How Great Thou Art - James "Big Chief" Wetherington

[@MikeAndrews-op6li]

I turn 75 tomorrow, and I grew up with Southern Gospel music. I've gone to hundreds of concerts of many, many groups, and I can state without hesitation, The Chief is the greatest bass singer in my lifetime! What a thrill it was to hear him....

[@RKPiano-vi8fq]

The gold standard bass!

[@ipvideogames]

Notice how when he hits the lowest notes in the song, he doesnt move any closer to the mic. True power

[@raeganelizabethh]

He is my great grandfather. I'm 11 and I have gotten the singing talent that runs in the family. Sadly I obviously never got the chance to meet him but I still feel like he's met me. He's in an amazing place now. He still is a legend. I did get to meet his wife tho. She was the best person I had ever met and my inspiration. She loved him so much and I remember she would show me pictures and listen to his music everyday. I miss her so much and can't wait to see them both one day. It's just kinda cool to know I'm related to such amazing people 💛 edit : i’m now 12 and have been looking into his music so much more and i am amazed with his talent. i one day wish to be as good and successful as he was. may he rip :)

[@RaleyCreativeTravel]

Thats awesome. My cousins husband sang with your great grandfather back in the late 40's and early 50's while with the Statesmen.

[@dr.know-it-all5148]

Big Chief was the Best!

[@dilnecarvalho6675]

Very good! I'm braziliam fan. He and doy ott are my favorit singer.

[@dilnecarvalho6675]

Its true! He was your granfather?

[@dilnecarvalho6675]

He died still yonger 50 years!

[@lonemapper]

I have talked to Ray Reese, Tim Riley and both said Chief was the best. But the ultimate compliment came from who I think most would say was the best bass. George Younce was a huge Chief fan.

[@richardclark8607]

No doubt, one of the greatest bass singers whoever lived, singing the greatest Gospel song ever written. How Great Thou Art. If this doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet.

[@kimberleydahlbergmoon2848]

richard clark

[@kimberleydahlbergmoon2848]

richard clark

[@chrisgeisler4525]

I agree with a comment made by BillVol, and J.D. Sumner. "Big Chief" truly was one of the best. A fuller and richer sound with unbelievable timbre! I can only imagine hearing his voice in Heaven.

[@newtonbrook]

Big Chief, Excellent voice. Very well rounded. Has a very good sense of presence.

[@bettycampbell6713]

Loved the Chief, 1st time seeing him in Augusta ,Ga. 1953

[@bm1043]

thee greatest song ever and a great gospel bass

[@hugedell]

Many people can sing low, but this man was a "basso cantabile", a good SINGER not just growler!!!!

[@brandonriggs1788]

One of my favorite basses singing one of my favorite songs. Simply amazing! Warm and calming!

[@spiper968]

This is my favorite hymn, and one the THE bass

[@humpty318]

What's amazing is he doesn't hold the mic and "swallow" it like 95% of bass singers do. He is two feet from the mic!!! Wow.

[@mcmerry2846]

Because he is not on a big scenario. Plus he is just not using ultra deep notes, he is just singing chest voice.

[@jcb155]

Not the deepest, but the richest bass. Benchmark for all Southern Gospel basses since. Even an example for Elvis, both in timbre and leg shaking ;) Big Chief was undoubtedly one of the greatest singers.

[@johanpaul5010]

Agreed! *BenchMark For All Souther Gospel bass Singers!* *Big Chief Wetherington*

[@vitormrmr]

His voice is deep enough And was heavy a lot.

[@militarychief]

Thank you for this video. Chief was a true "bass singer" as was Tennessee Ernie Ford. I liked J.D. Sumner but I quit listening when he would "growl". I never considered the growling singing.

[@JoeLarnaque]

What a voice, what a bass. My idol.

[@Rabadamtimtimti]

Staggering performance.

[@JakeWhite45]

Impeccable

[@lonemapper]

Love Big Chief. Thank you.

[@4heavenbound]

I can still hear him, Rosie and Hovie singing at the Long Beach Auditorium in Long Beach, California back in the early 60's when I was about 15 years old. Great memories. Thanks for posting.

[@JD-ij5fi]

I was there also!!! Those concerts Polly Grimes promoted were absolutely the very best. How fortunate we were to be there!!!!

[@GospelPhil]

I was in Atlanta when the Chief died. He was a great bass and a wonderful person. I always loved to hear the Statesmen sing at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis. We got our tickets as soon as we found out when from the Blackwood Brothers Record Shop...always on the first or second row!

[@calliethecowgirl]

ELVIS loved this man before Elvis became the " King of Rock and Roll" he wanted to be like the " Big Chief" bass singer and all he even got his moves from the Big Chief ......

[@ramey58]

The Chief was wonderful! I sing the bass to this song in a quartet 15 or 20 times per year. I love the Chief. Also, George Younce, J.D. Sumner and Richard Sterban. Harold Reid of the Statlers never impressed me. There will never be another "Big Chief."

[@RaleyCreativeTravel]

Thanks for sharing this. My cousins husband (Bobby Strickland) sang with Big Chief and the Statesmen in late 40's and early 50's. He passed in an automobile accident in like 1953. Thanks gaain.

[@JAMAICNLIGHTEN818]

What a voice.... What a voice..... What a Voice... Absolutely Beautiful! Thank's so much for sharing.

[@van44m]

I have just recently discovered the sensational Statesmen Quartet and I can't get enough of them. I especially love BIg Chief. His voice is truly amazing and he has such charisma. I think I read that Elvis admired him as well.

[@victoryopop]

Beautiful music, indeed. I guess those high school Spanish lessons did come in handy, after all. None the less, wonderful performance by big chief here

[@Joseph88keyz]

"normal " isnt always a 'good' thing.It's awesome that you love this kind of music.You have something in common with one of the legends of music,Elvis Presley..as James "Big Chief" was HIS favorite.Elvis always wanted to sing bass in a Gospel Quartet. I was fortunate enough to have met and speak with Hovie Lister (the piano player for The Statesmen Quartet) never give up on that goal! make Elvis and Big Chief proud and one day I will see you there too! God bless you

[@GamingDrummer89]

@hugedell He sounds more like a Basso Profundo to me. And he has one quality that not even Tim Riley possesses....he sounds like an Operatic Basso Profundo, too!

[@janbohme]

A true Basso profundo - capable of, not only singing, but making music out of, the register beneath the low F. Really impressive. A younger counterpart like Harold Reid uses more of a "creaking" technique on the lowest notes, and always hogs the mike when he's below F.

[@BlackBart48]

I'm a big JD Sumner fan, but on this song there is no one like Big Chief in any genre

[@hillviewify]

the boss will enjoy listening to him in person.

[@landmine950]

The difference and POWER of these people is that the know JESUS. You can too.....read the bible, pray and ask GOD to meet you. He will. "seek and you shall find"

[@lonemapper]

@revskull I had a similar opinion until a friend of mine made me a cd of nothing but Chief. He was incredible! If he is not a "true bass" I don't know who would be. I had the privilege of speaking with George Younce on many occasions and his speaking voice never sounded like his singing voice and he is my all time favorite. If you listen to a wide range of Chiefs songs, as I did, you get a different feel for this guys talent.

[@sunnybaig2961]

Elvis loved Big Chief

[@pro3tlb]

I knew J. D. and he would be the first to tell you that he loved the "Big Chief". Chief could carry a low note in key better than J. D. and was able to sing at about any level as far as bass or baritone.

[@GamingDrummer89]

@JazzBassist777 +1. George was definitely a bass. In fact, in jowox's 7th video has him hitting an E1! And although it sounded fried at first, you can tell at the end of the note (when you can hear him more clearly because the music is quieter) that it's most likely not. And in most of the videos I've seen George in, he's got a pretty deep speaking voice.

[@spiper968]

Not sure why it posted it but it was supposed to say one of THE bass singer of bass s

[@JuggernautWest]

Would Big Chief be considered a basso profound/oktavist? Not sure on the terminology, exactly. But he seems to be able to go lower than most basses.

[@33MarciS]

I think Big Chief had a prettier, richer tone but he couldn't sing as low as J.D. Sumner. Sumner could sing lower than a piano could play and held the world record for a time. Of course, I do think you're right that he seems to be able to go lower than most basses but I doubt he would've been a member of the top gospel quartet otherwise. :)

[@Sgt.Hartman]

***** basso profundo relies not only on depth, but also power and tone, he has the tone and the depth, but i don't know if he could sing as loudly as a basso profundo, and oktavist refers to depth, and i have never heard him go low enough to be an oktavist. he definitely a low bass, but not much lower than other basses.

[@vitormrmr]

Him, Arnold Hyles, John Hall and Paul Robeson had operatic voices But Chief had a bit nasal voice, despite his awesome timbre.

[@lonemapper]

@gregryf JD was fabulous in the Blackwood days. No offense, but I can't remember ANY bass with the Chuckwagon that could come close to the Chief. I would say if he was that good you wouldn't forget his name and i would know him.

[@revskull]

I think the real power of the Chief he still has so much style and vocal control so far away from the mic.... ... if you watch, so many bass singers today actually cup the mic, and basically stick it in their mouth, when they want to fry out their low notes....not the Chief!!

[@anorangewithacapybaraunder2370]

1:15

[@lonemapper]

@maltliickey Every great bass that I had the privilege of meeting smoked cigarettes. Never met Chief. My dentist keeps telling me about the importance of dental hygeine, says the lack of contributes to heart disease. Bacteria in the teeth and gums can spread to the heart. It is my understanding that Chief had tooth absesses that may have caused his heart attack. Remember this, probably every singer smoked back then.

[@spiper968]

Urrggg, gunna have to fix this, bass singer of bass singers!!

[@revskull]

though many, including myself, really enjoyed George... I never really consider him a true bass.... rather, a deep baritone who could reach the upper register of bass... you can tell by his speaking voice that he was'nt really a true bass, but had a rather large vocal range..

[@jinx1821]

Excuse me, what?

[@revskull]

@@jinx1821 just sayin'

[@NJDAVE]

It doesn’t always work that way. Listen to London Parris talk between songs. He sounds like a baritone but when he sings he can knock out low Gs with as much or more authority than anyone ever. I actually think JD purposely talked lower than he needed to or was natural but that was his shtick.

[@j.r.5130]

Well said Jesse James Kindrick i agree

[@godschozen1000]

George is definitely a true bass. He hits the notes with power and low too.

[@chowman007]

I enjoy listening to Big Chief n he is one of my top 5. But Big John Hall or Jim McClintock would render a better performance.