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ORIGINAL: GospelProducer

Ron And R.W. Blackwood, Jr. Receive "Living Legends Award"

To attain legendary status, by definition, one must have accomplished something “remarkable enough to be famous.” According to the Nashville based Music City Gospel Showcase and FAITH magazine, Ron and R.W. Blackwood, Jr. of the Blackwood Morning Show in Pigeon Forge have reached that height.

The honor came as a surprise to the brothers, who were waiting backstage at the Grand Convention Center Saturday night. Don and Donna Frost, the father-daughter team at the helm of Music City Gospel Showcase, had carefully arranged to surprise Ron and R.W. The two, along with the rest of The Blackwoods were awaiting their introduction to perform when Frost introduced a never-before seen clip of R W Blackwood, Sr. singing “I Want to be More Like Jesus.” As the beautiful voice of their father filled the auditorium, the Blackwoods were moved to tears. When Frost announced that the Living Legends Award for 2008 had been awarded to the “second generation of Blackwood Brothers: Ron and R.W., Jr.,” those standing nearby had to literally push Ron on stage accept the award! Stunned and honored, R.W. and Ron each thanked God for allowing them to do what they love doing, and also graciously thanked the Frosts.

Ron and R.W. Blackwood, Jr. are the sons of Gospel music icon, R W Blackwood, Sr. Their father was one of the founding members of the legendary Blackwood Brothers Quartet. In 1954, R.W. Blackwood, Sr.’s life was taken in a horrible plane crash. Ron and R.W., Jr. were 13 and 11 respectively at the time of the crash. Ron founded his own rendition of the original group, the “Blackwood Quartet.” R.W. Jr. has made his mark on the music industry since the 1960’s with the “Blackwood Singers.” The two brothers reunited in the Smoky Mountains in 2001 to honor their father and the legacy he left them.

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ORIGINAL: 88keysinnc

So what remarkable thing(s) have these two accomplished? Other than having the Blackwood name, which they were born with, I didn't realize they had achieved any major notoriety within southern gospel music or any other music for that matter. When I think of a living legend, I think of someone like Bill Gaither or Les Beasley.

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ORIGINAL: GospelProducer

Well put Tenorsister. While not adding or taking away from his award, there's not a nicer guy in gospel music than Ron Blackwood. I am honored to call him a friend. Also I think it would be hard for any group (regardless of their last name) to host a successful BREAKFAST show in PF or anywhere else for that matter. It's hard enough to draw a crowd for a regular concert at $10 a ticket.

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ORIGINAL: 88keysinnc

So what remarkable thing(s) have these two accomplished? Other than having the Blackwood name, which they were born with, I didn't realize they had achieved any major notoriety within southern gospel music or any other music for that matter. When I think of a living legend, I think of someone like Bill Gaither or Les Beasley.

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ORIGINAL: Smokymtnsanta

quote:

ORIGINAL: GospelProducer

Ron And R.W. Blackwood, Jr. Receive "Living Legends Award"

To attain legendary status, by definition, one must have accomplished something “remarkable enough to be famous.” According to the Nashville based Music City Gospel Showcase and FAITH magazine, Ron and R.W. Blackwood, Jr. of the Blackwood Morning Show in Pigeon Forge have reached that height.

The honor came as a surprise to the brothers, who were waiting backstage at the Grand Convention Center Saturday night. Don and Donna Frost, the father-daughter team at the helm of Music City Gospel Showcase, had carefully arranged to surprise Ron and R.W. The two, along with the rest of The Blackwoods were awaiting their introduction to perform when Frost introduced a never-before seen clip of R W Blackwood, Sr. singing “I Want to be More Like Jesus.” As the beautiful voice of their father filled the auditorium, the Blackwoods were moved to tears. When Frost announced that the Living Legends Award for 2008 had been awarded to the “second generation of Blackwood Brothers: Ron and R.W., Jr.,” those standing nearby had to literally push Ron on stage accept the award! Stunned and honored, R.W. and Ron each thanked God for allowing them to do what they love doing, and also graciously thanked the Frosts.

Ron and R.W. Blackwood, Jr. are the sons of Gospel music icon, R W Blackwood, Sr. Their father was one of the founding members of the legendary Blackwood Brothers Quartet. In 1954, R.W. Blackwood, Sr.’s life was taken in a horrible plane crash. Ron and R.W., Jr. were 13 and 11 respectively at the time of the crash. Ron founded his own rendition of the original group, the “Blackwood Quartet.” R.W. Jr. has made his mark on the music industry since the 1960’s with the “Blackwood Singers.” The two brothers reunited in the Smoky Mountains in 2001 to honor their father and the legacy he left them.

Was this the Grand Convention Center next to Grand Hotel in Pigeon Forge?? Did not know anything was going on there Saturday night if that was where it was at.
Congratulations to Ron and R.W.

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ORIGINAL: GospelProducer

They haven't starved to death performing Southern Gospel music for over 40 years...that's both remarkable AND Legendary

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ORIGINAL: 88keysinnc

These guys might be nice, they might draw a good restaurant crowd in Pigieon Forge might even seem like "the BEST" to you, tenorsister but we live in a global world. It is to that end that I ask, what, outside of being born into a famous family, have these two individuals done?? The family name was/is famous and legendary because of their forebears. I was only asking what have they, on their own merits, accomplished? What remarkable things (to quote GospelProducer), have Ron and R.W. Blackwood done? They may have appeared on TBN, Gaither vids, etc. but that does not make them legendary. There are plenty of people on those videos whose names we will never know.

By the way, I went to the Music City Gospel Showcase website, which I had never heard of, and it seems like their talent and award show is more of a regional thing. I mean they conferred the entertainer of the year award to some group called Carla and Redemption. Never heard of them.

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ORIGINAL: GospelProducer

Gosh...don't ya just love this girl (Tenorsister)? Nothing like someone that just tells it like it is. lol

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ORIGINAL: robertyork

The Blackwoods have been singing in PF for a number of years in breakfast shows. I remember going to see them when they were singing at Eddie Miles theater. That's the little theater on the hill behind Country Tonight (currently Showstreet Theater). Jeff Stice currently does some afternoon/evenings shows there. During their off season they also travel around the country. In PF they have a schedule similar to the Kingdom Heirs. Work 9 months and off three months.

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ORIGINAL: clout

In my humble opinion, when you assume and decide to continue a legacy as great as the Blackwood name, you place yourself in a position of competing against that name, even if you are a Blackwood.. I believe it to be harder to continue that legacy, than if you renamed yourself. Lets face the truth, the Blackwood kids have done an oustanding and responsible task of continuing the Blackwood tradition. They have paid their dues, Ron and R.W. have had to do it without the support of a daddy and now are one of the class acts of SG. Anyone who was in the stands that fateful day, would argue with anyone who would try to diminish what the Blackwood kids have done, especially Ron & R.W. I applaud them.

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ORIGINAL: tenorsister

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ORIGINAL: clout

In my humble opinion, when you assume and decide to continue a legacy as great as the Blackwood name, you place yourself in a position of competing against that name, even if you are a Blackwood.. I believe it to be harder to continue that legacy, than if you renamed yourself. Lets face the truth, the Blackwood kids have done an oustanding and responsible task of continuing the Blackwood tradition. They have paid their dues, Ron and R.W. have had to do it without the support of a daddy and now are one of the class acts of SG. Anyone who was in the stands that fateful day, would argue with anyone who would try to diminish what the Blackwood kids have done, especially Ron & R.W. I applaud them.

Finally a voice of understanding! Like I said Ron and RW have continued The Blackwood tradition without their father and they are still doing it today! [sm=icon_smile_sing.gif][sm=icon_smile_sing.gif]

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ORIGINAL: clout

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ORIGINAL: tenorsister

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ORIGINAL: clout

In my humble opinion, when you assume and decide to continue a legacy as great as the Blackwood name, you place yourself in a position of competing against that name, even if you are a Blackwood.. I believe it to be harder to continue that legacy, than if you renamed yourself. Lets face the truth, the Blackwood kids have done an oustanding and responsible task of continuing the Blackwood tradition. They have paid their dues, Ron and R.W. have had to do it without the support of a daddy and now are one of the class acts of SG. Anyone who was in the stands that fateful day, would argue with anyone who would try to diminish what the Blackwood kids have done, especially Ron & R.W. I applaud them.

Finally a voice of understanding! Like I said Ron and RW have continued The Blackwood tradition without their father and they are still doing it today! [sm=icon_smile_sing.gif][sm=icon_smile_sing.gif]

I don't know if it is a voice of understanding, which is important, other than a common sense and Christ like approach to things. I first met the Blackwoods in 1945, sang with them for years on stages across the US, my kids ran with theri kids a quartet conventions, and to me it is important to honor those that are carrying the message of Christ, no matter the venue or name. but thanks for the uplifting statement.