The Inspirations: An American Treasure
by Barbara Huffman

     Once again, it's that time of the year when we pause and reflect on this great country in which we live and all things great about America. As our nation celebrates its birthday this month, it only seems fitting to pay tribute to a group that is considered by many to be a national institution in Southern Gospel Music. And that group is none other than the Inspirations.

This group is all about tradition. From the songs they sing to the way they live, the Inspirations have carried on a grand tradition of hard work, high personal standards of living, and taking a stand for the Christian values and principles about which they sing and live. And here at Singing News, we think that's something to be celebrated. So, what you are reading is actually a surprise story. The Inspirations knew nothing about this cover feature. It was pieced together by another great American tradition ~ being nosy! You'd be surprised at all the interesting facts you can find by snooping around, talking to folks who love this group, researching old Singing News magazines, and surfing the Internet.

In all honesty, though, their record speaks for itself. Forty-two years on the road, numerous awards and accolades, more than fifty recordings with more than 700 songs, millions of road miles, the successful Singing In The Smokies annual concerts, television appearances, consistently packed concert halls, and a reputation without blemish... there's no other like them. The Inspirations truly are an American treasure.

Trying to come up with one sentence to describe the Inspirations can be a daunting task. How can you sum up their career in one phrase? Borrowing from their web site, the following is about as close as one will get: "The Inspirations are an enthusiastic, sincere, clean-cut group of fundamental conservative Christian gentlemen with a desire and an objective to witness to a needful and sinful world through the medium of Gospel Music." That pretty much sums it up. That sentence describes the group today as well as when they began 40 years ago.

This quartet began in quite an unassuming way. Martin Cook, group pianist and founder, was teaching chemistry at Swain County High School. He had been the Kingsmen's first pianist, and had also played for a local group as well. He decided to gather together with four of his students and do some singing, The singing sessions became a nightly event in the basement of Martin's home, but it wasn't long until the group hit the road, and the Inspirations Quartet was born. The original members included Martin on piano, tenor Archie Watkins, lead Ronnie Hutchins, baritone Jack Laws, and bass Troy Bums. Troy eventually became the group's lead vocalist in later years.

In 40+ years of traveling, there have only been fourteen full-time members of this group. That is a rather remarkable statistic in this age of constant change. The Inspirations just seem to, well for lack of a better term, recycle. Martin and Archie, of course, have been with the group for all 40 of those years. Jack Laws is back on the road with the group, and he always was considered one of the group even during the years he wasn't traveling with them. Mike Holcomb is the group's seasoned veteran bass singer with over 33 years tenure with the group. Martin's son, Myron, has played the upright bass guitar for the group for over 20 years. Lead singer Matt Dibler has been a part of the group for nearly seven years. The Inspirations newest member, Melton Campbell ably fills the baritone spot these days.

Ron Hutchins, the original lead singer left the road in 1998, but he now takes care of the day to day business for the group, and he also created and maintains the group's amazing and extremely comprehensive website, www.theinspirations.com. That kind of longevity is hard to find in today's world of constant change. However, it goes to show that the staying power of this group can be traced to the personal dedication, commitment, and work ethic of each individual member.

Along with Ron, former members, Marlin Shubert and Chris Smith join the current group for Reunion Concerts several times each year, especially during the Singing In The Smokies promotions. When the Inspirations take to the stage, they are a cohesive unit working together to achieve that traditional Gospel quartet sound for their many fans and friends who come out in droves to hear this popular group.

But individual successes can also be found within this organization. There are two Marvin Norcross Award winners in the ranks of the Inspirations. This award is the highest honor given at the Singing News Fan Awards each year, and Archie took home the award in 1999. Three years later, the award was bestowed upon Martin in 2002; and the following year he became an inductee to the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Martin, Ron and Myron are college and/or University graduates, Martin and Ron's alma mater being Western Carolina University and Myron's being Southwest Community College. Mike and Matt are both preachers of the Gospel. Matt attended Tabernacle Baptist Bible College and was a church pastor for several years before resigning to spend more time with his family and continue his singing with the Inspirations. Mike, too, was a pastor for several years, and has his own program on television called My Heart's Desire. He still does evangelistic work when the group schedule allows for it.

The Inspirations are living out a career for which many Gospel artists' only hope and dream. The group has sold well over a million records, been awarded numerous Singing News Fan Awards, honored by many different cities and states, had many special days set aside in their honor, have charted more than 60 hit songs, and have a book written by Bob Terrell in their honor, called What A Wonderful Time, which was titled as such in honor of the group's first hit song. They were regular members on the popular TV program, Gospel Jubilee, and have a video of these most memorable television performances that was released on the Gaither Homecoming series. Their songs have been played around the world in areas such as Kenya, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, The Philippines, Romania, Australia, and Africa. They were once even the subject of a CBS documentary hosted by Roger Mudd.

A list of this group's accomplishments would not be complete without mention of the Singing In The Smokies, which will celebrate its 40th year in 2006. Not only is this concert an annual favorite of the thousands of fans who come to enjoy the great Gospel Music on the mountain, but the event itself has been credited as a great economic factor for this region of western North Carolina. There are three singing sessions each year held at Inspiration Park on a beautiful mountaintop in Bryson City, NC.

While the group invites many of their singing peers to join them on these concerts, there are plenty of others who would jump at the chance to perform on the mountain with the "boys from Bryson City". It's one of those signs that you have arrived in Southern Gospel Music when you get the prestigious invitation to sing at the Singing In The Smokies.

Behind these successful men, there are successful women. The Inspirations have the full support of their wives and families. They couldn't have lasted this long without it. Ora Blanche Cook, Cindy Watkins, Brenda Laws, Paulette Dibler, and Bavaria Holcomb are behind their husbands all the way. Myron married his sweetheart right on the mountain on July 3, during the singing weekend, and so his new bride, Jennifer, can be added to this list of supportive wives. They are always on hand to help at all the singings in Bryson City, and many fans will recall that the Inspirations' concession stand at the park is dubbed "Bavaria's Kitchen."

In a Singing News Valentine story from February 2003, Cindy Watkins said she loved Gospel Music and treasured the fact that so many people enjoyed Archie's music. She said it was an honor to be able to share Archie's talent with so many great Gospel Music fans and she was so blessed that he was so loved by many folks across the country. Her feeling was that all of the fans were more like friends and family to them. This sums up the feeling of this group and their families toward the folks who love and appreciate the Inspirations and their music. That attitude of support and selflessness has been one that has only strengthened these men and what they are doing for the Lord.

The Inspirations are truly in a class by themselves, one-of-a-kind. Their forty-two years in this industry represents lives and careers dedicated to the cause of Christ and Gospel Music. They stand for good moral character, strong work ethic, and Christian values and principles. They stand for God and His Word.