When the Stamps Quartet began their live radio program on KRLD out of Dallas, Texas, there was a famously recognized piano arpeggio that started every show: Marion Snider rolled an ascending F7 chord that introduced “Give The World A Smile”! That opening signature song was heard all across the country for many years as southern style gospel quartet music was growing in popularity. Marion had established himself as a talented pianist in his teens and following those early days with several of the Stamps-Baxter groups in the 40’s and 50’s he continued to work with a number of nationally known quartets. He also performed with his own group on a Sunday morning television program in Dallas and has been a strong supporter and promoter of southern gospel music for his entire life.
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J. R. “Pap” Baxter
Inducted 1985
J. R. “Pap” Baxter [1887 – 1960] was truly a pioneer in the development of Southern Gospel Music. Individually and through his partnership with V.O. Stamps, his impact on the growth of gospel music was far reaching. After an early career with the A. J. Showalter Company, he joined forces with fellow entrepreneur V. O. Stamps in 1926 and the pair created one of the most successful companies in the gospel music: the Stamps-Baxter Music Company in Dallas (Oak Cliff) Texas. The annualStamps-Baxter School of Music trained several generations of young people throughout the South in the fundamentals of composing and performing gospel music. Baxter helped to popularize gospel music across the country through the publication of shaped-note songbooks and by sponsoring Stamps-Baxter Quartets in many Southern states.