The Sunshine Boys Quartet

The Sunshine Boys Quartet were an American band formed in the late 1930s in Macon, Georgia. Their repertoire began as country and western, but over the years this transformed into swing, pop and eventually gospel songs. They also performed under several names, including: The Johnson Brothers (7), and the Travelers Quartet. Original personnel of the group included John "Tennessee" Smith (tenor), his brother A. L. "Smitty" Smith (lead), Milton "Ace" Richman (bass), and Pat Patterson (9) (baritone). Each of the members played a variety of instruments. In 1942, Pat Patterson was replaced by [a4150812]. It was at this time that the group expanded their repertoire to include gospel music in addition to Western, swing, and pop numbers. In 1949, the two Smith brothers left the group and continued to perform country music as The Smith Brothers in their home state of Georgia. For a short time The Sunshine Boys Quartet performed as the Travelers Quartet until they were joined by Floridians, Horace Floyd (tenor) and [a2582945] (bass). Horace didn't stay with the group long, and they then hired Fred Daniel from Covington, Georgia to sing tenor. In 1954, J. D. Sumner left to join The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and was replaced by Johnny Atkinson. In 1956, Burl Strevel replaced Atkinson. In 1964, Strevel was replaced by Jim Boatman, and about a year later Fred Daniel left the group. The Sunshine Boys Quartet continued to perform on the Nevada club circuit until they retired as a full time group in 1968, although they did perform on a limited basis over the next two decades.