Who is the best gospel piano player?

They are Wallace “Wally” Belmont Varner and Jackie Nelson Marshall. While there are many excellent pianists in the gospel music world, there is no doubt in my mind that these two were the best of the best.

gastongazette.com - Remembering two great piano players - Gaston Gazette

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Staff Writer

The Gaston Gazette

GOSPEL MUSIC REPORT

This is the third week in a row that I have written this gospel music column and have no singings or concerts. I am truly tired of this coronavirus and pray the Lord will show us a way out of it. I hope you’ll pray to that end as well. Today I am going to write about two of the finest piano players ever to grace the stage in their Southern Gospel music era – or any other era, I believe. They are Wallace “Wally” Belmont Varner and Jackie Nelson Marshall. While there are many excellent pianists in the gospel music world, there is no doubt in my mind that these two were the best of the best. I’ll start with Jackie Marshall who played for The Blackwood Brothers Quartet for most of the 1950’s. He would practice for hours on end to make sure that every note was correct. Many fans have said that Marshall and Varner sounded very similar, but Marshall seemed to have a crisper right hand while Varner had a stronger left hand with more of a flowing rhythm. In any case Marshall, after leaving the Blackwood Brothers, owned a music store, music studio and record label in Memphis, Tenn. After retiring from his Memphis business he ventured into food services which, at its peak, owned 52 Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. He died at home in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in August, 2018, at age 88. Varner, during his lengthy career, served as pianist for some very fine quartets which included The Melody Masters, The Deep South Quartet, The Revelaires, and The Homeland Harmony Quartet. In 1958 when Marshall announced his leaving from The Blackwood Brothers the natural pianist to replace him was Wally Varner. During his five years with them he was part of some of the greatest gospel albums ever recorded. The Blackwoods were considered the greatest studio quartet ever while The Statesmen Quartet was thought of as the greatest stage quartet. For what it’s worth, I concur. Varner was also a talented songwriter composing at least 40 to 50 songs during his illustrious career. He died in December, 2004 just a couple of weeks before his 79th birthday, and was posthumously inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Now my question is: Which one do you consider the greatest pianist ever? I’ll pass on this one.

GOSPEL MUSIC NEWS

Welcome: Gold City Quartet recently announced Bruce Tallaferro as the quartet’s lead singer. He sang previously with them from 2008 to 2010.

GOSPEL MUSIC EVENTS

I am again sorry to say none.

Consider this: It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. Aristotle Send gospel music news to Jack Kimbro, 644 Archie Whitesides Road, Gastonia, N.C., 28052, or call him at 704-864-9185.

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