Southern Gospel Music Association

Clarke Beasley
Inducted in 2026

Clarke Beasley was the son of Gospel Music luminary, Les Beasley, and began traveling with his father and the Florida Boys when he was in grade school. When he was in high school, he started performing with the Florida Boys and did so until he left to join the staff of the Gospel Music Association. 

While at GMA, he was asked by the NQC Board to take over NQC as Executive Director, a position he held well over 30 years. During his tenure, NQC became the largest event in all of Gospel Music, drawing an annual crowd of over 40,000. 

Clarke also served as President of the Southern Gospel Music Guild and served on the boards of the Gospel Music Association and the Southern Gospel Music Association.

Conrad Cook
May 28, 1936 - June 29, 2004

Conrad D. Cook, born on May 28, 1936, in Logan County, West Virginia, dedicated his early years to gospel music. He sang and played piano for West Virginia’s Calvarymen Quartet, performing alongside another Hall of Famer, Squire Parsons. During his tenure with this singing group, Cook composed one of his earliest popular classics. In 1973, the Kingsmen Quartet included “Glory Road” on their Dove Award-winning album, Big and Live, propelling the song to widespread popularity. 

Cook continued to compose numerous legendary songs for the Kingsmen in the ensuing years, including “When My Feet Touch the Streets of Gold,” “Walking and Talking with Jesus,” “Beyond the Clouds,” and the 1984 chart-topping hit, “Saints Will Rise.” Cook asserted that his most popular song was “Is That the Old Ship of Zion,” recorded in 1977 on another Dove Award-winning album for the Kingsmen, Chattanooga Live. 

Cook spent the majority of his singing career with his wife Patricia, daughter Robyn, and son-in-law Cliff, in their family group, Conrad Cook and the Calvary Echoes. The Calvary Echoes achieved immense popularity through their appearances on the Gaither Homecoming Series, and Cook’s songwriting hit list continued with “Moses Take Your Shoes Off,” “Hallelujah to the Lamb,” “Standing on Holy Ground,” and others. 

His driving and soulful musical style, high-energy stage presence, and vivid creativity for interpreting Biblical truth in song made him an unforgettable figure from the moment he left the stage. At the age of 68, Conrad Cook passed away on June 29, 2004.