Rex Nelon

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rex Nelon
Background = khaki


Img_capt = The Nelons: l-r (back) Jerry Thompson, Todd Nelon {front) Kelly Nelon-Thompson, Rex Nelon, Karen Peck
Birth_name = Rex Lloyd
Born = birth date|1932|1|19|mf=y
Origin = Asheville, NC, USA
Died = death date and age|2000|1|24|1932|1|19|mf=y
Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ireland According to the Gaither video "London Homecoming," Rex was in London, England when he died
Genre = Southern Gospel
Occupation = Singer, Manager, Music Publisher
Years_active = 1955 to 2000

Rex Nelon (January 19, 1932 - January 24, 2000) was one of the senior statesmen in the field of Southern Gospel music. His career spanned over 40 years of singing gospel music, as well as being an outstanding music publisher.

Early life

Rex's love of songs began as a boy in Asheville, NC. At age 14, he won his first singing contest. The prize was a pair of shoes. On Monday nights, he attended a weekly singing class where he was taught to read shaped note music and began to develop a solid ear for singing bass. In time, he was singing with regional groups, then in 1955, he was hired to sing bass with the Homeland Harmony Quartet. In 1957, he joined the LeFevres the legendary family groups of southern gospel. In 1973, he assumed direction of the The LeFevres, which eventually became known as the Rex Nelon Singers, now called the Nelons. Rex mentored his daughter Kelly Nelon who continues to carry on the family traditions by heading the group. It was from the early Rex Nelon Singers that the careers of Janet Paschal and Karen Peck began to take shape.

Career

In 1980 and 1982, he was voted by the Singing News Fan Awards as the “Favorite Bass Singer" and also he was named "Mr. Gospel Music." In 1998, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame with the LeFevres. Rex's publishing catalog is a timeless collection of some of gospel music's all-time favorite songs like, "O What a Savior", "Come Morning, "The Love of God, "The Old Country Church, "Hide Me Rock of Ages, "Sweeter As The Days Go By, "Thanks," and If We Never Meet Again." Rex along with his group recorded over 25 projects and received 5 Dove Awards, 3 NARAS Grammy nominations and many Singing News Fan Awards. They have appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, "Music City Tonight," and the "700 Club" and numerous national television shows. They are credited with over 13 "Top Five" radio singles. In 1987, the Nelons received the Short Form Music Video of the Year Award for "Famine In The Land," as well as winning the New York Film Festival Award that same year. In 1997, the Mayor of Atlanta declared May, "Nelons Appreciation Month" Later that year, they were presented the Silver Angel Award for "Glad You're Here," by the Excellence in Media.

Rex Nelon passed away while on tour in Europe with the Gaither Homecoming series.

References