The Rambos
Encyclopedia
The Rambos were an American Southern Gospel
music group that was formed in the 1960s. They were one of the most successful Gospel trios of the 20th century. The group consisted of Buck and Dottie Rambo
at first along with several various people singing with them and they were joined by their daughter Reba Rambo-McGuire
in 1965. They have been inducted into the Gospel Music Association
's Hall of Fame.
in 1964, after leaving their home in Dawson Springs, Kentucky
and ending up in Nashville, Tennessee
. In the beginning, the Rambos went by the name of the Gospel Echoes. It wasn't until Reba joined the group at the age of 12 that they changed their name to the Singing Rambos. Their style of singing has been described as "a harmonic blend of Buck's country-style singing and Dottie's mountain-style black soul music."
The Rambos are known for their three-part harmony. They sang what many called "inverted harmony," which in the music field was not proper or accepted because all groups were supposed to have a bass singer. It wasn't until they performed one night at the Ryman Auditorium
with a group called the Sons of Song that they realized that they could have a successful group without the use of a bass singer. The group went on to become pioneers in the inverted style of singing.
Buck and Dottie were divorced in the mid-1990s. Afterwards, Dottie continued to minister at churches and concerts across the nation and write and record music until her death in 2008. Buck devoted his time to painting and recording solo projects. He now lives in Franklin, Tennessee
with his wife Mae, and the leader of visitation at Grace Pointe Church. Reba had a successful solo career in contemporary Christian music, and is now pastoring The River At Music City with her husband, Dony McGuire in Nashville, TN.
On May 11, 2008, Dottie Rambo died instantly as a result of a tour bus crash along Interstate 44 just outside of Mount Vernon, Missouri. Rambo was on a successful concert tour and her manager and staff were also injured but she would be the only fatality.
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 group that was formed in the 1960s. They were one of the most successful Gospel trios of the 20th century. The group consisted of Buck and Dottie Rambo
Dottie Rambo
Dottie Rambo was an American gospel singer and songwriter. She was a Grammy and multiple Dove Award-winning artist. Rambo, along with husband Buck and daughter Reba, formed the award-winning southern Gospel group, The Rambos...
at first along with several various people singing with them and they were joined by their daughter Reba Rambo-McGuire
Reba Rambo-McGuire
- Biography :At the age of 12, Reba started singing with her father and mother, Buck and Dottie Rambo, as the Southern Gospel family group, The Singing Rambos, which was later shortened to The Rambos...
in 1965. They have been inducted into the Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
's Hall of Fame.
Group history
They signed their first record deal with Benson RecordsBenson Records
Benson Records was founded by Bob Benson & John T. Benson, beginning as the John T. Benson Music Publishing Company in 1902. The record label started out as Heart Warming Records and would come to house labels such as Impact Records, Greentree Records, RiverSong, StarSong and Home Sweet Home...
in 1964, after leaving their home in Dawson Springs, Kentucky
Dawson Springs, Kentucky
Dawson Springs is a city in Caldwell and Hopkins counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The population was 2,980 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace of current governor of Kentucky, Steve L. Beshear. From the late 1800s to the 1930s, Dawson Springs was well known as a spa and resort town...
and ending up in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. In the beginning, the Rambos went by the name of the Gospel Echoes. It wasn't until Reba joined the group at the age of 12 that they changed their name to the Singing Rambos. Their style of singing has been described as "a harmonic blend of Buck's country-style singing and Dottie's mountain-style black soul music."
The Rambos are known for their three-part harmony. They sang what many called "inverted harmony," which in the music field was not proper or accepted because all groups were supposed to have a bass singer. It wasn't until they performed one night at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
with a group called the Sons of Song that they realized that they could have a successful group without the use of a bass singer. The group went on to become pioneers in the inverted style of singing.
Buck and Dottie were divorced in the mid-1990s. Afterwards, Dottie continued to minister at churches and concerts across the nation and write and record music until her death in 2008. Buck devoted his time to painting and recording solo projects. He now lives in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
with his wife Mae, and the leader of visitation at Grace Pointe Church. Reba had a successful solo career in contemporary Christian music, and is now pastoring The River At Music City with her husband, Dony McGuire in Nashville, TN.
On May 11, 2008, Dottie Rambo died instantly as a result of a tour bus crash along Interstate 44 just outside of Mount Vernon, Missouri. Rambo was on a successful concert tour and her manager and staff were also injured but she would be the only fatality.
Members
- Dottie Rambo (vocals, lead guitar)
- Buck Rambo (vocals, guitar)
- Shirley Cohron (vocals, accordion)
- Joe Hatfield (vocals, piano)
- Pat Jones (vocals, piano, accordion, bass 1965-1967)
- Reba Rambo (vocals, bass guitar, 1965–1979)
- Darius Spurgeon (piano, 1967–1968)
- Patty Carpenter (vocals – replaced Reba)
- Kenny Parker (piano)
- Kenny Hicks (bass guitar)
- David HuntsingerDavid HuntsingerDavid Huntsinger is a pianist, composer, songwriter, and arranger who moved from his native California to Nashville, TN, in 1976 and played for the Rambos. He co-wrote the song, Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome, with Dottie Rambo, as well as the children’s musical, Down By The Creek Bank. In 1979 he...
(piano, 1976–1979)
Discography
- 19—: There's Nothing My God Can't Do - The Gospel Echoes
- 1964: Singing Rambos (Vista Records)
- 1965: Gospel Echoes "Those Singing Rambos" (Introducing Buck and Dottie's Daughter, Reba)
- 1966: Come Spring (Heartwarming Records)
- 1967: The Soul Singing Rambos (Heartwarming
- 1967: Gospel Ballads (HeartWarming)
- 1968: If That Isn't Love (Vista)
- 1968: An Evening With The Rambos (HeartWarming)
- 1969: The Soul Singing Rambos (HeartWarming)
- 1969: This Is My Valley (Heartwarming)
- 1970: The Real Thing (Heartwarming)
- 1970: Nashville Gospel (HeartWarming)
- 1970: Live
- 1971: Soul Classics (HeartWarming)
- 1971: Rambo Reflections (HeartWarming)
- 1971: Songs Of Love And Hope (Vista)
- 1971: If That Isn't Love (Vista)
- 1972: Soul In The Family (HeartWarming)
- 1972: The Best Of The Rambos (Heartwarming)
- 1972: Buck, Dottie And Reba (Vista)
- 1973: Sing Me On Home (HeartWarming)
- 1973: Spotlighting The Rambos (Vista)
- 1973: Belief (Vista)
- 1973: Sonshine (HeartWarming)
- 1973: Too Much to Gain to Lose (Vista)
- 1974: Yours, Until He Comes (HeartWarming)
- 1974: Alive and Live at Souls Harbor (HeartWarming)
- 1975: There Has To Be A Song (HeartWarming)
- 1975: These Three Are One (HeartWarming)
- 1975: Christmas at Our House (compilation) “Oh Holy Night” (Impact)
- 1976: The Son Is Shining (HeartWarming)
- 1976: Rambo Country (HeartWarming)
- 1977: Naturally (HeartWarming)
- 1978: Queen of Paradise (HeartWarming)
- 1979: Silver Jubilee (HeartWarming)
- 1979: Crossin' Over (HeartWarming)
- 1981: Rambo Reunion (HeartWarming)
- 1983: Memories Made New (HeartWarming)
- 1992: Masters of Gospel (Riversong)
- 1992: Lost Recordings of The Rambos/Gospel Echoes
- 1992: 20 Gospel Classics (Riversong)
- 1992: The Very Best Of The Rambos (New Haven)
Appearances on other albums
- 1974: Highway Call – Richard (Dickie) Betts (of The Allman Bros.The Allman Brothers BandThe Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
) (Capricorn) (also on The Allman Bros. Dreams CD Box Set – 1989)