The Dixie Hummingbirds, a gospel music group, was formed in 1928 in Greenville, South Carolina, by lyricist/ vocalist/ guitarist James B. Davis (born June 6, 1916, in Greenville) when he was a 15-year-old student at Sterling High School. He was assisted by Barney Parks (born August 17, 1916) and Claude A. Jeter (born October 26, 1914). They assembled initially as the Sterling High School Quartet in Greenville. However, in 1929, the current name was selected. Because of the lack of economic and cultural opportunities, especially in the repressive South, the Hummingbirds moved to Washington, DC, in 1941.
From 1928 to 1938, the ensemble performed throughout the South and some northern cities, including New York’s Carnegie Hall. Their repertoire included Classical Negro Spirituals and R&B Jubilee music. In 1938, composer/ lyricist Ira Tucker, Sr. joined The Dixie Hummingbird and became the principal vocalist. William Bright, bass, joined in 1944. He was born October 5, 1939, in Green County, North Carolina.
Naming a Philadelphia Street Dixie Hummingbird Ways June 15, 2006 (Courtesy of Will Coleman)
In 1966, while at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, The Dixie Hummingbirds stood out during their performance of the recordings of “Bedside of a Neighbor,” “Going On,” and “You Don’t Have Nothing.” That performance exposed them to a much larger non-religious audience.
Over their long career, the Dixie Hummingbirds have received numerous accolades, including four Grammy nominations and one win in 1973 at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards for “Best Soul Gospel Performance” for the song “Loves Me Like a Rock.” The song was recorded in 1973 by Paul Simon with background vocals by the Hummingbirds. In 1988, they were selected to join the Philadelphia Hall of Fame. 2000 The Dixie Hummingbirds were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame Award. The National Endowment awarded them a National Heritage Fellowship for the Arts.
In 2005, Willie James Coleman, bass guitarist, and tenor singer, became the newest member of the Dixie Hummingbird. He was born in Columbus, Georgia, on April 19, 1965, and plays a pivotal role in maintaining the current ensemble.
The Dixie Hummingbirds at the 2006 Grammy Awards (Courtesy of Will Coleman)
William Bright died on February 4, 2017, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was 77; James Bodie Davis died of a heart ailment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 17, 2007. Howard Carroll died on October 17, 2017, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was 92.
The Dixie Hummingbirds, with more than 90 years of professional experience and lineup changes, including William Bobo, Beachey Thompson, James Walker, William Bright, Lyndon Jones, Torrey Nettles, Carlton Lewis, and Howard Carroll, have remained one of the most stable musical groups in United States history through the past century.
