Palmetto State Quartet

Larry Strickland

Still Doing the Music Elvis Loved

If you were lucky enough to see Elvis in the late 1960s and any concert up until his untimely death in 1977, you more than likely saw J.D Sumner and The Stamps on stage with the king of rock and roll. As many of you know, J.D. Sumner was in the Guinness Book of World Records for being able to sing the lowest note ever sang by anyone. J.D. Sumner was an innovator. He was the first artist to tour in a customized bus, which has become standard practice in all genres of music. He was the first to give each member of his group their own individual microphone rather than singing around one or two microphones like all artists had done up until that time. He was also the first quartet to incorporate an additional bass singer in the vocal line-up. There were two bass singers that had the opportunity to stand next to Sumner as a part of the Stamps. The first was Richard Sturbin who would later become the long time bass singer with the Oak Ridge Boys. The other bass singer was a young man named Larry Strickland. Larry joined The Stamps in 1974 and continued on after Elvis’ death, ending his tenure with the legendary quartet in 1980.

Larry went on to form the group, Memphis and toured for a short time. After that, many fans wondered what had happened to Larry Strickland. It was during that time that Larry stepped off of the stage and began managing country music superstars, The Judds. His marriage to Naomi Judd once again put Larry in the media spot light, but Larry chose to remain behind the scenes and serve in a managerial position. With the wildly successful career of The Judds, Larry could have easily retired and enjoyed a nice, quiet life with no schedules, deadlines or any of the headaches involved in the music business. In 2008, Larry did something that no one expected him to do. He purchased Palmetto State Quartet, a gospel quartet with a long history in the business. “I really missed singing and I love this kind of music. I can remember all of the times me and all of the Stamps would gather around the piano with Elvis and sing gospel music. There’s just something about it that I love and I know Elvis loved it. I think if he were alive, he would be happy to see that I’m doing what I’m doing”, says Strickland. Larry will once again be appearing with former Stamps members on August 16 in Memphis at the Fed Ex Forum to commemorate the 35^th Anniversary of the passing of Elvis Presley. The rest of the year you can see Larry Strickland with Palmetto State. Larry has assembled some of the best singers in the music business to make up Palmetto State and just as J.D. Sumner did, he has also included a second bass singer in the mix. Their song, "Moment of Grace holds the number one position for the month of July 2012 in the Christian Voice Magazine. To keep up with Larry Strickland and Palmetto State, you can follow them on Facebook and twitter or go to www.psqworld.com. Larry and Naomi live on the south side of Nashville. Palmetto State is based and operates out of Nashville.

PALMETTO STATE POISED TO EXPAND REACH
PSQ Partners to bring Southern Gospel Music to Wider Audience

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The historic Palmetto State Quartet announces the newest
incarnation of this enduring vocal ensemble that defies the quartet label. The group
assembles not four, but five vocalists, and breaks out of any traditional mold by refusing
to define its members by vocal part. The diverse lineup includes: Mike Allen, a fixture
on the popular Gaither Homecoming television series, who had never signed on
officially with any one group until now; Jeremy Easley, the X-Factor season-one, top-15
finalist (male vocalist ages 15–30 category) who received a standing ovation from
Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and L. A. Reid; Paul Lancaster, longtime
Palmetto State member and former member of the Mullins, winner of two Dove
Awards with gospel music siblings, the Martins; Casey Martin, popular keyboardist for
an array of secular and gospel artists, brings a soulful influence and plays an integral
part in the PSQ presentation; David Staton, Grammy-nominated songwriter, singer,
producer, and adroit industry thought leader; and Larry Strickland, who sang with the
famous Stamps Quartet in the '70's when they backed up Elvis Presley, and has been
seen on the OWN network show, The Judds.

"Ask any of these guys and they would tell you that singing with other great singers
causes you to step it up. And once in a while you hit this magical combination where the
whole is greater than the sum of its parts," according to Strickland. Besides their stellar
talent, each member brings a unique new audience to the gospel music they love and
its message they cherish.

With so many tie-ins to pop culture that cross musical genres, this group is uniquely
positioned to attract and influence new listeners. This will be welcome news to music
promoters and presenters of gospel music globally. Not since Strickland’s Elvis days
with the late J.D. Sumner and the Stamps has there been another vocal group that has
featured two great bass singers.

Most recently, PSQ has been touring with the Judds, singing backup to Wynonna’s
powerful voice and introducing southern gospel music to a whole new audience.

“We are not interested in anyone labeling us a ‘super group’. What we hope is that
churches will leverage whatever we’ve been blessed to do in order to reach out to
various crowds that typically aren’t planning to come to church or a gospel concert,”
said Staton. And with some strategic use of traditional advertizing and social media,
church leaders may be surprised the number of first-time attendees who drop in to
check out the great music and happen to hear some very good news. The members of
Palmetto State are committed to effectively sharing the gospel in a clear, compelling
manner and consider that their top priority.

Palmetto State is booked exclusively through the Becky Simmons Agency at
+1 615.595.7500 or Info@BSAworld.com.
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“Palmetto State Quartet, Rich in History and Poised for the Future.”