Golden State Quartet 1948

Macy Smith - Tenor

Earl Hendrix - Baritone

Evelyn Smith - Piano

(Mrs Macy Smith)

Johnnie Beeson - Lead

Kenneth "Ken" Beeson - Bass

It was the summer of 1948 when four men of the Lord decided to go to the "Normal School of Music" in Fresno California, specifically for the purpose of quartet training. Each man was in his own right already a trained musician, being that they were teachers and music directors. This is where these men met. They decided to gather at the home of Macy Smith to have some fun just harmonizing. Macy's wife Evelyn was at the piano (by the way, she was always a wonderful pianist) and that was the beginning of the Golden State Quartet. In the 1990's Macy started a group called the "Gospel Tones".

I personally knew Macy, Evelyn and Ken, it was such an honor to have known such wonderful people of God and to follow in the tradition started by them over 63 years ago.

Allen White