ellis Family Gospel singing group in 1925. Because of their influence throughout his youth, Tom reformed as the younger Ellis Family group in 1970. They traveled on their custom touring bus for over two decades all across the Southwest singing in churches and Gospel Concerts and recorded seven albums during that time.

His passion for Southern Gospel Music lead him to the SGMA of Texas. He joined their Board of Directors in 1975 and was Vice President for six years. Then, served as President of the SGMA from 1987-1992; and continued to work with the organization as Executive Officer from 1993-2003. He is currently Chairman of the Board.

In the early 1980’s he and his long time partner, Calvin Wills, began to formulate plans for theTexas Music Hall of Fame, which was to include a performance hall, production facility, historic museum and other tourist attractions. Tom Ellis was a founding partner, along with Calvin and James Fudge, of the Texas Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame through a state-wide charter in 1987 and serves as the Chairman of the Board.

Lou Wills Hildreth

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Lou Wills Hildreth

Lou Wills Hildreth was a founding member of the Wills Family Singers along with older sister, Eva Rene, brother, Calvin, and father, Aaron Burr (Pop) Wills. Those gospel music roots grew deep in Texas and the Southwest, but Lou’s career eventually covered the entire nation by way of “Music City”, Nashville, Tennessee. From her singing days with her own family group, which included her husband, Howard, and their children, David and Kathryn, the Hildreth family moved to Nashville in the late 60’s where Lou and Howard would establish the Nashville Gospel Talent Agency. For over twenty years Lou was involved with most of the major artists in the gospel music industry, and is still on the board of theGospel Music Association (GMA), as well as the Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas.

Lou was the host of the Wills Family Inspirational Time television program that aired for most of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and continued her role as a spokesperson and TV host since. She is currently co-hosting Gospel Music Today with J. P. Miller on the Gospel Music Television (GMT) network. Throughout her long career, Lou has become one of the most highly respected people in the industry and very well known for her love and support of Gospel Music.

Cynthia Clawson

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Cynthia Clawson receives her Hall of Fame plaque from Randy Wills, 2005

Cynthia Clawson was called “the most awesome voice in gospel music” by Billboard Magazine. Her singing career spans four decades and includes a Grammy and five Dove Awards. Cynthia is known through the entire nation (especially in Texas) for her award winning work with Buryl Red and husband Ragan Courtney. Her talent and love for gospel music has been heard in churches and concert halls world-wide, especially in recent years as part of the Bill Gaither Homecoming Series. One of many high points in her career came when the producers of the Academy Award winning movie, Trip To Bountiful featured her rendition of the gospel classic, “Softly and Tenderly”.

Cynthia was born in Houston and has a degree in vocal performance from Howard Payne Universityand she was awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Houston Baptist University in 1995. From her childhood days singing in the church that her father pastored and and throughout her years of accomplishment, Cynthia Clawson has truly been a “shining star” of Texas!

The Events page shows Cynthia’s vocal coach, Sarah Baker, from Howard Payne University receiving her TGMHF plaque.

Charlie Campbell

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campbellcEven though Charlie Campbell is known all across North Texas as a personable “down-home” radio DJ; having the largest Sunday morning listening audience for nearly three decades (KCBI-FM), his love for gospel music began as a singer. During his years at Louisiana College in Pineville, he was part of a gospel quartet that sang regularly on local TV and traveled to various churches and revival meetings. One version of that group was featured at the national Southern Baptist Convention in Chicago in 1957 – they introduced what was then a brand new song: How Great Thou Art.

As part of the original “on air” team for KCBI when it began in 1976, Charlie has blessed his many listeners by playing a wide range of gospel music. From the talented singers and pianists from First Baptist Church Dallas to the great gospel singers of all time like George Beverly Shea, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Glen Payne, he has promoted all styles of God-honoring Christian music. Charlie was also a favorite emcee and host for numerous concerts and special events, and has been a helpful influence on many local artists in all styles of Gospel Music.

Duane Allen

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Duane Allen with Lou Wills Hidreth

Duane Allen, born in Paris, Texas, and a member of the famous Oak Ridge Boys, was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in April, 1990. Lou Wills Hildreth arranged for a “surprise” induction at an appearance of the Oak Ridge Boys on the Crook & Chase TV show in Nashville, Tennessee. Lou presented the plaque to Duane on camera, and he responded with an emotional appreciation, stating his love for gospel music and his fond memories of singing conventions and music schools with the Wills Family. He talked about making his first recording on Sword & Shield Records, owned by the Wills Family, with J. Howard Rogers and the SouthernAires Quartet of Paris.

“Duane Allen is a treasured friend, famous as a country music performer, but true to his gospel music roots. In 1998, the Oak Ridge Boys were inducted into the GMA Hall Of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. I was there to share Duane’s joy. Later, when the Oak Ridge Boys appeared on the Gaither Homecoming video series, we welcomed them with great enthusiasm. Duane’s wife, Nora Lee, was there too! When I received an honorary Doctor Of Sacred Music from LBU, a letter of congratulations from Duane Allen was read. At Calvin Wills’ death in 2002, Duane Allen’s detailed letter of condolence and memories reminded us again of how he appreciates his early beginnings as a gospel music singer. We are proud of this “son of Texas” for his achievements in both country and gospel music.”
— Lou Wills Hildreth