Whenever a GRAMMY® winning artist or member of a group dies, the Recording Academy issues an official statement. On last week, Mr. Howard Carroll, a member of the legendary Dixie Hummingbirds passed away.
The Dixie Hummingbirds’ influence went well beyond traditional gospel. Mr. Carroll’s guitar playing was a huge part of their success and multi-genre influence. As is customary, the Recording Academy and President/CEO Neil Portnoy issued the following statement in memoriam regarding Mr. Carroll.
Howard Carroll was a legendary gospel musician, contributing to the success of the GRAMMY®-winning quartet the Dixie Hummingbirds during their peak period starting after World War II. The group earned four GRAMMY nominations throughout their expansive career, and were awarded the Best Soul Gospel Performance GRAMMY for their rendition of Paul Simon’s “Loves Me Like A Rock” at the 16th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. A revered guitarist, Carroll, and the Hummingbirds, exerted a major influence on gospel music as well as on pop and R&B artists such as Jackie Wilson and the Temptations. He will be dearly missed, and our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and collaborators during this difficult time. -Neil Portnoy, President/CEO of the Recording Academy
The Dixie Hummingbirds “Who Are We?”
