By Harry Rice
Title: Cash Gospel Quartet Collection
Predominant Dates:1959-1961
Extent: 3.0 MS boxes
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in series as follows: Series 1: Original Reel-to-Reel Audio Recordings and CD Listening Copies; Series 2: Biographical Material and Photographs; Series 3: Song Books and Lists
Date Acquired: 08/31/2007
Forms of Material: Country Music -- Kentucky., Gospel music -- Kentucky -- 20th century., Radio programs -- Kentucky -- Renfro Valley -- History.
This collection documents the radio performing career of the Cash Quartet from Rockcastle County, Kentucky during the 1950-1960s. The collection consists of radio program sound recordings, written program song lists, published song books, photographs, and printed personal appearance programs.
The Cash Quartet was formed by Walter Cash (1929- ) around 1956 in the Ottawa community of southern Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Other members were his wife Reba (1937- ); sister, Joanne (1936- ); and R.H. Hamm (1919-1986). They were all members of the Ottawa Baptist church—currently the Ottawa Missionary Baptist Church. They were one of the many amateur gospel groups that were an integral part of Kentucky’s local music culture and thriving gospel scene during the twentieth century who were not interested in commercial recording.
They began performing over Renfro Valley’s WRVK shortly after it went on the air in 1957 as part of a program called the Sinclair Sunday Serenade sponsored by the local Sinclair Oil distributor. They were heard regularly on WRVK through the late-1960s. They also performed occasionally on John Lair’s Renfro Valley Gatherin’ that was carried by Louisville’s WHAS and other stations. They also sang frequently at local and regional monthly sings and singing conventions in Kentucky, especially those in Pulaski and Laurel Counties, and continued such work after they stopped radio performing.
This collection documents the radio performing career of the Cash Quartet from Rockcastle County, Kentucky during the 1950-1960s. The collection consists of radio program and interview sound recordings, an interview transcript, written program song lists, published song books, photographs, and printed personal appearance programs.
Follow links in the Series 1 list to listen to the program recordings.
Repository: Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog
Access Restrictions: Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College. Listen to the recordings by following the links in the Collection box list.
Use Restrictions: There are no restrictions on the collection other than federal copyright regulations.
Acquisition Source: The collection was given to Berea College by Audrey Hamm and the surviving quartet members august 31, 2007. There are no restrictions on the collection other than federal copyright regulations.
Preferred Citation: [Item Identification], Cash Gospel Quartet Collection, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, Ky.
