Formed in 1928 in Greenville, South Carolina, by James B. Davis and his classmates, they sang in local churches until they finished school, then started touring throughout the South.
Lead singer Ira Tucker joined the group in 1938 at age 13, and they signed with Decca Records. In addition to his formidable vocal skills, Tucker introduced the energetic showmanship - running through the aisles, jumping off stage, falling to his knees in prayer - copied by many quartets that followed. Tucker also took the lead in the stylistic innovations adopted by the group, combining gospel shouting and subtle melismas with the syncopated delivery made popular by The Golden Gate Quartet, as well as adventuresome harmonies, which the group called "trickeration", in which Paul Owens or another member of the group would pick up a note just as Tucker left off. The group relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 1940s.
During the years, a number of talented singers starred in the group—their bass, William Bobo (known as Thunder), tenor Beachey Thompson, James Walker (who replaced Owens), and Claude Jeter, who went on to star for The Swan Silvertones. The Hummingbirds added a guitarist, Howard Carroll, who added even more propulsive force to their high-flying vocals.
The Hummingbirds absorbed much from other artists as well, performing with Lester Young in the 1940s and sharing Django Reinhardt records with B.B. King in the 1950s. Tucker and the Hummingbirds inspired a number of imitators, such as Jackie Wilson and James Brown, who adapted the shouting style and enthusiastic showmanship of hard gospel to secular themes to help create soul music in the 1960s.
The group recorded for a number of different labels over the years, while touring the circuit of black churches and gospel extravaganzas. They occasionally came to the attention of white listeners—at Café Society, the integrated New York nightclub favored by jazz cognoscenti, in 1942, at the Newport Folk Festival in 1966, and as backup for Paul Simon on the 1973 single "Loves Me Like a Rock". For a long time, the group was signed to Don Robey's Peacock Records, based in Houston, Texas. In 1973, Robey sold Peacock to ABC Records, which released a cover of "Loves Me Like a Rock," produced by Walter "Kandor" Kahn and the group's lead vocalist Ira Tucker, which reached #72 on Billboard Magazine's Top 100 R&B Singles chart. The single also won a Grammy for "Best Soul Gospel Performance". Kahn and Tucker produced an album for ABC entitled We Love You Like A Rock. The album contained Stevie Wonder's "Jesus Children", on which Wonder played keyboards.
At that time, the group consisted of five vocalists: Ira Tucker Sr., James Davis, Beachey Thompson, James Walker and William Bobo. Howard Carroll was the group's guitarist. The group now consists of William Bright (vocals), Carlton Lewis, III (vocals), Torrey Nettles (drums/vocals),) and Lyndon Baines Jones (guitar & vocals and Ira Tucker, Jr (vocals)
In 1973 The group sang the backup vocals on Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like a Rock", and "Tenderness", from his album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon".
In 2003, the Hummingbirds were the subject of an award-winning book about their 75-year career span, Great God A'Mighty! The Dixie Hummingbirds: Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel Music [Oxford University Press] by Jerry Zolten. The book was favorably reviewed in The New York Times. 2-26-2003.
In February 2008, the first feature-length documentary/concert film featuring the life and history of the Dixie Hummingbirds was released in commemoration of their extraordinary eighty years as performers. The Dixie Hummingbirds: Eighty Years Young has been shown on the Gospel Music Channel and has played at numerous film festivals. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jeff Scheftel, and executive produced by University of Hawaii musicologist Jay Junker, the film is now available on DVD, featuring extensive interviews with Ira Tucker, Sr., archival footage, and following the current group as they perform in numerous venues and rehearse under Mr. Tucker's spirited guidance, in their hometown of Philadelphia, and across the vast landscape of America.
Ira Tucker, Sr. died due to complications from heart disease on the morning of June 24, 2008, at the age of 83. The group will go on, thereby preserving the rich legacy left by Tucker, James Davis, William Bobo, Beachey Thompson, James Walker, Howard Carroll, et al., with possible new additions to their personnel down the road.
Howard Carroll, the guitarist, died in October 2017.
Awards and recognition
The Dixie Hummingbirds Grammy Award History
Year Category Title Genre Label Result
2007 Best Traditional Gospel Album Still Keeping It Real Gospel MCG Nominee
2000 Best Traditional Gospel Album Music In The Air Gospel House Of Blues Nominee
1994 Best Traditional Gospel Album In Good Health Gospel Atlanta International Nominee
1973 Best Soul Gospel Performance "Loves Me Like a Rock" Gospel MCG Winner
Grammy Hall of Fame[edit]
Recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old, and that have "qualitative or historical significance."
Grammy Hall of Fame
Year Recorded Title Artist Genre Label Year Inducted
1946 "Amazing Grace" The Dixie Hummingbirds Gospel (Single) Apollo 2000
Inductions
Year Inducted Title
2007 Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum
2000 Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Members: William Bright, Lyndon Jones, Torrey Nettles, Carlton Lewis, and Adebo Wali (Ira Tucker Jr)
Past members: James Davis (1916-2007) (founder), Ira Tucker (1925-2008) (lead singer), Willie Bobo, Jimmy Bryant, Barney Gipson, Claude Jeter (1914-2009), J.B. Matterson, Fred Owens, Paul Owens, Barney Parks, Beachy Thompson, James Walker, William Henry (bass) (1922-1997), Howard Carroll (1924-2017) guitarist, Willie Coleman, bass guitarist and vocals
I Just Want To Tell You
The Dixie Hummingbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How good the lord is to me
Right now, I just want to tell you
how he died just to set me free
Ohh, I want to tell you
He's holding me by the hand children
I want to tell you
I just want to tell you
How good the lord is to me, to me
Whoa, right now, I just want to tell you
Whoa, that he saved my soul one day, oh yeah
Ohh, I just want to tell you
That I'm living all his failing grace
Ohh, I want to tell you
He's a friend indeed, whoa yes
I want to tell you
He supplies my every need, oh yes
I just want to tell you, yeah ---
How good he is to me
When my friends let me down in the time of need
I can call on God he surely will hear my plea
He tell me Walker, don't you worry, you don't have to fret
I will remember when others forget
That's why; I just want to tell you, yeah --
He's with me all of the time, yeah --
I just want to tell you
Ohhh, He gives me peace of mind, yeah --
I want to tell you
He's right by my side
I want to tell you
He guides me with his eye, oh yeah
I just want to tell you, yeah ---
How good he is to me, to me
The Dixie Hummingbirds’ “I Just Want to Tell You” is a gospel song that expresses a deep appreciation for God's mercy and grace. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song by speaking about the performer's desire to share the goodness of the lord in their lives. The songwriter expresses a deep desire to share with the listener how good God is by mentioning how he died just to set us free. The song is an encouragement to everyone listening to hold on to their faith because God is always faithful and will never forsake them.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the message that the performer is trying to impart to the listeners of how the lord is holding them by the hand and leading them through the good and the bad times. The chorus is a reminder to the listeners that they are not alone and that God is with them every step of the way. The second verse is about how the lord has saved the performers' soul, and they are living in his unfailing grace. The final verse is a testimony that when friends let them down and they need someone to depend on, God is there to guide and comfort them, and they have peace of mind knowing that he is with them.
Overall, the song has an incredibly powerful message about faith and how it can sustain us during life's most challenging moments. It is a song of hope, victory, and triumph. The Dixie Hummingbirds beautifully deliver the message with their harmonious voices, which is sure to touch the hearts of everyone who will listen to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohhhhh, I just want to tell you
Expressing a sincere desire to share a personal experience
How good the lord is to me
Grateful for the positive impact of God in one's life
Right now, I just want to tell you
Emphasizing the urgency of the message being conveyed
how he died just to set me free
Reflecting on the sacrificial death of Jesus for individual salvation
He's holding me by the hand children
Receiving guidance and support from God
He's leading me all through this land, children!
Trusting God to direct one's path through life
That he saved my soul one day, oh yeah
Remembering the moment of spiritual transformation
That I'm living all his failing grace
Acknowledging reliance on God's mercy and unmerited favor
He's a friend indeed, whoa yes
Describing the personal relationship with God
He supplies my every need, oh yes
Testifying to God's provision and care
When my friends let me down in the time of need
Sharing a personal struggle with disappointment and rejection
I can call on God he surely will hear my plea
Believing in the efficacy of prayer and divine intervention
He tells me Walker, don't you worry, you don't have to fret
Experiencing comfort and reassurance from God's words
I want to tell you
Reiterating the desire to share one's faith
He's right by my side
Feeling God's constant presence and protection
He guides me with his eye, oh yeah
Trusting God's providence and direction
How good he is to me, to me
Expressing deep gratitude for God's blessings
Contributed by Jackson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kayandaeddings4803
I have been looking for this song. It was here but someone took it down. Thanks for posting this great song.
@KendallKent
You're welcome. Do you have any music from them?
@kayandaeddings4803
Unfortunately not. I only have them on gospel compilation CD. By the way, I am 40 years of age and I really, really dig oldschool gospel over the new stuff. Anything that from the 1930s through the early 2000‘s.
@KendallKent
Kayanda Eddings indeed
@delbertwatson7968
@Kendall Kent Gospel Nostalgia has a lot of Dixie hummingbirds