The Stamps Quartet

History of the Quartet
Virgil Oliver Stamps founded the Stamps Music School in 1924 in Dallas, Texas. After his military service, his brother, Frank joined him and formed the Franks Stamps Quartet, which later was known as the Stamps All Stars and finally the Stamps Quartet. According to an article on the history of the Quartet, “The quartet underwent numerous personnel changes from its beginning in 1924 to the present, and, in fact, some other gospel groups would use the Stamps name whether or not they actually had any direct affiliation with the original Stamps brothers.” In 1926, Virgil went into business with J. R. Baxter and formed the Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company, which later became the most successful publisher of shape note hymn books in the United States.
The Stamps Quartet was the first southern gospel quartet to sign onto a major record company, and there first great success was “Give the World a Smile.” In 1937, the quartet began singing on a radio show based out of Dallas. They had one show each day, Monday through Friday and two shows on Sunday. When Virgil died in 1940, Frank took over his half of the Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company as well as continuing to travel and sing with the quartet. At some point, Frank pulled out from the Stamps-Baxter Music and Publishing Company and formed the Stamps Quartet Music Company. In the 50s, Frank decided to focus his efforts on publishing songbooks. In 1965, after Frank's death, the Stamps Quartet Music Company was sold to the Blackwood Brothers. The quartet continued to live on, and even performed as back up singers for Elvis in 1971, who idolized the singing and songs the group performed. Through the success of the quartet, they were able to open eleven singing schools. There attendance ranged from 500 to more than 1100 students at its height.
Virgil and Frank were inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame in 1973 and South Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1997. Both Virgil and Frank were songwriters, producers and music teachers outside of singing in their quartets.

Virgil Oliver Stamps
Virgil Oliver Stamps was born on September 18, 1892 in Texas to William Oscar Stamps and Florence Corine Rosser. He spend his younger days working in his father's sawmill and used his wages to buy song books. He attended Richard Morgan's music school and after graduating, he taught singing in part of his father's store.
On March 2, 1909, he married Addie Belle Culpepper in Upshur County, Texas. They became the parents of three children, Louise Elizabeth, Oliver Ware, and J. Weldon, who died as a young child. The young family initially lived in Virgil's hometown in Upshur County, Texas, they had moved to Shelby County, Texas by 1920 and later, by the 30s were in Dallas.
In 1914, he went to work with the James D. Vaughan Music Company based out of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. While employed at Vaughan, he also worked for the Tennessee Music Company and sang in a quartet owned by the Vaughan Company. "The Man Behind the Plow" became the first song that Virgil wrote. After Virgil formed the Stamps Music School, he published his first song book titled, “Harbor Bells.”
Virgil died on August 19, 1940 in Dallas, Texas of a heart attack. He was buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas.

Songs Written by Virgil
"Love Is the Key,"
"Singing on My Way,"
"I Am Going."
”My Prayer”
“At Sunset I'm Going Home”
“Don't Forget to Pray”
“He Bore it All”

Music Written by Virgil
“When the Saints Go Marching In”

Ancestry Page
Find a Grave Memorial
Wiki Article

Frank Howard Stamps
Frank Howard Stamps was born on October 7, 1896 in Texas to William Oscar Stamps and Florence Corine Rosser. He was a younger brother to Virgil. Frank married first to Rhoda Mae Sanders on August 19, 1922 in Italy, Ellis County, Texas. A daughter, Dorothy Jane, was born to this union. This marriage did not last long. Frank would met his second wife in Fort Worth, Texas. Her name was Mary Naomi Marks, a daughter of a minister. Mary was only in Texas for a short while before she moved back to Florida. She and Frank corresponded by letter. Frank married Mary on March 8, 1931, at the campgrounds in Wimauna, Florida. To this union, one son, Robert Howard, was born. Frank changed his wife's name is Sally and until her death everyone who knew her, even her parents would call her Sally. Sally, like her husband was an avid music lover, and became known as the “First Lady of Gospel Music.” Frank and Sally worked in the singing schools established by the Stamps Publishing Company. Frank died on April 12, 1964 in Dallas, Texas and was buried in Laurel Land Cemetery.

Ancestry Page
Find a Grave Memorial

Sources:
Death Certificate of Virgil Oliver Stamps and Frank Howard Stamps
1910-1930 Census Records
Newspaper Article: The Gilmer Mirror; Gilmer, Texas Nov. 28, 1971
Marriage Record: Stamps-Sanders
Interview with Sally Stamps Dearman, Frank's second wife – 1987.