Most of his friends and fans know him as “Big John Hall”. He is another talented Texan who started at the Stamps Music School in the late 1950s and began using his big bass voice to sing the low “bottom” part in many male quartets. He recently celebrated 50 years of singing.

He was a member of the original Inspirationals Quartet with Bob Wills, Jory Waldon, Roger McDuff and Jimmy Doan at the piano. He spent most of two decades as a “quartet man” with two other groups as well: the Blackwood Brothers and the Stamps Quartet.

When John began his solo career in the 1970s he got to focus on the ministry of worship music in churches all across the United States and some locations over seas.

The TGMHF was very proud to induct Mickey in 2015. She was born and raised in Dallas and gained recognition as one of the best pianist and Gospel accompanist in the business.

She also had some historic relationships with many Gospel heroes from her involvement with the Stamps Music Schools of the 1950s: people like Bill Gaither, Glen Payne, Larry Rice, John Hall, Calvin Wills, and so many others.

Mickey started playing piano at age 8 and began taking lessions from Jack Taylor at age 11. Her talent soon had her on board as regular pianist for several churches from her early teenage years: Central Baptist, Oak Cliff Baptist Temple, Galilean Baptist Church. She became one of the most popular pianist at First Baptist Church in Dallas playing for Ann Criswell and touring with the Chapel Choir here and overseas, and even worked with Dr. Robert Jeffress long before he became pastor there.

She played for many nationally known artists like: Jake Hess, Rosie Rosell, Sherill Nielson and Jim Murray. For several years she was the studio pianist for Rainbow Sound in Dallas.

The induction video from 2011 shows Mickey playing for the local group: Thorns and Roses. The TGMHF took the opportunity to have several of the gospel pianist heroes from Texas join her on stage that night: Cecil Pollock, Martha Ham, Donnie Wiggins, Glenn Wilson, Randy Wills and Tom Smith. Her talent and heart for music has given Mickey the ability to inspire many musicians through the years.

Jim Wesson was inducted in 2007. His ver impressive career as a gospel singer began in the late 1950’s with a popular Texas quartet named: The Kingmen. Like so many young men who wanted to sing during the era of the Statesmen and Blackwood Brothers domination, he focused on using his amazing voice in the context of a the “male quartet”.

That passion for the ministry of Gospel Music led him to join up with well-known groups, some of them traveling full-time all across the country. The Inspirationals (Bob Wills) and The Prophets Quartet (Joe Moscheo).

David Sapp was inducted in 2007 at the Induction Ceremony on the beautiful DBU campus. Along with President Randy Wills, David is joined here with Chris Binion. (photo)

David and his brother Max grew up in Orange Texas singing in church and eventually performing at Singing Conventions and Gospel concerts all around the state. They began recording long play albums in the 1960s and in time David would begin his solo career and establish himself as a very talented songwriter. He had the opportunity to share his story about writing “There Is A River” at the DBU event and a portion of that presentation can be seen on the YouTube Channel: TexasGospelMusicHF

Rod Treme received the “Calvin Wills Quartet Man” award at his induction into the TGMHF in September 2019. Many friends and fans of Rod’s made sure he was on the nominee list several years ago. But, long before that when he was a young man in his 20s, his uncle George, who was the music director at their church, came up to him and said, “Rod, I want you and your cousins Johnny, Darrell and Jimmy to go in the back of the church and gather around the piano, practice two songs, and then come out and sing those songs for the morning service.” They did just that.

They continued to sing at their church and eventually other churches and Gospel concerts all around the area. They decided to call themselves “The Relations Quartet” because they were all physically and spiritually related. The group sang all across Texas and Louisiana for over 30 years. In 2008 they changed their name to “Paul’s Journey” and expanded their music ministry to Mexico, Canada, Scotland and El Salvador.

By 2010 the group’s popularity led them to be selected to sing on the main stage at the National Quartet Convention. The Relations Quartet and Paul’s Journey received many other awards through the years: SGM FanFair Favorite Quartet, South Texas Association’s Group of the Year, as well as being nominated for the Horizon Group of the Year in 2012. Southern Gospel fans selected them as one of the Top 5 Quartets in 2013 and they have been featured on Solid Gospel Radio numerous times.

For over four decades Rod has been a Gospel singer and songwriter with a truly strong commitment to the ministry of Gospel Music and service to the Lord of the Gospel. He and his wife Dianne have now retired and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Robert is a graduate of Baylor University’s School of Music. From 1996 to 2004 he served as teacher and industry leader for the Gospel Music Association’s Academy of Gospel Music (AGMA). From 1991 to 2007 he had an exclusive song publishing contract with Word Music. Over 50 of his songs have been recorded by Christian artists in a variety of genres: Christian Country, Adult Contemporary, Southern Gospel, Inspirational and Contemporary Hit Radio.

His work as a songwriter included over 300 choral anthems published with Lifeway, Word Music, Hal Leonard, Alfred Music and others. In addition to his church music choral work, he produced CDs for the very popular CCM group, Point of Grace. Those and other projects from Rob’s role as record producer made up some of the 6 Dove Awards he has received from the GMA (Nashville). Other artists he has produced for include: Kurt Kaiser, The Talleys, Luke Garrett, Gold City Quartet and Chris & Diane Machen.

Eventually, his vast experience and tenure in the music industry led him to write an instructional book: The Craft of Christian Songwriting. This book published by Hal Leonard is currently being used as a teaching text in Christian universities across the country.

Another significant marker in his career: in 1997 Robert was the spokesman for the Coalition for the Protection of Gospel Music Heritage, lobbying and testifying before the United States Congress on behalf of Christian songwriters and publishers.

Rob and his wife Cindy reside in the Waco area and enjoy family life with their two grown sons, Matthew and Aaron, and four grandchildren.

The TGMHF was very proud to induct CHRIS and DIANE into the Hall of Fame in 2019. For over four decades their ministry has given them significant influence as singers, songwriters, publishers, actors, studio musicians, choir clinicians and worship leaders.

They have recorded for Word Entertainment, Urgent Records, Discovery House Music and the Master’s Music Company. They’ve appeared with artists like Wayne Watson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Larnelle Harris, The Imperials, The Florida Boys, Luke Garrett and others.

As songwriters, Chris and Diane have had great success with over 350 songs in their catalog. These include titles recorded by various artists like The Gatlin Brothers, The Imperials, Gold City Quartet, Steve Amerson, Jim Murray and The Talleys. The Christian publishers who have published and promoted their songs include: Word Music, Lillenas, Lifeway, Shawnee Press, Brentwood-Benson Publishers and Hal Leonard.

Their heart for the ministry of Christian Music has lead them to a number of missions projects and evangelistic campaigns in many countries around the world including: Guatemala, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Cyrus, Mongolia, Mexico, Romania, Hungary, Columbia and Peru.

Diane is a gifted speaker and worship leader for women’s events. You can learn more about her teaching and music ministry by visiting her website: dianemachen.com

They live in the North Texas DFW area and enjoy the great blessing of spending time with their two grown children and two delightful granddaughters.

Jack Davis was inducted in 2011 by Hall of Famer, Larry Scott (photo). Jack was there to induct Larry in 2007 and it was fitting for Larry to return the joy for Jack!

Jack began his broadcasting career in 1973 at station KIXL in Dallas. He also worked for Crawford Broadcasting and Jimmy Swaggart’s KWJS FM95, as well as KRLD 1080am. In 1984 Jack started a very popular program on KPBC called “Gospel Music Spotlight”. In the mid-80s he was selected as one of the TOP 10 Gospel DJs by The Singing News Fan Awards and named “Favorite DJ” by the Southern Gospel News of Texas (Tom Ellis). Jack can still be heard on KAAM as the familiar voice for so many local fans with his “Texas friendly style”!

Wayne Christian was inducted in 2015 along with very special recognition of the singing group founded by his father: The Singing Christians. The list of the many members of the group through the years is listed in the Music Groups tab. The group eventually changed its name to The Mercy River Boys and traveled full-time all across the country establishing themselves as one of the favorite “live band” groups in all fo Gospel Music.

Robert S. Arnold sang tenor with several quartets because he had a pure and high tone to his voice.  But, throughout his very long Music career he was not known as much for his singing as for his songwriting and publishing.  Traditional music groups and singing conventions across the South still sing his song, No Tears In Heaven, written in 1935.