Statesmen Quartet - 1949 - LISTEN TO THE BELLS.wmv

Dec. 1949 Rare footage of the Statesmen with Cat Freeman on high tenor and Jake Hess before the wig.

[@jennahaw]

I cannot believe I finally found video of my Uncle CAT!! So happy to finally have some video! Nobody had a voice like Cat! I will be up all night long watching these!

[@PreservingMemories2]

I love Cat as much as you do. I had searched for his video as well. this was the first video the Statesmen made. I saw him with the Statesmen when they sang at my hometown of Fayette, AL. when I was a boy. Cat is probably one of the most unrated of all the quartet singers. I visited he and Vestal's home place in Fyffe a few years ago. Thanks for viewing and commenting. I'm sure you found the other video with Cat. Our former pastor's wife Sis. Helen Pope said that Cat got his hair done at the same beauty shop she used in Fyffe.

[@PreservingMemories2]

Just uploaded a live concert in Franklin, TN featuring Cat.

[@jarrodgeorge325]

My Dad carried his mail for awhile. He would receive Christmas cards from the Gaithers and many other music acts that loved him. He sang over Hank Williams' funeral and could drive up to the gates of Graceland at any time and Elvis would let him in to visit and sing. The BEST tenor voice in Gospel.

[@NouveauPasse]

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!! I have the Capitol 78 of this. I believe it was released in 1949 also. The Statesmen are my all time favorite gospel quartet. None better!!

[@rmarkrussell]

There's an unmistakable "Rangers" influence evident here, especially in Chief's handling of the bass part and the heaviness of the the parts. AWESOME!!

[@LeanoSamwinga]

The Rangers definitely played a huge role in The Statesmen’s success. 3/5 of The Statesmen came from an earlier iteration of The Rangers - Denver Crumpler, Doy Ott and Hovie Lister were all in The Rangers

[@kentcliffordcooley5233]

Vestal Goodmans brother Cat Freeman singing tenor! Awesome!

[@geetarplayer1990]

This is the first video I have ever seen with Cat. I have only heard 78's. I am from Fyffe and my dad carried Cat's mail for years and they sang together often and were good friends. Thanks for posting.

[@PreservingMemories2]

This is all that I have been able to find. I hope there are more. I love Cat Freeman's singing.

[@kentcliffordcooley5233]

Jake Hess with his own real hair. Not much but he has his own real hair here. lol!

[@PreservingMemories2]

The baritone is Bervin Kendrick. Mosie was the lead singer for a very short time. He recommended Jake when he left the group. When Bervin left the group he joined his friend Bobby Strickland forming the Crusaders in B'ham, AL. Bobby was the original high tenor with the Statesmen. Bobby was killed in an auto accident not long afterwards. Bervin's back was broken and he was never able to travel with a group after the accident. They were both wonderful singers. Bobby was only 34 years old.

[@jamesroberson3617]

Bervin Kendrick was my uncle. He was one of the better baritones of that era.

[@buenamb]

None better! Never has been, never will be! Can't wait to get to Heaven to hear this in person!

[@PreservingMemories2]

You are right it was 1949. You are also right that there is none better. I'm sure you are aware that Cat Freemen is Sister Vestal's brother.I have visited their home place in Fyffe, AL. The story is that Howard Goodman and Cat would sing on Rev. C.T. Douglas' radio program on WVOK in Birmingham, AL Cat would bring Howard home with him to Fyffe and that is how he meet Vestal. And the rest is history! The Happy Goodman Family would not have been without Vestal!!

[@angeloflovebestlover3276]

JUST AMAZING..............

[@beatapt5]

Wonderful. Thanks for posting this. Doesn't surprise me that there is a lack of Cat Freeman video from this period. What does stump me is that after all the Nabisco/Denver Crumpler video taken, I've not seen any clips from Cat's second round (1957?) with the Statesmen.

[@ScottM184]

As I understand it, when Cat replaced Denver, Nabisco cancelled the show, because they felt that the Statesmen were no longer the same type of quartet they originally signed. It's a shame, because Cat was as good as anyone I've heard.

[@LeanoSamwinga]

I believe cancelled because Cat wasn’t a permanent tenor and they wanted a secure lineup.

[@PreservingMemories2]

The video collection that these songs came from stated that it was 1949.Yes I fondly remember Bobby Strickland and the Crusaders of Birmingham, AL. I used to listen to them on WVOK radio. They sang at our Alabama COG Campmeeting shortly before the car crash that killed Bobby Strickland.

[@RaleyCreativeTravel]

My cousin was married to Bobby Strickland. I sure would have loved to got to know Bobby but he passed in like 1953. His widow just passed last month. She was 97.

[@PreservingMemories2]

I totally agree. Thanks for your comments,

[@PreservingMemories2]

Cat Freeman was indeed an Alabama treasure. It is sad that there are not more videos of him. I saw him with the Statesmen in Fayette, AL as a child. Thanks for your comment.

[@frlouiegoad4087]

2017 how we have fallen .

[@Foxxnioxx]

Wait till you see 2020!

[@christiangarage]

@@Foxxnioxx wait till you see 2021

[@SMaamri78]

@DK Garage Wait till you see 2023

[@leemiller689]

Does anybody know who the baritone singer is?

[@christiangarage]

Bervin Kendrick

[@kyldy]

okay so Cat freeman Hovey on piano Jake Hess and Big Chief but who is the other fellow

[@Ron-jd4th]

That is Bervin Kendrick, and he is singing the Baritone part.

[@PreservingMemories2]

I agree totally.

[@IsaacGHayne-ll3lt]

Maravilhoso!

[@rmarkrussell]

The obvious question....are there more???

[@PreservingMemories2]

It seems to me that there were no more Nabisco TV Shows after Denver's death. That is too bad.

[@vitormrmr]

2:48 Eb2