James D. Vaughan started the Vaughan Publishing Company in about 1902. He was a publisher of Gospel Hymnals. In May of 1910 he founded the Vaughan Quartet. The first quartet consisted of his brother Charles, George W. Sebren, Joe M. Allen, and Ira T. Foust. Actually, the "original" Vaughan Quartet was founded by James Vaughan and his three brothers, John, Charles, and Will. The difference being this was not a fulltime travelling group. By the mid 1920�s there were about sixteen quartets under the banner of the Vaughan Publishing Company traveling to concerts, revivals, singing conventions, and tent meetings in all parts of the country from the east coast to the west coast and from Canada into the gulf coast region. At each concert they promoted the sales of the newest Gospel song book. His inspiration to create the first Southern Gospel quartet is the foundation for many Southern Gospel groups that travel not only nationwide but even worldwide in many instances. Groups like the Stamps Quartets (started by Frank and V.O. Stamps), the Cathedral Quartet, the Kingsmen Quartet, the Gold City Quartet, the Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, The Mark Trammell Trio, Ernie Haase & the Signature Sound Quartet, Legacy Five, the Old Friends Quartet, Squire Parsons Trio, Tony Gore & Majesty, Poet Voices, and many, many others. And that is just the male groups.
Then there are mixed groups like the Chuckwagon Gang, the Speer Family, the Happy Goodman Family, the Mckameys, the Hoppers, the Perrys, the Wilburns, Karen Peck & New River, Shepherds, and many other groups. And then there are the soloists like Michael Combs, and many, many others who are to numerous to mention here on this page. All of these singers owe to some extent their start to James D. Vaughan founder of the Vaughan Publishing Company. For more information on the Vaughan Quartets or James Vaughan go to James Vaughan Museum.
Even more information can be found at these websites:
Southern Gospel Music AssociationSGMA
Singing News Article on James D. VaughanJames Vaughan Bio on Singing News Website
Tennessee Encyclopedia-James Vaughan PageJames Vaughan
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