It’s June thirtieth, and on this day in 1954… tragedy struck the gospel world when R.W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles of The Blackwood Brothers were killed in a plane crash in Clanton, Alabama—just two weeks after winning first place on the *Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Show*. Cecil Blackwood stepped in to lead the group, leaving an opening in their affiliated younger act, The Songfellows. The group offered the spot to Elvis Presley, but he had just begun recording with Sun Records and turned it down. The Blackwood Brothers were Gladys Presley’s favorite gospel group, and in 1958, Elvis flew them to Memphis to perform at her funeral.

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