One of the most unique, accomplished, and influential groups in southern gospel music history is the Couriers! Here is their story.
It all began on the campus of the Assemblies of God Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri in 1953...around that time, the Blackwood Brothers Quartet had appeared at the local Shrine Mosque there, and their concert went over so well, that as many as eight student groups began singing on campus and in area churches. One such group was a quartet that called itself the Couriers, to signify their role as "messengers of the gospel message".
The group consisted of tenor Dave Snyder, lead Dick Malone, baritone and pianist Roger Kling, and bass Cliff King. This group stayed together for a year, and released at least one 78 RPM record. Come the 1954 school year, though, they had disbanded.
In 1955, however, some incoming students formed a new group, and took the name "Couriers" for themselves. This group was comprised of tenor Lemuel Boyles, lead Eddie Mosher, baritone Don Baldwin, and bass Dave Kyllonen, with pianist Bob Casebeer. Over the next year or so, several pianists came and went from the group.
When the 1956 school year began, Mosher graduated, and Oklahoman Duane Nicholson replaced him as lead singer. A year later, Boyles graduated as well, and Nicholson moved to tenor. A gifted young man named Neil Enloe joined the group as lead singer. Eddie Reece was also brought into the group as pianist, and that is the group that many refer to today as the "original" Couriers Quartet, because that was the group that existed when the decision was made to make the group a full-time one.
As time went on, the young group began to become more active on weekends singing at concerts out of town. They felt what they believed to be the call of God to use their music as a ministry, and so by 1958, they decided to leave college and venture into the world of full-time, professional gospel singing.
Knowing they lacked the stage presence of the better known quartets, and being almost unknown in the South, then as now the center of the gospel singing world, how would the Couriers establish themselves? Using their church connections, they opted to relocate to western Pennsylvania, eventually settling on the state capitol, Harrisburg, as their base of operations. They managed to get an unpaid position singing on radio station WCMB there. Before long, they began to be invited to sing at churches in the area. The move to Harrisburg was a fortuitious one, for it was an area which few people had heard much of gospel quartet music. The program remained on the air for the next twelve years, eventually expanding to a ten-station "network" throughout Pennsylvania.
One advantage the Couriers realized they had being where they were was that there was virtually no competition in the gospel music marketplace. They didn't have to travel as far as southern groups did to hold concerts in the major population centers of the Northeast and Midwest. Also, with the group's Bible college background and strong devotion to church ministry, they were ready to respond with a combination of traditional quartet music and preaching and testimony with the explosive growth of conservative evangelical churches after World War II. The Couriers' approach was very effective in northern churches unfamiliar with the nuances of the flashier southern groups. The Couriers were talented performers who soon developed a unique style within the gospel quartet world, and thus despite not being well known in the South, by the early 1960s they were themselves sponsoring and promoting concerts not only in much of the Northeast, but in much of Canada as well(where they were quite warmly received). Thus it can be said that the Couriers were primarily responsible for bringing southern gospel music into the Northeast and Canada.
Group manager and baritone Don Baldwin had founded Hymntone Records to record the group, and their earliest recorded material was on Hymntone. The group continued to grow in ability and popularity into the 1960s. But as with many other gospel groups, personnel changes were a frequent occurrence. In 1960, pianist Eddie Reece left the Couriers to begin a youth ministry, eventually settling down in Israel. Neil Enloe began the first of many double duty stints, taking over as pianist until the arrival of Californian Jerry Evans by 1963. It was around that point in time that the group, which like many other groups, struggled financially
to the point that Baldwin announced that the group might have to fold. Immediately, they began singing songs of encouragement to themselves, and remembered that they had embarked upon this journey in response to the call from God...and they didn't fold, but pressed onward.
By 1964, Evans left the Couriers for an offer from another group, and he was replaced by one of the Couriers' most popular members. David Young, and a veteran of many successful gospel groups, including the Prophets Quartet. Young was the first genuine southerner to join the Couriers, and his addition not only expanded them musically, but broadened their following in the South. In addition, the Couriers attracted the attention of Warner Brothers Records, where they recorded two albums. One of the producers at Warner Brothers was particularly impressed by the look and sound of the Couriers, and told them if they would only change the word "Jesus" to "love" in their songs, he would make them more money in six months than they could ever dream of making in gospel music. Given their earlier financial struggles, this had to be tempting to the Couriers, but again, mindful of their purpose they pledged to devote themselves to in singing, they flatly turned down the offer. Those two albums, "Nothing...but the Gospel Truth", and "We've Gotta Sing", are still two of the most sought-after Couriers albums by collectors today.
In 1965, the Couriers expanded their fan base further by joining the cast of the syndicated "Gospel Singing Jubilee" television show, appearing as regulars with the Happy Goodmans, the Dixie Echoes, and the host Florida Boys, and joining them on the Canaan record label for a couple of albums in 1965 and 1966. While never becoming hugely popular in the South, the Couriers were able to expand their fan base there as a result.
Again, by 1966, the Couriers once again were making records for their own label, this time it was Paradise Records. They also changed pianists again, with David Young returning to Georgia, where he continues to live today, performing with his family group and running a recording studio in Cleveland, Georgia. Young has also appeared at the annual Grand Old Gospel Reunion in Greenville, SC.
An even bigger change, though, came just before Young's departure. At that time, longtime manager and baritone Don Baldwin opted to retire from the road. He went into the recording business in Florida, where he lives today in retirement, having battled health problems in recent years, but still alive, and still keeping in touch not only with the group members, but many others in gospel music he worked with through the years. He was replaced in the group by Neil Enloe's brother, Phil, who came to the Couriers from the Jr. Blackwood Brothers. Young was replaced on piano briefly by Neil Enloe once more, but soon the Couriers hired Eddie Hawks as accompanist. Hawks stayed until 1967, when he too left for Florida, forming a group there called the Embers, who sang for a few years. Today Hawks is a minister of music in a church in Lakeland, FL.
Neil Enloe wrote more than 60 songs, and he is recognized today as one of gospel music's preeminent writers. Among his many successful songs are "The Joy of Knowing Jesus" (which became a quartet standard as the 70s dawned), "He's More Than Just A Swear Word", "From A Star To Stripes", and perhaps his best known song of all, "Statue of Liberty", which not only was probably the Couriers' most famous song, but the song that propelled the Cathedral Quartet to prominence in the mid 70s.
In 1968, perhaps the biggest change of all came to the Couriers. Phil Enloe stepped down, and he was not replaced. Instead, bass singer Dave Kyllonen moved up to bass/baritone, and the Couriers became a trio, and remain one to this day. Because of Dave's vocal range, the resulting trio was about as full-sounding as any there was, and the Couriers were about to embark on their most popular phase yet.
One important aspect to note is that the Couriers' performances became increasingly evanglical during this period. Their concerts started to conclude with a sermon from Kyllonen (an ordained minister), and an altar call. Their musical sound also started to become more "Inspirational" than merely southern gospel. They were able to maintain their southern gospel fan base, though, and one thing they began doing at that time that has become the vogue for many southern gospel groups is using soundtracks to accompany them vocally in concerts, since their music on record was becoming more elaborately orchestrated. The Couriers were probably the first major group in gospel music to use soundtrack accompaniment routinely. On older songs or other songs that just needed piano, Enloe continued to play it on stage, but that aspect was becoming less and less prevalent in Couriers' concerts.
The Couriers made many of their most popular records in the 70s on the Tempo label, winning three Dove awards along the way...one for Song of the Year for "Statue of Liberty", another for Inspirational Album of the Year with their well-known concert album "Ovation", and one more Associate Award for contributions to gospel music.
In 1980, Dave Kyllonen left the group to become a missionary in the Caribbean for a couple of years, then becoming a pastor of a church in Iowa, before forming a family ministry by 1990. Phil Enloe returned to the Couriers to take Kyllonen's place, and the group continued on through the 80s and 90s. About 1997 or so, the older members realized that if the Couriers' unique musical ministry was to continue, it would have to be with a new generation of Couriers. Gradually over the next three years Scot Womble, Larry More, and Kristian Walker were brought into the group, and at the end of 2000, Nicholson and the Enloes announced their retirement, turning the name over to the younger trio, who have since carried on the Couriers ministry and tradition since then...joined in 2002 by Tim Beitzel, who replaced Walker when the latter decided to pursue his own ministry interests.
So the Couriers remain active today...with lead Womble, tenor More, and bass/baritone Beitzel continuing the Couriers unique musical ministry.
But the story doesn't end quite there...in 2001, Kyllonen got together again with Nicholson and Enloe for a special "original Couriers" reunion concert, and it was such a success, the three decided to reunite for select concerts under the name Dave, Duane, and Neil...they remain a force in gospel music, having recorded a recent CD project, "One Nation Over God", a collection of Enloe songs and other new material as well.
So 51 years, 58 albums, three Doves, and 4,000,000 + road miles later, the Couriers young and old, remain "messengers of the heavenly message", and remain an important, influential part of the larger history of southern gospel music.
I want to recongnize and thank Duane Nicholson, his daughter, Meredith Schoppe, and Neil Enloe for supplying information and cooperation in the preparation of this article.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 12/01/2004
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Category: SG History 101
Comments: 69
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John,
Great article on a group that has - and is - always possessed a quality sound with an inspiring message.
Dean
John,
Your story brought back great memories of the times we as couriers traveled and laughed and cried together. But we made it. I left the couriers to study for the chaplaincy and entered the Air Force as a chaplain in 1966. I had the priviledge of joining the couriers a few years ago for a reunion and it brougt back such great memories. Dave, Duane, and Neil remain great friends and I know that they will have a special place in heaven for their great ministry. I have the joy of being with Don Baldwin this Dec for a cruise in the Carribean and will be enjoying telling old stories and laughing together. Thank you for the article
Great article, John! Sounds like a group that I wish I would've known.
OK...I guess this comment is sort of like the psge 2 in newspapers, where they publish corrections of errors in stories. It was pointed out to me by an unimpeachable source that I am in error regarding Phil Enloe's original entry into the Couriers...seems that Phil joined the group at the same time Eddie Hawks did, only staying a year and a half longer than Hawks did. And Hawks didn't go to the Jr. Blackwood Brothers...Phil Enloe came to the Couriers FROM the Jr. Blackwood Brothers!
Very good article John. The Couriers were one of the greatest groups to ever grace a stage. Their records from the 60s and 70s were some of the best ever made.
WOW That was a fact filled article. You did a great job gathering all the info to put together a great article. It is intersting how one group can affect so many along the way.
Thanks for a great article.
Just wanted to add my comment to the public. Great article! Thank you John!
John,
First of all, thank you, Meredith, for bringing those aspects of the Couriers' unique ministerial calling...one of my purposes in writing about the Couriers was not only their musical impact(which, as I hope I showed, was considerable)but that with all the talk of music "ministries", the Couriers were trailblazers in that area as well.
Just one correction to a great article Central Bible College is in Springfield Missiouri not Springfield Ill. But you know those of us in Missiouri dont like to be confused with the Blue state of Ill. ( Just kidding) Great article.
I did not even see that mistake and I went to Evangel College not that far away from CBC.
Thanks for catching that mistake on the cities. I missed it as well during my proof. Guess that was because I grew up in Illinois and just didn't register the mistake in state names though I an very aware of the headquarters of the Assembly of God being in Springfield, MO.
Oops...another mistake....that's what I get for typing it at 2:30 in the morning!:-)
John, great article. I grew up on the music of The Couriers and never imagined I'd BE one! I have the greatest respect and admiration for the guys who established this ministry and I'm proud to call them my friends. Larry, Scot and I are priveleged to be called "Couriers" and realize those are some pretty big shoes to fill. By the way,if any of you have a chance to go see "Dave, Duane and Neil" do it. They still do an awesome job.
John: Thanks for the article about our group, The Couriers. I read the part about Eddie Hawks coming to us from The Junior Blackwoods and the error concerning Phil Enloe. I also knew that an unimpeachable source would set the record straight if they saw the error! Ha. I wonder who that was?
As someone who continues to be inspired by the anointed music of these men - The Couriers - I am writing to say thank you for writing such a great article!
Thank you all so much for your comments(and criticisms!)...it was a labor of love to write this article!
Great article John. Just thought I'd let some folks know that you can get some of the older Records of the Couriers on CD if you go to Ebay.
John,
Thanks for the article regarding the history of the Couriers. Just one observation - - when I left the Couriers, I didn't play with the Jr. Blackwood Brothers. Phil Enloe sang with them prior to joining the Couriers. I had a group called The Embers and then began a full-time church music ministry. I am now the minister of music at Victory Church in Lakeland, FL. Dave, Duane, and Neil will be with us Sunday night, Jan. 23rd. Thanks, Eddie Hawks
Eddie...
Great job John.
Me and my brother Ken along with Larry woodrum,Janice Malcolm, And Pat Dyer started a southern gospel group called the revelaires. The couriers were our biggest influence. I still love there music and have many of there albums.
John-
Let me first say, Neil, thank you for your comments!
My wife and I have seen the Couriers perform many times during the last 40+ years, and they never failed to convey the message that Neil Enloe so vividly relays in his post above. It was very obviously that the Couriers sang for the glorification of God. What a classy group!
The Couriers have always been a "cut above". When I was a member of the Keystone Quartet,they were the group I most respected and admired.Through all these years they have proven that respect and admiration to be well founded.I could not have drawn a "blueprint" for better role models. Their singing(pitches,harmony,blend,arrangements)is impeccable, as is their integrity.
Hello everyone,Thanks to John and the Unthanks for the article and all thewonderful comments about the Couriers.
I have known Duane,Neil,Dave,and yes Don Baldwin
I'd like to post again on my feelings and appreciation for The Couriers.
We are fans of The Couriers,having heard them about 1960 or 1962. They had such a beautiful blend,and Larry Moore recorded an album in Greenville,S.C. with "Little" David Young playing piano.
John,
looking to sing gospel, have voice range to two octaves below middle c
I am looking for a CD by Kristian Walker.
Dee, you can inquire about that at the Couriers webpage, http://www.thecouriers.com!
Dee-
Thank you again, Neil, for steering Dee in the right direction...I have no doubt she'll find what she watns faster with the direct approach!
Dear John,
Very nice and interesting to read your article about my old friends, The Couriers. I hosted the Couriers' Sweden tour way back in 1969. We were having a great time and great singing together with the Samuelson Brothers, and Dave, Duane and Neil still have a number of fans and friends over here. It's great to see them still going strong. Sweden is calling for them again!
WOW!!! Did this article bring back the memories. in my late teens i used to get up 2 hours early on sunday mornings just to watch their 1/2 hour t.v. program. i grew up in pa. and went to many of their church concerts and their concerts at the farm show building in harrisburg. thanks for all the great reflections!
reading the inspiring article and many of the comments regarding the couriers sent me on a reflective journey to the sixties...when i first heard this incredible group...they sang at my home church in so calif...amazing talent, yet so unassuming and personable...i still have several courier albums from the old days...my brothers and i tried to sing "joy,joy" but never figured out those intricate chord progressions...then just a few years back, i had the opportunity to hear duane, neil and phil at the grand old gospel reunion in sc...i waited all evening for them to sing and finally at the end of the evening concert, the couriers were announced...from the back of the auditorium, three familiar unmiked voices could be heard harmonizing on "lily white stone"...i thought i'd been transported to the heavenlies...down the aisles they came, proceeding to the stage for the closing verses...followed by a holy hush over the crowd, then a spontaneous standing ovation...thanks for the memories
The original Couriers travelled extensively in Canada, and became great friends. They sang at our wedding in 1975, and we made the trip for their Reunion and it was worth every mile. I had a Canadian group called the Master's, and the Couriers were constantly encouraging us, at every turn. We had the honor to sing with them many times, and I count them as true friends.
We remember the Couriers also from back in the 1970's. Duane Nickolson lived a mile from us. And any time you seen him, he always had a smile on his face and then he would share with you what God was doing in the ministry.
I have been a fan of the Couriers since 1964 when I first heard their incredible music on the Gospel Singing Jubilee TV program. Watching them and keeping track of their lives and ministry was an inspiration to me to pursue a music ministry. They were and are ministers of gospel music, not just entertainers!
Ronnie, I certainly agree that The Couriers were ministers of gospel music, not just entertainers.
John,
Thank you all for the continuing comments!
John, What a great article. Of all the groups that I have had the priviledge to know and share the stage with, there were none hat had the impact on my life, personally, than the original Couriers. They wer encouragers of the highest order, as well as sinsere ministers of the Gospel who carries their testimonies off stage as well as on. We have been friends for a long time(longer than I care to count) I first heard them at A youth camp in PA in 1958 or59. I would encourage your readers o visit their web-site at http://www.daveduaneandneil.com and purchase their new project. It is terrific.
Bryan Jones passed away this morning, June 12,05.
I just read the article, really enjoyed it. If possible please pass this along to the original Couriers, as we ministered together in many concerts in New York City, as Christian Church John 3:16, Bronx NY with Rev. Richard Tanon.
Dear John: The passing of Bryan Jones was not taken lightly by Dave, Duane and Neil. On occasion, Bryan played for us, and whenever he was in attendance at one of our concerts we always prevailed upon him to play the piano. I remember, with sadness, the last time I saw him. He told me that he could no longer play the piano for physical reasons. That was devastating news. Bryan, of all the piano players we ever had, could make the Old Hymns come alive and so we used him on a Hymn album. To this day when you ask me what a great higlight of singing has been ,I would tell you it was the days that Bryan would sit at the piano and inspires The Couriers way beyond our abilities to soar into heavely places with the grand old gospel hymns.
Gentlemen,
The Couriers became my favorite quartet with Duane,Neil,Don,Dave,and David. I have most of their LPs and a friend has converted them over to CDs. I am so thankful that I can continue to enjoy their rich harmony structures and the joy they presented in their songs. But most of all I appreciated their passion for the gospel and ministering for Him to His people. I saw the Couriers many times in Nashville and Scottsville, Ky and have many fond memories of their concerts. The three guys still do a fantastic job. Keep on keeping on, gentlemen. And May God Contine to Bless You!
Does anyone know where I can obtain the lyrics to the Couriers' beautiful song "Statue of Liberty"? I've done a websearch but keep coming up empty. I have just recently heard this song again and have fallen in love with it all over again.
Edna,
I recently saw Duane, Neil and Dave at
My personal experience has been extremely positive. I know that these three guys are not only great singers, but wonderful, Christian men. I encourage anyone wanting to hear some great gospel music and sincere testimony to book this time-tested trio.
It was so great looking back at all the memories. My group, The Singing Canadians have fond memories of the original Couriers, as we travelled so much together both in Canada and the US. Much time has gone by, and it's nice to know we both are still singing for Jesus. It's hard to get it out of your system, isn't it. Neil, the Statue of Liberty is still one of the favorite songs we did, back then. Keep on Keepin on, guys.I hope we get to sing together again soon, when you're in Canada in the Southern Ontario, area.
yes i lvoe the isaacs very much and hope to see them very soon!!
My maiden name was Beitzel. I was just wondering who Tim Beitzel's ancestors are. Were they from western Maryland/ south/western PA?
I went to http://www.thecouriers.com/references.htm
I was raised in South Central PA and probably do have relatives in MD though I'm not sure where that branch grows from...after all, with a name like Beitzel, we all HAVE to be related!
I don't know when I've heard gospel music that is both enormously inspiring as well as being musically entertaining and fun. The performance of Dave, Duane and Neil at Friendship Church in Palm Desert this morning has greatly enriched my life.
Greetings in JESUS name.
Very encouraging songs that really uplifted and touched the hearts of many in the Lord in the 70s on their tour to Western Samoa.Im so keen to get a copy of all their songs including my favourite UNTIL i FOUND THE lORD,Why did He go to Calvary,God spoke to Adam etc.Keep the fire burning.
I often wonder if Couriers' sponsors in any of the other 80 lands you visited, enjoy the kudos I gained having them minister here. Thirty years after the tours, you know, Australian Christians still think, regardless of my vigorous protests, that I created you; moulded you into a great group, taught you how to sing so good, and let you go to America to get famous like you did. It's a warm cosy feeling, and I'll hold on to it as long as I can. God bless you again and again .... Les Nixon, Sydney, Australia
Response to Les Nixon-
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