Biography
The Georgia Sea Island Singers originated on St. Simons Island, Georgia, in the early 1920s when amateur folklorist Lydia Parrish organized the Spiritual Singers Society of Coastal Georgia to perform Gullah spirituals, songs, stories, dances, and games for guests at the Cloister Hotel. Composed of African American descendants of enslaved people from families like Armstrong, Davis, Ramsey, Morrison, and Proctor, the group preserved the isolated cultural traditions of the Georgia Sea Islands. Bessie Jones, a key figure from Dawson, Georgia, joined in 1933, enriching their repertoire with songs from the slavery era.[1][2][4]
Folklorist Alan Lomax first encountered the group in 1935 with Zora Neale Hurston and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle, recording them for the Library of Congress. He returned in 1959-1960, facilitating their national tours under the new name Georgia Sea Island Singers, with core members including Bessie Jones, Big John Davis, Peter Davis, Henry Morrison, Emma Ramsey, and Mable Hillery. Tensions with Parrish's control led to this offshoot. Douglas Quimby joined in 1969 after singing gospel, later bringing his wife Frankie Sullivan Quimby; Tony Merrell joined in 2001, continuing performances of traditional folk ring shouts and shouts.[1][2][3][5]
The group's career spans decades, performing for U.S. presidents (Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush), at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, 1994 Olympics, and 2004 G8 Summit. They received the 1990 Governor’s Award in the Humanities. Their style features a cappella Gullah spirituals, ring shouts, and call-and-response singing, documented in Lydia Parrish's 1942 book Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands and Lomax's Southern Journey recordings, leaving a lasting legacy in preserving Gullah Geechee culture.[1][2][3]
Fun Facts
- The group performed for presidents including Jimmy Carter at his inauguration, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush, as well as at the 1994 Olympics in Norway and the 2004 G8 Summit on Sea Island.
- Lydia Parrish, wife of artist Maxfield Parrish, paid island residents to share songs, leading to the group's formation for performances at the Cloister Hotel for guests like presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.
- Alan Lomax renamed the group the Georgia Sea Island Singers after his 1959-1960 recordings, helping Bessie Jones fulfill her wish to 'teach the chillun' about their heritage.
- Doug Quimby was recruited by Bessie Jones after she heard him sing in a church quartet, marking the transition to newer generations.
Members
- Mable Hillery (from 1961)
- Douglas Quimby (from 1969 until 2006)
- Tony Merrell (from 2001)
- Jerome Davis
- John Davis
- Peter Davis
- Bessie Jones
- Henry Morrison
- Willis Proctor
- Alberta Ramsay
- Ben Ramsay
- Emma Ramsay
- Frankie Sullivan Quimby
- Joe Armstrong
Original Members
- Mable Hillery
- Tony Merrell
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Lydia Parrish - Organized the original Spiritual Singers Society (Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands (1942)) [1920s-1940s]
- Alan Lomax - Folklorist who recorded them and managed early tours, renaming the group (Southern Journey Series recordings) [1935, 1959-1960]
- Bessie Jones - Song leader and key figure who expanded repertoire and led tours (Georgia Sea Island Singers performances and recordings) [1933-1970s]
Key Collaborators
- Bessie Jones - Core song leader and performer (Early tours and Southern Journey recordings) [1933-1970s]
- Big John Davis - Community leader and performer (Georgia Sea Island Singers tours) [1950s-1960s]
- Peter Davis - Performer and core member (Georgia Sea Island Singers tours) [1950s-1960s]
- Henry Morrison - Fisherman and performer (Georgia Sea Island Singers tours) [1950s-1960s]
- Emma Ramsey - Performer (Georgia Sea Island Singers tours) [1950s-1960s]
- Mable Hillery - Performer (Georgia Sea Island Singers tours) [1950s-1960s]
- Doug Quimby - Gospel singer who joined and continued the group (Georgia Sea Island Singers performances) [1969-present]
- Frankie Sullivan Quimby - Performer, second-generation member (Georgia Sea Island Singers performances) [1970s-present]
- Tony Merrell - Drummer and performer (Georgia Sea Island Singers performances) [2001-present]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #folk, #shout, #spirituals
References
Heard on WWOZ
georgia sea island singers has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | 20:16 | hambone | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri |