"I am deeply honored and consider it to be one of
the highlights of my life," Archie said of his Hall of Fame induction. "I am
grateful to the electoral committee members who thought highly enough of me and my gospel
music career to vote for my induction. I'm also thankful to my family, my fellow -
Inspirations, our fans and all others who have been an integral part of my career. But I
thank God first and foremost because He made it possible and fruitful." In addition to Archie, the Living
inductees included: Lou Wills Hildreth (The Wills Family and noted gospel music
television host and journalist); and Joel Hemphill (gospel songwriter and The Hemphills).
Those posthumously enshrined included: Anthony Burger (Kingsmen, The Trio, Soloist and
Gaither Productions pianist); Roger Bennett (Cathedrals Quartet and Legacy Five); David
Reece (Rangers Trio, Rangers Quartet, Harvesters Quartet and Gospel Music comedian); Jimmy
Jones (Rangers Quartet, Deep South Quartet, Sunshine Boys, LeFevres and gospel
songwriter); and James Sego (Sego Brothers and Naomi).
Archie's Hall of Fame
ballot biography that was sent to each Hall of Fame voter reads as follows:
Archie Watkins is one of
Southern Gospel Music's genuine legends and has established himself at the top of his
field in success, stature and respect of his peers. He has spent his entire professional
singing career of 43 years with the Inspirations Quartet after singing a year with the
Bryson City Quartet, a regional gospel singing group from his hometown of Bryson City, NC.
Known for his distinctive voice and trademark singing stance on song endings, Archie is
the all-time dean of Southern Gospel tenors. His voice is identified as giving the
Inspirations their true sound and his tenure with the quartet is a model of consistency in
the Southern Gospel Music world.
Archie was born on
January 6, 1949. Raised in a family with a deep love for gospel music, Archie, his father,
mother, sisters and brother would all get together regularly to sing and play musical
instruments. This led to friends and family organizing the Inspirations in 1964, when he
was only 15 years old. A highly-accomplished athlete at Swain County High School, Archie
gave up playing school sports in order to sing full-time. Shortly after, the songs
"Jesus Is Coming Soon" and "Touring The City" and regular appearances
on the "Gospel Singing Jubilee," broadcast in every major television market in
the United States and viewed by millions weekly, led to the Inspirations becoming a
household name in professional gospel music.
The Inspirations have
placed more songs on Singing News Radio Airplay Charts than any singing group and Archie
has had the feature vocal on more charting songs than any Gospel singer ever, including
three number one and Songs of The Year "Touring That City," "Jesus Is
Mine" and "I'll Not Turn My Back On Him Now." He has been chosen as
Favorite Male Singer three times and Favorite Tenor on four occasions by subscribers of
Singing News in its annual Fan Awards balloting.
Previously, in 1999, he
received the most prestigious honor given by the Singing News Magazine, the Marvin
Norcross Award. Archie is also a longtime member of the Southern Gospel Music
Association's Board of Directors.
