The Inspirations are a professional Southern gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

 quartet from Bryson City, North Carolina

Bryson City, North Carolina

Bryson City is a town in Swain County, North Carolina in the United States. The population was 1,353 as of 2009, a decrease of 4.1% since the 2000 census...

.

Career

The quartet began in 1964 when Martin Cook, a teacher at Swain County High School, invited several young men to his home for evenings of singing. Later they began traveling around the area and singing at various venues. The original quartet consisted of Archie Watkins, tenor

Tenor

The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...

; Ronnie Hutchins, lead singer; Jack Laws, baritone

Baritone

Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...

, Troy Burns bass/later lead singer; and Martin Cook on piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

.

Since then, the following men have become part of the Inspirations (more affectionately known as "The Fraternity"): Eddie Dietz, lead and baritone; Marlin Shubert, bass, Mike Holcomb

Mike Holcomb

Michael Terry Holcomb is an American Christian bass singer, best known for his Southern Gospel work with The Inspirations. He is noted for his extraordinary deep voice, able to reach an extreme full three octaves below Middle C , one of the lowest voices in the world.-Biography:Holcomb was born in...

, bass; Roger Fortner, lead guitarist; Dale Jones, steel guitar; Myron Cook, upright bass; Chris Smith, baritone; Matt Dibler, lead.

The group has had much success in the Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

 genre with such songs as "Shouting Time In Heaven", "When I Wake Up To Sleep No More", "A Rose Among The Thorns" and "We Need To Thank God". They have been named "Favorite Quartet Of The Year" several times at the Singing News

Singing News

The Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....

 Fan Awards which is held in connection with the National Quartet Convention

National Quartet Convention

The National Quartet Convention is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is currently held at Freedom Hall on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...

.

Over the past four decades, The Inspirations have collected almost every major Gospel Music Award possible, including a gold plaque commemorating their selling a million records. They have been voted the #1 Gospel Music Quartet several times.

They have charted well over 60 hit songs, more than any other gospel group. The Inspirations have now recorded a combination of more than 60 projects; plus a number of studio and LIVE videos. Their recordings can be found in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, and Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

. Inspirations' recordings have even been found in Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

 and missionaries who have gone into the old Iron Curtain

Iron Curtain

The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...

 countries have brought stories back of finding their music.

The Inspirations were regular cast members of the historic "Gospel Singing Jubilee" television show which was aired nationally in the United States for many years and in 1970, the group then consisting of Archie, Ron, Eddie, Marlin and Martin, were the subject of a seven minute documentary on CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

 Television, anchored by current History Channel host, Roger Mudd

Roger Mudd

Roger Mudd is a U.S. television journalist and broadcaster, most recently as the primary anchor for The History Channel. Previously, Mudd was weekend and weekday substitute anchor of CBS Evening News, co-anchor of the weekday NBC Nightly News, and hosted NBC's Meet the Press, and NBC's American...

.

They have been declared Kentucky Colonel

Kentucky colonel

Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation...

s, Arkansas Travelers

Arkansas Travelers

The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....

, and they have had many special days set aside in their honor. Each member has collected numerous awards individually.

Each July, since 1966, the quartet has hosted the Annual Singing In The Smokies at the Inspiration Park which is located between Bryson City, NC and nearby Cherokee, NC. This event draws thousands of Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

 fans from around the country and brings in some of the biggest names in Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

 music.

Mark V Records

• Our Pioneer Heritage
• Cool Water
• Just as Long as Eternity Rolls
• What a Wonderful Time
• From the Heart of the Smokies
• He's Our Guide
• Jesus is Coming Soon
• The Next Step You Take
• The Night Before Easter
• Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
• Our Inspiration

Canaan Records

• Our Inspiration
• Wake Up in Glory
• Old Time Singin'
• We Shall Rise
• Touring the City
• When I Wake Up to Sleep No More
• More to Go to Heaven For
• I'm Taking a Flight
• Golden Street Parade
• 12th Anniversary
• A Night of Inspiration
• On Heaven's Bright Shore
• When I Get Home
• Looking For You
• Something to Sing About
• Songs of Love
• The Best of the Inspiration, Volume 1
• Country Christmas
• Is That Footsteps That I Hear?
• Someday
• The Wonder of Wonders
• 20th Anniversary
• Praise God and Country
• Tell it to a Friend
• Going Home for Christmas
• It's Still the Blood
• What's That I Hear?
• The Country Needs the Cross
• Yes, I Will Be There
• Silver Anniversary
• He Brought Me Out

Inspiration Records

• Sing Me a Gospel Song
• Singing in the Smokies LIVE
• Singing in the Smokies: Second Helping
• Is That Footsteps That I Hear?
• What's That I Hear?
• Country Needs the Cross
• Jesus is Coming For Me
• Yes, I Will Be There
• Silver Anniversary
• Cry for the Children
• Between Here and Sunset
• Thank You, Lord
• Old Time Religion
• Two Shoes
• Sunday's Coming
• The Sooner, The Better

Horizon Records

• Pure Vintage
• Highway to Heaven
• The Journey Ahead
• What a Day
• From the Smokies
• I Know
• Things Are Different Now
• How Great It Is
• The Son Came Down
• On The Sunrise Side
• Live Favorites of 45 Years
• God Makes No Mistakes