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format, used by many southern gospel groups of the time, rebranding themselves as a band with each musician singing various lead and harmony vocals. In a visual perspective, this was the final departure from the southern gospel music stage. They performed their final concert in
Oklahoma City in late October 1984. The band recorded a few final songs that winter, including their final song, 'You're So Good to Me.'
258:
The final release of the Mercy River Boys came out on
September 1, 2020. After thirty-six years of musical silence, a Greatest Hits LP was released on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and most music streaming services by Englewood Records. The release includes one new song recorded in
234:
After the group disbanded in
December, Emory Atkins, Ronny Ricks, and Danny Hollis formed the Christian music band Paradise. They recorded four albums together on Englewood Records from 1985 to 1991. Atkins moved to Nashville and built a twenty-four-track recording studio in the United Artist Tower
179:
for creating a band to cross over into country music, improving "what is essentially a good product (gospel) and made it become commercially viable." The eight original members of the band and the record executives at Canaan
Records wanted to create a sound that would bridge the gap between country
254:
In May 2016, several original members of The Mercy River Boys performed a reunion concert at the Texas State
Republican Convention, in Dallas, Texas, in support of Wayne Christian. This is the last time any of original the members of the band have performed. A new book about the various members of
230:
The final Mercy River Boys lineup from April 15, 1983, to
January 7, 1985, featured Emory Atkins (bass guitar and vocals), Danny Hollis (acoustic guitar and lead vocals), Ronny Ricks (drums and lead vocals), and Chuck Long (electric guitar and vocals). They dropped the traditional quartet and band
187:
The Mercy River Boys were a hit in both radio markets and performed in both country and gospel venues and music festivals for many years. Terry
Bradshaw, former NFL quarterback and TV personality, listed the Mercy River Boys as one of his favorite Christian country bands because of their crossover
287:
Since the band broke up in
December 1985, at least three other groups have adopted or used some variation of the name Mercy River Boys, without permission. Emory Atkins owns the trademark and name The Mercy River Boys, Inc, a legal entity in the State of Texas; however, several groups continue to
159:
The group performed extensively in the United States and had multiple hits on
Christian music radio. The band is also featured on the Canaan Recording Artists Christmas album and on a live recording from the
259:
1985 by the final four band members, Emory Atkins, Danny Hollis, Chuck Long, and Ronny Ricks. The song is entitled, 'You're So Good to Me.' A final video was released in support of the new album.
223:
radio market; the songs to cross over into country music radio included "You Needed Me", "Blow On
Temptest", and the semi-biographical song "Flat Top Martin Guitar". The 1982 album
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began a long and successful career in Texas politics, serving in the state legislature and on the Texas Railroad Commission. Gary Goss toured with
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was a complete crossover product with hit songs "Would They Love Him Down In Shreveport Today" and the title cut, "In the Arms of My Best Friend".
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for over three decades. Ronny Ricks toured with a variety of artists including White River and the Penny Gilley band.
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The Mercy River Boys toured for over five years, sharing the stage with many country music performers including the
149:
211:. The Mercy River Boys became one of Canaan Records' most successful performing artists in 1979–80 when their
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for Album of the Year, 1979–80, and won a Dove Award for backliner notes, written by Merlin Littlefield.
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The Mercy River Boys were created, in part, to challenge the status quo of the Christian radio market.
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Photo 2 Danny Hollis playing guitar at the Last Mercy River Boys concert in Oklahoma City circa 1984
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Photo 3 Ronny Ricks playing drums at the Last Mercy River Boys concert in Oklahoma City circa 1984
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Photo 1 Emory Atkins playing bass at the Last Mercy River Boys concert in Oklahoma City circa 1984
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radio and more traditional southern gospel markets. The result was the creation of a new genre,
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the band is being published in June 2019, forty years after the band released its first album.
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is no longer in business and the original members of the band have not pursued legal action.
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Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship
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The Early Years, Kerrville Folk Life Festival, Compilation, 1972-1981. (Mercy River Boys)
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Country gospel classics: a collection of gospel greats from the Canaan Record family
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Country Gospel Classics: A collection of gospel greats from the Canaan Record family
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572:"Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inducts The Singing Christians/Mercy River Boys"
1197:"CANAAN CLASSICS cassette tape Mercy River Boys 1982 Wendy Bagwell gospel Nelon"
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A Canaan Country Christmas album, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem (Mercy River Boys)
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942:"The Singing Christians/Mercy River Boys in Tx Gospel Music Hall of Fame"
784:"THE MERCY RIVER BOYS, INC. :: Texas (US) :: OpenCorporates"
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Grass Roots Gospel, (A compilation of Canaan Gospel Recording Artists)
1313:
677:
Terry Bradshaw: From Super Bowl Champion to Television Personality
801:
1314:
Photo 4 Emory Atkins Texas Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame
709:"The Canyon News from Canyon, Texas on April 18, 1982 · Page 15"
136:
band who performed from 1979 to 1985. They were nominated for a
895:"Local musician to be inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame"
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=TH9cou0g3jo
420:
Canaan Classics, (Compilation Of Canaan Recording Artists)
831:"At the GOP Convention, a Lawmaker's Gospel Band Reunion"
1034:"Grammy Award Nominees 1980 - Grammy Award Winners 1980"
502:"Grammy Award Nominees 1980 - Grammy Award Winners 1980"
474:"The Mercy River Boys, Greatest Hits. (Mercy River Boys)
1334:
Photo 8 Mercy River Boys - Breakout Album 1979 Cover B
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Photo 7 Mercy River Boys - Breakout Album 1979 Cover A
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Kerrville Folk Life Festival, 1979. (Mercy River Boys)
239:, Harvest, Ben Ketting, and several country music and
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1172:"Mercy River Boys - In The Arms Of My Best Friend"
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184:; country lyrics with a positive moral message.
148:, 1979). The album was also a finalist for the
8:
655:. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 17, 1982
629:. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 28, 1979
802:"Texas RRC - Commissioner Wayne Christian"
17:
1083:Various Artists - Topic (March 1, 2018).
406:Arms of my Best Friend (Mercy River Boys)
1107:"Would They Love Him Down in Shreveport"
342:
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765:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
758:
674:Abrams, Brett L. (September 8, 2017).
7:
1059:"Various - Canaan Country Christmas"
288:record and perform using the name.
1266:"Greatest Hits by Mercy River Boys"
1151:"A History of the Mercy River Boys"
14:
1374:American Christian musical groups
1127:Emerson Lee (February 27, 2019).
967:Emerson Lee (February 28, 2019).
544:Cusic, Don (November 12, 2009).
164:, recorded in Kerrville, Texas.
829:Reynolds, John (May 13, 2016).
277:Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame
263:Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame
304:Emory Atkins, 1979–81, 1983–84
1:
1149:Emerson Lee (March 1, 2019).
1105:Emerson Lee (March 1, 2019).
1011:Emerson Lee (March 3, 2019).
989:Emerson Lee (March 3, 2019).
235:on Music Row. He toured with
225:In the Arms of My Best Friend
38:, progressive southern gospel
1339:Photo 9 1979 concert handout
1085:"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
680:. Rowman & Littlefield.
325:Chuck Long, 1980–81, 1983–84
858:"Band Members & Others"
361:Breakout (Mercy River Boys)
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1354:Southern gospel performers
175:, Vol. 90, No 31) credits
1364:Musical groups from Texas
697:– via Google Books.
663:– via Google Books.
637:– via Google Books.
1359:Christian country groups
1129:"Arms of My Best Friend"
1013:"FLAT TOP MARTIN GUITAR"
917:"The Singing Christians"
862:Johnnyrodriguezmusic.com
215:album crossed over from
150:Gospel Music Association
465:Kerrville Folk Festival
381:Kerrville Folk Festival
334:Danny B. Smith, 1979–81
301:John Aultman, 1981–1983
182:Christian country music
162:Kerrville Folk Festival
140:for their first album,
134:Christian country music
1369:Canaan Records artists
328:Rusty Oxford, 1979–81
307:Kevin Bailey, 1979–81
1319:Photo 5 Grammy Award
1268:. September 5, 2020.
1160:– via YouTube.
1138:– via YouTube.
1116:– via YouTube.
1094:– via YouTube.
1022:– via YouTube.
1000:– via YouTube.
978:– via YouTube.
747:on November 22, 2015
533:. November 19, 2019.
331:Ronny Ricks, 1979–84
948:. November 26, 2015
578:. November 25, 2015
576:Shelby County Today
199:, Louise Mandrell,
1324:Photo 6 Dove Award
1244:Grass roots gospel
1038:Awardsandshows.com
897:. October 28, 2015
790:on April 12, 2019.
741:www.alanmesser.com
598:"Mercy River Boys"
527:"Mercy River Boys"
506:Awardsandshows.com
322:, 1979–82, 1983–84
316:Gary Goss, 1979–83
173:Billboard Magazine
1246:. April 3, 1984.
1224:. April 3, 1983.
969:"Blow On Tempest"
836:The Texas Tribune
485:
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480:Englewood Records
132:were an American
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32:Christian country
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390:
375:
360:
320:Danny Hollis
296:Band members
286:
273:Danny Hollis
266:
257:
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233:
229:
224:
212:
209:Larry Gatlin
201:Dolly Parton
190:
186:
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141:
138:Grammy Award
129:
127:
114:Rusty Oxford
107:Danny Hollis
95:Kevin Bailey
92:John Aultman
89:Emory Atkins
83:Past members
44:Years active
15:
1176:Discogs.com
1063:Discogs.com
751:January 15,
649:"Billboard"
623:"Billboard"
339:Discography
283:Controversy
117:Ronny Ricks
1348:Categories
531:Grammy.com
488:References
154:Dove Award
111:Chuck Long
1206:April 16,
1181:April 16,
1156:April 16,
1134:April 16,
1112:April 16,
1090:April 16,
1068:March 16,
1043:April 16,
1018:April 16,
996:April 16,
974:April 16,
952:March 16,
926:March 16,
901:March 16,
867:April 16,
842:April 16,
811:April 16,
718:April 16,
693:April 16,
659:April 16,
653:Billboard
633:April 16,
627:Billboard
607:March 16,
582:April 16,
511:March 16,
313:, 1979–83
267:In 2015,
243:artists.
219:into the
169:Don Cusic
103:Gary Goss
1252:12952592
1230:34257523
1201:eBay.com
761:cite web
213:Breakout
188:appeal.
142:Breakout
58: (
50: (
1293:Photos
1250:
1228:
684:
554:
352:Label
207:, and
72:Canaan
68:Labels
28:Genres
881:URL=
349:Album
56:–1985
1248:OCLC
1226:OCLC
1208:2019
1183:2019
1158:2019
1136:2019
1114:2019
1092:2019
1070:2019
1045:2019
1020:2019
998:2019
976:2019
954:2019
928:2019
903:2019
869:2019
844:2019
813:2019
767:link
753:2022
720:2019
695:2019
682:ISBN
661:2019
635:2019
609:2019
584:2019
552:ISBN
513:2019
471:2020
456:2003
443:1984
430:1983
417:1982
402:1982
387:1981
372:1979
357:1979
346:Year
128:The
60:1985
52:1979
48:1979
241:CCM
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