The Hall of Fame always gives special recognition to the great Gospel piano players who were literally the “one man band” for the popular quartets of a bye-gone era. ‘Smilin’ Joe Roper was one of the greats! His lanky frame and jovial spirit gave him the reputation of always being easy to work with, but he looked so “focused” and serious when he played – barely cracking a smile – that his nick-name stuck with him for decades: ‘Smilin’ Joe.

Growing up in the rural