The Gospel Mariners

The Mariners Quartet, originally the Gospel Mariners, originated in 1963. This group was on the long running television program, The Good Ship Zion on WHIO-TV, Dayton, Oh. Ned Williman, Denny Sullivan, Ray Seaman and Randall Clay left the program in 1963 to travel full time as the Mariners Quartet. The group quickly gained popularity all across America. Much credit was given to Jim Hill of the Stamps Quartet, The Statesmen and many other popular groups who booked The Mariners with them in concerts. Shortly after going full time Denny Sullivan left and was replaced by Jim (Tex) McLain. Jim had been a member of the Stamps Quartet lead by Arnold Hyles. Jim stayed with the quartet for eleven years and was considered one of the best tenors in gospel music. Due to the illness in his family, Ned Williman felt the need to leave and was replaced by Johnnie Marine, now the pastor of Auburn Hills Baptist Church, Pontiac MI., Several other changes took place over the next few years, but Randall Clay and Jim McLain stayed together with Randall as manager. The group went their separate ways in the early 70`s, each member pursuing other ministries. In 2003, forty years after the beginning, the four originals started singing together again reforming The Mariners. Shortly thereafter, Denny Sullivan passed away. Today the group consists of three of the original members: Ray Seaman, Ned Williman and Randall Clay. The fourth member is Eric Shaw.