![]() One of the most unique, accomplished, and influential groups in
southern gospel music history is the Couriers! Here is their story.
Again, by 1966, the Couriers once
again were making records for their own label, this time it was
Paradise Records. They also changed pianists again, with
David Young returning to Georgia, where he continues to live
today, performing with his family group and running a recording studio
in Cleveland, Georgia. L. D.Young was replaced by Eddie Hawks,
who like Reece and Young before him, added a great deal to the sound of
the Couriers musically.
But a major change was about to come the Couriers' way. In 1967, Hawks left the Couriers, eventually settling in Lakeland, Florida, where he is Minister of Music at a church there. At the same time, longtime manager and baritone Don Baldwin decided to resign from the road, and operate business interests, eventually moving to Florida as well. Though he has had health battles in recent years, Baldwin is comfortably retired in Longwood, Florida. Again Neil Enloe resumed double duty at lead and pianist, while his brother Phil Enloe moved from Memphis, TN where he had been the bass singer for the Jr. Blackwood Brothers for two and a half years and assumed Baldwin's part in The Couriers as baritone. Today Phil and his wife Jan minister together and reside in Florida. But major change was about to come the Couriers' way. In 1967, Hawks left
the Couriers to play with the Jr. Blackwood Brothers, eventually
settling down in Lakeland, Florida, where he is minister of music at a
church there. About the same time, longtime manager and baritone Don
Baldwin decided to resign from the road, and operate business interests in
Florida as well. Though he has had health battles in recent years, Baldwin
is comfortably retired in Longwood, Florida. Again Neil Enloe resumed
double duty at lead and piano, while his brother Phil joined the
group as baritone. |