The Harps of Melody

Formed in 1950, the Harps of Melody are a quartet that was highly active during the 1950’s, with regular church, rest home, and radio performances. The group was also the most in-tune with the quartet tradition, in both a stylistic sense, and a traditional sense. A sort of “super group” for gospel quartets, every member was in their sixties or seventies when they recorded for High Water, and had spent the past several decades performing with various other gospel groups.

The group was led by Clara Anderson, a regular member of the gospel quartet scene in Memphis since 1934, when she and her sister became members of the Busyline Soft Singers. Key to the group, Anderson would spend much time with the Golden Stars, a group that she founded in the mid- to late-1930’s. With this group she would learn the ins and outs of quartet training and how to decide on repertoire.

The Harps of Melody often considered another High Water gospel group, the Harmonizers, to be a “brother” group to them.