Southern Gospel Music Association

James "Ed" Sprouse (September 20, 1923 - September 21, 2014)
Inducted in 2015

James “Ed” Sprouse was born in Vernon, Alabama, September 20, 1923, and sang with many other quartets
before his call to join The Blue Ridge Quartet in 1950.  He sang tenor with them until he retired in 1965. He joined fellow members of The Blue Ridge Quartet who are in the SGMA Hall of Fame, Elmo Fagg, Fred Daniel, Kenny Gates, Jim Hamil, George Younce and David Reece.  Mr. Sprouse passed away on September 21, 2014, one day after his 91^st birthday. His son, Phil Sprouse, was present to accept the award and spoke of his father’s impact on his life.

James Lewis "Big Lew" Garrison (August 30, 1933 - August 31, 1994)
Inducted in 2015

James Lewis Garrison was born in Carter County, Tennessee, on August 30, 1933. “Big Lew,” as he was affectionately known, sang tenor with The Prophets Quartet from 1959 to 1971. He was known for his powerful falsetto voice, and how he closed each program with “Just A Rose Will Do.”  He retired in 1971 to his hometown of Elizabethton, Tennessee. He suffered a stroke on August 28, 1994, and passed away one day after his 61^st birthday on August 31, 1994.  He joined fellow members of the Prophets Quartet, Ed Hill, Jack Toney, “Smiling Joe” Roper, and Eddie Crook in the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame. SGMA President, Arthur Rice, accepted the award in his honor.