The Speer Family
| The Speer Family | |
|---|---|
The Speer Family c.1966
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Speers |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genres | Christian, Southern Gospel |
| Years active | 1921–1998 |
| Labels | Heart Warming, RCA Victor |
The Speer Family, (also The Speers) a Southern Gospel family group, was founded in 1921 by George Thomas ("Dad") Speer (1891–1966), his wife Lena Speer ("Mom") (1899–1967), and his sister and brother-in-law Pearl Claborn (1902–1979) and Logan Claborn.
Within two years, the group had become so successful that George Thomas Speer decided to make the group full-time. In the late 1920s, the group established a working relationship with the James David Vaughan Music Company, selling songbooks.
However, the group's success proved to be insufficient to support two families' budgets. In 1925, Logan and Pearl Claborn left the group; Logan returned to his job as a carpenter.
To fill the void, "Dad" Speer enlisted 5-year-old Brock Speer and 3-year-old Rosa Nell Speer to sing with him and his wife. The group's concerts featured several duet songs by "Dad" and "Mom" Speer, and several songs with Brock singing alto and Rosa Nell singing lead.
In 1934, "Dad" Speer accepted a full-time job with the Vaughan Music Company. This position afforded greater financial security for the family. Also in the 1930s, two more siblings, Mary Tom Speer (born 1925) and Ben Speer (born 1930), joined the group.
In 1941, James Vaughan died, and the Speer family left his company. They joined the Stamps-Baxter company, a Vaughan competitor, and also became a regular performer on the WSFA radio station.
"Dad" Speer died in 1966 and "Mom" in 1967. The group, led by brothers Brock and Ben, underwent various configurations over the next several decades. Ben retired from the group in 1993 although he did appear on occasion with the group until Brock officially retired the Speer Family at the 1998 National Quartet Convention. Ben Speer continues to be involved in Southern Gospel music as the Music Director of the Gaither Homecoming Series, and as owner of Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music, a Southern Gospel singing school.
Brock died March 29, 1999.
Ben, Mary Tom, and Rosa Nell continued to make appearances in Gaither Homecoming videos.
The group was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame in 1998, following individual inductions for "Dad" Speer (1971); "Mom" Speer (1972); Brock Speer (1975); and Ben Speer (1995).
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